Overview
- The transplant, which took place in January 2025, used a genetically modified kidney from a Yucatán miniature pig and restored immediate kidney function so the patient lived without dialysis for 271 days.
- After about six months doctors detected microvascular injury that progressed to thrombotic microangiopathy, the team removed the pig kidney and the patient later received a deceased‑donor human kidney.
- Researchers reported no detection of pig viruses or other porcine pathogens at any point during monitoring, and they published detailed clinical findings and laboratory data in The Lancet.
- Clinicians framed the pig organ as a temporary 'bridge' to keep patients off dialysis while they wait for human donors, and investigators say immunosuppression and clotting mechanisms need adjustment to improve durability.
- The case builds on experimental pig‑to‑human work since 2022 and underlines why regulated trials, long‑term follow‑up and policies on ethics and oversight are needed before wider use.