WHO says test 'for all humanity' is looming

The World Health Organization's chief scientist says a "test for all humanity" is looming as researchers and pharmaceutical companies develop drugs and vaccines to combat the coronavirus in the coming months.

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan noted that many trials are still ongoing on the antiviral drug remdesivir, for which the U.S. Health and Human Services department has contracted a large purchase over coming months after the U.S. National Institutes of Health issued a publication showing it helped reduce hospitalization times for patients with COVID-19.

Swaminathan noted that publications from China, however, "did not show any benefit" from the drug and that the efficacy remains unclear.

"The plan is really to continue with the clinical trials that are ongoing because we definitely need to answer the questions on efficacy," she said, noting manufacturer Gilead Sciences has struck deals with generic drug makers to produce doses.

"Global solidarity is important and not just for this drug, but also for other drugs and for vaccines that are likely to be developed over the coming months," Swaminathan told reporters from WHO headquarters in Geneva.

"This is a test, I think, for all of humanity."