Massachusetts General Hospital Performs Second Groundbreaking Xenotransplant of Genetically-Edited Pig Kidney into Living Recipient
BOSTON – Feb 7, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), a founding member of the Mass General Brigham health care system, announced the successful completion of its second transplant of a genetically-edited pig (porcine) kidney into a living recipient (xenotransplant). The 2.5-hour procedure was performed on Saturday, January 25, by surgeons at the Mass General Transplant Center.
The pig kidney was provided by eGenesis of Cambridge, Mass., from a pig donor that was genetically-edited using CRISPR-Cas9 technology to remove harmful pig genes and add certain human genes to improve its compatibility with humans.
The recipient, 66-year-old Tim Andrews of Concord, N.H., has been on dialysis for more than two years due to end-stage kidney disease (EKSD). The treatment took a significant toll on his daily life, leaving him feeling constantly fatigued and unable to keep up with his usual activities. In addition to the daily struggles of dialysis, Andrews faced severe complications, including a heart attack in July 2023. His path to a kidney transplant was further complicated by his O-group blood type, which significantly extended his wait time. While most patients wait 3 to 5 years for a kidney, those with O-positive or O-negative blood types often wait 5 to 10 years, making their chances of receiving a donor organ even more difficult.
Andrews is now the fourth person in the world to receive a genetically-edited pig kidney and is one of two people currently living with one.
more than 100,000 people in the U.S. await an organ for transplant and 17 people die each day waiting for an organ.
https://www.massgeneral.org/news/press-release/mgh-performs-second-xenotransplant-of-genetically-edited-pig-kidney-into-living-recipient