FDA OKs trial of pig livers as dialysis-like treatment for liver failure
The first-of-its-kind clinical trial has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, according to pig producer eGenesis, which announced the step Tuesday with its partner OrganOx.
An estimated 35,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized each year when their liver suddenly fails. There are few treatment options and death rates as high as 50%. Many don't qualify for a liver transplant or can't get a match in time.
The new study, which is expected to get underway later this spring, is a twist on the quest for animal-to-human organ transplants. Researchers won't transplant the pig liver but instead will attach it externally to study participants.
The liver is the only organ that can regenerate, but the question is whether having the pig's liver filter the patient's blood for several days could give it that chance.
In experiments with four deceased bodies, that 'bridge' attempt showed the pig liver could support some functions of a human liver for two or three days, said Mike Curtis, CEO of Massachusetts-based eGenesis, which genetically modifies pigs so their organs are more humanlike.
The trial will enroll up to 20 patients in intensive-care units who don't qualify a liver transplant, he said. A device made by Britain's OrganOx, currently used to preserve donated human livers, will pump participants' blood through the pig liver.
It's the latest step in attempts to use gene-edited pig organs to save human lives. Pig kidneys from eGenesis and another pig producer, United Therapeutics, are being used in experimental transplants.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
XtalPi Signs MOU with Dong-A ST for Joint Research and Development of Immunology and Inflammation Therapies
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- XtalPi announced on the 20th that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korea's leading pharmaceutical company Dong-A ST, to jointly develop therapeutics for immunological and inflammatory diseases. This collaboration will be based on XtalPi's intelligent and automated drug discovery platform, which integrates artificial intelligence (AI), quantum physics, and large-scale automated robotic experiments. The two companies plan to co-identify targets and discover first-in-class or best-in-class drug candidates using XtalPi's proprietary AI-driven drug discovery platform. The XtalPi platform combines the speed and generative power of AI with the accuracy of its robotic lab-in-the-loop to accelerate drug discovery and vastly expand the explorable chemical space. This integrated workflow spans deep-learning-based molecule design, quantum physics and molecular dynamics simulations for predicting drug-target interactions, automated chemical synthesis, and experimental validation of candidate compounds' key pharmaceutical properties. Leveraging its expertise in immunology and inflammation as well as its experience in small molecule drug development, Dong-A ST will actively participate throughout the entire R&D process—including candidate validation, efficacy and safety testing, and the formulation of preclinical and clinical development strategies. The company also plans to explore strategies for pipeline expansion and assess commercialization potential. Through this partnership, Dong-A ST aims to strengthen its pipeline in the immunology and inflammation space and expand its R&D scope beyond small molecule therapeutics into areas such as targeted protein degradation (TPD), biologics, antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), and gene therapies. John Wang, Senior Vice President of Drug Discovery at XtalPi, stated: "The combination of Dong-A ST's extensive expertise and XtalPi's proven AI-robotics platform is well-positioned to translate scientific innovation into competitive precision medicines. Together, we aim to rapidly discover and rigorously validate novel drug candidates across multiple modalities to unlock unique market opportunities, and deliver transformative therapies for global patients." Jae-Hong Park, Head of R&D at Dong-A ST, remarked, "This collaboration marks a pivotal step in expanding Dong-A ST's R&D capabilities," adding, "By leveraging synergies with XtalPi's AI platform, we expect to accelerate the development of next-generation treatments for immune and inflammatory diseases." Meanwhile, both Dong-A ST and XtalPi operate open innovation offices in Boston, USA. This geographic proximity will facilitate closer and more efficient collaboration throughout the drug discovery process. About Dong-A ST Dong-A ST Co., Ltd. ( was established in 1932 and is a leading Korean pharmaceutical company engaged in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of ethical drugs, biosimilars, medical devices, and diagnostics. Its key products include Stillen (gastritis), Zydena (erectile dysfunction), Motilitone (functional dyspepsia), and Imuldosa (ustekinuma biosimilar). Leveraging strong R&D capabilities and a history of innovation, Dong-A ST is expanding its pipeline in immunology, inflammation, neurological disease, metabolic diseases, and oncology, while advancing into new modalities such as biologics, ADCs, TPD, and gene therapies. About XtalPi XtalPi Holdings Limited (XtalPi, was founded in 2015 by three physicists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It is an innovative R&D platform powered by quantum physics, artificial intelligence, and robotics. By integrating first-principles calculations, AI algorithms, high-performance cloud computing, and standardized automation systems, XtalPi provides digital and intelligent R&D solutions for companies in the pharmaceutical, materials science, agricultural technology, energy, new chemicals, and cosmetics industries. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE XtalPi Inc. Sign in to access your portfolio
CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
Toxic algae is threatening a pond on Martha's Vineyard. A new tool could change that.
A beloved pond on Martha's Vineyard is being choked by toxic algae, but a new piece of technology could help save it. Every year tens of thousands of people flock to Martha's Vineyard for the sun, the sand and the scenery. But in order to keep this special sanctuary safe, unique solutions are needed to fight our changing climate. High above the southern part of the Massachusetts island, the Atlantic Ocean collides with the shore. Just beyond that sits 200 acres of brackish water that makes up Chilmark Pond. It looks inviting, but a danger lurks in these waters. Over the last several years, toxic blooms of cyanobacteria have taken over. Arnie Spevack and Sharon Siegel live on Chilmark Pond. They remember a time when the pond was a place for play, a passageway to the beach, and the wonders of summer. "Martha's Vineyard generally is just paradise," Arnie Speevak said. "My grandchildren used to swim in this pond. And they can't anymore," added Sharon Seagull. Cyanobacteria, sometimes called blue-green algae, are microscopic organisms that thrive in warm, nutrient-rich water. They feed on nitrogen and phosphorus. In summer, they can multiply fast enough to choke a pond and produce toxins that can make people and pets sick. "This pond is really delicate," Emily Reddington said. Reddington leads the Great Pond Foundation. She said the challenge was finding a fix that wouldn't hurt the ecosystem they're trying to save. They turned to the LG Sonic MPC-Buoy, a solar-powered piece of technology that they hope can save Chilmark Pond. "Instead of adding a chemical or disturbing the environment, it uses sonic pulses targeting specifically cyanobacteria to keep from growing out of control or blooming," Reddington said. Every 30 minutes, the device checks the water's vital signs and sends out sound waves that block algae from the sunlight it needs to grow. Without it, the blooms can surface, spread and release dangerous toxins. The buoy is treating the symptoms — the blooms you can see. But to find the source of the problem, you have to look beneath the surface, into the soil and aging septic systems around the pond. The issue is not specific to Chilmark Pond, Martha's Vineyard, or even Massachusetts. It's a worldwide issue. "100 percent, this is a global challenge that we're having to deal with across the world. Temperatures are increasing, precipitation is changing, and pressures on the environment are increasing over time," Reddington said. At any given time, dozens of cities and towns in Massachusetts have closed beaches because of cyanobacteria. And it's not just small bodies of water, for example, these algae blooms are also a common occurrence in three of the Great Lakes - Erie, Michigan, and Superior. That's why Reddington's team heads out daily to gather water for testing. "The more data the better," Reddington said. Once the water's back at the Vineyard Haven Lab, it's analyzed sample by sample. "This machine is telling us specifically what phytoplankton or what combination of phytoplankton is growing and giving the water that hue," Owen Porterfield said. "What we are registering is a moderate to high concentration of cyanobacteria." All this data goes straight to the Board of Health, the people who make the call on public safety "The signs were ready to go. The maps went up the same day, and we kind of have a weekly workflow, but if it's a bloom, those are posted the same day," Reddington said. Back on the pond, those who live along the water like the president of Chilmark Pond Association Amy Salzman, say the new sonic buoy is bringing a new sense of hope. "If it works, it could be a game changer for the island, for the Cape," Salzman said. She believes people and nature share a symbiotic relationship and losing something like the pond to climate change would be unimaginable. "We've gotten so enclosed in our urban world and one of the most important things we can do for nature is to get people out in it," Salzman said. "And restoring this pond is such an opportunity to reconnect people to it."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
This Cannabis Stock Just Transformed Into a Bitcoin Treasury Play. Should You Buy Shares Now?
It seems that companies whose products and services are not finding takers in the current market are pivoting at the drop of a hat to become Bitcoin (BTCUSD) treasury companies. While the most prominent among them has been the Michael Saylor-led MicroStrategy (MSTR), recently, two biotech companies have also 'rebranded' their business operations to load up on the world's largest cryptocurrency. Among the latest companies to join this bandwagon is cannabis company KindlyMD (NAKA). Valued at a market cap of $90 million, KindlyMD's shares have surged an impressive 742% in the year to date. More News from Barchart Trade the Warren Buffett Rally in UnitedHealth Stock With This High-Reward, Low-Risk Options Strategy Apple Expects $1.1 Billion Tariff Hit in 4th Quarter After $800 Million Q3 Hit; CEO Tim Cook Warns 'Many Factors That Could Change' Cathie Wood Is Buying BLSH Stock After the Bullish IPO. Should You? Get exclusive insights with the FREE Barchart Brief newsletter. Subscribe now for quick, incisive midday market analysis you won't find anywhere else. About KindlyMD Founded in 2019, KindlyMD is a Utah-based healthcare provider that specializes in alternative pain management, including through medicinal cannabis use. Its licensed clinicians integrate cannabis therapy into holistic care plans, positioning the company as one of the largest Qualified Medical Providers (QMPs) within Utah's regulated medical cannabis framework. But this is all set to go up in smoke as the company has been acquired by Bitcoin-centric investment firm Nakamoto Holdings. After the merger, the combined company will operate with the KindlyMD name and with the ticker symbol NAKA. The whole transaction generated $540 million in gross proceeds through a private placement in public equity (PIPE) financing, with a $200 million convertible note also closed. Thus, with a $740 million war chest, the company aspires to acquire 1 million BTC. Commenting on the deal, CEO David Bailey said, 'Our vision is for the world's capital markets to operate on a Bitcoin standard. Today's merger represents the beginning of that journey for our company.' Bailey will continue to remain the CEO of the merged entity. Co-founder of KindlyMD and ex-CEO Tim Pickett was also upbeat about the deal, saying, 'We are thrilled to officially close our merger with Nakamoto. We've built KindlyMD on operational and innovative excellence, and we are now extending that same principle to our capital strategy. Bitcoin gives us the ability to preserve value with the same integrity we apply to delivering care.' So, that begs the question: Is NAKA stock a viable investment option now? KindlyMD Posts Widening Losses, Declining Revenues KindlyMD reported revenues of $408,527 in Q2 2025, down 36.1% from the previous year, while net losses widened dramatically to $2.4 million from $1.3 million in the year-ago period. Operational losses also increased, coming in at $2.4 million compared to just over $1 million in the same period a year ago. Net cash outflow from operating activities widened to $2.8 million from $1.1 million in the year-ago period as the company closed the quarter with a cash balance of $6.02 million. This was higher than its total debt levels of $432,978. The Bottom Line After the merger, KindlyMD and NAKA stock look like little more than a passing fad. Just a company that is hoping to take advantage of the Bitcoin treasury momentum as a trade, with no solid operational plans. Thus, avoiding NAKA shares would be a wise choice on the part of investors. On the date of publication, Pathikrit Bose did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
