T-Cyte Treatment for FeLV & FIV Cats?

roods ranch

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Anybody out there used this product? My vet & I are looking at treatment options for Howie - who at this time is in fine health regardless of his FeLV/FIV status - just planning ahead. She suggested I check out this site(tcyte.com) - she's never used the product as when it was initially released, it was cost prohibitive for most owners. She wanted to know if I'd be interested in her getting prices etc., but I can't find any independent studies of this product or any owners out there giving it a thumbs up or down for that matter!
 

ldg

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Can the vet get a hold of the clinical studies that were done to receive the approval for the product?

I don't know if your vet wants to take the steps necessary to import an unapproved product, but there is a company in Malaysia that has developed a drug that appears to cure both FIV and FeLV (and a number of other things. The drug is a new approach to treating viruses altogether - a serious biomedical breakthrough if it proves out. But it is curing cats and dogs of parvovirus, calcivirus, FIV and FeLV - just no large clinical trials behind it, they're looking for funding):

http://www.furryfriendsfarm.org.my/in-the-press/retromad1-new-drug-packs-big-promise/

My husband and I were in touch with the company to see if we could help them bring the product to the US for trials. The parent company sold the drug development rights for use in people to a larger company. The last we knew, they were in talks with a large university for animal drug development. Here's news on the people-drug development: http://archive.biospectrumasia.com/content/040112OTH17840.asp

This is the company: http://biosatria.com/

WOW! I just searched again, and there's an update on the drug posted February 22nd at fivtherapy.com!!! http://www.fivtherapy.com/fiv_news.htm

And here's one of the original blogs on it: http://blog.lepak.com/2011/02/au-tests-retromad1-new-wonder-drug_24.html
 

simplyamanda

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I'm also trying to find pet owners who have used LTCI for FeLV.  I've talked to several scientists and vets associated with the drug; however, I cannot find an actual pet owner who has used it let alone had success with it.  My kitty, Polli, was recently diagnosed and it doesn't look very good; she's already suffering from severe anemia.  This is my second cat to fall ill with FeLV.  The other was ten years ago.  It's difficult to believe that within a decade, there hasn't been any breakthroughs--at least none that I can find online.

Too bad the above mentioned drug is only available in Malaysia.  I'm not looking for a cure, I just need something to help Polli fight this horrid virus.

-Amanda
 

white shadow

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Hi SimplyAmanda, and welcome to the forum!

There are specialized online groups for almost every chronic feline health condition, and there are (at least) two dealing with FeLV.

These are well established groups which, over many years, have gathered best care and maintenance practices and stay on top of the most recent developments in treatments. If one of mine were FeLV+, I would be involved in both groups.

The first can be found here http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org and is a natural offshoot of this website http://www.felineleukemia.org/

The second is here http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/FeLVPositiveCats/ and has been functioning for the last 13 years.

Both use email messages as their operating platform. I find that getting and using a new email address for each of these groups helps me to best manage the back and forth messages.

Hope this helps you and Polli!
 

eecbrooklyn

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I know this is an old thread, but I figured my reply may still be relevant.

I currently administer LTCI from T-Cyte to my FIV+ cat and I will say it works very well for her case.

She showed up in the hallway of my building, about a year old, pregnant, and must have only a day or two before been infected, because she had tested negative for FIV at her initial vet visit. She had two kittens, one was a stillborn (at this point we were still under the impression she did not have FIV - now it makes more sense), then about 8 weeks after her pregnancy fell very, very ill. The vet re-tested her just as a precaution and she ended up being FIV+. We spent about 3 months trying to get her healthy again, but she kept relapsing, it was a struggle to keep her fever down and her blood counts were all over the place. As a last ditch effort the vet suggested the LTCI. She gave me fair warning I could be spending a lot of money on something that wouldn't work, but it was worth the try (I'd already sunk more than a few paychecks into this cat...what was one more).

We started according to the directions, one shot, seven days later another, then 14 days later another, etc... I tried to push it to 6-8 weeks between shots, but she started getting gingivitis, which I know is a sign of a depressed immune system, so I have found her lucky number is one shot every 4 weeks. She is now a completely normal cat, really playful and happy (except when I'm giving her a shot of course). I know results differ from cat to cat, but I'm pretty sure her entire health and happiness is dependent upon this therapy. It is quite expensive, but in this case it is worth it.

Her blood counts aren't 100% normal, but they are almost there. It took a while, but at her last exam she was no long anaemic. We've been giving her this treatment for one year.

I was skeptical at first, especially since T-Cyte has a very firm grip on their PR, it's difficult to find information that is not provided by the company itself, but I'd say if you are running out of options, it is worth a try. We started seeing significant improvement in her health after about 3 shots.
 

jcornman

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Its good to hear you've found something that works. Lost a cat to this around 50 years ago, before it even had a name.  I remember it tore Dad up pretty bad, he'd gotten very attached to that cat.  I'm really happy for you.  Seems like ages since I had heard any positive news connected to FIV.
 

steve smith

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We rescued a mom cat nursing 7 kittens. We tested the mom and she came back FIV positive as did 2 of the kittens. We did in depth blood work so we know it was not a false positive. our vet called the vet who invented this . The moms levels were very low and she weighed 6 lbs. We did the shots per the protocol and re tested her a month later . her levels were higher but not much.  We did another 2 shots and re tested her again.  Her levels no w are better then a non fiv cat and she weighs 12lbs . Our vet said if he did not know she had FIV he would not suspect it. we just retested the kittens and they both came back negative . I would say this drug does work and works well.  Our shots were 90 per dose so its not cheap but cats are our kids .
 

holly shurin

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Hi.  I just started getting LTCI administered.  He has had two doses so far, and I I am already seeing improvement!  He is a young cat, only 8 months.  He had his first shot and then the next one on the 7th day.  Then he will get one on the 14 day, and I believe he will get one monthly after that.  He has FIV.  I am so pleased with this product!!
 

rumi2013

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Hi Amanda,

I have had some success with LTCI.  My cat was severely anemic and I think it was autoimmune in origin ( he is felv/fiv + ) .  We started to stabilize him with prednisilone as his numbers were so low. We added LTCI 3 weeks into his pred treatment and the number of red cells are now up by several million, the red cells are much smaller ( a good thing ) and his hematocrit is now up to 37 as we tapper the pred.  All this after jsut 4 doses of LTCI.  He had a similar anemia last year and he did not respond this well with pred alone.

Just be prepared that often cell lines drop immediately after ltci injections as the infected cells are killed off, but within a week everything so far is better that previous blood work.  The LTCI also has helped with his chronic herpes virus - his eyes are so much better than with with lysine alone!

Hope this is helpful,

Sally
 

grantrth

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My cat was diagnosed with FIV 12 months ago. Since that time he has been sick once - a throat infection. He recovered very quickly once treated. I'm considering LTCI treatment for him (very expensive here in Thailand - about $US2,000 for 3 months initial treatment). The vets here no nothing about this treatment other than it is available here in Thailand.
Are you able to tell me what follow up treatment is required. The vet I'm in contact with seems to think it's just the 3 month course of injections. Nothing more after that. Im thinking there must be "booster" shots.
How is your cat doing?
Thanks
GRANT
 

holly shurin

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Hi Grant.  Yes, there are continuous injections after the initial loading doses.  You are your vet can decide what works best for the pet.  My cat has been getting the follow-ups about every month and half to two months or so at this point.  I get his CBCs done every so often, but there has not been a drastic increase in his numbers at this point.  HOWEVER, they aren't going down, either!=)

Holly
 

suzie looo

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Hi. I just read the posting and I know is and old thread. My 2 kitties are on t-cyte and thet are doing very well.
 

holly shurin

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HI Suzie.  Did their white blood cells go up?  How long that they have their disease and how long have they been on the medication?

Holly
 

suzie looo

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Hi Holly,

Yes the blood count did increase works after the full course. of 3 injections. I did the blood work before and after and the blood count did go up. It has been 1 year since the injections and i just did another blood work and the results are still amazing.  I have not done any further  injections after the 1st full course. According to my vet, there is no need yet as the results are good. You can PM me if you have any further queries. 
 

suzie looo

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Dear Holly,

I forgot... i only discovered that they have the FIV  early last year
 

holly shurin

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I am very happy for you, but very sad for me.  It really hasn't made a lot of different, and he has been on it about 9 months.  At least it is keeping him stable.  He is FIV pos. and had a very hard start growing up with malnutrition and infection.  He is only 6.5 lbs and is over a year old now.
 

suzie looo

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Holly,

The reason I am asking is coz I am also now using other alternatives which seems to help boost kitty's immune system. Maybe if u are interested, I can share with u but privately...
 
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