health

First successful Pig kidney transplant in human | What it means for the future

Early success in the inaugural transplant of a pig kidney into a human recipient has sparked optimism among researchers for broader clinical trials involving pig organs. These trials could pave the way for xenotransplantation, the utilization of animal organs in human patients, to become a viable medical option. The recipient of the pig kidney, 62-year-old Richard Slayman, who suffered from end-stage renal failure, is reportedly recovering well following his surgery on March 16th, as confirmed by his transplant surgeon. The kidney was sourced from a miniature pig carrying an impressive 69 genomic edits, aimed at minimizing organ rejection and mitigating the risk of viral transmission to the recipient. Luhan Yang, CEO of Qihan Biotech in Hangzhou, China, and a founder of eGenesis in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the biotech firm responsible for producing the genetically modified pigs, asserts that this case demonstrates the short-term safety and functionality of these organs as viable kidney replacements. Watch to know more

first published: Mar 27, 2024 03:07 pm