Man Who Received First-Ever Pig Kidney Transplant Dies Weeks After Surgery

A 62-year-old man, Richard Slayman has died two months after becoming the first person to receive a pig kidney transplant that had been genetically edited.

This was announced by his family and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where the surgery took place.

On March 16, the hospital surgeons performed a groundbreaking operation, transplanting a pig’s kidney into Slayman, who had been living with type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

This surgery, which lasted four hours, used a genetically modified pig kidney.

Slayman had a history of health issues, including undergoing dialysis for many years before receiving a human kidney transplant in 2018.

Unfortunately, that kidney began to fail after five years, leading to a return to dialysis in 2023.

Following the recent pig kidney transplant, Slayman was discharged from the hospital in April, almost three weeks after the operation.

However, he passed away unexpectedly, although the hospital stated that his death wasn’t necessarily linked to the transplant.

According to the Washington Post on Sunday, the Boston hospital in a statement issued late Saturday said, “Mass General is deeply saddened at the sudden passing of Mr. Rick Slayman. We do not indicate that it was the result of his recent transplant.

“Slayman will forever be seen as a beacon of hope to countless transplant patients worldwide and we are deeply grateful for his trust and willingness to advance the field of xenotransplantation.”

The decision to perform the xenotransplant, or cross-species organ transplant, was made under FDA’s “compassionate use” rules due to Slayman’s serious health condition and lack of alternative treatments.

The surgery involved 69 genetic modifications to the pig kidney to reduce the risk of rejection.

Despite the sad outcome, Slayman’s family expressed gratitude for the additional time the transplant provided and expressed his desire to inspire hope for others in need of transplants.

In a statement posted on Mass General’s website, his family said while they were “deeply saddened about the sudden passing of our beloved Rick” they took “great comfort knowing he inspired so many.”

The family said they were “comforted by the optimism he provided patients desperately waiting for a transplant”.

Slayman’s family also thanked the doctors “who truly did everything they could to help give Rick a second chance. Their enormous efforts leading the xenotransplant gave our family seven more weeks with Rick, and our memories made during that time will remain in our minds and hearts.”

“After his transplant, Rick said that one of the reasons he underwent this procedure was to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive,” the family added.

“His legacy will inspire patients, researchers, and health care professionals.”

Xenotransplantation, the field of transplanting organs between species, is advancing, with Richard Slayman being the first living person to receive a pig kidney.

Previous attempts include transplanting genetically modified pig hearts into patients in 2023, though with limited success.

KanyiDaily had also reported how Jacky Oh, an American comedian and “Wild ‘N Out” star, died at age 32 after undergoing cosmetic surgery.