Pig Kidney Transplant Keeps Man Off Dialysis For Nine Months

A genetically modified pig kidney successfully kept 66-year-old patient Tim Andrews off dialysis for a record nine months after being transplanted on 25 January 2025 by Leonardo Riella and his team at Mass General Brigham hospital in Boston. The breakthrough procedure demonstrates that xenotransplantation can act as a viable temporary bridge for patients with end-stage kidney failure awaiting suitable human organ donors, thereby sparing them the physical wear and tear of dialysis. Although the pig kidney eventually suffered damage and was removed after 271 days following an MRSA infection and reduced immunosuppression, Andrews subsequently received a successful human kidney transplant in January 2026. Experts view this medical milestone as a significant step forward in xenotransplantation research, with ongoing studies expected to further improve organ compatibility, reduce costs, and potentially establish animal organs as permanent replacements in the future.