A woman has lived with a pig kidney for over nine months, breaking the previous record set by a man who survived 271 days. This groundbreaking surgery was performed at Massachusetts General Hospital on November 22, last year, by the biotech company eGenesis, which used CRISPR gene editing to make the organ compatible for human use.

Typically, people wait three to five years for a human kidney transplant, often needing dialysis, a process that can be tough on the body. Pig organs, similar in size and function to human organs, are being explored as a solution to the shortage of human donor organs. Scientists are genetically editing them to prevent immediate rejection and reduce the risk of pig viruses.

Mike Curtis, CEO of eGenesis, says, 'What we saw with Mr. Andrews was a radical improvement in his overall health while he was on the pig kidney versus if he had stayed on chronic dialysis.' Andrews' case shows that pig kidneys may provide a temporary solution until a human transplant is possible.

With over 95,000 people waiting for a kidney in the US, and fewer than 28,000 transplants performed in 2025, pig kidneys could offer a significant boost. The FDA has approved eGenesis to conduct a more formal trial in up to 33 patients with kidney failure, aged 50 to 70, who are on the wait list for a human kidney. The trial is set for 2027, but eGenesis plans to perform additional transplants under the expanded access pathway in the meantime.

The success of these transplants is helping researchers learn more about the best ways to use pig organs, with the ultimate goal of getting a transplanted pig kidney to function for a full year.