Early success in the first transplant of a pig kidney into a living person has raised researchers hopes for larger clinical trials involving pig organs. Such trials could bring “xenotransplantation”, the use of animal organs in human recipients, into the clinic.
The recipient of the pig kidney was a 62-year-old man with end-stage renal failure. He is recovering well after his surgery on 16 March, according to his transplant surgeon.
The kidney was taken from a miniature pig carrying a record 69 genomic edits, which were aimed at preventing rejection of the donated organ and reducing the risk that a virus lurking in the organ could infect the recipient.
Would you agree to have a pig organ transplant?