Tim Andrews receives human kidney transplant after pig organ fails
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · May 3
Tim Andrews receives human kidney transplant after pig organ fails
12 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · May 3
The 68-year-old from Concord, New Hampshire, underwent the surgery at Massachusetts General after living a record 271 days with a pig kidney.
Doctors said the experimental organ improved his condition versus dialysis before failing about nine months later, after which a perfectly matched deceased-donor kidney became available.
His case highlights both progress in xenotransplantation, with only 10 Americans having received pig organ transplants, and the persistent US shortage and inequities in kidney transplantation.
As xenotransplantation advances, will custom lab-grown organs soon make both animal and human donors completely obsolete?
With pig organs now a reality, what are the hidden long-term health risks and who will bear the financial cost?
Breaking Barriers: Tim Andrews’ 271-Day Pig Kidney Transplant and the Future of Xenotransplantation
Overview
In January 2025, Tim Andrews made medical history by receiving a genetically modified pig kidney transplant, which freed him from dialysis and functioned successfully for 271 days. This breakthrough was made possible by advanced CRISPR gene editing and careful immunosuppressant treatment. Although the pig kidney eventually failed due to antibody-mediated rejection, Andrews then received a human kidney transplant in January 2026, marking the first dual transplant that demonstrated xenotransplantation as a bridge therapy. His case is now driving clinical trials, ethical discussions, and policy reforms aimed at addressing the critical shortage of human donor organs and improving transplant outcomes for future patients.