When the top shareholder on the board speaks, I listen. Interesting thoughts and your right, those big pharmas have tons of money to throw around. Also plenty of venture capital firms out there as well.
If we do get bought, it won't be before IDE approval, and also, I wouldn't think it would happen until after approval for humans...3 clinical trials if I'm not mistaken. The testing on this therapy will be quick, so results and approval for humans from FDA in that timeframe are realistic.