Researchers at Mass General Brigham hospital reported that a kidney transplanted from a genetically engineered pig successfully functioned in a patient for 271 days, setting a new record for xenotransplantation. The patient, Tim Andrews, received the procedure on January 25, 2025, at age 66 after being diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease resulting from type 2 diabetes. The transplanted organ began functioning immediately and provided the patient relief from the need for regular dialysis treatments, which typically require multiple hospital visits per week.
The pig kidney was eventually removed in October that year after experiencing complications, though the exact cause of the failure remains unclear despite the absence of antibody-mediated rejection. Following the removal, Andrews required 82 days of dialysis before receiving a human donor kidney in January of this year, which continues to function well. Medical professionals describe the case as demonstrating both the potential and ongoing challenges in clinical xenotransplantation.
Pigs have emerged as the preferred animal source for xenotransplantation due to their organ size compatibility with humans and extensive farming experience. The organs used in research undergo significant genetic modification—approximately 69 alterations—to reduce immune rejection risk. These modifications remove pig cell features that human immune systems recognize as foreign, introduce human genetic sequences to camouflage pig tissue, and disable dormant viruses present in pig DNA.
The shortage of available organs for transplant remains acute globally. In the United States, approximately 100,000 people await kidney transplants while only about 25,000 transplants occur annually. Andrews was initially told he could face a seven-year wait for a human kidney despite individuals on dialysis having an average life expectancy of five years. Similar pressures exist in the United Kingdom, where more than 7,000 patients are on kidney transplant waiting lists. Medical leaders characterize the situation as a transplant crisis, with xenotransplantation potentially serving as a temporary bridge for patients without living donors until human organs become available.
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