Researchers at the Parker Hughes Cancer Center in St. Paul, MN studied the effect of the drug stampidine in cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Stampidine, an anti-viral agent, was found to significantly lower the amount of virus detectable in the treated cats. The drug was given orally in several different dosage ranges and found to be effective, with no side effects. Research is ongoing to determine the correct dose and necessary length of treatment. It is hoped the drug will also be found useful in people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS.

-Uckun, FM; Chen, CL; Samuel, P; Pendergrass, S; Venkatachalam, TK; Waurzyniak, B; Qazi, S. In vivo antiretroviral activity of stampidine in chronically feline immunodeficiency virus-infected cats. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2003, April 47(4); 1233-1240.