Cat with '100% fatal' feline coronavirus saved by human Covid-19 medicine

Authored by stuff.co.nz and submitted by Elliott1812
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Auckland veterinarian Dr Habin Choi with Anya - a cat who has made an incredible recovery from a fatal viral disease, after being treated with Covid-19 antiviral molnupiravir.

A beloved household cat has made an “astonishing” recovery from a usually fatal illness, thanks to a drug made to treat Covid-19 in humans – and a quick-thinking vet.

Anya​, the 7-year-old birman cat, was suffering from feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a “100% fatal” viral infection caused by feline coronavirus.

That was, until Auckland vet Dr Habin Choi​ intervened, giving Anya an antiviral used to treat Covid-19 called molnupiravir.

Twelve weeks later, Anya is “back to normal” both physically and in blood tests, which vets involved in her care say is “phenomenal”.

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Until very recently, FIP was considered to be non-treatable, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine says.

With FIP, cats have a persistent high fever, are lethargic and lose weight. Because FIP can affect the central nervous system, cats may develop neurological symptoms or ocular (eye) issues.

But in the past decade, studies have shown that antivirals can be effective in treating FIP – particularly a drug referred to as GS-441524, and relative remdesivir.

While remdesivir​ – available as an injection – has been used with success in Aotearoa and overseas, it’s expensive, costing many thousands of dollars, said Dr Oliver Reeve​, owner of Onewa Road Veterinary Hospital where Choi works.

Molnupiravir, on the other hand, costs hundreds, he said.

Phil Walter/Getty Images Vets on Auckland’s North Shore had Covid-19 antiviral compounded to use in cats under their care to treat a “100% fatal” viral infection.

Reeve said an FIP diagnosis is “always a massive heart-sink”. It’s complex to diagnose and until now there’s been “nothing you could really do”.

Having another potential treatment option available cheaper than other antivirals, which was well-tolerated, is a “game changer for us”.

Reeve, a vet and pharmacologist, said using human medications in pets is not unusual, as it’s often not worth a drug company's time to licence a drug for animal use.

If a vet-licensed product exists on the market vets are obliged to use it; but if not “we use human equivalents all the time”, he said, including as pain relief and for anaesthesia.

Choi noted molnupiravir is new and isn’t yet licensed for animals, but there’s been “ground-breaking” research on its use in FIP.

She even contacted researchers at Ohio State University who looked at the drug in cats with FIP to learn what they recommended, and how it was working for them.

MONIQUE FORD / STUFF Stephen Press's Tonkinese cat, Tiff, was saved from a fatal disease after being given remdesivir, a drug for humans.

Choi said they have a few cats in their care being treated with molnupiravir whose owners decided to take a “huge leap of faith” as a “last-ditch effort” to help their animals, knowing the potential risks and benefits.

One was “very, very close” to dying, but is showing “incredible signs” of recovery.

Anya had a follow-up this week, a week after finishing treatment.

Even being able to say “we have a post-treatment check with an FIP cat is mind-blowing”, Choi said.

Choi said follow-ups with cats treated with molnupiravir in the United States found them living healthy, normal lives three years on.

She said they will continue to keep a close eye on research around molnupiravir.

Molnupiravir was approved in New Zealand to treat Covid-19 in the community, but was considered about half as effective as Paxlovid.

In February, after international research stating it could fuel mutations of the virus, Te Whatu Ora’s expert advisory group on Covid-19 medicines updated official guidelines to say molnupiravir was no longer recommended in people “due to lack of clinical benefit”.

nagumi on April 22nd, 2023 at 09:19 UTC »

I can report that this really works.

I'm a veterinary undertaker. I pick up deceased pets. A few years ago a young woman called me. She was planning her FIP cat's euthenasia. This was mid 2020. We discussed options. Then she calls me again a couple hours later telling me to cancel it, as she found a cure. I told her she was being taken advantage of, that FIP is always fatal. She told me there was a new thing, that you had to order it "for research purposes" and essentially smuggle it into the country, but it worked.

A month later she asked me to fill in for her to inject the cat one evening while she was at a wedding. I met this poor, skinny kitty with dry FIP. The injection caused him terrible pain and burning. I wasn't sure if it was working but I helped her out and gave the injection.

Then another month later I get another call asking if I can fill in one more time. I show up and there's this cat and he's playful and happy and running around and 50% larger than the last time I saw him. The injection barely hurt him at all and he seemed fine with it.

The last time I heard from her was two and a half years after the initial FIP diagnosis. The cat is alive and well.

When I told local veterinarians about it most of them hadn't even heard of it yet. Now they all have. I swear, it felt like hiv in the 80s when the first patient started getting AZT. Like watching the Dead come back to life.

bison90 on April 22nd, 2023 at 04:57 UTC »

One of my cats is also a FIP survivor. Began treatment when she was 11 months old. Drove 60 miles round trip every single day for 14 weeks for treatment. Hurt me financially, but her one year checkup looked amazing on April 1 and I’d do it all over again! She is incredibly happy and playful and one of the true joys in my life

TheCrassDragon on April 22nd, 2023 at 02:50 UTC »

My family just lost a cat to FIP, this is amazing if it really works.