In COVID-19, the world is facing one of the gravest health challenges in modern time. Knowledge of the disease’s pathophysiology is still limited and specific treatments against it virtually non-existent. The quest for answers has led to a growing deluge of information, in lay and scientific press alike.

Scientific articles have been published in record numbers and multiple mechanism-of-action concepts, treatment paradigms and original data regarding SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 have been spreading at flashing speed. This includes publications that emerge without a proper peer-review scrutiny on the so-called preprint servers. The number of preprints on the bio/medRxiv domain alone has already surpassed 3800. Such a rapid pace of information generation and exchange can quickly become confusing and misleading. Despite the urgency, a thorough scientific analysis is needed to ensure judicious conclusion drawing. After all, new data directly influence the design of clinical trials (currently >1600 registered trials) and subsequently translate into treatment practices in COVID-19 patients.

A most recent review article in the journal SHOCK, titled: “SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19: Evolving Reality, Global Response, Knowledge Gaps and Opportunities” addresses this overwhelming influx of data, provides a coherent, balanced interpretation of the current coronavirus landscape, identifies risks and proposes viable solutions for the future. The article has been written by a team of authors with a diverse expertise ranging from the clinical ICU, immunology, virology, pathophysiology, computational modelling to translational research. All ten authors are members of the executive committee of the European Shock Society. First author of the review is Dr. Marcin Osuchowski, the head of Intensive Care Research at LBI Trauma and president elect of the European Shock Society. The article currently appears on Pubmed as an ahead-of-print PDF (open access) and will be published in the regular July issue of SHOCK.