Hiring Sales force can go on-while buyout talks are on going.
The process of Launching a product requires hiring Sales force--in Nov.2012.
Process of Buyout takes 3-6 months-- Hiring one or two financial advisors,exchange of information ans signing Non-Confidentiality agreements with serious bidders.
1) So if Amarin announces Self Launch with affliation--don't mistake it to mean that BuyOUT is dead for now.
example Amylin. It started selling in USA--BMY approached AMLN in Nov.2011 after Lilly deal was cancelled.
2) But if Amarin announces Launch with a partner-then the BO is postponed to future-one to 3 years.
Pfizer was a partner with Warner Lambert on Lipitor since 2007,but B/O happened in 1999.Pfizer had 10 years marketing agreement--but WYETH was willing to acquire WL and let Pfizer Sell.But Pfizer was concerned about contract renewal in 2006.So it outbid Wyeth.