On Oct. 26, 2020, Taconic Biosciences announced immediate humanized ACE2 mouse model availability for COVID-19 research. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, uses the ACE2 receptor to enter cells. Due to differences between the mouse and human ACE2 receptors, normal laboratory mice cannot be infected with SARS-CoV2.

Transgenic mice expressing the human ACE2 receptor overcome this challenge and thus are critical for COVID-19 research. Taconicﾒs hACE2 AC70 mouse model is susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 and displays symptoms upon infection.