A groundbreaking clinical trial is set to take place in the U.S. as researchers prepare to test the use of gene-edited pig livers to treat individuals with sudden liver failure. This innovative approach involves temporarily filtering the blood of patients using pig livers, allowing their own organs to rest and potentially heal in the process.
The Food and Drug Administration has given the green light for this first-of-its-kind trial, which is a collaboration between pig producer eGenesis and partner OrganOx. With an estimated 35,000 people in the U.S. being hospitalized each year due to sudden liver failure and limited treatment options available, this trial offers a glimmer of hope for those who do not qualify for a liver transplant or struggle to find a suitable match in time.
Unlike traditional animal-to-human organ transplants, where the organ is transplanted into the recipient, this study will involve attaching the pig liver externally to the study participants. The liver is known for its regenerative capabilities, and the goal is to determine whether having the pig liver filter the patient’s blood for several days could stimulate the regeneration process.
In preliminary experiments conducted on deceased bodies, the pig liver was able to support some functions of a human liver for two to three days. The upcoming trial will enroll up to 20 patients in intensive care units who are not eligible for a liver transplant. A device developed by Britain’s OrganOx, currently used for preserving donated human livers, will be used to pump the participants’ blood through the pig liver.
This trial marks the latest advancement in the use of gene-edited pig organs to save human lives. In addition to pig livers, pig kidneys from eGenesis and another producer, United Therapeutics, are also being used in experimental transplants. The potential of this research to revolutionize organ transplantation and provide life-saving solutions to individuals in need is truly promising.
As the trial is expected to commence later this spring, the medical community eagerly anticipates the results and the impact this innovative approach could have on the future of organ transplantation. The use of gene-edited pig organs represents a significant step forward in medical science, offering new hope to individuals suffering from sudden liver failure and other organ-related conditions.
