It appears to take out the uncertainty of running out of cash without a partnership, but it also opens up the door for massive dillution, which you have written on prior.
It appears odd that the shelf is for 500 million, yet they only have 160 million shares available to release, which would put the selling price above $3.00 to fulfill the full shelf offering.
While the 160 possible outstanding shares pointed to the possibility of dillution, this appears to point to a likelier chance of it happening.
Happy labor day!!!