The First Pig-Human Kidney Transplant

[Naperville]

The Startup Behind The First Pig-Human Kidney Transplant Is Targeting Hearts And Livers Next

Biotech startup eGenesis developed a gene-edited kidney that was successfully transplanted into a living patient last week. Its CEO says the company is just getting started.

Last Thursday, surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital announced that for the first time, a living human patient had received a kidney transplant from a pig. This scientific breakthrough represents hope for the dozens of people who die every day waiting on an organ transplant, the hospital’s transplant director Joren Madsen said at a press conference following the announcement. “The dream of transplant researchers – the Holy Grail – has been to use pig organs to supplement human organs to solve the problem of organ shortage,” he said.

Of course, it wasn’t as simple as just going down to the farm. The kidney was developed by Massachusetts-based startup eGenesis, which has been working on gene-editing porcine organs so that they can be safely transplanted into humans for nearly a decade. But CEO Mike Curtis told Forbes that this week’s milestone is only the beginning. His company, which has raised $291 million in venture backing to date, aims to bring its gene-editing technology for kidney, liver and heart transplants into clinical trials in the next two years, making it a disruptive player in a market that Grand View Research estimates to be around $15 billion....

ON TWITTER
https://twitter.com/eGenesisBio

FULL STORY
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/ ... b76f294929

[Scandi Grind]

Well I guess we'll see if it doesn't cause any issues down the road for that patient. Some problems might not surface until some time after the transplant.

This idea is partially interesting and partially, I don't know, disconcerting? I guess I just worry that every new biological innovation might not be quite thought through. For example, I am not into lab grown meat... The medical community has also been an enormous headache to deal with my entire life, so I am more than a little sceptical of their ideas of a cure. In this case it could save lives, but I would be waiting awhile to see if their are unexpected side effects.

[Naperville]

Well I guess we'll see if it doesn't cause any issues down the road for that patient. Some problems might not surface until some time after the transplant.

This idea is partially interesting and partially, I don't know, disconcerting? I guess I just worry that every new biological innovation might not be quite thought through. For example, I am not into lab grown meat... The medical community has also been an enormous headache to deal with my entire life, so I am more than a little sceptical of their ideas of a cure. In this case it could save lives, but I would be waiting awhile to see if their are unexpected side effects.

I will never eat any bugs or lab grown meats. We hardly ever eat meat as it is. I'll never eat bugs!

My life was saved in late 2017 with a pig valve for my bad aortic valve. I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve, it was heavily calcified and landed me on a heart failure list around 2006. The initial hospital was a mess, so I left for a better hospital and they performed the open heart surgery.

We are all watching this, it interests many millions of people. People on dialysis may be able to get a kidney or two in a few years and never need dialysis again. This is a major breakthrough!!!!

Many people on transplant lists die every year because there are no available livers, hearts, kidneys, pancreases...you name it, it just does not exist so they die.

[Scandi Grind]

Interesting, so the practice is not entirely new. Well, I can certainly say that I hope it does develop into a safe, effective solution that can help so many people.

[Naperville]

Interesting, so the practice is not entirely new. Well, I can certainly say that I hope it does develop into a safe, effective solution that can help so many people.

I'm no thoracic or heart surgeon but I think that I can only have 2 to 3 new valves and then I need a new heart. I received a tissue valve the first time. Tissue valves are considered better because you do not need blood thinners and they are quiet. Metal leafed valves can be heard in your chest and they chew up blood platelets. Blood thinners are needed with non tissue valves. I was 57 when I had my first tissue valve. Tissue valves last 7 to 14 years.

I need to lose weight to make my replacement valves last longer. I am going to ask my Dr for Ozempic. Every time that I look outside or think about walking it is cold or raining but that will be gone soon.

If I need a new heart I hope that a human one is available and they give it to me, otherwise it may be the end of my life.

[Scandi Grind]

Wow, they only last so long... That is not a fun thought. One of my younger brothers needed open heart surgery, he was born with a hole in his heart the size of a nickel. Very stressful time, but they put a patch over the hole and said it was good for life. I would have a hard time thinking about needing recurring heart surgeries. I hope you are fortunate enough to have the most favorable option available to you when the time comes.

[Naperville]

Wow, they only last so long... That is not a fun thought. One of my younger brothers needed open heart surgery, he was born with a hole in his heart the size of a nickel. Very stressful time, but they put a patch over the hole and said it was good for life. I would have a hard time thinking about needing recurring heart surgeries. I hope you are fortunate enough to have the most favorable option available to you when the time comes.

I always have my fingers crossed!

[Doc Dan]

They have successfully grown human organs in pigs, and even ears. I hope this turns out to be a good thing for everyone concerned. It could save a lot of lives.

Now, if the government would get control of the insurance companies and the way charges are done, perhaps it wouldn't cost so much.

[Naperville]

They have successfully grown human organs in pigs, and even ears. I hope this turns out to be a good thing for everyone concerned. It could save a lot of lives.

Now, if the government would get control of the insurance companies and the way charges are done, perhaps it wouldn't cost so much.

I was watching a video the other day regarding the creator of HMOs and how that screwed everything up. A few companies cornered the market and hired hundreds of people into positions where they declined services and payments to patients for their bottom line. Quite the mess.