Can Either of These Little-Known Biotechs Find New Life Fighting Coronavirus?

In March, pharma companies Alnylam (NASDAQ:ALNY) and Vir Biotechnology (NASDAQ:VIR) partnered to develop a vaccine using RNAi via an inhaled substance. The companies have been partners since a 2017 agreement allowed Vir to license a few drugs using Alnylam's RNA interference technology. Alnylam has two drugs on the market using RNAi technology, and Vir is one of the few biotechnology companies to focus on infectious diseases. This was evident in March when the tiny biotech signed a collaboration agreement with the National Institutes of Health and the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to develop antibodies that would fight coronaviruses.