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Towana Looney, a 53-year-old Alabama resident, is enjoying a new lease on life after receiving a gene-edited pig kidney in a groundbreaking transplant at NYU Langone Health last month. This marks a major step forward in xenotransplantation, the practice of transplanting organs between species, and offers hope for the thousands awaiting organ donations.
Looney's journey to this life-changing procedure was complex. After donating a kidney to her mother years ago, she developed kidney failure herself. Years of dialysis and a difficult search for a matching human kidney left her with few options. High levels of antibodies in her blood made traditional transplants risky.
Facing a life-threatening situation, Looney was approved for the experimental procedure under the FDA's compassionate use program. The pig kidney she received had ten gene edits to make it more compatible with her immune system, the first such transplant of its kind.
The surgery, led by Dr. Robert Montgomery, was a success. Looney is now free from dialysis and feeling healthier than she has in years. "It’s a blessing," she said. "I feel like I’ve been given another chance at life."
This procedure is the third time a gene-edited pig kidney has been transplanted into a living human, and Looney is the first to receive one with ten gene edits. It represents a significant advancement in addressing the critical shortage of human organs for transplant. Nearly 104,000 people are on the waiting list for a transplant in the US, with over 90,000 needing a kidney.
Dr. Jayme Locke, who initially cared for Looney in Alabama and spearheaded the FDA application, called the outcome "miraculous." She emphasized the potential of xenotransplantation to revolutionize organ donation.
While challenges remain, Looney's successful transplant offers a beacon of hope for those suffering from kidney failure and underscores the ongoing progress in the field of xenotransplantation.
With information from NYU Langone Health.
