Wedgewood announces FIP treatment

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Wedgewood shared earlier today that it has added molnupiravir to its formulary. The medication was first developed to treat human viral infections, including COVID-19 but has recently shown promise for treating feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).

The addition makes Wedgewood the first United States veterinary compounding pharmacy to offer feline-friendly formulations of molnupiravir, according to an organizational release.¹ The treatment will also be available in various doses to fight against multiple forms of the diseases, including effusive, noneffusive, neurological, and ocular. Molnupiravir will be available in:

• 50mg/ml and 100mg/ml Flavored Oral Oil Suspensions
• 25mg, 40mg, 50mg, 60mg, 70mg and 80mg Capsules

"At Wedgewood, we are always looking for innovative treatment options that truly make a difference. The introduction of molnupiravir for FIP is a significant step forward in addressing an often devastating disease. By offering feline-friendly formulations like fish- and chicken-flavored oral liquids, we give veterinarians more tools to help their patients recover and improve their quality of life. We’re excited to see the impact this treatment will have on the cats and pet owners we serve" said Alejandro Bernal, DVM and CEO of Wedgewood, in the release.¹

Toward the end of 2023, the Wedgewood product team met with FIP Global Cats to begin exploring treatment options under study for FIP with 2 studies prompting Wedgewood to pursue molnupiravir. A study published in the American College of Veterinary Medicine’s Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine conducted by Okihiro Sase from the You-Me Animal Clinic in Japan reported considerable remission from the majority of the cats that were treated with molnupiravir.² Sase also noted that those 18 cats, presented with minimal side effects.

The research conducted by Sase aligned with a different study investing molnupiravir’s potential as a primary and rescue treatment for patients with FIP. This study identified 80 potential participants through FIP support groups and social media and 37 survey invitations were sent to participants with available contact information.³ Thirty-three surveys were submitted and 22 participants received follow-up emails. After multiple follow-ups and requests for additional information, 30 cats were selected for this study.

Once completed, the study disclosed that this treatment appears to be effective for suspected FIP, both as a first-line and rescue therapy. The researchers also noted minimal reported side effects at the dosage they used, 12-15 mg/kg every 12 hours, and showed the possibility of survival with the clinical remission signs of FIP.³

“The availability of compounded molnupiravir marks a significant advancement in FIP treatment for cats in the US. With its proven safety and efficacy in both published and ongoing studies, molnupiravir has already demonstrated its value in countries where it's legally available, notably in curbing the FIP outbreak in Cyprus,” expressed Nicole Jaques, cofounder of FIP Global CATS.¹

“Critically, it serves as a vital rescue option for cats that may have developed resistance to other antivirals. FIP Global CATS is elated that US veterinarians and cat owners now have access to this powerful treatment. We're confident this development brings us closer to our goal of making safe, effective, and affordable regulated FIP treatment the standard of care worldwide,” she continued.

Molnupiravir is available at Wedgewood in dosages of 10-20 mg/kg, based on international veterinary research, and tailored to meet the needs of individual feline patients. Anyone interested in learning more or accessing educational resources about molunpiravir can visit the Wedgewood website.

Reference

1. Wedgewood Launches Compounded Molnupiravir for the Treatment of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). News release. Wedgewood. September 19, 2024. Accessed September 19, 2024. https://www.wedgewood.com/newsroom/wedgewood-launches-compounded-molnupiravir-for-the-treatment-of-feline-infectious-peritonitis-fip-/
2. Sase O. Molnupiravir treatment of 18 cats with feline infectious peritonitis: A case series. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2023;37(5):1876-1880. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16832
3. Roy M, Jacque N, Novicoff W, Li E, Negash R, Evans SJM. Unlicensed Molnupiravir is an Effective Rescue Treatment Following Failure of Unlicensed GS-441524-like Therapy for Cats with Suspected Feline Infectious Peritonitis. Pathogens. 2022;11(10):1209. Published 2022 Oct 20. doi:10.3390/pathogens11101209