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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [HEALTH]

2 clusters · 7 sources · 4 days · First seen 5 days ago · Last updated 2 days ago

Pig kidney xenotransplantation milestone

Overview

A 66-year-old patient, Tim Andrews, achieved a medical milestone by surviving for 271 days without dialysis using a genetically modified pig kidney. The organ, nicknamed ‘Wilma’, was engineered by biotechnology company eGenesis using 69 genetic edits to reduce immune rejection and inactivate retroviruses.

While the xenotransplant served as a critical bridge to keep Andrews alive while he waited for a compatible human organ, the pig kidney eventually failed due to damage in its blood vessels after approximately nine months. The procedure concluded when Andrews successfully received a human kidney transplant in January 2026. Researchers suggest this technology could eventually alleviate the shortage of available human organ donors, noting that prior to this procedure, Andrews had only a 9% chance of receiving a human kidney within five years.

Entities

Tim Andrews · Mass General Brigham · The Lancet · Massachusetts General Hospital · Wilma

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 5 SOURCES] A genetically modified pig kidney functioned in a human patient for 271 days, setting a new record. bavaronews.com · www.tecnoandroid.it · cafebiz.vn · es.gizmodo.com · soha.vn
[● 3 SOURCES] The patient, Tim Andrews, is a 66-year-old man from New Hampshire with end-stage renal disease caused by type 2 diabetes. cafebiz.vn · es.gizmodo.com · soha.vn
[● 3 SOURCES] The pig kidney, named Wilma, was sourced from a genetically modified Yucatan miniature pig. cafebiz.vn · es.gizmodo.com · soha.vn
[● 3 SOURCES] The pig kidney was eventually replaced by a human kidney from a deceased donor. www.tecnoandroid.it · cafebiz.vn · soha.vn
[● 2 SOURCES] The pig kidney underwent 69 genome edits to improve compatibility and reduce viral risks. cafebiz.vn · soha.vn
[● 2 SOURCES] The patient had a 9% chance of receiving a human kidney within five years prior to the procedure. cafebiz.vn · es.gizmodo.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The risk of death or leaving the transplant waiting list was over 40% for the patient. cafebiz.vn · es.gizmodo.com

Timeline

2 days ago

[HEALTH] 5 sources
Tim Andrews survives 271 days with genetically modified pig kidney
A 66-year-old man, Tim Andrews, lived for a record 271 days with a genetically modified pig kidney, serving as a successful bridge to a human transplant and offering hope for the global organ shortage.
5 days ago

[HEALTH] 2 sources
Patient survives 271 days with genetically modified pig kidney
A patient lived 271 days without dialysis using a genetically modified pig kidney, marking a successful bridge to a human kidney transplant and a milestone for xenotransplantation research.

Sources

bavaronews.com · cafebiz.vn · es.gizmodo.com · kommunekontakt.dk · medicaldaily.com · soha.vn · tecnoandroid.it

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history