Pig Kidney Keeps Patient Off Dialysis for Nine Months, First Temporary Bridge to Human Transplant

In January 2025, a genetically modified pig kidney was transplanted into 66‑year‑old Tim Andrews, who had end‑stage kidney failure. The organ, engineered to reduce immune rejection, allowed Andrews to stop dialysis and resume normal life. After six months, a methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection forced a reduction in immunosuppression, leading to vascular damage and organ failure. The pig kidney was removed 271 days after surgery, and Andrews returned to dialysis for three months before receiving a human donor kidney in January 2026. This case marks the first use of a pig kidney as a temporary bridge to a human transplant, demonstrating the feasibility of xenotransplantation to extend patient survival while awaiting a suitable donor.