First person to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant dies almost 2 months later

BOSTON– The first recipient of a genetically engineered pig kidney transplant has died nearly two months after undergoing the procedure, his family and the hospital that performed the surgery said Saturday.

Richard “Rick” Slayman had the transplant at Massachusetts General Hospital in March at age 62. Surgeons said they believed the pig’s kidney would last at least two years.

The transplant team at Massachusetts General Hospital said in a statement that it was deeply saddened by Slayman’s passing and offered condolences to his family. They said they had no indication he died as a result of the transplant.

The Weymouth, Massachusetts man was the first living person to have the procedure. Previously, pig kidneys were temporarily transplanted into brain-dead donors. Two men received pig heart transplants, although both died within months.

Slayman had a kidney transplant at the hospital in 2018, but had to return to dialysis last year when it showed signs of failure. When dialysis complications arose that required frequent procedures, her doctors suggested a pig kidney transplant.

In a statement, Slayman’s family thanked the doctors.

“His enormous efforts leading xenotransplantation gave our family seven more weeks with Rick, and our memories made during this time will remain in our minds and hearts,” the statement said.

They said Slayman underwent the surgery in part to give hope to the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive.

“Rick achieved this goal and his hope and optimism will last forever,” the statement said.

Xenotransplantation refers to the healing of human patients with animal cells, tissues, or organs. Such efforts failed for a long time because the human immune system immediately destroyed foreign animal tissue. Recent attempts have involved pigs that have been modified to make their organs more similar to those of humans.

More than 100,000 people are on the national waiting list for a transplant, most of them kidney patients, and thousands die every year before it is their turn.