Drugs, from Gemmato ok to veterinary use against Covid that saves cats

Circular signed to allow use of Remdesivir for the treatment of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)

"I signed the explanatory circular, addressed to veterinarians and pharmacists, institutions and all operators in the sector involved, which authorizes the use in derogation of the drug Veklury, based on remdesivir, for the treatment of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)." This was announced by the Undersecretary of Health, Marcello Gemmato. "As promised last May 20, we are keeping the commitment made to millions of Italian families who live with a cat, and to the world of volunteers, catteries and professionals who have been waiting for years for a concrete response to combat a disease with a very high lethality and for which an effective cure is available", continues Gemmato.

Remdesivir, contained in the human medicine Veklury, can now be prescribed 'in derogation' by the veterinarian via electronic veterinary prescription (Rev), exclusively for the treatment of FIP and under his direct responsibility. "We are overcoming the limit of use of remdesivir to the human field and to anti-Covid hospital use", says the undersecretary. "A possible passage permitted by the current regulations, as I anticipated in recent days. I thank AIFA and the competent General Directorate of the Ministry of Health who immediately took action on my initiative and who quickly identified a solution. We are thus anticipating by more than a year the deadline set by EU regulation 2024/1973 which provides that remdesivir is permitted for the treatment of FIP in cats starting from 8 August 2026", explains the undersecretary.

"We had made a specific commitment and today we are keeping it. This measure is a concrete response to protect animal health, an integral part of public health and our collective well-being and to protect our little friends", concludes Undersecretary Gemmato. FIP is a viral disease with high mortality (up to 96%) that until now has not had an authorized therapy in the veterinary field. The supply of remdesivir can now take place at wholesalers or veterinary pharmacies, as provided for by Article 23 of Legislative Decree 7 December 2023, no. 218.