Using pig kidneys for transplants
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved clinical trials examining the safety and efficacy of transplanting genetically modified pig kidneys into patients with kidney failure.
About 20% of the more than 550,000 U.S. patients with kidney failure are on a waiting list to receive a kidney transplant. However, just 25% of these patients may receive the care they need each year, resulting in a high rate of mortality.
The trials will determine the feasibility, long-term viability and immunogenic compatibility of xenotransplantation using pig kidneys that have undergone extensive genetic modification to enhance the likelihood of positive outcomes. Although some critics have expressed concern regarding the patients’ potential exposure to pathogens, the risk is considered low.
In two separate studies, researchers will recruit six and three patients with kidney failure who have been on dialysis for at least six months. If the 24-week posttransplant follow-up demonstrates positive results, the researchers plan to enroll 50 patients.
The findings could lead to greater access to kidney transplantation among patients on waiting lists.
Read more: The New York Times
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