# Cat Drug Black Market: How FIP Forced Owners too Seek Unapproved treatments
A growing movement of cat owners turned to a clandestine online network to access life-saving medication for their pets, highlighting a critical gap in veterinary care and sparking change.
In 2023, Marlena Arjo welcomed a one-eyed kitten named Otto into her home. Describing him as having a “chaotic personality,” Arjo quickly discovered OttoS mischievous side – a penchant for destroying houseplants, books, and even calendars. Though, the playful chaos soon gave way to a far more serious concern. Within months,Otto became ill and stopped eating,leading Arjo to a veterinarian with devastating news: Otto had feline infectious peritonitis,or FIP.
The Deadly Reality of FIP
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Feline infectious peritonitis is a disease that, until recently, was almost universally fatal. The disease manifests in two primary forms – “wet” FIP, characterized by fluid buildup in the abdomen or chest, and “dry” FIP, which presents with a wider range of symptoms. For years, a definitive cure remained elusive, leaving veterinarians with limited options for treatment and a grim prognosis for infected cats.
Arjo’s veterinarian delivered the heartbreaking news that there was nothing the clinic could do. but then came a surprising suggestion. “I shouldn’t tell you this,” Arjo recalled the vet saying, “But incidentally speaking, you can get drugs for this if you go to this Facebook group.”
The Rise of the Black Market
This revelation led Arjo, and countless other desperate pet owners, into a hidden world: a cat drug black market. Driven by the lack of approved treatments for FIP,a network of individuals began sourcing and distributing unapproved antiviral medications,primarily GS-441524,originally developed for humans. This drug, and its more bioavailable form, GS-441524, showed remarkable efficacy in treating FIP in preliminary studies, but remained unavailable through traditional veterinary channels.
The black market operated largely through Facebook groups and online forums, connecting owners with suppliers who frequently enough imported the drugs from overseas. While offering a lifeline for many cats, the system was fraught with risks. The quality and authenticity of the medications were often uncertain,and the lack of veterinary oversight raised concerns about proper dosage and potential side effects.
A Fight for Change
The story of the cat drug black market, detailed this week on the Reveal podcast in partnership with Hyperfixed, is a testament to the power of dedicated pet owners. Faced with a heartbreaking situation, they refused to accept the status quo. Through relentless advocacy, fundraising, and collaboration with researchers, these individuals pressured veterinary pharmaceutical companies and regulatory bodies to expedite the approval process for FIP treatments.
Their efforts have yielded meaningful results.In recent years, several countries have approved GS-441524 for veterinary use, offering a legitimate and regulated pathway to treatment. This progress is steadily
