Pig kidney keeps man alive nine months

A 66‑year‑old man with end‑stage kidney disease has survived nine months on a genetically modified pig kidney, a world first that acted as a bridge to a human transplant. The pig kidney, dubbed “Wilma,” was engineered to reduce rejection and was implanted in Tim Andrews, who had been on dialysis and was facing a bleak future.

Andrews’ kidney failure was caused by type‑2 diabetes. According to transplant officials, he had only a 9 % chance of receiving a human kidney within five years, while the risk of death or removal from the waiting list exceeded 40 %. The pig kidney kept him off dialysis for the record nine‑month period, giving him time to secure a human donor and avoid the complications associated with prolonged dialysis.

This case marks a significant milestone in xenotransplantation, demonstrating that a genetically modified animal organ can provide life‑saving support and bridge patients to human kidneys. It also opens the door for further research into pig‑derived organs as a potential solution to the chronic shortage of human donors.