Chinese Surgeons Transplant Gene-Edited Pig Liver, Kidneys Into Human

(MENAFN) Chinese surgeons have achieved a landmark medical milestone, performing the world's first simultaneous transplant of a gene-edited pig liver and two pig kidneys into a human recipient — a breakthrough that pushes the boundaries of xenotransplantation and could one day transform the global organ shortage crisis.

The procedure was carried out on a brain-dead patient at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University in southern China, led by Professor Dou Kefeng of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, according to a state news agency.

The transplanted organs functioned for nearly five days with no signs of hyperacute rejection — one of the most formidable obstacles in cross-species transplantation. Researchers reported that the pig liver produced bile while the kidneys generated urine and maintained stable blood flow, demonstrating that multiple animal organs can operate in coordinated fashion within a human body.

According to media, the trial was specifically designed to assess whether several gene-edited pig organs can function together inside a human recipient — a critical stepping stone toward alleviating the chronic global shortage of donor organs.

The donor pig had been subjected to multiple genetic modifications aimed at reducing immune rejection and enhancing biological compatibility with human physiology. The news agency noted the achievement builds on a series of prior Chinese xenotransplantation advances, including earlier successful pig kidney and liver experiments.

While the procedure was conducted as a scientific study rather than a therapeutic intervention, experts say it represents a pivotal stride toward eventual clinical use of animal organs in human patients — though significant hurdles around long-term survival and immune compatibility remain to be overcome.

MENAFN09062026000045017169ID1111232468