Pig kidney trasnplant: Bill Stewart of Dover, New Hampshire is 2ns Mass General patient to get surgery in new clinical trial
Share this @internewscast.com

WASHINGTON — An individual who identifies as a science enthusiast has recently become the latest American to receive an experimental pig kidney transplant. This marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing exploration to determine if animal organs could be a viable option to save human lives.

The 54-year-old New Hampshire man is faring well after his June 14 operation, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital announced Monday.

“I really wanted to contribute to the science of it,” Bill Stewart, an athletic trainer from Dover, New Hampshire, told The Associated Press.

Additionally, the team at Mass General celebrates another significant milestone: a pig kidney has sustained another individual from New Hampshire, Tim Andrews, without the need for dialysis for an impressive seven months and counting. This sets a new record as the previous longest duration for a gene-edited pig organ transplant was 130 days.

Drawing from the experiences of the New Hampshire patients and other isolated experimental attempts, the Food and Drug Administration has given its approval for pig producer eGenesis to commence a detailed study of kidney xenotransplants.

“Currently, we’re facing a scarcity,” noted Dr. Leonardo Riella, a kidney expert at Mass General who will contribute to leading the upcoming clinical trial.

There are over 100,000 individuals on the U.S. transplant waiting list, the majority of whom require a kidney, and thousands perish while waiting. To address this issue, scientists are genetically modifying pigs to make their organs more compatible with humans and less prone to immediate rejection by the human immune system.

The initial trials, involving two hearts and two kidneys, yielded short-term results and were conducted on severely ill patients. Meanwhile, Chinese scientists have also revealed a kidney xenotransplant, though limited details were shared. An unfortunate case in Alabama, where a pig kidney lasted 130 days before rejection led to its removal, forcing the recipient back to dialysis, prompted researchers to focus on patients who are not critically ill.

In New Hampshire, high blood pressure caused Stewart’s kidneys to fail but he had no other health problems. It can take up to seven years for people with his blood type to find a matching kidney from a deceased donor, and some would-be living donors didn’t qualify. After two years in dialysis, he heard about Mass General’s most recent xenotransplant recipient – Andrews – and applied to be the next candidate.

“I’ve always been a little bit of a science nerd,” Stewart said. Conscious of how new these experiments are, he sought out Andrews for advice and ultimately decided, “worst case scenario, they can always take it out.”

Thrilled to no longer have his time and energy sapped by dialysis, Stewart said he’s easing back into desk duties at work and visited his old dialysis clinic to “let everyone know I’m doing all right and maybe kind of give some people some hope.”

Riella, the kidney specialist, said Stewart had his anti-rejection drugs adjusted to counter an early concern and that Andrews has needed similar adjustments. He said it’s far too early to predict how long pig kidneys might be able to last – but it would be useful even if initially they can buy people time off dialysis until they get a matching human organ.

“A year, hopefully longer than that – that’s already a huge advantage,” he said.

The new eGenesis trial will provide gene-edited pig kidney transplants to 30 people age 50 or older who are on dialysis and the transplant list. Another developer of gene-edited pig organs, United Therapeutics, is about to start enrolling people in a similar FDA-approved study.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Copyright © 2025 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Enough Talk, Time for Muscle: Why Pete Hegseth’s Military Overhaul Is the Reset We Need

Time for Action: Why Pete Hegseth’s Military Reforms Are Essential

By nature, I am serene and pastoral, spending my time working to…
New: FBI Director Patel Lops Off Comey-Era Ties With ADL

Breaking: FBI Director Patel Cuts Connections with ADL from Comey’s Time

FBI Director Kash Patel has been making significant changes at the troubled…
Gaza flotilla: Activists including Greta Thunberg say Israeli navy has begun intercepting a Gaza-bound aid flotilla

Gaza Flotilla: Activists, Including Greta Thunberg, Report Interception by Israeli Navy

BARCELONA, Spain — Activists traveling on a flotilla of vessels headed towards…
Jane Fonda relaunches free speech organization founded by her father

Jane Fonda revives her father’s free speech organization

The Committee for the First Amendment was originally founded in the 1940s…
Pope Leo XIV intervenes in US abortion debate, Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich giving award to Illinois Senator Dick Durbin

Pope Leo XIV Weighs in on US Abortion Discussion as Chicago Cardinal Cupich Honors Senator Durbin

ROME — Pope Leo XIV has made his first intervention in an…
Mother charged with murder after son dies from getting head stuck in car window

Mother Faces Murder Charges After Son Tragically Dies in Car Window Accident

Kandice Grace was arrested after toxicology results show she was high when…
Michigan church shooter's family reacts to viral fundraising effort by community faith members

Family of Michigan Church Shooter Responds to Viral Community Fundraising Effort

The relatives of Thomas Jacob Sanford, responsible for a tragic shooting at…
Charlie Kirk assassination: Exclusive photos show path to campus rooftop weeks later as access scrutinized

Charlie Kirk Incident: New Photos Reveal Route to Campus Rooftop Amid Security Review

“Many campus police departments do not have drone programs, which poses a…
UVU Professor’s CIA Ties Vanish After Kirk Event

CIA Connections of UVU Professor Disappear Post-Kirk Event

A social media investigation has surfaced claims that a Utah Valley University…
Livestock landscaping: Vermont ski areas employ goats and sheep to clear the slopes

Grazing Livestock: Vermont Ski Resorts Use Goats and Sheep for Slope Maintenance

JAY, Vt. (AP) — Months before the first snow beckons skiers, sheep…
Chicago immigration enforcement: 4 in custody after federal agents raid shelter in Bronzeville, DHS officials say

Federal Agents Conduct Immigration Enforcement in Bronzeville, Four Detained

CHICAGO (WLS) — Federal agents made immigration arrests at a shelter in…
Florida brides face sudden venue closure before weddings

Unexpected Venue Closure Disrupts Weddings for Florida Brides

Chez L’Amour’s closure has set off a dispute between the owner and…