Dimeric fusion proteins

A fusion protein dimer comprising a dimer of a first dimerizing polypeptide and a second dimerizing polypeptide, wherein:

• a) the first dimerizing polypeptide is attached by a peptide bond or via a peptide linker at its N-terminus or C-terminus to a first domain, and the second dimerizing polypeptide is attached by a peptide bond or via a peptide linker at its N-terminus or C-terminus to a second domain;
• b) the first and second dimerizing polypeptides comprise amino acids 616 to 726 of the human ACE2 protein (SEQ ID NO:
• 2040);
• c) the first dimerizing polypeptide is optionally attached by a peptide bond or via a peptide linker at its remaining free N-terminus or C-terminus to a third domain;
• d) second dimerizing polypeptide is optionally attached by a peptide bond or via a peptide linker at its remaining free N-terminus or C-terminus to a fourth domain;
• and
• e) the fusion protein dimer does not comprise an ACE2 peptidase domain at the N-terminal side of either dimerizing polypeptide.