Indeed, circulating (differently from membrane-bound) ACE2 is expected to protect from viral entry, and a pilot study of a clinical trial using recombinant ACE2 (rACE2) protein for COVID-19 started at the end of February 2020 by the Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04287686). The gene discussed is ACE2; the disease is COVID-19.