World's 1st gene-edited pig kidney transplanted into Mass General patient

Surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital successfully completed the world's first transplant of a genetically-edited pig kidney, the Boston-based system said March 21.

Richard Slayman, 62, underwent the four-hour procedure on March 16 as a treatment for end-stage kidney disease. The pig kidney, provided by Cambridge, Mass.-based eGenesis, contained 69 genomic edits to improve its compatibility with humans.

The procedure marks a historical milestone in the field of xenotransplantation and could offer a potential solution to the global organ shortage, according to Massachusetts General. 

"Our hope is that this transplant approach will offer a lifeline to millions of patients worldwide who are suffering from kidney failure," Tatsuo Kawai, MD, PhD, director of Massachusetts General's Legorreta Center for Clinical Transplant Tolerance, said in a news release.

Mr. Slayman is recovering well and expected to be discharged from the hospital soon, the hospital said. 

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