Pet medication for deadly cat illness soon to be available in US: ‘Huge triumph’

Many cat owners are celebrating the announcement that a medication treating a previously incurable feline disease will soon be accessible in the United States, starting June 1.

According to an official statement, Stokes Pharmacy has entered into an exclusive agreement with the Bova Group to distribute a compounded oral medication made in the U.S. for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). This partnership involves Stokes Pharmacy, a compounding pharmacy located in New Jersey.

Bova, a company specializing in veterinary pharmaceuticals and based in the U.K. and Australia, initiated the sale of GS-441524, a therapeutic compound for FIP, in 2021. However, until now, this medication was not available for purchase in the United States.

Global Clinical Support and Regulatory Flexibility for Feline Treatment

“Stokes highlighted that the effectiveness of this treatment stems from Bova’s distinctive drug formulation, which has been utilized in clinical research globally and is in current use in both the U.K. and Australia,” stated Stokes. On May 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicated that it would not enforce regulations against the use of certain compounded animal products, although these drugs have not yet received formal FDA approval.

According to Cornell University’s Feline Health Center, FIP is a viral disease in cats caused by specific strains of a virus known as feline coronavirus. While the majority of feline coronaviruses are benign and typically resolve independently, occasionally the virus can mutate into a condition recognized as FIP.

Addressing FIP: A Fight Against a Deadly Disease

According to the Cornell University’s Feline Health Center, once a cat contracts clinical FIP, the disease tends to progress rapidly and is usually lethal.

Previously, cat owners in the U.S. had to rely on unauthorized sources to procure medications for FIP, as these were not officially approved for use within the country. FIP Warriors, an organization established in March 2019 to assist cat owners in accessing necessary treatments, expressed cautious optimism regarding the new possibilities for veterinarians to legally prescribe these medications.

However, the group also expressed concerns about the current lack of detailed information. “At this moment, we have minimal concrete details but are looking forward to more comprehensive updates from Bova and Stokes. We are in direct contact with Bova and will relay any new information to our community as soon as it’s available,” stated a representative from FIP Warriors.

Advancing Treatment and Education for FIP

“Our sincere hope is that this development of a safe, affordable, and easily accessible medication will significantly treat and potentially cure numerous cases of FIP, marking a positive first step toward our ultimate goal,” the group added.

They further committed to ongoing efforts: “We will continue our diligent work in educating both veterinarians and cat owners as the landscape of FIP treatment evolves.”

“Within 48 hours, I could observe noticeable improvements in my cat’s health, and by the end of the week, she had returned to her normal self,” shared a cat owner, highlighting the swift impact of the new treatment.

A Cat Owner’s Journey to Saving Her Pet

One of the beneficiaries of the FIP Warriors’ efforts shared her story with Fox News Digital about the challenges she faced in saving her cat. Jessica Guyette, living in Washington, D.C., recounted how she returned from a trip only to find that one of her two cats had dramatically lost weight and was behaving unusually.

Navigating Legal Challenges in FIP Treatment

After numerous visits to the veterinarian, Jessica Guyette was confronted with the harsh reality that her cat was suffering from FIP—a disease for which there were no legal treatment options available at the time. In a discreet move, her veterinarian suggested she look into online groups that could provide access to potentially life-saving medication. This advice led her to connect with the FIP Warriors.

Jessica reflected on her dire situation, noting, “At that point, there were no other options available. My cat continued to lose weight, appeared very lethargic, and it was clear that she was dying.” This desperate scenario pushed her to seek out unconventional resources to save her beloved pet.

Swift Recovery and Advocacy Triumph in FIP Battle

Jessica Guyette, a researcher at the National Institutes of Health, experienced rapid improvement in her cat’s health following the use of unauthorized FIP medication. “Within 48 hours, I could see that my cat was beginning to feel better, and within a week she was back to her normal self,” she recounted, describing the ordeal as “terrifying.” To monitor her cat’s recovery, Jessica continued, “I took her to the vet monthly for blood tests, and the vet was amazed to see her back to normal after she had been so close to death.”

In a related advocacy effort, Hannah Shaw, also known as “Kitten Lady” and founder of the nonprofit organization Kitten Lady, has been another vocal supporter of improving access to FIP treatments. Shaw, who also treated her own cat, Coco, with black market drugs, has actively documented and shared her experiences on her YouTube channel to raise awareness. She expressed to Fox News Digital, “It is a monumental victory that FIP, long considered a fatal disease, can now be treated legally by veterinarians.” This change marks a significant step forward in the fight against FIP, highlighting the impact of persistent advocacy and the importance of accessible treatment options.

“This moment represents the culmination of years of dedicated research, advocacy, and activism from a movement driven by the desire to end the unnecessary deaths of cats due to the lack of access to lifesaving treatments,” expressed the advocates. This significant achievement highlights the persistent efforts of countless individuals and groups committed to improving the health outcomes of feline companions.

Navigating Challenges and Celebrating Victories in FIP Treatment

Hannah Shaw, a well-known animal advocate and author, is set to release her latest book, “Cats of the World,” this coming October. Shaw has been a vocal critic of past policies that advised veterinarians to remain hands-off when it came to advising cat owners about treating FIP. She described these policies as “confusing and isolating for people who discover that their cats have been diagnosed with the disease.”

Shaw also pointed out the paradox in the situation, noting that “animal advocates have been successfully treating cats for FIP for a number of years, yet navigating that care has been incredibly complicated for the average cat guardian.”

One poignant story involves Coco, one of Shaw’s own cats, who developed FIP while undergoing chemotherapy. Shaw credits “total strangers on the internet” with helping her obtain the medication needed to treat Coco. “GS-441524 completely cured her of FIP, and thanks to the drug, I got another amazing two years with her,” Shaw shared with Fox News Digital.

She emphasizes that the recent changes allowing veterinarians to discuss and legally prescribe FIP treatments represent a “massive win.” Shaw believes this will significantly aid cat owners in saving their pets’ lives. “This moment is the culmination of years of research, advocacy, and activism from a movement that is sick of seeing cats die due to lacking access to lifesaving treatment, and it’s a huge cause for celebration,” Shaw added, highlighting the progress made in the battle against FIP.