A breakthrough in organ transplantation has taken place as Towana Looney, a 53-year-old Alabama woman, received the nation’s third genetically modified pig kidney transplant. The procedure was conducted at NYU Langone Health and marks a significant step towards solving the organ-supply shortage.
Looney, who had been waiting eight years for an organ transplant, underwent a seven-hour surgery just before Thanksgiving and made a remarkable recovery. She is now off dialysis and her blood pressure, which has been high due to a life-threatening condition called pre-eclampsia, is under control.
The kidney came from a pig with 10 genetic edits provided by Revivicor, a subsidiary of United Therapeutics Corporation. The procedure was approved by the FDA’s expanded access or compassionate use program for patients with life-threatening conditions. This is the fifth patient to receive an organ from a genetically modified pig in the US since 2022.
Looney’s journey began when she developed pre-eclampsia during her second pregnancy, which left her with uncontrollable high blood pressure and eventually required her to start dialysis in 2016. She was highly ranked on the waiting list due to having donated an organ to her mother in 1999, but faced a low chance of finding a compatible human donor kidney.
Last month, Dr. Locke contacted Looney about the opportunity to receive a xenotransplant and the two began discussing the procedure over several days. After some hesitation, Looney agreed to move forward with the surgery, which took place on December 15th.
The experimental procedure has shown promise in improving the lives of patients like Looney who have limited options for organ transplants. While there are risks involved, the benefits could be significant, and researchers are optimistic about the potential of genetically modified pig organs to address the shortage of available donor organs.
As the world waits with bated breath for more breakthroughs in this field, one thing is clear: Towana Looney’s story has inspired hope and renewed optimism among those who have been waiting for a solution to this complex problem.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/17/health/pig-kidney-transplant-looney.html