Groundbreaking Pig Kidney Transplant Renders Patient Dialysis-Free

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Tim Andrews, a 66-year-old man from Concord, New Hampshire, has become the second person in the world to successfully receive a pig kidney transplant, marking a significant milestone in xenotransplantation. After undergoing the surgery on January 25, 2025, at Massachusetts General Hospital, he is now free from dialysis, as reported by the hospital on February 8.

Andrews had fought for an opportunity to participate in this small pilot study, spending months improving his health to qualify. Doctors monitored his recovery and found that the pig kidney began functioning normally, producing urine and showing no signs of rejection. Andrews expressed relief, stating, “When I woke up in the recovery room, I was a new man."

The implications of this transplant extend beyond Andrews personally, as the success of animal-to-human organ transplants could alleviate the severe shortage of donated human organs. According to officials from Mass General, the hospital has FDA approval for two more transplants using gene-edited pig kidneys. With over 100,000 people on the U.S. transplant list, this innovative approach may offer hope to many others awaiting organ transplants.

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