“I have thought and still do that if we get bought out, BP will pay us and then Shelf the drug.”

Respectfully disagree. BP is big business and their impulse toward greed means they are attracted to revenue. MRK generated 25 billion last year on Keytruda. They wouldn’t consider shelving that drug! You don’t put your War Admirals and Sea Biscuits in the Barn, you get them on the track.