There was 10+ years of research prior, but much of that research was academic. Phased studies must be conducted regardless of whether manufacture is public or private. There does not appear to be any need for private profit, we are sufficiently motivated to research this stuff out of a desire for self-preservation.

I'll admit that profit seeking would work better* in a society that doesn't have a strong state or other coordinating body, but given that one exists to counterpose our existing system is not reasonable.

EDIT: * In the sense that products might be produced at all. Without a strong regulatory body, the market would be flooded with snake oil medicine and the average consumer would not be able to make heads or tails of things. This is because it's much cheaper to make a fake medicine than a real one, which is what profit optimizes for: the cheapest solution with the highest payoff for the seller regardless of costs not borne by the seller (such as death and destruction writ large).