In China, cat owners are using Covid pills to treat fatal feline infection

Infamous for the origin and gradual global spread of Covid-19, China is now using the antivirals, used for treating the deadly virus, on cats as antidotes to treat Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), a fatal disease that had no available treatment until recently.

According to a recent report by local media outlet Jiemian, cat owners in China are making their furry friends pop Merck & Co, Inc’s COVID-19 antiviral drug Lagevrio as antidotes to FIP which is caused by a coronavirus that have been infecting them.

The success rate

Tens of thousands of cat lovers have been taking to Xiaohongshu, China’s version of Instagram, to share as well as discuss how the antiviral drugs saved their pets.

One of the users on Xiaohongshu said, “Covid-19 drugs for humans saved my cat’s life. I share the notes here to teach more people to save their furry babies and reduce the pain suffered by cats.”

According to a report by Bloomberg, apart from foreign antivirals, some pet owners in China have been opting for similar but cheaper Covid medicines developed by homegrown companies, including Henan Genuine Biotech Co, Ltd; Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Ltd, and Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co, Ltd.

But is Merck’s Covid drug fit for cats

The Bloomberg report mentioned a spokesperson for Merck as saying that the company has not tested the drug on cats and also does not have a plan to do so.

Then why people in China are using Covid drug for humans on cats

As per Bloomberg report, there is no specific treatment available for FIP until recently. Some antiviral drugs have proved to be effective, but they are not widely accessible.

The reason for using Covid drugs for humans on cats were specified by people on Chinese social media with many complaining the antiviral is too expensive and they have to rely on informal networks to purchase GS-441524, developed by Gilead Sciences, which often cost tens of thousands of yuan.

Many have also pointed out that they have been sold a fake version from black market sellers.

“Human Covid antivirals are much more affordable,” they said.

A 40-pill bottle of Lagevrio costs around 1,725 yuan ($236) online, and is sufficient to treat more than one cats.

“I don’t understand why medicines for pets are so expensive,” a user mentioned on Xiaohongshu. “You just need to adjust the dosage of human medicines if you are going to use them on cats.”

Apart from the drugs, cat owners in China are also administering their pets nutritional supplements developed for humans as they are comparatively cheaper than veterinary drugs.

What is Feline Infectious Peritonitis?

FIP is a viral disease caused by the so-called feline coronavirus that infects white blood cells before spreading throughout a cat’s body, causing inflammatory reactions. The disease is fatal without treatment.

FIP is unique to cats, and not contagious to people, or other animals.