Wedgewood Pharmacy has officially added molnupiravir to its formulary, offering a new option for the treatment of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). Originally developed to treat viral infections in humans, including COVID-19, molnupiravir is now recognized as a promising therapeutic option for FIP, a serious and often fatal disease that affects approximately 15,000 cats in the U.S. each year. The addition of molnupiravir to Wedgewood’s formulary provides veterinarians and cat owners with a new tool to combat the different forms of FIP, which include Effusive, Non-effusive, Neurological, and Ocular manifestations.
Wedgewood is the first veterinary compounding pharmacy in the U.S. to offer feline-friendly formulations of molnupiravir. These include 50mg/ml and 100mg/ml flavored oral oil suspensions and capsules in various doses (25mg, 40mg, 50mg, 60mg, 70mg, and 80mg), designed to meet the specific needs of cats suffering from different stages of FIP.
The decision to pursue molnupiravir followed a meeting between Wedgewood’s product team and FIP Global Cats in late 2023. Two pivotal studies informed this move: one by Dr. Okihiro Sase from the You-Me Animal Clinic in Japan, which demonstrated significant remission in 18 cats treated with molnupiravir with minimal side effects, and another by researchers including Meagan Roy, Nicole Jacque, and others. These studies highlighted molnupiravir’s potential as both a primary and rescue treatment for FIP. However, Wedgewood clarifies that its formulation is different from the drugs used in these studies and makes no claims about the safety or efficacy of its version.
Dr. Alejandro Bernal, DVM, CEO of Wedgewood Pharmacy, expressed the importance of this new offering: “At Wedgewood, we constantly seek innovative treatments that can truly make a difference. The introduction of molnupiravir for FIP is a major step forward in fighting a disease that devastates so many cats. With our feline-friendly formulations, we’re giving veterinarians more tools to help improve the quality of life for their patients. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this treatment will have on cats and their owners.”
Nicole Jacque, Co-Founder of FIP Global Cats, also emphasized the importance of the new availability in the U.S.: “The availability of compounded molnupiravir is a significant breakthrough for FIP treatment in the U.S. It has already shown safety and effectiveness in both published and ongoing studies, particularly in countries like Cyprus, where it helped curb a major FIP outbreak. Importantly, molnupiravir provides a crucial rescue option for cats resistant to other antiviral treatments. FIP Global Cats is thrilled that U.S. veterinarians and cat owners now have access to this powerful treatment, bringing us closer to making safe and effective FIP treatments widely available.”
Wedgewood’s molnupiravir is available in dosages ranging from 10-20 mg/kg, tailored to the specific needs of each feline patient. This personalized approach ensures that every cat receives the best possible chance at recovery.
