Transplanted pig kidney functions for record nine months in patient

A pig kidney that was genetically engineered to reduce rejection survived for nine months after being transplanted into a human patient in a landmark trial in the United States. The patient, a 48‑year‑old woman with end‑stage kidney disease, received the organ in June 2023 at a hospital in Houston. The kidney, produced by a biotech company that used CRISPR to knock out several pig genes and insert human ones, has been functioning at roughly 70 percent of a healthy human kidney’s capacity, according to the transplant team.

Kidney failure is a growing crisis. In 2023, more than 1.3 million people in the United States were on the national transplant waiting list, yet only about 90,000 kidneys were available each year. The mismatch between supply and demand has left many patients in dialysis for years, with high mortality rates. The pig‑kidney trial was designed to test whether gene editing could make xenotransplantation a viable alternative, bypassing the shortage of human donors while still meeting the body’s immune tolerance requirements.

The trial followed a strict protocol approved by the FDA. The pig kidney was first screened in a lab for viral contamination and then surgically implanted into the patient. The transplant team monitored the patient’s immune response closely, administering immunosuppressants and anti‑viral drugs. At nine months, the kidney’s creatinine clearance was stable, and imaging showed no signs of rejection or infection. The patient reported fewer dialysis sessions and an improved quality of life. The team’s success has been hailed by experts as a significant step toward routine xenotransplantation.

If the kidney continues to function, the next phase will involve a larger clinical study to confirm safety and efficacy across a broader patient population. Regulatory bodies will scrutinize long‑term outcomes, including potential transmission of porcine viruses and the durability of the organ. Meanwhile, the biotech company plans to scale up production of genetically modified pigs, aiming to make the technology available to hospitals worldwide. The broader goal is to create a sustainable supply of organs that can reduce waiting times, lower dialysis costs, and ultimately save thousands of lives each year.