ABCD updates FIP treatment guidance as antivirals reshape care

Feline infectious peritonitis is no longer being framed as an almost uniformly fatal diagnosis in the latest European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases guidance. In a 2026 update published in Viruses, the ABCD says effective antivirals, especially oral GS-441524, have fundamentally changed the outlook for cats with FIP, which it now describes as treatable and often curable. The revised guidance updates treatment recommendations across GS-441524, remdesivir, molnupiravir, and EIDD-1931, and adds practical advice on monitoring, prognostic indicators, and drug selection in settings where legal access varies by country. (eprints.gla.ac.uk)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, the update reflects how quickly FIP care is moving from rescue medicine to more standardized clinical management. The guideline favors oral GS-441524 when available, notes that remdesivir still has a role when oral treatment isn't feasible, and highlights that higher doses may be needed for ocular or neurologic disease. It also points to emerging evidence that some cats with effusive FIP may do just as well with 42 days of oral GS-441524 as with the long-standing 84-day course, a finding with obvious implications for cost, adherence, and stress on cats and pet parents. At the same time, the document flags safety and stewardship concerns, including reports of uroliths linked to unregulated products and ongoing caution around molnupiravir-related mutagenesis concerns. (abcdcatsvets.org)

What to watch: Expect close attention on whether shorter-course protocols, legally sourced compounded products, and resistance stewardship reshape everyday FIP treatment recommendations over the next year. (wormsandgermsblog.com)