The transplant is being heralded as a historic event because it may help alleviate the global chronic organ scarcity. A genetically altered pig kidney has been successfully transplanted into a living human patient by American surgeons in a first. Xenotransplantation is the process of implanting a live organ obtained from a non-human animal into a recipient who is a human.
Richard Slayman, a 62-year-old African American man with end-stage kidney failure, was the recipient.
On Thursday, Massachusetts General Hospital said that the transplant was performed by their "compassionate use" policy.
Patients now have access to experimental therapies that the Food and Drug Administration has not yet authorized because of this program. Patients with severe or potentially fatal diseases are the only ones eligible for "compassionate use."
Unique Pigs: The kidney donor source
The pig kidney was given by the biotech business eGenesis, located in Massachusetts. The animals that served as organ donors were grown in unique circumstances, in isolation. This was carried out to shield the organ recipient from infections that could be harmful.
The pig kidney was given by the biotech business eGenesis, located in Massachusetts. The animals that served as organ donors were grown in unique circumstances, in isolation. This was carried out to shield the organ recipient from infections that could be harmful.