Recipient of the first-ever pig kidney transplant passes away shortly after the procedure.
In March, Rick Slayman received a pig kidney transplant at Massachusetts General Hospital. He'd been diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease the previous year and decided to undergo the four-hour surgery after doctors recommended it. The hospital confirmed his death wasn't related to the surgery. Like many who've undergone organ transplants, Slayman was dedicated to those in his life and touched many people.
Slayman, who worked for the state's Department of Transportation, was discharged from the hospital in April and doctors predicted the kidney could last years. Despite this positive projection, there's still much researchers don't understand about animal-to-human transplants, called xenotransplantation.
Massachusetts General praised Slayman for his "beacon of hope" in a statement and offered their condolences to his loved ones.
Slayman had been in the hospital's transplant program for 11 years, receiving a human kidney in 2018. He'd dealt with diabetes and high blood pressure for a long time and his kidney began failing five years later, leading him to resume dialysis in 2023. Wanting to help others, he decided to participate in the experimental surgery.
Dr. Tatsuo Kawai, the surgeon who performed the transplant which received applause in the operating room, noted how far animal-to-human transplants have come but acknowledged the limitations. He said there's a huge gap between the need for organs and the number available, which currently stands over 100,000 people in the US waiting for a donation. Experts have been researching xenotransplantation for years as one potential solution to the organ shortage.
Prior to Slayman's transplant, two organ transplants using pigs had been carried out - both involved hearts and both patients passed away weeks after surgery. EGenesis, the biotech company responsible for the genetically edited pig kidney, called Slayman a "true pioneer" in a statement, expressing gratitude for his family's support and commitment to the advancement of xenotransplantation so that millions could receive lifesaving organs.
In a family statement, they expressed sadness at his loss but found comfort in his goal of providing hope for other transplant patients. Slayman, who had been in the hospital's transplant program for 11 years, had been given hope when a human kidney transplant initially seemed to make his kidney disease manageable.
He was invested in giving back. "I saw it not only as a way to help me, but a way to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive," Slayman shared in a statement.
The groundbreaking transplant was done by Dr. Kawai who led the surgery to much applause. The need for organs greatly outnumbers the available ones in the US (over 100,000 people are waiting). Xenotransplantation has been researched heavily as a possible solution to the problem.
Having only two animal-to-human transplants before - both heart transplants done under 'compassionate use' and both patients died weeks after surgery - made Slayman a groundbreaking case for experts. EGenesis, the biotech providing the genetically edited pig kidney, lauded Slayman as a pioneer and promised to continue their efforts in xenotransplantation research.
Finally, his family thanked the hospital staff who cared for him: "After his transplant, Rick said that one of the reasons he underwent this procedure was to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive. Rick accomplished that goal and his hope and optimism will endure forever. His legacy will be one that inspires patients, researchers, and health care professionals everywhere," his family stated.
CNN's Brenda Goodman contributed to this report.
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Slayman's family acknowledged the role of EGenesis in his groundbreaking transplant, expressing gratitude for their commitment to advancing xenotransplantation.
Despite the success of the pig kidney transplant, there are still many aspects of animal-to-human transplants that researchers are yet to fully understand.
Source: edition.cnn.com
