No, I think the Ex VP may be part of the timing delay brought about by Vickers. They are not stupid people and know that the company is too large to have Little Jack Horner in front of a mirror switching hats and saying, "What a Good Chairman, President, CEO, Interim CFO, and head TP tester I am". Once they got their nose under the tent and Sorrento's need to put SCILEX on the NASDAQ as the market deteriorated became more important Vickers "humbly suggested" a direction to take. A small $140 million investment and great timing gave them a great deal of leverage.
I think the time delay may not have been market related as much as personnel related. I could be wrong...Naaaa. lol