Pioneering Success: Pig Kidney Thrives in Human Body for Over Six Weeks

Surgeons at New York University have successfully transplanted a genetically engineered pig kidney into a brain-dead man, which has now survived inside the human body for six weeks and counting—the longest period yet. The kidney, derived from pigs genetically modified to avoid rejection, has been functioning well and showing positive signs. The team hopes that these results, along with the use of FDA-approved alpha-gal free pigs, will accelerate the study of pig-to-human transplants in larger trials and confirm their safety. However, recent hurdles, such as the death of a patient who received a genetically modified pig heart, highlight the need for enhanced screening to detect latent pig viruses that could cause complications.