Two pig kidney transplant patients successfully receive human organ replacements

Two patients who received gene-edited pig kidneys as a bridge have now successfully been transplanted with human kidneys.

Tim Andrews, 67, of New Hampshire, lived with a gene-edited pig kidney for nine months — longer than any previous recipient — before successfully receiving a human kidney transplant, making him the first person known to have survived a pig kidney transplant and gone on to receive a human organ. A second patient has also completed the same progression, marking two confirmed cases of pig kidneys functioning as a bridge to human transplantation. Both transplants used gene-edited pig kidneys, a technology in which specific pig genes are modified or removed to reduce the human body's immune rejection response. The milestone represents a significant step forward for xenotransplantation — the use of animal organs in humans — as researchers have long hoped such organs could serve as a temporary solution for patients awaiting scarce human donations. The cases are notable not only for survival but for demonstrating that a pig organ can sustain a patient long enough for a compatible human kidney to become available. Previous pig kidney recipients had died while still carrying the animal organ, meaning the long-term compatibility and transition pathway had not been proven until now.

Why it matters

Roughly 100,000 people in the United States are currently on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, with thousands dying each year before a donor organ becomes available. Demonstrating that pig kidneys can safely bridge patients to human transplantation could expand treatment options for that population.

What's next

Ongoing results from both patients will be closely watched to assess long-term outcomes after the transition from pig to human kidneys, as researchers evaluate whether the xenograft bridge approach can be standardized.

Key facts

• Tim Andrews, 67, from New Hampshire, carried a gene-edited pig kidney for nine months before receiving a human kidney
• Andrews is the first known person to have survived a pig kidney transplant and subsequently received a human organ
• A second pig kidney recipient has also successfully received a human kidney transplant
• The pig kidneys used were gene-edited to reduce immune rejection by the human body
• Previous pig kidney recipients had died while still carrying the animal organ
• Approximately 100,000 people in the US are currently waiting for a kidney transplant

Bias & framing notes

The Daily Mail focused on Tim Andrews' personal story and framed him as the singular historic figure, while STAT News provided broader clinical context by noting two patients had completed this progression. Neither source offered significant skeptical or critical perspective on the procedure's risks or limitations, and no dissenting medical voices were included in either report.

NewsClear — neutral news & congressional tracking · Bill of the Week