APN01 - Recombinant human soluble Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 As its main project, Apeiron develops a recombinant, well soluble, highly glycosylated form of human ACE2 (rhACE2; project name: APN01). This ACE2 enhancement therapy is targeting an imbalance of the Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) caused by insufficient natural ACE2 activity and pathologic elevation of the RAS effector peptide Angiotensin II (Ang II). This imbalance plays an important role in various conditions such as respiratory, cardiovascular, renal and hepatic diseases as well as cancer.     APN01 Publications: Angiotensin-converting-enzyme 2 inhibits liver fibrosis in mice. Hepatology 2009 Targeting the Degradation of Angiotensin II With Recombinant Angiotensin-Convertng Enzyme 2. Prevention of Angiotensin II-Dependent Hypertension. Hypertension 2009 Human recombinant angiotensin converting enzyme 2 reduces the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Diabetes 2009 Recombinant angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 improves pulmonary blood flow and oxygenation in lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury in piglets. Crit Care Med 2009