Could This Be the Solution to the Organ Donor Shortage? Japan to Perform First 'Pig Kidney' Transplant in Humans in 2028

Assessing Whether Patients Can Live More Than Six Months Without Dialysis After Transplantation

In Japan, xenotransplantation surgery, in which a pig's kidney is transplanted into a patient with chronic renal failure, is scheduled to be performed around 2028. This is the first time that xenotransplantation surgery has been pursued in Japan.

'Genetically Modified' Pig Kidneys to Be Used... Expected to Prolong Patient Lifespan

Photo by Pixabay

According to reports by the Yomiuri Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun on June 29, Formedtech, a start-up founded by alumni of Meiji University, plans to conduct clinical trials as early as 2028 to transplant kidneys from genetically modified pigs into humans.

The surgeries will be performed at Hokkaido University Hospital in Sapporo, Hokkaido, and Shonan Kamakura General Hospital in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. Kidneys from genetically modified pigs, designed to minimize rejection reactions, will be used for these transplants.

The clinical trial will target patients with chronic renal failure who need dialysis or transplantation but do not have severe complications such as heart disease. Most of the candidates are reportedly in their 60s.

Xenotransplantation of pig kidneys into humans is attracting attention as an alternative that can help alleviate the shortage of organ donors and extend the lifespan of patients who otherwise have to wait a long time for a transplant.

If Pig Kidney Transplants Become Practical, the Organ Donor Shortage Could Be Resolved

Pigs used for transplantation (left) and transplantation practice with transplant pigs. Press release from Formedtec

Formedtech imported cells from genetically modified pigs developed by the U.S. biotech company eGenesis and produced cloned pigs in Japan. These pigs are raised for 7 to 12 months in environments that prevent exposure to external pathogens. The kidneys are then harvested at dedicated facilities and immediately used for transplantation.

Formedtech will assess safety and efficacy by confirming, among other things, whether patients can go more than six months after transplantation without needing dialysis. According to the Japan Organ Transplant Network, about 14,800 people in Japan are waiting for kidney transplants, with an average wait time of 15 years.

If pig kidney transplantation becomes practical, it could help address the organ donor shortage. However, while similar surgeries have been performed in the United States and China, successful cases are rare.

World's First 'Pig Heart Transplant' Patient Dies After Two Months... Cause Remains Unclear

Meanwhile, there has also been a case of a person receiving a genetically modified pig heart. In January 2022, the University of Maryland Medical Center performed the world's first pig heart transplant on a terminally ill patient. However, his health rapidly deteriorated and he died two months later.

An autopsy revealed that a virus known to cause pneumonia in pigs was detected in the patient. However, it was not confirmed whether this virus was the direct cause of death. At the time, the medical community emphasized the need for thorough management to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.