COVID-19: Global partnership for a global health emergency

It has been two years since WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic.1 In this time, unparalleled collaboration and innovation in global healthcare has meant that we now have numerous COVID-19 diagnostic tools, treatment options, and vaccinations.

In a statement, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO, reflects on what the global community has achieved:

Despite high numbers of COVID-19 cases in some parts of the world due to the fast-spreading Omicron variant, many countries start to ease restrictions and attempt to return to normal life. The scientific community predicts that the virus may become more consistent and predictable, as it shifts from being a pandemic disease to an endemic illness.2 This will bring new challenges, as we learn to manage COVID-19 alongside other seasonal infections, such as influenza. For now, the global community continues to support countries with high medical needs due to the pandemic.

The Omicron variant begins to split into new ‘sub-variants’, reminding us of the ever-evolving nature of the virus and its potential to change its response to the tools developed to fight it, as well as its effect on the body.3

As COVID-19 continues to disproportionately affect people in different parts of the world, organisations and healthcare companies work together to ensure that tests, treatments and vaccines reach those most in need.

As concern over the Omicron variant grows, governments enforce new measures to slow the spread of disease. To help understand its behaviour, Roche rapidly develops tests that assist researchers in determining whether a person is infected with Omicron or a different variant.6

Countries struggle with different challenges depending on which variant has infected most of the population. In some places, Delta is dominant, which causes more severe illness despite spreading less quickly than Omicron.7

At the same time, Roche works with its partner SD Biosensor to launch a rapid test that differentiates between COVID-19 and influenza.6

The roll out of COVID-19 vaccination booster campaigns in some countries highlights the inequality in distribution of vaccines, treatment options and tests around the world. International experts come together at the World Health Summit to discuss solutions to enable global access to these tools.

During this meeting, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO, also calls for global collaboration to end the pandemic:

Amidst ongoing discussions about the potential need for booster vaccinations, new clinical trial data continues to be released in the hope of broadening available treatment options.

The northern hemisphere fast approaches its upcoming influenza season. Lessons from the once insurmountable challenges of the pandemic may offer solutions to future outbreaks.

Treatment guidelines around the world are updated with new recommendations for COVID-19 care.

As more variants of concern are identified globally, researchers investigate how these mutations might affect the ongoing pandemic.

Roche and its partners continue to work with regulatory authorities around the world to bring potential COVID-19 therapies to those that need them.

As 42 countries roll out their COVID-19 vaccination programmes, multiple governments begin identifying viral variants of concern.12

Later, new data on the use of one of our COVID-19 treatments is announced, contributing to our understanding of the disease.6

The number of COVID-19 cases rising globally brings increased pressure on healthcare systems to cope with soaring demand.

In the months to come, positive clinical trial data are released showing that some vaccines under investigation may effectively prevent COVID-19 from causing severe illness.14 Regulatory bodies work around the clock to evaluate the data and secure approvals.

By the end of the year, the United Kingdom becomes the first country in Europe to begin rolling out its vaccination programme.15

As the global need to urgently scale up testing in resource-limited settings intensifies, Roche diagnostics teams develop a rapid test, known as lateral flow, that can determine whether a person has COVID-19 within 15 minutes, helping doctors to make on-the-spot decisions about patient care quickly and accurately.6

Industry and governments acknowledge the need to anticipate and prepare for potential upcoming challenges of the pandemic. A landmark resolution is set at the WHO’s 73rd World Health Assembly to bring countries together to fight the virus by ramping up global efforts to control the pandemic, and calling for global access to, and distribution of, all essential health technologies and products to combat the virus.18

Pivotal new data reveal that almost one in three individuals infected with COVID-19 could be asymptomatic.19

Roche intensifies its response, exploring partnerships with academia, governments, and other health bodies, including theas well as supporting independent treatment research efforts.20 By working closely with our industry partner, Gilead Sciences, another clinical trial is initiated in COVID-19.6

There is an unparalleled global effort to launch testing options andas swiftly and safely as possible.

In just 38 days, Roche teams develop an accurate and reliable test to detect whether a person currently has COVID-19. The test is authorised for emergency use in the US within weeks of the virus making headlines globally, with other countries soon to follow.6

In parallel, researchers at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom inject the first person in early COVID-19 vaccine trials.21

In the months to come, our team develops an antibody test to determine whether a person has previously been infected with COVID-19 in the hopes that this will help the world understand the spread of the virus.6

As the global threat of COVID-19 emerges, scientists around the world work tirelessly to identify whether existing tests or treatments may be effective in combatting this new coronavirus.