With Combo, I don't know if it would go any faster for someone else. Even if BP bought it in say last November, they still would have to wait for safety data for 700mg or FDA decision to reduce to 525mg. But by the time they get the decision, the safety data will almost be done. 13.6 years from patent to launch.
It is that "it is always 5 o'clock somewhere argument." Thousands of drugs in the pipeline, we can always look and find a new approval somewhere and ask why not here?