Recipient of first pig kidney transplant is dead

The Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has announced the passing of Richard Slayman, the first man to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant, two months after the surgery.

Before the procedure, Slayman had been diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease.

Though the cause of his death is yet to be determined, MGH has clarified that there is no evidence suggesting it resulted from the transplant.

In addition to kidney disease, Slayman also struggled with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

He underwent his initial transplant, a human kidney transplant, in 2018, which initially succeeded but began to decline after five years.

“Mr. Slayman will forever be regarded as a beacon of hope for countless transplant patients worldwide, and we are profoundly thankful for his trust and willingness to advance the field of xenotransplantation,” MGH stated.

While previous attempts to transplant other organs from genetically modified pigs have failed, Slayman's operation was celebrated as a historic breakthrough.

Following his pig kidney transplant on March 16, his medical team confirmed that he no longer required dialysis, indicating that the new organ was functioning well.

EAN/AE

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