A Third Person Has Received a Transplant of a Genetically Engineered Pig Kidney

An Alabama woman has go the 3rd idiosyncratic to person a kidney transplant from a genetically engineered pig, her doctors announced Tuesday.

Towana Looney, 53, is disconnected of kidney dialysis aft undergoing the process astatine NYU Langone Health connected November 25. She was discharged from the infirmary connected December 6, and her doctors accidental she is successful bully health. Her country is the latest successful a bid of akin procedures known arsenic xenotransplantation, the signifier of transplanting organs from 1 taxon to another.

More than 103,000 radical successful the United States are connected the waiting database for a transplant, with the immense bulk of those needing a kidney. With quality donor organs successful abbreviated supply, immoderate researchers are exploring the usage of pigs arsenic a imaginable source.

“I americium overjoyed,” Looney said astatine a property league Tuesday morning. “I’m blessed to person received this gift, a 2nd accidental astatine life.”

Earlier this year, surgeons carried retired pig kidney transplants successful surviving radical for the archetypal time. In March, 62-year-old Richard Slayman made past erstwhile helium received a kidney from a genetically engineered pig astatine Massachusetts General Hospital. He was discharged from the infirmary and was initially doing well, but helium died astir 2 months aft the transplant. In a statement released by the hospital, his aesculapian squad said determination was nary denotation that his decease was the effect of his transplant. In November, Slayman’s surgeon said his decease was caused by an “unexpected cardiac event,” and determination was nary motion that his assemblage had rejected the organ.

In the second attempt, this April, 54-year-old Lisa Pisano received some a kidney and thymus gland from a genetically engineered pig aft getting a mechanical bosom pump implanted days prior. The summation of the thymus, a tiny organ successful the precocious thorax that’s portion of the immune system, was meant to assistance forestall rejection. That country was besides performed astatine NYU Langone. But 47 days aft the transplant, her doctors elected to region the pig kidney pursuing respective episodes of the bosom pump not being capable to walk capable humor done her caller kidney. The kidney needs dependable humor travel truthful that it tin nutrient urine and filter waste. Without it, Pisano’s kidney was failing. She died successful July.

Two individuals antecedently received bosom transplants from genetically engineered pigs, the archetypal successful January 2022 and a second successful September 2023, some astatine the University of Maryland. Those patients died little than 2 months aft their surgeries and were excessively sick to permission the hospital.