It already is, because the way many drugs are developed is that the NIH funds the basic research behind it, and early-stage in-vitro trials and maybe some mouse

It already is, because the way many drugs are developed is that the NIH funds the basic research behind it, and early-stage in-vitro trials and maybe some mouse trials. Usually it is only when the drug is ready for clinical trials that pharma steps in (doing 20% of the work and claiming 100% of the profit).