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Update on feline infectious peritonitis

4. Treatment options

Antiviral drugs

Published 27 September 2023 | Updated 15 March 2024

The protease inhibitor, GC376, which is able to inhibit viral replication in feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) was shown to have some effect but was not able to achieve remission in all cats.

The nucleoside analogues remdesivir and GS-441524 (the active form of the pro-drug remdesivir) have been legally available to vets in the UK for the treatment of FIP in cats since August 2021. The literature around these products has evolved rapidly and there are now longer term follow up studies and clinical trials being published.

BSAVA members may be interested in the client information leaflets provided in the BSAVA Library.

  1. GS-441524 [BSAVA] [online]. Available from: https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/cil/medicines/GS-441524 [Accessed 20 September 2023]
  2. Remdesivir [BSAVA] [online]. Available from: https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/cil/medicines/remdesivir [Accessed 20 September 2023]

A Knowledge Summary, published in Veterinary Evidence, concludes that there is now moderate evidence that these products can extend the survival time of cats suffering from feline infectious peritonitis. Further evidence will be added to this section as it is published.

  • Mulligan, A. J. and Browning, M. E. (2024) Quality assessment and characterization of unregulated antiviral drugs for feline infectious peritonitis: implications for treatment, safety, and efficacy. American Journal of Veterinary Research. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.23.10.0221
  • Kent, A. M. et al. (2024) Unlicensed antiviral products used for the at-home treatment of feline infectious peritonitis contain GS-441524 at significantly different amounts than advertised. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.23.08.0466

Knowledge Summary

in vitro studies

Case studies and case series

Clinical trials

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