Scientists Grow More Hopeful About Ending a Global Organ Shortage an article by the New York Times presents finding on a scientific breakthrough. Organ transplants with genetically modified pigs don’t trigger rejection by the human body.
Two patients in their 60’s lived over 6 moths with pig-transplanted kidneys. Scientists continue to work as in the first attempt 10 gene edits were made and in the next there will be 69 gene edits with the hope of the organs sustaining in a patient for the rest of their natural life. eGenesis hopes to start offering pig heart transplants to the babies born with rare congenital heart defect. China is in the process of building a facility to house thousands of these pigs in preparation for transplants. Though this new discovery is not without its worries. Viral genetic matter can be held in the organs when transplanted into humans. Infected organs setting off another pandemic of viral infections is a valid fear. The pigs are being raised in pathogen free facilities and tested before their organs are harvested but things can sip through the cracks.
Thirteen people die each day waiting for an organ transplant. Every eight minutes another person is added to the waitlist of over 100,000 people. For the people on the list waiting is their only option not knowing if they’ll be one of the thirteen that day. Pig organ transplants offer a greater chance of life. There were 89,792 people on the waitlist for kidneys as of September and in a year only 27,332 kidney transplants were done (organdonor.gov). That is a 30% chance of getting life saving treatment in a year when the average person on the waitlist has two years before succumbing to their organ failure. A 9% chance of not living, but receiving an organ to possibly live is nowhere near good enough. If pig organ transplants become widely offered this will save immeasurable lives. With this new organ donor we can give the other 91% a fighting chance.
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