Maryland Man Receives Genetically Modified Pig Heart Transplant
David Bennett, a 57-year-old from Maryland, became the first human patient in the world to have successfully received a transplant of a genetically modified pig’s heart.
As of Monday, Bennett was still in recovery and breathing on his own, but over the next weeks doctors from the University of Maryland Medical Center will continue to monitor for heart failure.
The Food and Drug Administration authorized the surgery to occur under a compassionate use emergency authorization, which is available to patients who have no other options and are suffering from life-threatening conditions.
The U.S. hit a record number of heart transplants last year, with over 3,800 transplants, based on data from the United Network for Organ Sharing.
Prior transplants involving animals did not work as the body typically rejects animal organs, but this time the gene-editing removed sugar in the pig’s cells that typically creates a fast organ rejection.
Researchers are optimistic that if the transplant does not fail there could be a potential to create a new supply of these organs for patients in need.
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