A successful medication for a deadly cat virus should soon to be available in US in what has been described as a ‘huge triumph’. It has been a long time coming. Cat owners will no longer have to resort to the black market to obtain the drug and treat their seriously sick cats.
There appears to be a caveat to this good news from FIP Warriors, a group founded in March 2019 that helps connect cat owners with medications needed to treat their cats. They are not completely certain that the drug will indeed be available 😢. Perhaps this is because this is emerging news at this moment. But things look very good and its FDA approval for use to treat animals would align the US with other countries.
“We have very little factual information at this time and eagerly await more details from Bova and Stokes to become available. We are in direct contact with Bova and will be sharing all updates we receive with the entire FIP Warriors community…Our sincere hope is that a safe, affordable and easily accessible medication option will help treat and cure as many FIP cats as possible and that this is a positive first step toward that goal.”
FIP Warriors in speaking with Fox News Digital.
The deadly disease which cat owners fear as in the wet form it kills almost 100% of cats, is FIP – feline infectious peritonitis. The drug which ‘cures’ the disease is GS-441524. It has been available for a few years outside of the US but the good news now for cat owners and vets is that the drug will be available on June 1st, 2024 in the United States.
I can see American veterinarians rejoicing as they’ll be able to treat afflicted cats.
“Stokes Pharmacy has formed an exclusive partnership with the Bova Group to offer a U.S.-made compounded oral treatment for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)”
Statement from Stokes Pharmacy, a New Jersey-based compounding pharmacy.
In May of 2024 the FDA said that they would not take enforcement action against those using the drug to treat animals despite the use being illegal as at that stage is was not FDA-approved for use in animals. Is this how the drug will become defacto ‘legal’ in the US?
This is a drug that has been legally used in other countries to successfully treat FIP – an illness that kills cats unless treated and is now available in the United States.
GS-441524
GS-441524 is a nucleoside analogue antiviral drug developed by Gilead Sciences. It serves as the main plasma metabolite of the antiviral prodrug remdesivir. In human patients, GS-441524 has a half-life of approximately 24 hours. Notably, both remdesivir and GS-441524 have demonstrated effectiveness against feline coronavirus strains responsible for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a lethal systemic disease in domestic cats. Although remdesivir was not tested in cats, GS-441524 has been found to be an effective treatment for FIP. Despite lacking official FDA approval for veterinary use, it is widely used in several countries where it is legally available for treating FIP in cats.
RELATED: A cure for FIP: antiviral agents GS-441524 and GC376? – this was written a long time ago.
FIP
“Once a cat develops clinical FIP, the disease is usually progressive and almost always fatal”.
Cornell
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease that primarily affects domestic cats. It is caused by a coronavirus known as feline coronavirus (FCoV). Here are some key points about FIP:
Transmission and Infection: FCoV is widespread among cats, and most infected cats remain asymptomatic or experience mild gastrointestinal symptoms. In a small percentage of cases (around 5-10%), the virus mutates and causes FIP. FIP is not directly contagious between cats; it does not spread easily from one cat to another. Instead, it results from a complex interplay of genetic factors, immune response, and viral mutations.
Clinical Forms: FIP presents in two main forms:
- Wet (Effusive) Form: Characterized by fluid accumulation in body cavities (such as the abdomen or chest). Symptoms include lethargy, weight loss, and distended belly due to fluid buildup.
- Dry (Non-Effusive) Form: Affects organs (such as kidneys, liver, and eyes) without significant fluid accumulation. Symptoms vary widely and can include fever, neurological signs, and eye abnormalities.
Diagnosis: Diagnosing FIP can be challenging due to its varied presentation and lack of a definitive test. Veterinarians rely on clinical signs, blood tests, and sometimes fluid analysis to make a presumptive diagnosis. Biopsy or necropsy (post-mortem examination) is the only way to confirm FIP definitively.
Treatment and Prognosis: Unfortunately, there is no specific cure for FIP. Treatment aims to manage symptoms, improve quality of life, and provide supportive care. The prognosis is guarded, and affected cats often have a poor long-term outcome.
Prevention: Preventing FCoV infection is crucial. Measures include minimizing cat-to-cat contact, maintaining good hygiene, and avoiding overcrowded environments. Vaccines against FCoV exist but are controversial due to limited efficacy and potential risks. Remember that FIP is a heartbreaking disease, and if you suspect your cat may have it, consult a veterinarian promptly for proper evaluation and guidance. 😿🐾
Success story
The story concerns Jessica Guyette, a Washington DC resident. She told Fox News Digital that she discovered that one of her two cats had lost a significant amount of weight and was behaving abnormally after she returned from a trip. Her veterinarian told her that her cat had contracted FIP and that there was nothing they could do to treat the disease (legally). The veterinarian secretly suggested that she turned to FIP Warriors. She had no other option and obtained the drug.
The treatment worked wonders according to her account. And quickly. She said that within 48 hours saw her cat picked up and “within a week she was back to normal”. The whole experience was very frightening for her.
She took her cat to the veterinarian every month to run blood tests and they were astonished to see the improvement saying that her cat was back to normal.
A woman who has a successful YouTube channel and who is dubbed the “Kitten Lady”, said that it was a huge triumph that the treatment will be legally available in the US.
Sources: New York Post and Bing’s Copilot which relies on a wide range of internet websites such as in this case icatcare and frontiersin.org.
Have a friend who’s 2 cats were in the trials. One died and one survived. The one that survived had a set back but is on the mend. He is getting better everyday now but he’s been getting shots too.