Latest news with #UnitedTherapeuticsCorporation
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Transplanted pig kidney removed after functioning in living patient for more than four months
A genetically engineered pig kidney helped Towana Looney enjoy 130 days without the need for dialysis before the organ was removed last week. It's the longest a human has ever lived with a pig organ, marking another step forward in the burgeoning field of xenotransplantation, or the practice of transplanting animal organs into humans. Looney, a 53-year-old-woman from Alabama, had been on dialysis for nine years before she received the pig kidney transplant in late November, becoming only the third person to receive a kidney from a gene-edited pig while alive. She left the hospital 11 days after surgery at NYU Langone Transplant Institute, staying at an apartment near the hospital so she could get checkups every day. But medical complications developed after months of stability, leading to the difficult decision to remove the organ on April 4. 'In early April, she had a reduction in renal function due to acute rejection. What triggered the rejection episode after a long period of stability is being actively investigated, but it followed a lowering of her immunosuppression regimen to treat an infection unrelated to the pig kidney,' Dr. Robert Montgomery, director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute and chair of NYU Langone Health's surgery department, said in a statement. 'The decision was made by Ms. Looney and her doctors that the safest intervention would be to remove the kidney and return to dialysis rather than giving additional immunosuppression. This preserves future possibilities for transplantation for her as knowledge and innovations progress,' he said. United Therapeutics Corporation, the biotech company that developed the modified pig kidney – known as a UKidney – celebrated the bravery and enthusiasm Looney has shown throughout the xenotransplantation journey. 'One of the biggest challenges for transplant recipients – human-to-human or pig-to-human – is the prevention and management of infections while simultaneously balancing the level of immunosuppression medications required to prevent rejection, especially in the first months after surgery,' the company said in a statement. 'We will learn more about the circumstances that led to removal of the UKidney, but current evidence suggests that the UKidney functioned well up until the time of rejection, which appears to have occurred due to a reduction in immunosuppression while treating infection unrelated to the xenokidney,' they said. 'We expect physicians at NYU will share their findings in a peer-reviewed publication in the future.' Looney donated a kidney to help save her mother's life in 1999 but later developed kidney failure after her remaining kidney was damaged by preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication involving persistent high blood pressure. After years on the waitlist for an organ transplant, she began to develop problems associated with chronic dependence on dialysis. Without a donor match, she would die – but the complications she had developed made it more difficult to find one. When she heard about the option to try a pig kidney transplantation, she jumped at the chance to try it. 'Without a pathway to receiving a human kidney, she decided a gene-edited pig kidney was worth a try, and a lot of people rallied around her decision, including her husband and family,' Montgomery said at the time. Looney is now back home in Alabama and says she's grateful for the opportunity she had to participate in the research. 'For the first time since 2016, I enjoyed time with friends and family without planning around dialysis treatments,' she said in a statement. 'Though the outcome is not what anyone wanted, I know a lot was learned from my 130 days with a pig kidney – and that this can help and inspire many others in their journey to overcome kidney disease. I remain thankful to all of the doctors and researchers at NYU Langone for all they are doing.' More than 90,000 people in the United States are on the waitlist to receive a kidney transplant, according to data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, accounting for the vast majority of people waiting to receive an organ donation. The average wait time for a kidney is three to five years at most centers, and about 13 people die each day waiting. Dialysis – a procedure to help remove waste and extra fluid from the blood – can be helpful in the short term but can do only 10% to 15% of what a healthy kidney does, and people on dialysis have a 50% chance of dying in the five years after they start the treatment, studies show. The US Food and Drug Administration allows doctors to transplant organs from pigs into humans under what's commonly known as 'compassionate use,' which permits use of an experimental therapy or procedure if 'comparable or satisfactory' options aren't available. Pigs' organs are similar to humans', and the speed of pigs' reproduction means their organs can be procured quickly. Scientists can edit the genes of the pig to reduce the risk that a human body will reject its organ. Of the three people to receive a kidney from a gene-edited pig while alive, Looney was the first to receive a kidney with 10 gene edits, and United Therapeutics announced in February that it was cleared by the FDA to use this type of pig kidney in the first human clinical trials to study xenotransplantation. The company says they are in regular contact with the FDA about this and expect to perform the first of six initial transplants in people with end-stage kidney disease in the middle of 2025, with the intent of expanding the trial to a total of 50 patients. Some experts foresee pig kidney transplant becoming an established option for patients within a decade, a major advancement that would be possible because of people like Looney. 'Towana's willingness to endeavor into the unknown to help solve the nation's organ shortage crisis will impact many more lives after her. We celebrate her tremendous courage and sacrifice,' Montgomery said. 'She lived with a pig kidney longer than any other human in history, and the field has learned a great deal from her. Her contribution has furthered the hope and promise of genetically engineered pig organs as an alternative source to human organs.' United Therapeutics echoed the same sentiment. 'Mrs. Looney's bravery has enabled major advancements in the field of xenotransplantation and adds to the foundational insights made possible by the contributions of other patients. Her case will continue to add to the scientific community's understanding of xenotransplantation, from the initial transplant procedure to the post-transplant management of the xenograft,' the company said. 'We keep Mrs. Looney and her family in our thoughts, and we wish her a speedy recovery.' CNN's Amanda Sealy contributed to this report.
CNN
11-04-2025
- Health
- CNN
Transplanted pig kidney removed after functioning in living patient for more than four months
A genetically engineered pig kidney helped Towana Looney enjoy 130 days without the need for dialysis before the organ was removed last week. It's the longest a human has ever lived with a pig organ, marking another step forward in the burgeoning field of xenotransplantation, or the practice of transplanting animal organs into humans. Looney, a 53-year-old-woman from Alabama, had been on dialysis for nine years before she received the pig kidney transplant in late November, becoming only the third person to receive a kidney from a gene-edited pig while alive. She left the hospital 11 days after surgery at NYU Langone Transplant Institute, staying at an apartment near the hospital so she could get checkups every day. But medical complications developed after months of stability, leading to the difficult decision to remove the organ on April 4. 'In early April, she had a reduction in renal function due to acute rejection. What triggered the rejection episode after a long period of stability is being actively investigated, but it followed a lowering of her immunosuppression regimen to treat an infection unrelated to the pig kidney,' Dr. Robert Montgomery, director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute and chair of NYU Langone Health's surgery department, said in a statement. 'The decision was made by Ms. Looney and her doctors that the safest intervention would be to remove the kidney and return to dialysis rather than giving additional immunosuppression. This preserves future possibilities for transplantation for her as knowledge and innovations progress,' he said. United Therapeutics Corporation, the biotech company that developed the modified pig kidney – known as a UKidney – celebrated the bravery and enthusiasm Looney has shown throughout the xenotransplantation journey. 'One of the biggest challenges for transplant recipients – human-to-human or pig-to-human – is the prevention and management of infections while simultaneously balancing the level of immunosuppression medications required to prevent rejection, especially in the first months after surgery,' the company said in a statement. 'We will learn more about the circumstances that led to removal of the UKidney, but current evidence suggests that the UKidney functioned well up until the time of rejection, which appears to have occurred due to a reduction in immunosuppression while treating infection unrelated to the xenokidney,' they said. 'We expect physicians at NYU will share their findings in a peer-reviewed publication in the future.' Looney donated a kidney to help save her mother's life in 1999 but later developed kidney failure after her remaining kidney was damaged by preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication involving persistent high blood pressure. After years on the waitlist for an organ transplant, she began to develop problems associated with chronic dependence on dialysis. Without a donor match, she would die – but the complications she had developed made it more difficult to find one. When she heard about the option to try a pig kidney transplantation, she jumped at the chance to try it. 'Without a pathway to receiving a human kidney, she decided a gene-edited pig kidney was worth a try, and a lot of people rallied around her decision, including her husband and family,' Montgomery said at the time. Looney is now back home in Alabama and says she's grateful for the opportunity she had to participate in the research. 'For the first time since 2016, I enjoyed time with friends and family without planning around dialysis treatments,' she said in a statement. 'Though the outcome is not what anyone wanted, I know a lot was learned from my 130 days with a pig kidney – and that this can help and inspire many others in their journey to overcome kidney disease. I remain thankful to all of the doctors and researchers at NYU Langone for all they are doing.' More than 90,000 people in the United States are on the waitlist to receive a kidney transplant, according to data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, accounting for the vast majority of people waiting to receive an organ donation. The average wait time for a kidney is three to five years at most centers, and about 13 people die each day waiting. Dialysis – a procedure to help remove waste and extra fluid from the blood – can be helpful in the short term but can do only 10% to 15% of what a healthy kidney does, and people on dialysis have a 50% chance of dying in the five years after they start the treatment, studies show. The US Food and Drug Administration allows doctors to transplant organs from pigs into humans under what's commonly known as 'compassionate use,' which permits use of an experimental therapy or procedure if 'comparable or satisfactory' options aren't available. Pigs' organs are similar to humans', and the speed of pigs' reproduction means their organs can be procured quickly. Scientists can edit the genes of the pig to reduce the risk that a human body will reject its organ. Of the three people to receive a kidney from a gene-edited pig while alive, Looney was the first to receive a kidney with 10 gene edits, and United Therapeutics announced in February that it was cleared by the FDA to use this type of pig kidney in the first human clinical trials to study xenotransplantation. The company says they are in regular contact with the FDA about this and expect to perform the first of six initial transplants in people with end-stage kidney disease in the middle of 2025, with the intent of expanding the trial to a total of 50 patients. Some experts foresee pig kidney transplant becoming an established option for patients within a decade, a major advancement that would be possible because of people like Looney. 'Towana's willingness to endeavor into the unknown to help solve the nation's organ shortage crisis will impact many more lives after her. We celebrate her tremendous courage and sacrifice,' Montgomery said. 'She lived with a pig kidney longer than any other human in history, and the field has learned a great deal from her. Her contribution has furthered the hope and promise of genetically engineered pig organs as an alternative source to human organs.' United Therapeutics echoed the same sentiment. 'Mrs. Looney's bravery has enabled major advancements in the field of xenotransplantation and adds to the foundational insights made possible by the contributions of other patients. Her case will continue to add to the scientific community's understanding of xenotransplantation, from the initial transplant procedure to the post-transplant management of the xenograft,' the company said. 'We keep Mrs. Looney and her family in our thoughts, and we wish her a speedy recovery.' CNN's Amanda Sealy contributed to this report.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
11 Stocks to Anchor Your Portfolio Amid Wild Market Volatility
Stock markets posted a historic rebound on Wednesday. Caution remains the watchword as tariffs continue to impact futures. Weather the market storm with smart stock picks using the screener. Looking for more actionable trade ideas to navigate the current market volatility? . The markets staged a spectacular rebound on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones up 7.87%, the S&P 500 +9.52% and the Nasdaq +12.16%, as Donald Trump paused the tariffs announced last week for many countries. For the S&P 500, it was the biggest one-day rise since 2008 and the third-biggest in post-war history. For the Dow Jones, it was its biggest rise since March 2020. Finally, the Nasdaq posted its biggest one-day rise since January 2001 and its second-best day ever. However, at the time of writing, sellers already seem to be gaining the upper hand, with the S&P 500 down over 2.2% on futures markets at the time of writing. Indeed, the suspension of tariffs announced last night has a major downside: China is not affected by the suspension and was even hit last night with new 125% tariffs as part of a US overbid following Beijing's retaliation to Trump's earlier announcements. What's more, market veterans know that all major crashes include respite sessions like the one seen yesterday. The Nasdaq Composite jumped 14.17% in January 2001, in the midst of the dot-com crash. And during the financial crisis of October 2008, the Nasdaq had two of its best five days ever. To sum up, caution is still the order of the day, and market turbulence is likely to continue despite yesterday's bullish explosion. Against this backdrop, investors should continue to be cautious in their stock choices, and favor the safest bets. So, using the screener, we can find solid stocks that could currently be good buying opportunities. To do this, we began by using the pre-configured "Financial Fortresses" screner, which identifies stocks meeting the following criteria: The search revealed 357 stocks on the US market. We wanted to refine this search by adding an additional criterion: Bullish potential of over 25% according to InvestingPro Fair Value. Remember: InvestingPro Fair Value calculates an intelligent blend of several recognized valuation models for each stock on the market. We have also modified the capitalization criterion to exclude companies valued at less than $10 billion. Finally, we have also prioritized quality by raising the minimum accepted Piotroski score to 8. With these modifications, the search now returns only : Among these stocks, United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) has the "lowest" potential, at +26.8%. On the other hand, it has the strongest profile according to the criteria taken into account, with a perfect Piotroski score of 9 and the highest health score among the stocks on the list, at 3.93 / 5. Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE:GOLD), one of the biggest gold stocks in terms of capitalization, also makes the list, with a 28.8% bullish potential according to Fair Value, a Piotroski score of 8, and a health score of 3.25 / 5. However, there are stocks on this list with much higher potential. Specifically, this research contains 6 stocks with upward potential of over 40%, according to Fair Value, including one that could even rise by over 68% according to the models. With solid financial health and considerable upside potential, these stocks could be the wisest choices to weather the current period of high volatility and uncertainty and even profit from it. For those who know how to keep a cool head, stock market crashes are indeed ideal opportunities to acquire at low prices quality stocks that have been unfairly punished during panic movements. Indeed, whether markets are rising or falling, there are always opportunities to be seized by those who know how to look. So, with the right method and the right research tools, such as the screener and InvestingPro's exclusive indicators, investors can emerge stronger from crises. The research in this article is just one example. In fact, the screener offers over 20 pre-configured searches (note that many of these searches are reserved for InvestingPro subscribers, Pro+ plan!), which can be expanded using over 1,200 different indicators and metrics (Pro+ subscribers have access to 160 indicators). Of course, it's possible to create your own searches without using a pre-configured screener and save them so you can come back to them later and refine them as the markets evolve. *** Disclaimer: This article is written for informational purposes only. It is not intended to encourage the purchase of assets in any way, nor does it constitute a solicitation, offer, recommendation or suggestion to invest. I would like to remind you that all assets are evaluated from multiple perspectives and are highly risky, so any investment decision and the associated risk belongs to the investor. We also do not provide any investment advisory services. Related articles Hims' Weight Loss Expansion: Real Growth or Just Hype? 3 Big Banks With Strong Setups Ahead of Q1 2025 Earnings Release Q1 Earnings Season Mired in Uncertainty as Banks Begin Reporting Friday Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is United Therapeutics Corporation (UTHR) The Most Profitable Biotech Stock To Buy Right Now?
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) stands against other most profitable biotech stocks to buy right now. With improved market conditions, innovative breakthroughs, and more investor interest, the biotechnology industry is gaining new traction. The sector has bounced back from a difficult 2024 and is set to grow significantly, thanks to developments in AI-driven drug discovery, personalized medicine, and the rising demand for biologics. The global biotech market was expected to grow by a robust 13%, from $483.0 billion in 2024 to $546.0 billion in 2025, according to MarketsandMarkets. The sector's resilience and growth potential are demonstrated by this expansion. One of the main causes of this upturn is the expected change in the Federal Reserve's interest rate policies. Because biotech involves expensive R&D and clinical testing, it is susceptible to shifting rate patterns. According to Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News, lower rates increase the amount of cash available, which aids biotech companies in growing, attracting venture capital, and accelerating drug development. Analysts predict that a rate decline might free up billions of dollars in investment money set aside for nascent biotech companies seeking stable funding. The global biotechnology sector is undergoing transformative growth in 2025, driven by scientific breakthroughs and shifting market dynamics. Key trends, treatments, financial metrics, and the US regulatory landscape significantly impact the industry. Genetic engineering is becoming a dominant force in biotech, with CRISPR-based therapies like Casgevy—approved for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia—expanding into polygenic disorders such as diabetes. Synthetic biology is also projected to experience tremendous growth, with expectations to reach $100 billion by 2030, enabling sustainable pharmaceutical and biofuel production. Another important development is AI-driven drug discovery, which has reduced drug discovery costs by 30-50% while accelerating timelines. Startups are increasingly leveraging machine learning for precision oncology and protein design. The RNA therapeutics sector is also booming, particularly following the success of mRNA vaccines, which paved the way for RNA interference (RNAi) therapies like Fitusiran. Fitusiran has shown an impressive 89.9% reduction in bleeding events in hemophilia A/B patients. Regenerative medicine is also advancing, with innovations such as 3D bioprinting and CAR-T cell therapies entering clinical trials for organ repair and cancer treatment. The regenerative medicine market is expected to reach $37.27 billion by 2031. Several biotech therapies are showing significant efficacy across various medical conditions, driving both medical advancements and investor enthusiasm. CRISPR-Cas9 treatments, aimed at genetic disorders, have over 1,200 clinical trials ongoing. mRNA vaccines, used for infectious diseases and cancer, have already administered more than 29 million doses globally by 2024. Imdelltra, a treatment for small cell lung cancer, has achieved a 40% objective response rate. It is estimated that 90,000 patients globally use gene and cell therapies annually. The biotech sector continues to thrive with groundbreaking treatments, including Imdelltra, which is projected to generate $2.1 billion in sales by 2030. Meanwhile, analysts at William Blair foresee significant potential for zanzalintinib, estimating it could reach $5 billion in net U.S. sales by 2033. This promising drug is expected to target multiple indications, such as renal cell carcinoma, colorectal cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, and head-and-neck cancer, further solidifying its blockbuster status. As these groundbreaking innovations reshape the medical landscape, they are also fueling a surge in investor interest in biotech equities, positioning the industry as a high-growth space despite its inherent volatility. Leading investment banks, including Goldman Sachs, see biotech as an 'undervalued opportunity' with strong fundamentals, improved clinical outcomes, and favorable regulations. JPMorgan analysts anticipate a rebound in biotech funding, with signs of stability in manufacturing and research. Declining interest rates could also reopen the IPO window for biotech firms. Meanwhile, innovations in gene editing, AI-powered drug discovery, and precision medicine are driving biotech's expansion, revolutionizing treatments for genetic disorders, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. For our methodology, we screened for biotech companies with a market capitalization of over $10 billion and a net income exceeding $100 million. From that group, we identified the stocks with the highest net income and ranked them accordingly. At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with hedge funds. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here). A team of scientists in a laboratory, running tests on a biotechnology product. Latest Net Income: $1.20 billion United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) is a biotechnology company specializing in treatments for rare and life-threatening diseases, primarily pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and cardiovascular disorders. Its main drugs, Tyvaso, Orenitram, and Remodulin, are marketed to patients, hospitals, and specialized pharmacies. In 2024, United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) exceeded forecasts with record revenue and robust earnings. The business exceeded forecasts of $6.10 with earnings per share (EPS) of $6.19. The financial performance was aided by double-digit growth in important drugs such as Unituxin, Tyvaso, Remodulin, and Orenitram. United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR)'s Tyvaso revenue grew 19% year-over-year to $4 million in Q4, while Orenitram saw a 28% increase to $108 million. Remodulin saw a 17% increase in global sales of $135 million, while Unituxin saw a 25% increase in sales, reaching a record $68 million. These profits demonstrate how well-positioned the company is in the market for treating rare disorders like pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) improved its clinical pipeline in addition to growing financially. The first FDA-approved xenotransplantation trial for organ replacement was the uKidney clinical trial, for which the business obtained IND permission. Confidence in long-term growth and innovation is strengthened by capital allocation that is balanced between strategic investments, acquisitions, and shareholder returns through repurchase plans. Overall, UTHR ranks 2nd on our list of most profitable biotech stocks to buy right now. While we acknowledge the potential of biotech companies, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than UTHR but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
New York Times
10-03-2025
- Health
- New York Times
For Patients Needing Transplants, Hope Arrives on Tiny Hooves
On a 300-acre farm in an undisclosed location in rural Wisconsin, surrounded by fields dotted with big red barns and bordered by wild blue chicory and goldenrod, live some of the most pampered pigs in the world. They are delivered by C-section to protect them from viruses that sows can carry, and bottle-fed instead of nursed for the same reason. They are kept under warming lights and monitored around the clock for the first days of their lives, given toys and marshmallows as treats. But they don't get to go outside and play in the dirt like other pigs. They are clones and constitutionally weak, genetically engineered to have kidneys, hearts and livers more compatible with the human body. These miniature pigs are part of a bold scientific experiment that takes advantage of breakthroughs in cloning and gene editing to realize the centuries-old dream of xenotransplantation — the transfer of animal kidneys, hearts, livers and other organs into humans who need them. Success could bring riches to the two biotech companies that are leaders in this space, the Cambridge, Mass.-based eGenesis and the Blacksburg, Va.-based Revivicor, owned by United Therapeutics Corporation. The demand for organs is huge. More than 100,000 Americans are on waiting lists for donor organs, most needing a kidney. Only 25,000 human donor kidneys become available each year. Twelve Americans on the kidney list die every day on average. Scientists first transplanted genetically engineered pig organs into other animals and then to brain-dead human patients. In 2022, researchers received permission to transplant the organs into a few critically ill patients, and then, last year, into healthier people. Now, for the first time, a formal clinical study of the procedure is being initiated. 'Just imagine, you have kidney disease and know your kidneys are going to fail, and you have a pig's kidney waiting for you — and you never see dialysis,' said Mike Curtis, president and chief executive at eGenesis. He foresees a future in which genetic engineering will make pig organs so compatible with humans that patients won't have to take powerful drugs that prevent rejection but make them vulnerable to infections and cancer. Babies born with serious heart defects might be given a pig's heart temporarily while waiting for a human donor heart. A pig's liver could potentially serve as a bridge for those in need of a human liver. Some scientists argue that there is a moral imperative to move forward. 'Is it ethical to let thousands of people die each year on a waiting list when we have something that could possibly save their lives?' asked Dr. David K.C. Cooper, who studies xenotransplantation at Harvard and is a consultant to eGenesis. 'I think it's beginning to be ethically unacceptable to let people die when there's an alternative therapy that looks pretty encouraging.' But critics say xenotransplantation is a hubristic, pie-in-the-sky endeavor aiming to solve an organ shortage with technology when there's a simpler solution: expanding the supply of human organs by encouraging more donation. And xenotransplantation is freighted with unanswered questions. Pigs can carry pathogens that can find their way to humans. If a deadly virus, for example, were to emerge in transplant patients, it could spread with catastrophic consequences. It might be years or even decades before symptoms were observed, warned Christopher Bobier, a bioethicist from the Central Michigan University College of Medicine. 'A potential zoonotic transference could happen at any point after a transplant — in perpetuity,' he said. The risk is believed to be small, he added, 'but it is not zero.' Indeed, a post-mortem on a Maryland man who was the first patient to receive a pig's heart found a porcine cytomegalovirus in the organ that had not been detected before the transplant, despite rigorous testing. A closely related virus already infects humans. No one knows how much an organ from a genetically engineered pig might cost, and whether insurance plans would cover it. But many patients with organ failure, tethered to a dialysis machine four hours every other day, see in these small pigs hope for a return to normal life. 'My hope for a xenotransplant is stronger than my fear of the risks,' one dialysis patient said in a national survey. Edited DNA Scientists chose to use organs from genetically modified pigs, rather than chimps or baboons, for a simple reason: Pigs are easier to raise and mature in six months, and the size of their organs is compatible with adult humans. At eGenesis, pig cells are collected by clipping notches from the pig's ear. Scientists edit the DNA in these cells as one might edit a manuscript: adding some genes, deleting others and altering still more. The pigs at eGenesis have received dozens of gene edits. Revivicor produces pigs with 10 gene edits, and others with a single gene edit. The companies clone embryos from the modified cells, implanting them in sows, where they gestate for about four months before birth. Scientists at eGenesis first transplanted the pig kidneys into macaque monkeys. The organs came from pigs that had undergone 69 genetic edits, a number that skeptics had thought was not possible. 'They said, 'You can't do that many edits, you'll turn the genome into Swiss cheese,'' Dr. Curtis said. 'We showed you could.' The scientists soon proved that monkeys with kidneys from gene-edited pigs lived longer than those receiving kidneys from untouched pigs. One macaque survived for more than two years after the transplant. It was 'proof of principle' that the organ was 'safe and supports life,' said Wenning Qin, senior vice president for innovation at eGenesis. But would it work in humans? In 2021, scientists tried to find out, taking a radical approach that seemed plucked from a sci-fi novel. With the consent of the families, the researchers transplanted pig kidneys into patients who were brain-dead and maintained on ventilators, then tracked how their bodies responded. The novel idea has been attributed to Dr. Thomas Starzl, widely known as the father of modern transplantation, who died in 2017. Two pioneering surgeons tried it, though neither knew what the other was up to. One was Dr. Robert Montgomery, a charismatic surgeon at NYU Langone in New York City who is himself alive thanks to a heart transplant. He used an organ from a Revivicor pig with a single gene knocked out and thymus gland tissue attached. The second surgeon was Dr. Jayme Locke, then at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who trained under Dr. Montgomery. Dr. Locke didn't make a public announcement, waiting until her paper was published in a medical journal. She used a kidney from a pig with six added human genes and four of its own silenced to prevent rejection. Soon after the pig kidneys were attached to the brain-dead patients, the organs started functioning as a human's would — making urine and clearing a waste product called creatinine from the blood. Dr. Montgomery maintained one brain-dead patient with a pig's kidney on a ventilator for two months. The so-called decedent studies yielded a trove of data. Blood samples and biopsies could be taken as often as needed, without disturbing a live patient. The information is critical, because kidneys perform important functions besides making urine: They filter blood, removing waste and extra fluid, and help maintain healthy balances of water, salts and minerals like potassium. They produce hormones that control blood pressure, keep bones strong and help make red blood cells. 'Part of what we were able to answer with the two-month decedent was, 'Can the pig kidney do all these things?'' Dr. Montgomery said. The answer? 'Not all of them. But most of them.' As for the other functions, he said, 'We have medications.' In early 2022, a 57-year-old patient in Maryland became the first human to receive a heart harvested from a genetically modified pig, produced by Revivicor. David Bennett had a life-threatening arrhythmia and had been hooked up to a heart-lung bypass machine. But he had run out of treatment options and was not even allowed on the waiting list for a human donor heart because of his history of not following doctors' orders. When Dr. Bartley Griffith, a surgeon at the University of Maryland Medical Center, offered him the pig's heart, he wasn't sure that Mr. Bennett understood. Then Mr. Bennett asked, 'Will I oink?' The new heart started pumping after it was implanted, and Mr. Bennett's body didn't turn on it, at least not right away. But his immune system eventually mounted a very aggressive response, and he died about two months later. The official cause of death was heart failure, but his poor health had limited the use of anti-rejection drugs, Dr. Griffith and his colleague Dr. Muhammad Mohiuddin said. In September 2023, a second terminally ill man opted to receive a pig's heart. Lawrence Faucette, of Frederick, Md., had advanced heart failure. Mr. Faucette, 58, survived for only six weeks after the procedure, but his wife, Ann Faucette, said she had no regrets. 'It's like you're in the middle of the ocean, and you have a choice of staying there to be eaten by sharks or having pirates rescue you, and then at least you have a chance,' Ms. Faucette said. The deaths may have signaled failure to the general public, but the xenotransplant community was optimistic. Neither of the patients experienced a dreaded outcome, hyperacute rejection, when the body attacks and destroys a transplanted organ, turning it black within hours, even minutes. Last year, the pace of development picked up. In March 2024, Richard Slayman, 62, a transportation department supervisor from Weymouth, Mass., known as Rick, became the first patient to have a genetically engineered pig's kidney transplanted. He had suffered from kidney failure for over a decade, and a human donor kidney had failed. He developed heart disease and vascular problems. His kidney doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Winfred Williams, said he 'was growing despondent.' Within days of the xenotransplant, Mr. Slayman was walking around the hospital. A week later, he was discharged — the first patient to go home with an internal pig's organ making urine and clearing creatinine. The kidney was produced by eGenesis. The next month, in April 2024, NYU Langone surgeons transplanted a Revivicor pig kidney into Lisa Pisano, 54, a critically ill New Jersey woman who also had a mechanical heart pump implanted. Doctors had to remove the kidney because she developed complications. Mr. Slayman died in May after a cardiac event, and Ms. Pisano, who never left the hospital, died in July. Dr. Montgomery said doctors had learned from each procedure. 'We forget, but the first person to receive a human heart transplant also died within two weeks,' he said. (The first heart transplant was done in 1967 by Dr. Christiaan Barnard. The patient, 53-year-old Louis Washkansky, died after 18 days.) 'A Win-Win' In November, Towana Looney, 53, from Gadsden, Ala., was sitting in her dialysis chair when she got the call she had been waiting for ever since she heard news reports about pig kidneys years earlier. Ms. Looney had kidney failure. But she also carried antibodies that made organ rejection likely, meaning she probably would not receive a donated human kidney. Dr. Locke was calling to tell her that a pig's kidney was waiting for her in New York. 'I said, 'But what about Christmas?'' Ms. Looney recalled in an interview. ' Dr. Locke said, 'This is going to be the best Christmas present you ever got.' The new kidney changed Ms. Looney's life. She no longer needed dialysis, and she could urinate again. Her blood pressure normalized, her nausea subsided, her appetite roared back to life, and she was able to walk nine or 10 city blocks at a clip. 'Dialysis took so much out of me, I felt like I had to fight to live,' she said over dinner recently. 'Now my voice is strong, my energy is strong, I sound different — it's a win-win.' Ms. Looney was the first patient to make it to the three-month mark, and she flew home to Alabama last month. In January, Mass General surgeons transplanted an eGenesis pig's kidney into 66-year-old Tim Andrews, of Concord, N.H. Mr. Andrews was taken to his first pre-surgical consultation in a wheelchair — and felt well enough to do a short tap-dance by the time he left the recovery room. The Food and Drug Administration has given Revivicor the green light to begin a formal clinical trial that could pave the way to routine approved use of pig kidneys. eGenesis also received the go-ahead to study a series of patients, of whom Mr. Andrews was the first. As routine pig organ transplants move closer to reality, researchers have begun wrestling in earnest with ethical dilemmas. Bioethicists have asked how trial participants can be properly informed of the risks of the procedure when there are so many unknowns. Unlike participants in any other clinical trial, for example, xenotransplant patients must agree to lifelong surveillance and cannot withdraw from the trial. Relatives and caregivers would need to be informed of the potential risks, too, since they could be among the first infected if a pathogen crosses species. To minimize the risk of an animal disease spillover, organs will be procured from pigs born and raised in pathogen-free facilities with much stricter regimens than those on the Wisconsin farm. The companies will recruit kidney failure patients who depend on dialysis and are relatively healthy, but not eligible for a human donor organ because of their age or an additional medical condition. Concerns about equity have also surfaced. Medical centers have been besieged by calls from patients begging to be next in line. But who will be first to get the pig organs? The burden of chronic kidney disease is disproportionately borne by Americans of color. 'When innovations are rolled out, it's commonly those with money who get them before anybody else,' said Dr. Peter Reese, founding director of the Vanderbilt Center for Transplant Science, who has served as an unpaid adviser to eGenesis. Some critics object to cloning animals for their organs as unethical. Still, the United States raises almost 150 million hogs for consumption each year. For now, caregivers at the eGenesis facility in Wisconsin are making sure the coddled pigs live their best lives. The animals, which are very social, always have 'snout-to-snout' contact with other pigs. And they are well fed, even though they often pretend that they missed a feeding. The caregivers, who grow attached to the pigs, know that most of them will be sacrificed for research or transplantation as soon as they mature, but they believe in the mission. 'We know what they're being used for is so important,' said Haley Rymut, the manager of donor resources. 'We know their lives are changing the world.'
