Japanese researchers have recently achieved a significant milestone by producing three piglets cloned from a genetically modified pig designed to inhibit organ rejection during transplants to humans. This advancement, led by a team from Kagoshima University and Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, aims to address the shortage of human organ donors and enhance the success of organ transplants.
The genetically modified pig was originally created by a U.S. biotechnology company, eGenesis, through modifications to ten different genes in order to prevent the typical rejection response to pig organs transplanted into humans. Following successful experiments in the United States where kidneys from similar pigs were transplanted into monkeys, researchers in Japan are now gearing up to conduct similar tests to assess the safety and efficacy of these modified organs in non-human primates.
With a vision to eventually transplant pig kidneys into humans by 2025, the researchers at PorMedTec, a company established by Meiji University, are diligently working towards overcoming the hurdles associated with xenotransplantation. The goal is not only to provide a solution to the scarcity of human organ donors but also to pave the way for future transplants of pig hearts. These developments mark a significant leap in the field of xenotransplantation, offering hope for patients waiting for life-saving organ transplants.