U.S. researchers are set to begin a groundbreaking clinical trial testing whether livers from genetically modified pigs can help people suffering from sudden liver failure.
Instead of transplanting the pig liver directly, the organ will be connected externally to filter the patient’s blood, giving their own liver a chance to rest and possibly recover.
Each year, about 35,000 Americans are hospitalized with acute liver failure, a condition with limited treatment options and a death rate near 50%. Many patients are not eligible for liver transplants or cannot find a donor in time.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved this first-of-its-kind trial, which will enroll up to 20 patients in intensive care who are not candidates for transplant.
The pig livers have been genetically engineered by the Massachusetts-based company eGenesis to be more compatible with humans. The trial will use a device from the UK company OrganOx to pump patients’ blood through the pig liver outside their bodies for up to 72 hours.
This approach aims to act like dialysis for the liver, filtering harmful waste from the blood while the patient’s own liver has a chance to heal or until a transplant becomes possible. Previous tests on deceased bodies showed that pig livers could perform some human liver functions for two to three days.
This trial marks a significant step in xenotransplantation—the use of animal organs to treat human diseases. Similar efforts with pig kidneys are already underway. Participants will be monitored for safety and liver function for a year after treatment.
Experts say this trial could offer new hope to patients with liver failure, a condition with few effective treatments and high mortality. If successful, pig livers could become a vital bridge therapy, saving lives while patients wait for human transplants or recover naturally
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