Transplanted pig kidney works in US man’s body for record 271 days
A 66‑year‑old man in Massachusetts called Tim Andrews received a pig kidney on 25 January 2025 that functioned for 271 days before being removed, the longest duration for a xenotransplant on record. The organ, harvested from a Yucatan miniature pig engineered with 69 genomic edits, worked immediately and allowed Andrews to avoid dialysis for months.
Scientists modify pig organs to remove key antigens and insert human DNA to hide the tissue from the immune system and curb viral infections. Pilot trials show the pig kidney initially met all filtration demands, but after about six months the blood vessels began to damage and inflame, ultimately leading to removal. The patient then underwent a short dialysis period of 82 days before receiving a human donor kidney in January next year.
Doctors emphasize that xenotransplantation could serve as a bridge for those with no living donors. “We are in a crisis,” said Dr Leonardo Riella of Mass General Brigham. “Blending animal organs with human-compatible design may help keep patients alive while waiting for a human transplant.”
The case underlines both the promise and the remaining challenges of clinical xenotransplantation: immune rejection, vascular complications, and ethical considerations. While the pig kidney did not survive the long term, it offered crucial hours of life‑saving function and highlights the need for continued research into sustainable organ solutions.
This breakthrough could reduce reliance on scarce human organs, lessen the environmental burden of organ harvest, and potentially shift the transplant industry toward more equitable and greener practices in the future.
