Transplanted Pig Kidney Still Working After a Record-Setting 9 Months in a Patient

A woman in Cambridge, Massachusetts has been living with a pig kidney for more than nine months, a record-breaking achievement. The kidney, transplanted at Massachusetts General Hospital on November 22 last year, has been working for 285 days, according to biotech company eGenesis. Previously, the record was held by Tim Andrews, who survived with a pig kidney for 271 days before undergoing a human transplant.

Patients in need of a kidney transplant typically face long wait times, often three to five years, and frequently require dialysis during this period. Pig kidneys present an alternative, as they are similar in size and function to human organs and are being genetically edited to reduce the risk of rejection and transmission of pig viruses.

The woman receiving this record-breaking pig kidney is the fifth person to receive one through eGenesis' expanded access program, which allows patients with serious or life-threatening conditions to gain access to experimental treatments.

Mike Curtis, CEO of eGenesis, emphasizes that patients' health deteriorates significantly while on dialysis, and alternative solutions are urgently needed. The company's Crispr gene editing technology successfully removed immunogenic pig genes and added human genes to the organ. Andrews, the previous record-holder, showed improved health during his pig kidney tenure compared to continued dialysis.

To date, two people have successfully received human transplants after having a pig kidney for eight months, and eGenesis is conducting a formal trial with up to 33 patients on the waitlist for human kidney transplants. The FDA initially approved eGenesis to perform additional transplants under the expanded access pathway while awaiting formal trial approval in 2027. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve a year-long functioning period for transplanted pig kidneys.