Tim Andrews Receives Human Kidney After Genetic Pig Kidney Bridge
According to The New York Times, Tim Andrews became the first known patient to survive using a genetically modified pig kidney until receiving a human organ. The 66-year-old patient lived for nine months with the animal xenotransplant after kidney failure caused by diabetes and high blood pressure left him exhausted and undergoing frequent dialysis.
Did you know? According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, roughly 90,000 people wait for a kidney transplant, with an average of 11 individuals dying each day while waiting.
The Organ Shortage Crisis and Xenotransplantation Trials
Andrews faced exceptionally narrow odds of securing a standard donor organ due to his rare blood type, according to The New York Times reporting. "I was dying," Andrews told the publication.
He received the experimental xenograft on January 25, 2025. “I thought, if I have to die, I might as well do something for humanity and be part of this experiment,” Andrews stated regarding his decision to participate.
Clinical Milestones Documented in The Lancet
The successful bridge to a human transplant is detailed in a paper published on a Thursday in the journal The Lancet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first patient to receive a human kidney after a pig kidney?
According to The New York Times, Tim Andrews is the first known patient to survive on a genetically modified pig kidney before successfully receiving a human donor kidney.
How long did Tim Andrews survive with the pig kidney?
According to reporting in The New York Times and The Lancet, Andrews lived for nine months with the animal organ after receiving it on January 25, 2025.
Where did the xenotransplant procedure take place?
Stay Informed: Want to track more breakthroughs in modern medicine and global health? Join our Telegram or WhatsApp channel for early updates on major scientific developments.
Worth a look