69-Gene-Edited Pig Kidney Functions 271 Days in Human, Setting Xenotransplant Record
Updated
Updated · Bored Panda · May 14
69-Gene-Edited Pig Kidney Functions 271 Days in Human, Setting Xenotransplant Record
2 articles · Updated · Bored Panda · May 14
Summary
A pig kidney with 69 genetic edits kept working for 271 days in patient Tim Andrews before failing in October 2025, marking the longest survival yet for a xenotransplanted organ in a human.
The result points to CRISPR-driven pig engineering as a major advance against organ shortages, extending survival far beyond the days-long rejection that once doomed animal-to-human transplants.
The previous benchmark was about four months, when a pig kidney with 10 genetic changes supported a woman before surgeons removed it.
Researchers say the record is still not enough for routine use, and donor pigs will need additional, still-unclear genetic modifications to make transplanted organs last longer.
With AI diagnosing illness and toothpaste regrowing teeth, which of these breakthroughs will truly redefine our daily lives within the decade?
As scientists resurrect extinct species and cure genetic disease, where is the ethical line between restoring nature and playing God?
Can self-healing materials and waste-converting yeast create a sustainable future, or are they high-tech fixes for deeper environmental problems?
Breaking the Xenotransplant Barrier: Tim Andrews’ 7-Month Survival with a Gene-Edited Pig Kidney and the Road Ahead
Overview
In October 2025, Tim Andrews became the first patient in a clinical trial to receive a gene-edited pig kidney, marking a major milestone in xenotransplantation. The organ, developed and supplied by eGenesis, was part of a focused effort to address the shortage of human organs. Building on lessons from earlier, less successful attempts, this groundbreaking surgery led to an unprecedented period of survival for a human recipient of a pig organ, setting a new world record. Andrews’ extended survival demonstrated a significant leap forward and highlighted the potential of gene-edited organs to transform transplant medicine.