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A major breakthrough in medicine is giving new hope to people waiting for kidney transplants. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first human trials using pig kidneys, opening the door to a possible solution for the nation’s organ shortage
Biotech company eGenesis has developed genetically modified pigs whose organs are more compatible with humans. Using CRISPR technology, scientists remove a sugar molecule that normally causes the human body to reject pig organs.
The need is urgent: more than 100,000 Americans are on the transplant waiting list, and nearly 90% of them need a kidney. For some patients, the wait can stretch up to 10 years. Dialysis is the only alternative, but it is exhausting and carries serious health risks.
Massachusetts General Hospital has already carried out three experimental pig kidney transplants. One recipient, 54-year-old Bill Stewart, had the procedure in June and is now back home, back at work, and regaining his strength. Another patient, Tim Andrews, continues to live without dialysis, making him the longest-living recipient of a pig kidney so far.
Experts say larger trials will help prove whether these organs can work safely for many patients, not just a few in desperate situations. If successful, pig kidneys could one day end the long wait for thousands of people who need a life-saving transplant.
Source: cnn.com
