Will Cigarette Companies Save Us From COVID-19?

Although there are many companies pursuing a vaccine for COVID-19, the tobacco industry may be one of the more surprising combatants in this battle. Both British American Tobacco (NYSE: BTI) and Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) are working on a vaccine for the disease. Unlike automakers or cosmetics companies converting production facilities to make personal protective equipment, it's not the actual manufacturing units of the tobacco companies working to fight COVID-19, but rather their biotech divisions.