Cat Parents in China Are Feeding COVID Pills to Their Cats to Beat Feline-Specific Coronavirus

In China, cat parents are turning to human Covid-19 antiviral medications to treat a deadly feline disease, giving new purpose to Merck & Co.’s Lagevrio in the post-pandemic era. This unexpected use targets Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), a fatal condition caused by a feline-specific coronavirus. Until recently, effective treatments for FIP were hard to come by, prompting pet owners to explore alternative solutions.

Social media platforms like Xiaohongshu, China’s equivalent of Instagram, have become hubs for cat owners sharing success stories about using Lagevrio to save their pets. Users are sharing their experience to help others find a cost-effective way to treat their cats and avoid hefty veterinary fees.

FIP, a disease that affects cats’ white blood cells and causes severe inflammation, is almost always fatal without intervention. One of the most promising treatments, GS-441524, developed by Gilead Sciences, remains unapproved by the FDA and is typically accessed through underground markets. Chinese cat parents often face steep prices and the risk of counterfeit drugs when trying to procure GS-441524.

Compared to GS-441524, human antiviral medications like Lagevrio offer a more affordable solution. A 40-pill bottle of Lagevrio, priced at approximately 1,725 yuan ($236), can treat multiple cats, making it a popular alternative. Some pet parents also supplement their cats’ diets with human nutritional products, citing the high cost of veterinary supplements.

Merck has not yet commented on this off-label use of its antiviral medication. Meanwhile, some Chinese pharmaceutical companies, including Henan Genuine Biotech Co. and Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Ltd., have begun producing cheaper domestic alternatives that cat parents are exploring.

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