Vir Biotech and Alnylam Identify COVID-19 Drug Candidate

Vir Biotechnology and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals have identified an investigational therapeutic as a possible COVID-19 treatment.

The candidate, VIR-2703, is an inhaled SARS-CoV-2-targeting small-interfering RNA (siRNA), which prevents the production of specific proteins, and may be able to prevent or treat a coronavirus infection. It leverages Alnylam’s technologies for lung delivery of siRNAs and could apply to other coronaviruses.

The companies plan to file an investigational new drug application for VIR-2703 by the end of this year.