Are pig kidney transplants successful? New round of testing approved
Groundbreaking organ transplant of a pig’s kidney into a human
Robert Montgomery, a New York transplant surgeon, conducted a successful surgery that transplanted a pig’s kidney into a brain-dead human
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
- There’s hope for those with end-stage kidney disease, as a new transplant method was unveiled this week
- The eGenesis company of Cambridge, MA is in the midst of trials for the EGEN-2784, a new artificial kidney transplant method unveiled this week
- If successful, global organ shortage, the EGEN-2784 could help end the global organ shortage
Science just scored a win regarding the fight against end-stage kidney disease.
The eGenesis company of Cambridge announced Sept. 8 that it had received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to test its genetically engineered pig kidneys on humans with chronic kidney disease.
eGenesis’ new kidney is called the EGEN-2784.
“Clearance of the EGEN-2784 and initiation of this clinical study are important steps forward in our mission to end the global organ shortage,” Mike Curtis, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of eGenesis, said in a written statement this week. “This trial will allow us to evaluate the transformative potential of EGEN-2784 to address the staggering burden of kidney failure worldwide.”
Are pig kidney transplants successful? Is the pig kidney transplant patient still alive?
Two pig kidney transplants have been done succesfully so far.
According to a release from eGenesis, Tim Andrews, 67, who received an EGEN-2784 kidney on Jan. 25, 2025, at Massachusetts General Hospital, “has surpassed seven months post-transplant, making him the world’s longest-living recipient of a genetically engineered porcine-derived organ. Mr. Andrews, who required dialysis for more than two years prior to his transplant, continues to live dialysis-free.”
In June, Bill Stewart, 54, became the second patient to receive an EGEN-2784 kidney.
“Before his transplant, Mr. Stewart underwent dialysis three times per week for more than two years and faced a longer than average wait time for an allotransplant due to his O-group blood type,” according to a release. “He was discharged from MGH on June 21 and no longer requires dialysis for the first time in over two years.”
What is EGEN-2784?
According to a release from eGenesis, the EGEN-2784 has three crucial components that could make it successful:
- Elimination of three glycan antigens to prevent hyperacute immune rejection (kidney will adapt to the human body more efficiently). The process of acclimatizing the organ to the human body is called “xenotransplantation.”
- Insertion of seven human transgenes to regulate immune response, reduce inflammation, improve coagulation compatibility and regulate complement activation. According to the European Commission website, this refers to a genetic engineering technique where human genes are added to the animal’s genome, which helps the kidney adapt to the human body.
- eGenesis stated in a release that EGEN-2784 is essentially a “safer” product that could help with those who need kidney transplants immediately.
How many people suffer from end-stage kidney disease?
More than 800,000 Americans and millions worldwide suffer from end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), according to eGenesis.
“While organ transplantation remains the gold standard for improving survival and quality of life among those living with ESKD, due to the shortage of organs only 28,000 kidney transplants were performed in 2024,” eGenesis stated in a release.
It continues, “For those unable to receive a transplant, dialysis remains the only option. The five-year mortality rate associated with dialysis is more than 50%, higher than the most common cancers. Genetically engineered porcine-derived kidneys offer a promising solution to this crisis.”
What are the dangers of kidney disease?
When CKD (chronic kidney disease) occurs, the damaged kidneys ‘gradually lose their ability to filter waste, toxins, and extra water from the blood,’ Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, told USA Today in a past report.
In the early stages of the disease, this can result in mild symptoms such as reduced appetite or feelings of fatigue, but as CKD progresses, “complications like high blood pressure, heart disease, anemia, nerve damage, and fluid retention can arise,” Nagata said. “Without treatment, chronic kidney disease can lead to end-stage kidney failure, which is fatal without dialysis or a kidney transplant.”
The most common causes of CKD are high blood pressure and diabetes, “which damage the small blood vessels and filtering units in the kidneys over time,” Nagata added. Other potential causes he points to include immune system disorders or recurrent kidney infections.
Daryl Austin of the USA Today Network contributed to this report.
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