Thanks Bear.

From a corporate strategy point of view, these SGLT2 inhibitor drugs are turning out to be multi-billion dollar drugs...literally career and company makers.  Jardiance sales went up 50% in 2018 to $2 billion.  But Jardiance is facing serious competition.  This means that Eli Lilly would be willing to get a leg up on its competition if it can add another drug in combination with Jardiance to its cocktail.

https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/jardiance-sales-boost-boehringer-ingelheim-s-revenue-2018

This is where RVX comes in.  The next Phase 3 drug trial is coming up in months.  The FDA will insist that RVX add more than 1 SGLT2 inhibitor drug to its trial (just like it did with Crestor/Lipitor).  But the FDA can't dictate which SGLT2 drug to add to the trial.  

Now if I was Eli Lilly, I would be sorely tempted to bump off the competition from RVX's trials.  Keep Jardiance and to satisfy the FDA, add the weakest competitor to the mix.  Get our drug approved quickly (BTD will do it) in 9 months if the trial does what we believe it will.  Then bingo, by the end of 2021, Eli Lilly may have a drug to add to its Jardiance mix.  

What would I pay for such a leg up on my Jardiance competition? US$2 billion will do it to buy off RVX.

My 2 cents.

Iconoclast