Companion Animals

Companion Cat FIP Antiviral Treatment Access

Effective antiviral treatments for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) have transformed outcomes but access remains unequal.

Key Facts

FIP, caused by feline coronavirus mutation, was previously almost universally fatal
Antiviral drugs (GS-441524 and remdesivir) achieve over 85% remission rates in clinical trials
Licensed treatments are expensive (GBP 2,000-4,000 per course) but generics are cheaper and widely available
Treatment requires 84 days of daily injection or oral administration with regular monitoring
Early diagnosis significantly improves treatment outcomes

Welfare Considerations

FIP causes severe, painful illness including vasculitis, fluid accumulation and neurological disease. Previously, diagnosis meant euthanasia. The availability of effective treatments means euthanasia is now rarely necessary if diagnosis is timely and treatment is accessible. Financial barriers to treatment leave cats dying of a now-treatable disease.

What You Can Do

Insure cats to cover FIP treatment costs
Learn to recognise early signs of FIP in young cats (lethargy, fever, weight loss, fluid accumulation)
Support organisations providing FIP treatment access to underserved communities
Advocate for licensed generic antiviral availability to improve cost access