Vir and Alnylam Advance RNAi Therapeutics for COVID-19

Vir Biotechnology (NASDAQ:VIR) and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ALNY) announced the development and commercialization of RNAi therapeutics targeting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease COVID-19.

As quoted in the press release:

Under the agreement, the companies will utilize Alnylam’s recent advances in lung delivery of novel conjugates of siRNA – the molecules that mediate RNAi – together with Vir’s infectious disease expertise and established capabilities, to bring forward one or more siRNAs to treat SARS-CoV-2 and potentially other coronaviruses as well. The collaboration will focus on development of siRNAs that Alnylam recently identified that target highly conserved regions of coronavirus RNAs.

Alnylam has designed and synthesized over 350 siRNAs targeting all available SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 genomes, which will be screened in in vitro potency assays. Potent siRNA lead candidates will be further evaluated by scientists at Vir for in vitro and in vivo anti-viral activity, leading to the selection of a development candidate (DC).

Click here to read the full press release.