Researchers in Japan have achieved a significant milestone in biotechnology by producing three piglets through cloning from a genetically modified pig with the capability to avert organ rejection during transplants in humans. A team affiliated with Kagoshima University and Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine is set to conduct experiments by transplanting the piglets' kidneys into monkeys to evaluate the viability of the organs, aiming to initiate these operations during the upcoming summer months.
The innovative approach was made possible by the creation of a genetically modified pig by the U.S. biotech firm eGenesis, which modified ten genes in the pig to address the usual rejection issue when transplanting pig organs in humans. PorMedTec Co., an entity established by Meiji University International Institute for Bio-Resource Research, announced the birth of the three piglets via cesarean section, marking a significant step towards advancing xenotransplantation- the transfer of animal organs into humans. Hisashi Sahara, leading the team for pig kidney transplants, emphasized the need for meticulous testing and evaluation processes in Japan to ensure seamless pathogen testing, breeding management, transportation, and transplantation of the organs.
Meiji University professor Hiroshi Nagashima, the brain behind PorMedTec, envisions transplanting pig kidneys into humans by 2025, with plans for future heart transplants from pigs as well. Given the global scarcity of human organs for transplantation, with only a small percentage of organ-failure patients receiving donations from brain-dead individuals in Japan, the development of xenotransplantation presents a potential solution to this critical health issue. The advancements in genome editing technology, emerged in the 2010s, have paved the way for the creation of pigs with multiple genetic modifications specifically tailored for organ transplantation purposes.