Bringing to light a blog from our archives, originally published on Medium back in January 2022 (at the height of the Omnicron Variant) discussing a successful pig heart xenotransplant into a human patient....

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While most of us were hunkering down and hearing about yet another relative or friend or acquaintance who has tested positive for the omicron variant, surgeons in a hospital in the US transplanted a genetically modified pig heart into a human! David Bennett, a 57-year-old man with terminal heart disease became the first recipient of a genetically modified heart xenotransplant in a last resort effort to save his life.

While transplants of other organs have been done before (although not very commonly) this procedure was the first of its kind and heralds what could be a new dawn of transplants. The list of patients waiting on organ donations, especially hearts, is a long one, and not all are able to receive them in time. The viability of genetically modified hearts as an option could mean that those numbers could dwindle over time and that organ waiting lists become a thing of the past.

The heart that Mr Bennett received was genetically modified so that it would less likely be rejected. According to reports, there were 10 gene alterations made — 6 insertions and 4 inactivations of the pig’s genes. Earlier attempts of such transplants typically led to immediate rejection. The geneticse modifications reduce the risk of transplant rejectionthis, by removing a sugar that signals the rejection in patients’ bodies,

As with any breakthrough procedure, there have been some ethical considerations to take into mind. From religious concerns, to questions about the morality of farming animals for the use of transplants to the prioritization of who should receive these organs. There are lively debates ongoing, some of which we have linked below — and definitely one to follow closely.

Overall, the procedure seems to have been a success, and one month later Mr Bennett seems to be recovering well. As we keep watching this space, we’re excited to see what comes next and how such innovations can help medical progress!

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Stay tuned for an update on the current advancements in xenotransplantation soon!