Genetically altered pig heart transplanted into a human for the second time

xenotransplantationbiotechorgan-transplantgenetic-engineering

Abstraction: Second human pig-heart xenotransplant at University of Maryland using 10-gene-edited organ

Key points:

Recipient Lawrence Faucette, 58, received the transplant Sept. 2023; he was ineligible for a conventional transplant due to peripheral vascular disease
Pigs have 10 genetic modifications: one inactivates a growth gene to prevent continued expansion post-transplant; others reduce immune-triggering molecules
The first transplant patient, David Bennett, died after ~40 days; post-mortem found dormant porcine cytomegalovirus likely reactivated and worsened immune damage
New precautions include more sensitive DNA tests run on internal tissue samples and antibody screening, not just nasal swabs
Both transplants used FDA compassionate-use (expanded access) pathway; formal clinical trials require showing consistent 6-month primate survival
Pigs supplied by Revivicor (spun off from PPL Therapeutics, creators of Dolly; acquired by United Therapeutics in 2011)

Connections: University Of Maryland · Revivicor · Xenotransplantation · Genetic Engineering