On Jun. 22, 2020, Taconic Biosciences announced an exclusive agreement with the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) to distribute humanized ACE2 mice for coronavirus research. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, uses the ACE2 receptor to enter cells, causing infection.

Due to differences between the mouse and human ACE2 receptors, normal laboratory mice cannot be infected with SARS-CoV2. Transgenic mice which express the human ACE2 receptor overcome this challenge and are critical for COVID-19 research and treatments.