This is a huge breakthrough.
In a monumental medical breakthrough, physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston have achieved a historic milestone by performing the inaugural transplantation of a genetically edited pig kidney into a human grappling with advanced kidney failure.
Rick Slayman, a 62-year-old resident of Weymouth, Mass., underwent the pioneering four-hour procedure over the weekend, marking the first instance of a living patient receiving a gene-edited pig kidney. Following the operation, Slayman is reported to be recuperating well and is anticipated to be discharged imminently. His decision to undergo the transplant was made after a thorough consideration of the benefits and risks elucidated by the MGH medical team.
Dr. Winfred Williams, associate chief of the nephrology division at MGH, commended Slayman for his courage in spearheading this innovative approach to transplantation. The pig kidney utilized in the procedure was sourced from eGenesis, a Cambridge, Mass.-based company renowned for its endeavors in genetic modifications aimed at rendering pig organs suitable for human transplantation.
The kidney procured for Slayman had undergone 69 genetic alterations, which eradicated detrimental pig genes while incorporating advantageous human genes. Additionally, retroviruses in the pig donor were rendered inactive to eliminate the potential risk of infection in humans. This advancement holds considerable promise for addressing the challenges confronting ethnic minority patients, like Slayman, who are disproportionately afflicted by end-stage kidney disease.
Slayman, who has been managing type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure for numerous years, had previously undergone a kidney transplant from a human donor in December 2018. However, the organ commenced failing after five years, necessitating a resumption of dialysis in May 2023. Complications stemming from dialysis have resulted in recurrent hospitalizations for Slayman.
The scarcity of donor organs remains a pressing issue in transplantation, with over 100,000 individuals in the United States awaiting organ transplants, and approximately 17 individuals succumbing daily due to the shortage of available organs. Kidneys are particularly in demand, with end-stage kidney disease rates projected to escalate significantly in the forthcoming years.
Dr. Leonardo Riella, MGH’s medical director for kidney transplantation, is optimistic about the potential of xenotransplantation to address the organ shortage crisis. The procedure administered to Slayman was sanctioned under a compassionate use waiver granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in February. To mitigate the risk of rejection, Slayman also received infusions of two novel immunosuppressant drugs provided by pharmaceutical companies Eledon Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
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