https://en.people.cn/n3/2025/1121/c90000-20393472.html

Chinese scientists from a hospital affiliated with Tongji Medical College at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology have reported that a gene-edited pig kidney has been functioning successfully in a macaque for over a year.

Xenotransplantation, which seeks to address the critical shortage of human organs, often uses pigs as ideal donors due to their physiological similarities to humans, and due to fewer ethical concerns in the practice of gene-editing in pigs than in humans. The primary challenge, however, remains overcoming intense immune rejection across species. To overcome the primary obstacle of porcine cytomegalovirus, which is a common virus in gene-edited pigs that often fuels rejection, the team sourced specific pathogen-free “clean pigs” to eliminate the danger at the source.

To solve the challenge of precise immunosuppression, the team devised a comprehensive drug protocol. This approach allowed for precise dosage adjustments, maintaining a crucial balance between preventing rejection and avoiding dangerous infections.

It is estimated that approximately 2 million people worldwide need an organ transplant each year, yet only about 10 percent of patients get that chance.