What if there was a drug that was effective, safe and easy to adminster that would treat both feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and the virulent form of feline calicivirus (vs-FCV)?

Yunjeong Kim, a research assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, is heading up a multi-discipline team working on developing just that drug.

The project is being funded by grants from the Morris Animal Foundation and the Winn Feline Foundation, and is being conducted in collaboration with with Dr. Niels C. Pedersen at the University of California, Davis.

While infections with these pathogens are often mild and resolve on their own, they can become life-threatening. This is particularly true in animal shelter environments, where vs-FCV may have a death rate of nearly 70 percent.

“We are currently at an early stage and there will be many obstacles to overcome,” Kim said in a report posted on the KSU website. “But we are encouraged by the progress we are making toward the goal.”

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