Breakthrough Gene-Edited Pig Kidney Transplant Offers Hope for Organ Shortage

Key Takeaway

• Massachusetts General Hospital doctors successfully transplanted a gene-edited pig kidney into a 62-year-old man using Crispr technology, marking a significant advancement in organ transplantation.
• The procedure, authorized under an expanded access pathway by US regulators, could revolutionize the availability of organs for over 90,000 US patients awaiting kidney transplants.
• This breakthrough highlights the potential of Crispr gene-editing technology in enhancing transplant safety and addressing the critical organ shortage.

Breakthrough in Organ Transplantation

Doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston have achieved a significant milestone by successfully transplanting a genetically edited pig kidney into a 62-year-old man, Richard Slayman, who was suffering from end-stage kidney disease. This groundbreaking procedure, performed on March 16, utilized Crispr gene-editing technology to modify the pig organ for human transplantation. The operation marks a pivotal step in the ongoing efforts to address the critical shortage of organs available for transplant procedures. Richard Slayman, who had previously received a kidney transplant in 2018 that began failing last year, is recovering well and is expected to be discharged soon.

Crispr Technology at the Forefront

The transplant utilized advancements in Crispr gene-editing technology, spearheaded by biotechnology company eGenesis Inc. This technology was employed to edit genes within the pig kidney to enhance the safety of the transplantation process and to eliminate pig viruses that could potentially lead to organ rejection. The successful adaptation of the pig organ for human use builds upon earlier experimental efforts that involved implanting pig kidneys into the bodies of brain-dead humans. The immediate functioning of the animal kidney upon transplantation was a moment of triumph, leading to applause from those present in the operating room, as recounted by MGH transplant surgeon Tatsuo Kawai during a press conference.

Regulatory Pathways and Potential Impact

The United States regulators authorized this surgery under an expanded access pathway, which permits medical procedures that have not yet been cleared for use when patients face very serious or life-threatening conditions. This regulatory approval opens the door for further advancements in the use of animal organs for human transplantation, potentially offering hope to more than 90,000 patients in the US currently awaiting kidney transplants. Many of these patients rely on dialysis, a costly and less preferable alternative for managing late-stage kidney disease. Leonardo Riella, MGH’s medical director of kidney transplantation, highlighted the superiority of transplants over dialysis in terms of outcomes and potential cost reduction, emphasizing the critical need for more available organs.