Genetically Modified Pig Kidney Sets Record as Bridge to Human Transplant

A 66 year old man named Tim Andrews has set a record by living with a genetically modified pig kidney for 271 days. The procedure, performed at Mass General Brigham in the US, served as a bridge to a successful human kidney transplant. Andrews suffered from end stage kidney disease caused by type 2 diabetes and faced a high risk of dying while on the waiting list for a human organ. The pig kidney, sourced from a Yucatan miniature pig named Wilma, underwent 69 genomic modifications to prevent immune rejection and disable potential viruses. According to a report in the Lancet medical journal, the organ functioned immediately but eventually failed after approximately nine months due to damage in the blood vessels. Following the removal of the pig kidney and a short period of dialysis, Andrews received a human donor kidney in January of this year, which has continued to work well. Medical professionals state that xenotransplantation could address the critical shortage of human organs, as thousands of people remain on waiting lists in the US and UK. While center left and center sources frame the event as a medical milestone and a source of hope for patients, a center left source also notes that the outcome reflected intensive specialist care that may not be available to all patients. Additionally, biotech company eGenesis reports that another patient, a woman, has since surpassed the 271 day mark, functioning for 285 days as of a recent update.