Transplanted Pig Organs Recipient, with the Longest Survival Period, Expresses Feeling Superhuman
In a remarkable development in the field of organ transplantation, Towana Looney, a US resident, has become the world's longest-living recipient of a pig organ transplant, living for 61 days with her new organ. This groundbreaking procedure, performed at NYU Langone Health in November, offers hope in addressing the severe shortage of transplant organs globally, particularly in the UK and the US.
Looney's journey serves as a testament to resilience and spirit. After waiting nearly eight years on the transplant list, she received an experimental pig organ transplant. Dr. Robert Montgomery, Looney's transplant team leader, notes that her kidney function is now "absolutely normal."
Looney's past is marked by selflessness. In 1999, she donated a kidney to her mother. However, she faced kidney failure years later due to a complication during pregnancy. This time, it was her turn to receive a life-saving organ.
The success of Looney's transplant propels medical science into uncharted territory. While no xenotransplants have been undertaken in the UK as of yet, anticipated studies are set to commence this year. The groundbreaking procedure offers hope to the over 7,500 individuals in the UK awaiting organ transplants, with more than 415 losing their lives while on the waiting list last year.
In the US, over 100,000 people are in need of transplants, with a majority requiring kidney donations. The first FDA-approved clinical trials for kidney xenotransplantation began in 2025, moving beyond short-term transplantations into actual patient trials with genetically modified pig kidneys in living recipients.
Other ongoing and upcoming xenotransplantation studies include research at Columbia University for genetically engineered pig heart transplants for infants and young children, islet cell xenotransplant trials for type 1 diabetes treatment, and trials for novel immunosuppressants to prevent rejection in both pig organ and islet cell transplants.
While specific long-term survival numbers beyond 61 days in American recipients of gene-edited pig organs are not yet publicly available, the field is rapidly advancing with multiple early human trials underway or imminent in the US and UK research centers.
Dr. Montgomery lauds Looney as a beacon of hope for those with kidney failure. Her case offers hope to countless individuals awaiting life-saving procedures. Looney, who left the hospital 11 days post-operation and is currently under observation in New York for a month before returning to Alabama, expresses gratitude for her life-saving pig organ transplant. She looks forward to traveling and spending time with family and grandchildren.
- This pioneering pig organ transplant performed on Towana Looney at NYU Langone Health in November could potentially alleviate the critical shortage of transplant organs, particularly in the UK and the US, where over 7,500 and 100,000 people, respectively, are currently on waitlists.
- The success of Looney's transplant marks a significant step forward in the field of medical-conditions, specifically chronic-diseases like chronic-kidney-disease, as her kidney function has been reported as absolutely normal.
- The progress in health-and-wellness, achieved through fitness-and-exercise and proper nutrition, will play a vital role in supporting recipients' recovery and ensuring better long-term outcomes post-transplant, as medical science advances.
- Mental-health is equally important in the recovery journey, with therapies-and-treatments playing a crucial role in helping recipients cope with the emotional and psychological aspects of dealing with chronic diseases and major surgeries.
- The exploration of xenotransplants, such as genetically engineered pig heart transplants for infants and young children at Columbia University, and islet cell xenotransplant trials for type 1 diabetes treatment, demonstrate the expanding frontiers of science.
- The global health-and-wellness community eagerly awaits the outcomes of these early human trials, as they could revolutionize the treatment and management of various medical-conditions, offering renewed hope and a brighter future for countless individuals grappling with chronic diseases and waiting for life-saving procedures.
