From what I know a pandemic such as this one cannot be monetize by pharmaceutical businesses if they find an antidote. That would violate a lot of international laws which a lot of countries already agreed and the company's CEO might be charged such as crimes against humanity. If they found a cure the best thing the company will get is either a subsidy for their research as well as some compensation for their efforts, they might profit a little but they won't be billionaires because of it as they cannot make this antidote/cure exclusive to the rich, this cure will be everyone's right to receive.
There's always a way to monetize a situation and manage to circumvent the law. WHO said covid19 couldn't be transmitted person-to-person at the beggining of this (protecting china with their new year coming and million dollars in the game from tourism) nowyou see how that end. Then WHO updated their info and actually the virus did spread person-to-person all over the world. Will be santioned? There are proof of a partnership with chinese government? It's not sure right now.
You're right about the cure, even when we talk about a vaccine now more than a cure, but the fact is that this situation can be profitable in many ways without being proved as an illegal deal and without even having a vaccine in sigh yet.