Gene-edited pig kidney, heart pump combined in transplant surgery milestone

Editor's Note

The second-ever living recipient of a gene-edited pig kidney was the first to have the new organ paired with a mechanical heart pump, according to an April 24 CNN report.

The subject, 54-year-old Lisa Pisano, underwent the milestone surgery at NYU Langone Health. She had heart failure and end-stage kidney disease, but chronic medical conditions made her ineligible for standard transplants, CNN reports. The US Food and Drug Administration permitted the surgery under “compassionate use” policies that provide access to experimental treatments for patients with no other options.

Genetic engineering focused on disrupting the pig’s production of alpha-gal, a sugar found in animal tissue that can be attacked by the human immune system. Reportedly less complicated than gene edits used in other transplants of animal organs to  living humans, this work showcases promise for addressing the donor organ scarcity, says one expert quoted in the article. According to CNN, roughly 27,000 kidneys were transplanted in 2023, but nearly 89,000 people were on the waiting list for those organs.

The first living recipient of a genetically modified pig kidney underwent transplant surgery last month.