A woman in the US is the third person to receive a gene-edited pig kidney

But it’s hard to find a match. So Looney’s doctors recommended experimental pig organs as an alternative. After eight years on waiting list, Looney receives kidney transplant under FDA authorization extended access planwhich allows people with serious or life-threatening illnesses to try experimental treatments.

The pig in question is made of revivalistUnited Therapeutics, Inc. The company’s technology involves 10 gene edits in pig cells. These edits are designed to prevent organ overgrowth, suppress inflammation and, more importantly, stop the recipient’s immune system from rejecting the organ. The edited pig cells are then placed into pig eggs that have had their nuclei removed, and the eggs are transferred into the sow’s uterus, ultimately producing gene-edited piglets.

In theory, once the piglets grow up, their organs could be used for human transplantation. After all, pigs have organs similar in size to humans. A few years ago, David Bennett Sr. became First person to receive this pig heart transplant. He died two months after the operation and his heart was later snatched away Found infected with swine virus.

Richard Slayman was the first person to receive a gene-edited pig kidney, undergoing the procedure in early 2024. The statement stated, “There is no indication that this is a result of his recent transplant.” In April, Lisa Pisano was reportedly the second person to receive such an organ. Pisano also rReceived heart pump at the same time as kidney transplant. Her kidneys failed due to lack of blood supply and were removed the following month. she Died in July.

On November 25, Rooney underwent a seven-hour surgery at NYU Langone Health in New York City to receive her pig kidney. and Robert Montgomery of NYU Langone Transplant Institute.

Eleven days after the surgery, Rooney was discharged from the hospital and living in an apartment in New York City. She will stay in New York for another three months so she can check in with doctors at the hospital for evaluation.

“This is a blessing,” Rooney said in a statement. “I feel like I’ve been given another chance at life. I can’t wait to travel again and spend more quality time with my family and grandchildren.

Looney’s doctors hope her kidneys will keep her alive longer than her predecessors. First, Looney is in better health — she has chronic kidney disease and needs dialysis, but unlike previous recipients, she is not close to death, Montgomery said during the briefing. He and his colleagues plan to start clinical trials within the next year.