However, vaccine hesitancy3, drastically limited vaccine supply in low-income countries, breakthrough infections and emergence of B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma) and B.1.617.2 (Delta) SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), carrying S protein mutations with higher affinity for the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) cell entry receptor that may escape vaccine-induced immunity4,5, highlight the urgent need for new targeted therapeutics. This evidence concerns the gene ACE2 and infection.