Likewise if the company gave the therapy for free to everyone who couldn't afford to pay $850k, they would be in the same position as they were before.
Before the reaearch endeavor, the company had x more dollars in cash. They bore the cost with the expectation that it would generate cash flows in the future (to hopefully more than offset the cost). The dollar cost was likely quite large. So the company certainly would not be in the same position had they not decided to develop the drug. There was no cost the affected genetically blind, however. They only now have the option of potentially being able to get a new treatment.
