I appreciate most here have other views, but I suspect there is...

I appreciate most here have other views, but I suspect there is already some "agreement"on the table and mgt are probably bound by non-disclosure.
It will include an offer for your shares at some multiple of the the current lows (hence the SP being manipulated down).
I could imagine the interested entity is already pushing its weight as to what shape the company should be in...Hepbarna IN and Tribetarna OUT (stop the spend).
Knowing what's coming, and perhaps on limited time with the company, introducing the options at this point.
To me the contradiction with Q4 efficacy and not reporting until end of trial is perhaps explained by the trial going exceedingly well and expectation that the trial will ends early Anyway, I think we will have an offer for our shares b4 efficacy is reported!

Yep..Glass very Half full....and all speculation of course...