First Person To Receive A GMO Pig Kidney Transplant Dies

The first recipient of a genetically modified (GM) pig kidney transplant has died nearly two months after undergoing the procedure, his family and the hospital that performed the surgery said, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Richard “Rick” Slayman had the transplant at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in March at the age of 62. Surgeons said they believed the pig kidney would last for at least two years. I Photo: Massachusetts General Hospital

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

 The transplant team at MGH said in a statement they were deeply saddened by Slayman’s passing and offered condolences to his family. They stated they didn’t have any indication that he died as a result of the transplant.

The Weymouth, Massachusetts, man was the first living person to have the procedure.

Previously, pig kidneys had been temporarily transplanted into brain-dead donors. Two men received heart transplants from pigs, although both died within months.

Slayman had a kidney transplant at the hospital in 2018, but he had to go back on dialysis last year when it showed signs of failure. When dialysis complications arose requiring frequent procedures, his doctors suggested a pig kidney transplant.