Genetically Modified Pig Kidney Keeps Patient Alive for Nine Months

A 66-year-old patient, Tim Andrews, survived for 271 days using a genetically modified pig kidney after receiving the transplant at Massachusetts General Hospital in January 2025.

The experimental organ functioned for nine months, allowing the patient to remain off dialysis until he received a conventional human kidney transplant.

Researchers performed 69 genetic edits on the donor pig to reduce immune rejection and inactivate retroviruses, marking a significant milestone in xenotransplantation research.