DEVOURED
In a First, a Pig Kidney Kept a Patient Alive Until He Got a Human One
A patient survived nine months with a genetically modified pig kidney before receiving a human transplant, validating xenotransplantation as a viable bridge treatment.
What: Tim Andrews, a 66-year-old with end-stage kidney failure, successfully bridged his treatment using a pig kidney for nine months before transitioning to a human donor organ.
Why it matters: This success proves that xenotransplantation can act as a temporary life-sustaining measure, potentially alleviating donor shortages for patients in critical condition.
Decoder
- Xenotransplantation: The transplantation of living cells, tissues, or organs from one species to another.
Original article
Tim Andrews' kidneys were destroyed from diabetes and high blood pressure two years ago. At 66, he had no energy or appetite and was too weak to walk. Andrews received a genetically modified pig kidney in January last year, and then lived with it for nine months. He then received a human donor kidney, providing early proof that pig kidneys, while not yet a permanent solution, offer a bridge to transplants with human organs.
Explore all 57 articles in today's digest
Fresh dev news, AI-digested daily. Never miss a trend at devoured.fyi