If the patent is on the process for creating LK-99, then obviously that patent only has worth in that people are going to buy LK-99 from the patent holder for d

If the patent is on the process for creating LK-99, then obviously that patent only has worth in that people are going to buy LK-99 from the patent holder for development of new applications, and eventually marketing of the applications themselves. The same people may use their initiative to generate a bunch of patents on applications of LK-99, and indeed most of its applications may end up being patented, but that's not to say progress will be halted because of this.