Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 activation: a novel potential Covid-19 therapeutic strategy

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) downregulates pulmonary ACE2 protein, resulting in pneumonia. Thus, increasing ACE2 activation may serve to both neutralize the virus and rescue cellular ACE2 activity protecting the lung from damage. Diminazene, an ACE2 activator, is suggested to be a novel tentative SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic.