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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science
Andrew Gregory Health editor

Genetically modified pig kidney keeps man alive for record nine months

Tim Andrews, wearing a hospital gown, smiles at the camera
Tim Andrews in his room at Massachusetts general hospital four days after receiving the genetically modified pig kidney. Photograph: Kate Flock/Massachusetts general hospital/PA

A genetically modified kidney from a pig called Wilma has kept a 66-year-old man with kidney failure alive for a record nine months and successfully acted as a “bridge” to a human transplant in a world first.

Tim Andrews was seriously ill with end-stage kidney disease caused by type 2 diabetes and had only a 9% chance of receiving a human kidney within five years, against a more than 40% risk of dying or being removed from the waiting list.

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