- Tim Andrews, 66, has become the first person to live without dialysis for nine months after receiving a genetically modified pig kidney transplant.
- The pioneer procedure, conducted at Mass General Brigham in January 2025, served as a temporary bridge until Mr Andrews received a human donor kidney.
- Published in The Lancet , the milestone marks the longest recorded dialysis-free survival following a pig-to-human kidney transplant in a living patient.
- The genetically edited organ functioned for six months before blood vessel damage occurred, with researchers detecting no pig viruses or pathogens during the trial.
- Lead author Dr Leonardo Riella said xenotransplantation could help address the severe global organ shortage crisis by providing a vital alternative for patients.
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