{"id":22497,"date":"2025-09-08T13:34:57","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T17:34:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/2025\/09\/08\/man-receives-pig-kidney-transplant-in-new-hampshire\/"},"modified":"2025-09-08T13:34:58","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T17:34:58","slug":"man-receives-pig-kidney-transplant-in-new-hampshire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/2025\/09\/08\/man-receives-pig-kidney-transplant-in-new-hampshire\/","title":{"rendered":"Man Receives Pig Kidney Transplant in New Hampshire"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to Xenotransplantation<\/h2>\n

A self-described science nerd is the latest American to get an experimental pig kidney transplant, at a crucial point in the quest to prove if animal organs really might save human lives.
\n
\nThe 54-year-old New Hampshire man is faring well after his June 14 operation, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital announced Monday.<\/p>\n

The Latest Recipient<\/h2>\n

\u201cI really wanted to contribute to the science of it,\u201d Bill Stewart, an athletic trainer from Dover, New Hampshire, told The Associated Press.
\nA self-described science nerd is the latest American to get an experimental pig kidney transplant. AP<\/span>
\nThat\u2019s not the only milestone the Mass General team is marking: A pig kidney has kept another New Hampshire man, Tim Andrews, off dialysis for a record seven months and counting. Until now, the longest that a gene-edited pig organ transplant was known to last was 130 days.<\/p>\n

Advancements and Trials<\/h2>\n

Based on lessons from the New Hampshire men and a handful of other one-off attempts, the Food and Drug Administration approved pig producer eGenesis to begin a rigorous study of kidney xenotransplants.
\n\u201cRight now we have a bottleneck\u201d in finding enough human organs, said Mass General kidney specialist Dr. Leonardo Riella, who will help lead the new clinical trial.
\nMore than 100,000 people are on the U.S. transplant list, most of whom need a kidney, and thousands die waiting. As an alternative, scientists are genetically altering pigs so their organs are more humanlike, less likely to be immediately attacked and destroyed by the human immune system.
\n\u201cI really wanted to contribute to the science of it,\u201d Bill Stewart (left), an athletic trainer from Dover, New Hampshire, said. AP<\/span>
\nTransplant surgeons Dr. Tatsuo Kawai and Dr. Alban Longchamp (from left) transplant a genetically edited pig kidney into Bill Stewart as Dr. Nahel Elias and Dr. Leonardo V. Riella watch June 14, 2025, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. AP<\/span><\/p>\n

Background and Previous Attempts<\/h2>\n

Initial experiments, two hearts and two kidneys, were short-lived and included very ill patients. Chinese researchers also recently announced a kidney xenotransplant but released little information.
\nThen, an Alabama woman whose pig kidney lasted 130 days before rejection prompted its removal, sending her back to dialysis, which helped researchers shift to less sick patients.
\nIn New Hampshire, high blood pressure caused Stewart\u2019s kidneys to fail, but he had no other health problems.<\/p>\n

The Road to Transplantation<\/h2>\n

It can take up to seven years for people with his blood type to find a matching kidney from a deceased donor, and some would-be living donors didn\u2019t qualify.
\nAfter two years in dialysis, he heard about Mass General\u2019s most recent xenotransplant recipient \u2013 Andrews \u2013 and applied to be the next candidate.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve always been a little bit of a science nerd,\u201d Stewart said. Conscious of how new these experiments are, he sought out Andrews for advice and ultimately decided, \u201cworst case scenario, they can always take it out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Life After Transplantation<\/h2>\n

Thrilled to no longer have his time and energy sapped by dialysis, Stewart said he\u2019s easing back into desk duties at work and visited his old dialysis clinic to \u201clet everyone know I\u2019m doing all right and maybe kind of give some people some hope.\u201d
\nRiella, the kidney specialist, said Stewart had his anti-rejection drugs adjusted to counter an early concern and that Andrews has needed similar adjustments.
\nHe said it\u2019s far too early to predict how long pig kidneys might be able to last \u2014 but it would be useful even if initially they can buy people time off dialysis until they get a matching human organ.
\nAs an alternative, scientists are genetically altering pigs so their organs are more humanlike, less likely to be immediately attacked and destroyed by the human immune system. AP<\/span>
\n\u201cA year, hopefully longer than that \u2013 that\u2019s already a huge advantage,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Future Trials and Developments<\/h2>\n

The new eGenesis trial will provide gene-edited pig kidney transplants to 30 people age 50 or older who are on dialysis and on the transplant list.
\nAnother developer of gene-edited pig organs, United Therapeutics, is about to start enrolling people in a similar FDA-approved study.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The success of these xenotransplantation trials could mark a significant turning point in the history of organ transplantation, offering new hope to thousands of people waiting for a transplant. As the trials progress and more data becomes available, the medical community will be watching closely to see if this innovative approach can provide a viable solution to the organ shortage crisis.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n