Fourth Patient Receives Gene-Edited Pig Kidney in Groundbreaking Clinical Trial

Two companies, United Therapeutics and eGenesis, have received FDA approval to conduct clinical trials for transplanting genetically modified pig kidneys into humans1.

United Therapeutics' UKidney™ comes from a 10 gene-edited source pig, while eGenesis uses a 69 gene-edited source pig1.

The United Therapeutics trial is expected to start in mid-2025, initially with six patients and expanding to 50 patients with end-stage renal disease1.

Participants in the United Therapeutics trial must be diagnosed with ESRD, on dialysis for at least six months, and between 55-70 years old1.

The eGenesis trial will start with three patients living with kidney failure who are unlikely to receive a human organ within five years1.

These trials follow three previous pig kidney transplants in humans under compassionate use programs1.

The most recent recipient, Towana Looney, received a gene-edited pig kidney at NYU Langone on Nov. 25, 2024, and is currently the longest-living person with a pig kidney1.

Researchers hope these studies will advance understanding of xenotransplantation as a potential solution to the organ shortage, with over 92,000 Americans on the kidney transplant waiting list1.

Sources:

1. https://www.kidneyfund.org/article/fda-greenlights-first-clinical-trials-genetically-modified-pig-kidney-transplants-humans