Health
Pig kidney transplant helps US man avoid dialysis for nine months
Gilbert Ekugbe
A genetically modified pig kidney has worked inside a US man for 271 days, setting a new record for the longest time a pig kidney has functioned in a human body.
Tim Andrews, 66, received the kidney at Massachusetts General Hospital in January 2025 after developing end-stage kidney disease linked to type 2 diabetes.
The transplant gave Andrews a break from dialysis while he waited for a human donor kidney.
As reported by the BBC on Friday, “I had a little bit of a shortage of time, it becomes very depressing,” Andrews said, describing his situation before the transplant.
He said the possibility of receiving a pig kidney gave him hope.
“Hope is the biggest thing, the chance to be free from the [dialysis] machine and live your life,” he said.
The kidney, taken from a genetically modified pig, began working immediately after it was transplanted. It continued to function for 271 days before doctors removed it in October 2025.
Andrews then spent 82 days on dialysis before receiving a human donor kidney in January 2026. Doctors say the human kidney has been working well.
The pig used as the donor had undergone extensive genetic modifications designed to make its organs more compatible with the human body. The changes were intended to reduce immune rejection and address the risk of infections from viruses contained in pig DNA.
Dr Leonardo Riella, from the Mass General Brigham Centre for Transplantation Sciences, said the shortage of human organs has created a serious problem.
“We are working really hard to bring hope and we truly feel that xenotransplantation can be an alternative for patients who don’t have a living donor,” he said.
Doctors said the pig kidney initially showed signs of rejection, but the reaction was successfully treated by adjusting Andrews’ medication.
After about six months, however, the kidney’s blood vessels began to suffer damage. The organ became inflamed and eventually failed.
Doctors said there were no signs of antibodies attacking the kidney, leaving the precise cause of its failure unclear.
The case highlights both the potential and the challenges of xenotransplantation — the use of animal organs in humans.
Researchers hope genetically modified pig organs could eventually serve as a temporary “bridge” for people waiting for human donor organs, allowing some patients to avoid months or years of dialysis.
The doctors wrote that the case demonstrates “both the promise and the remaining challenges of clinical kidney xenotransplantation.”
For Andrews, the experience offered something particularly important while he was waiting for a human kidney: hope.
Copyright PUNCH
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
