US Woman Receives Gene-Edited Pig Kidney in Groundbreaking Procedure

A 53-year-old woman from Alabama, Towana Looney, has become the latest recipient of a gene-edited pig kidney, marking a significant step in the field of xenotransplantation. The groundbreaking procedure, performed at NYU Langone Health in New York on November 25, was announced by the hospital on December 17, 2024. Looney is now the only living person with an animal organ transplant.

Looney, who previously donated a kidney to her mother in 1999, saw her remaining kidney fail years later due to pregnancy complications. For the past eight years, she relied on dialysis after high blood pressure damaged her last functioning kidney. Despite receiving priority on organ waiting lists due to her history as a donor, finding a suitable match proved difficult because of her unusually high levels of harmful antibodies. This increased the risk of organ rejection and left her body weakened, as it lost access to blood vessels needed for dialysis.

The transplant was made possible by Revivicor, a leading biotechnology company specializing in xenotransplantation. The company breeds genetically modified pigs to make their organs compatible with humans, aiming to address the severe organ shortage crisis in the United States. More than 100,000 Americans are currently on organ waiting lists, with over 90,000 in need of kidneys alone.

The success of Looney’s procedure highlights both progress and ongoing challenges in the emerging field. This was the third instance of a gene-edited pig kidney being transplanted into a living human. The first recipient, 62-year-old Rick Slayman, died in May 2024, two months after his surgery. The second patient, Lisa Pasano, initially showed recovery after her transplant but returned to dialysis and passed away in July. Despite these setbacks, researchers remain optimistic as they refine their techniques and improve organ compatibility.

Robert Montgomery, who led the seven-hour surgery, described the procedure as a vital step toward broader clinical trials under FDA guidance. “Towana’s case is a precursor to potential clinical trials to determine if these organs are safe as a new, sustainable source of organs for those who need them,” he stated. Montgomery has been at the forefront of xenotransplantation research, performing seven such procedures to date, including the world’s first gene-edited pig kidney transplant on a brain-dead patient in 2021.

Looney was discharged on December 6 to an apartment in New York City, where she will continue recovery. Given her history of harmful antibodies, she may require periodic medical treatments as her immune system adapts to the new organ. She is expected to return home in approximately three months.

For Looney, the opportunity represents hope after years of struggle. “It’s a blessing,” she said in a statement released three weeks after the surgery. Her case stands as a milestone in the effort to find innovative solutions to the organ shortage crisis, offering renewed possibilities for thousands of patients in need.