The first recipient of a genetically modified pig kidney transplant has been discharged from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in the United States.
The 62-year-old patient, Richard “Rick” Slayman of Weymouth, Massachusetts, underwent the historic surgery two weeks ago and has now been sent home.
Mr. Slayman, who had been battling end-stage kidney disease, received the genetically edited pig kidney in a successful surgery on March 16th.
The four-hour operation was carried out on the man having being diagnosed of end-stage kidney disease. The Massachusetts General hospital said.
“The procedure marks a major milestone in the quest to provide more readily available organs to patients,” read a statement from the hospital known as Mass General, or MGH.
“Our hope is that this transplant approach will offer a lifeline to millions of patients worldwide who are suffering from kidney failure,” said Dr Tatsuo Kawai, a member of the team which carried out the ground-breaking operation.
Following the surgery, Mr. Slayman’s kidney is reported to be functioning well, and he is no longer reliant on dialysis.
Expressing his joy at being discharged, Mr. Slayman described it as “one of the happiest moments” of his life, emphasizing his excitement to resume normal activities and spend time with loved ones without the burden of dialysis.
The genetically modified pig kidney used in the transplant was developed by Cambridge-based pharmaceutical company eGenesis.
The kidney was modified to remove harmful pig genes and incorporate certain human genes, enhancing its compatibility with the human body.
This groundbreaking procedure, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, under an Expanded Access Protocol, offers hope for addressing the critical shortage of organ donors, particularly among ethnic minority communities.
While this is the first instance of a pig kidney being transplanted into a human, previous attempts with pig heart transplants have been less successful.
However, medical experts remain optimistic about the potential of pig organ transplants to save lives and alleviate the strain on organ donation waiting lists.
