Luna FIP Survivor Turns Three Years Old
So much has happened in the 2-3 years since we first noticed Luna's high fever and severely swollen belly four weeks after bringing her home. We've gone from a devastating diagnosis that was seemingly hopeless to a boisterous, sassy, healthy girl. If you are coming to my blog for the first time, our Savannah, Luna, was the first cat to enter the EVO984/GS441524 trial and be declared cured of deadly FIP.
Twenty-five more cats followed her in the trial, and 20 are thriving today (as far as I'm aware). This antiviral drug, provided by Gilead Sciences, became the golden ticket to saving cats stricken with this deadly scourge. However, the future of this life-saving miracle drug took an unexpected turn.
The anticipation and excitement of this viable treatment swiftly turned to disappointment when Gilead decided not to pursue FDA approval and market this wonder drug for veterinary use. But that is a topic for another article, another time. This is to celebrate Luna and ALL the other cats who've survived FIP. And, with a whole new twist, we are celebrating the lives of hundreds more who are being cured. Keep reading to learn more!
I had the honor of being invited to participate (along with Peter Cohen of ZenbyCat, owner of Smokey, cured with the GC376 trial at UCDavis) in a panel discussion in November 2019 at the FIP Symposium: "PURRsuing FIP and WINNing" at the University of California, Davis by the Winn Feline Foundation. I met and listened to lectures and discussions led by FIP researchers worldwide during this two-day event.
As an unexpected bonus, I met representatives from Mutian, a China-based company that duplicated the trial drug compound and have been selling it world-wide to FIP cat owners over the past year. There is an oral and an injectable form with dosing based on the cat's weight, type of FIP, and the cat's response to the drug. As of December 2019, they are selling it legally in the U.S. as: "A dietary supplement exclusively designed for cats with Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), by boosting their immune system and overall well-being." In other words, it's NOT sold as a "drug," but as a "grass" or "over-the-counter supplement," which is how they were able to circumnavigate the FDA approval process.
During the open discussions, Steve Dale of Steve Dale's Pet World invited the Mutian representatives to educate the audience further about their product and customer services, particularly their guarantee. They have a warranty in place for cats with "wet FIP" that extends beyond the 84-day treatment in cases of relapse or for cats who’ve not adequately responded to the 84-day treatment.
While there's been much debate concerning the ethics and legality this past year, it's tough to disparage the obvious fact that cats are successfully and quickly responding to this compound; exactly like Luna and the other cats in the trial. Other Chinese companies have duplicated this compound as well, but I'm not yet educated to share that information. That said, I'm capable and willing to point cat owners in this direction if they wish to purchase Mutian for their FIP-diagnosed cats—and I have already done so several times. I often receive messages from distraught cat owners and, until recently, have had to tell them, “the trials are closed, and the drug still not commercially available.” It's the most difficult thing to say when I am fortunate to have a cured cat, but now, I no longer have to be the bearer of devastating news and can instead give them hope!
It's hard to say what the future holds for this GS441524 ever being legally available in the U.S. for veterinarians to prescribe and most people to afford. At best, there is a way to save cats if owners are financially able and FIP is caught and diagnosed in time. The cost for a 20-day supply of the Mutian ranges from $120 to $640 (once a day dosing) and the course of treatment is 84 days/12 weeks.
Thanks and credit go to Dr. Niels Pedersen, Professor Emeritus at UC Davis, for all his years of work and dedication to eradicating this horrible feline disease. We will be forever grateful for Luna’s survival. He's a brilliant researcher and veterinarian, and none of this would've been possible without him—for us or anyone, regardless of how the availability of this drug has played out. This is an exciting time and cause for celebration...Today we celebrate our sweet Luna's Third Birthday and a FIP Survivor!
We treasure every second we have with her and hope she continues to represent UC Davis, Dr. Pedersen, and EVO984/GS441524 for many years to come. Happy Third Birthday to our survivor!
Follow this link to read Luna’s full story!