In a groundbreaking medical development, a woman in Alabama lived for 130 days with a genetically modified pig kidney before her body began to reject the organ. The surgery, performed at NYU Langone Health in New York, took place on November 25 and marked the longest time any person has survived with a gene-edited pig organ. On April 4, the organ was removed after signs of rejection, and the patient has now returned to dialysis. This case is part of an experimental procedure called xenotransplantation, which involves transplanting animal organs into humans. Scientists are conducting this research to combat the chronic shortage of human donor organs, as more than 100,000 individuals in the United States remain on the transplant waiting list.

Medical experts believe the operation offers important insights for future clinical trials. Dr. Robert Montgomery, the lead surgeon, explained that removing the organ was the safer option compared to using more potent anti-rejection medication, which could have posed greater risks. Researchers noted that a mild infection and adjusted immunosuppressing drugs might have triggered the kidney’s rejection. Although the procedure faced complications, the pig kidney performed effectively at first and provided the patient with a temporary break from dialysis treatment. Experts such as Dr. Tatsuo Kawai emphasized the ongoing complexity of managing the immune response in xenotransplant cases, as different drug combinations are still under examination. While the transplant was not permanent, scientists described the outcome as a meaningful advancement and a pivotal step in the evolving field. This research is expected to catalyze future studies and refine methods to improve compatibility, reduce rejection, and increase resilience of animal organs used in human transplants.