Luna: The First FIP-Surviving GS-441524 Clinical Trial Cat Turned Four Today - 1/9/2021!
Savannah Cat “Luna” Was the First Privately Owned Cat to Survive Feline Infectious Peritonitis with the Drug GS-441524 (formerly called EVO984) UCDavis with Dr. Niels Pedersen in April 2017.
I recall when Luna was first diagnosed with FIP and how we were so lucky UCDavis was starting this new drug trial. I’ve shared all the details of how I found the trial and the events leading up to our trip to California in my main article (link is at the bottom). I’ll reiterate this: It truly was the “perfect storm” how it all came to be.
I’ll never forget flying from Ohio to California last-minute with a lethargic, 105 degree fevered 14-week old kitten, knowing this was a longshot attempt to save her. I remember meeting Dr. Pedersen and his team in the lobby the second we arrived and sitting in a small room while he explained in scientific detail how the drug worked, drawing a whiteboard diagram. After that, we went to the room where Luna would spend the next five days…she’d either come home with us or succumb to FIP there. Leaving her in that little room all alone and scared was very hard for us. For five days, we visited once a day, while trying to find things to occupy our time (not too hard to do in sunny beautiful California, but hard to enjoy due to the circumstances). Each day we visited, we saw a vast improvement and a little more hope. We took home to Ohio, a seemingly thriving, maybe even on the road to a cure, kitten—after just five days!
We held our breath for months after that final injection (84 days of injections, to be exact). Before we knew it, Luna was a year old, the first milestone. Then came July 2018, the first anniversary of her final injection. Things were really looking promising by this time and more cats were coming out of the trial with the same results!
So far, so good, but what happens if she contracts coronavirus again? Would it mutate this time too? Would her body be able to fight it a second time? Would something else make her sick because her immune system was possibly compromised? The answer to all those questions is “no.” From as far as we can tell, Luna is simply a healthy cat with no underlying time bombs to reignite the scourge of FIP.
We did have a scare a few months ago when she had a terrible upper respiratory and eye infection. It lasted for weeks and took a toll on her. We watched her like a hawk and visited the vet three times, including the clinic at Ohio State University when she couldn’t stop sneezing, was lethargic, and disinterested in food. We consulted with Dr. Pedersen once again, who I’m sure waited with bated breath right along with us until she turned the corner. That was her first illness of any sort since having FIP. She kicked it and is back to her “Savandalism, Savannahgans, and Savantics”! Say that a few times fast!
IMPORTANT LINKS TO VISIT
If you’re new to Luna’s story, you can read all about her journey here https://pethelpful.com/cats/Hope-for-Feline-Infectious-Peritonitis-aka-FIP-Lunas-Story.
If you want to know more about FIP research at UCDavis and FIP, you’ll find many past articles here at www.runwyld.life/fip.
If you want to follow Luna on Instagram, her link is https://www.instagram.com/luna_fip_survivor_and_co/.
Most importantly, UCDavis still needs help funding future trials. The path is paved, and the drugs work! It can only get better from here! Visit www.sockfip.org to donate.
If you suspect your cat may have FIP, download my FIP checklist. I made this with Dr. Pedersen and other's references. It can help your vet (especially those while still believe FIP is a death sentence) determine if you're dealing with FIP or a differential diagnosis. https://www.runwyld.life/free-printable-items/fipdiagnosticchecklist
For options for current FIP treatment, visit this website www/fipslayer.com.
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