5 April 2024
Boston, Massachusetts – In a medical breakthrough, the first person to receive a genetically modified pig kidney has been discharged from the hospital.
62-year-old Richard “Rick” Slyman underwent the successful four-hour surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital two weeks ago. He previously battled end-stage kidney disease and required dialysis.
This transplant marks a significant achievement in xenotransplantation, the use of animal organs in humans. Previous attempts with genetically modified pig organs had not been successful.
“I am happy to be able to spend time with my family and loved ones, free from the burden of dialysis,” said Slyman.
The genetically engineered pig kidney, developed by Eugenis, a Cambridge-based pharmaceutical company, was specifically designed for human compatibility. Doctors removed harmful pig genes and added human-compatible ones.
The success of this transplant offers hope for thousands of patients on waiting lists for organ transplants. In the United States alone, over 100,000 people need life-saving organ transplants, yet there are not enough donors.
While this is the first successful pig kidney transplant, it’s not the first attempt with pig organs.
Two prior heart transplants from pigs to humans were unsuccessful, with patients succumbing to immune system rejection weeks later.
This new development paves the way for further research and potentially larger clinical trials for xenotransplantation, offering a promising solution for the organ shortage crisis.
