Patient lives nine months without dialysis after receiving genetically edited pig kidney
A 66-year-old man with end-stage kidney disease survived 271 days off dialysis after a genetically modified pig kidney was transplanted into him, the longest such outcome recorded.
In January 2025, Tim Andrews, 66, with kidney failure caused by type-2 diabetes, underwent transplantation of a kidney from a genetically engineered Yucatan miniature pig at a Mass General Brigham facility. The organ immediately began working and kept him off dialysis for 271 days, the longest dialysis-free period after a pig-to-human kidney transplant. After about six months, blood-vessel damage led to organ failure, prompting removal of the pig kidney and a return to short-term dialysis, followed by a human donor kidney transplant.
The findings, detailed in The Lancet, highlight xenotransplantation’s promise as a temporary solution for patients on long waiting lists. Earlier similar procedures yielded shorter survival, including a 2024 case that ended in death from unrelated cardiac problems. Researchers stress that while the results are encouraging, extensive further study is required before such transplants become routine.
How this was covered
- Coverage peaked at 6 outlets in a single hour
Why it matters
It shows a breakthrough that could ease organ shortages and reduce dialysis dependence for kidney patients.
In this story
