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Transplanted Pig Kidney Still Working After a Record-Setting 9 Months in a Patient
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- DeepHorus
A woman has successfully lived with a transplanted pig kidney for a record-setting 285 days, marking a significant milestone in xenotransplantation. The procedure was performed at Massachusetts General Hospital on November 22 of the previous year. The organ, genetically edited by biotech firm eGenesis, has functioned without the need for dialysis, surpassing the prior record of 271 days set by patient Tim Andrews. This achievement offers a promising potential solution for the thousands of people facing long waits for a human donor kidney.
The development addresses a critical shortage of human organs. In the United States, more than 95,000 people are currently waiting for a kidney, yet fewer than 28,000 transplants were performed in 2025. While waiting, patients often rely on grueling dialysis treatments. This can cause significant long-term health damage, making the等待 for a compatible human organ particularly perilous.
eGenesis utilized CRISPR gene-editing technology to modify the pig organ. The scientists removed genes that could trigger a violent immune response in humans and introduced a set of human genes. The goal is to prevent rejection and create a viable alternative to dialysis for patients whose health declines the longer they wait. This woman is the fifth individual to receive such an organ under a special FDA expanded access pathway for experimental treatments.
Previous cases have demonstrated both the potential and limitations of the technology. Tim Andrews, who received a pig kidney, saw a radical improvement in his health but ultimately had the organ removed after eight months due to declining function. He subsequently received a successful human transplant. eGenesis notes that a second patient also transitioned to a human kidney after an eight-month pig organ support period.
Data from Andrews' case, published in The Lancet, has provided crucial insights. Researchers determined his pig kidney failed due to thrombotic microangiopathy, or tiny blood clots. The surgical team is now using this information to adjust immunosuppressant medication protocols for future recipients. The pursuit of this therapy is critical as patients' odds of receiving a human transplant often do not rise fast enough to meet their declining health.
The FDA has approved eGenesis to conduct a formal clinical trial with up to 33 kidney failure patients between 2027. In the interim, the company plans to perform additional transplants under the expanded access program. Each successful procedure refines the technology, bringing the promise of pig kidneys closer to becoming a standard bridge therapy for those in dire need of a transplant.
