Competing Interests: Declaration of interests D.B. and J.W. are coinventors of patents entitled “Active Low Molecular Weight Variants of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2,” “Active low molecular weight variants of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) for the treatment of diseases and conditions of the eye,” and “Soluble ACE2 Variants and Uses Therefor,” which includes the use of prevention and treatment of COVID-19. D.B. is founder of Angiotensin Therapeutics Inc. D.B. has received consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Relypsa, and Tricida, all unrelated to this work. J.W. reports scientific advisor capacity for Angiotensin Therapeutics Inc. R.E.S. is on the scientific advisory board of Miromatrix Inc and is a consultant and speaker for Alnylam Inc. J.M.P. is shareholder of Apeiron Biologics that is developing soluble ACE2 for COVID-19 therapy.