A New Hampshire man is resuming dialysis after his gene-edited pig kidney was removed after a record 271 days, doctors confirmed on Monday.
The 67-year-old had the organ removed on October 23, and his experience continues to help researchers in their quest for animal-to-human transplants.
According to Mass General Brigham, the organ was removed as its function was declining, and his transplant team called Andrews “a selfless medical pioneer and an inspiration” to patients with kidney failure.
Meanwhile Andrews’ experience illustrates lessons researchers have learned with each experiment in what's called xenotransplantation.
It has been observed that the first attempt using gene-edited pig organs- two hearts and two organs-to resemble human organs was short-lived.
However, the researchers began evaluating patients not nearly as sick as previous recipients.
For instance, a woman in Alabama’s pig kidney lasted for 130 days before it had to be completely removed, and this duration has been passed by Andrew's record.
Andrew knew his blood type was particularly hard to match, so he explored other options, getting into shape to qualify for Mass General's xenotransplant pilot study. Doctors have confirmed that he remains on the transplant list.
The Mass General team in June had transplanted a pig kidney into another New Hampshire man who continues to fare well.
The study is expected to conclude this year with a third pig kidney transplant.
Additionally, the conclusion drawn from New Hampshire’s man experience represents a significant step forward for the field of xenotransplantation: two companies, eGenesis and United Therapeutics, are preparing to begin more clinical trials of pig kidney transplants.
Surgeons in China are pursuing this field, having recently removed a transplanted pig liver after 38 days in a separate procedure.