Gene-edited pig kidney functions for over 200 days

A groundbreaking xenotransplant at Xijing Hospital in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, has set a new survival record in Asia, with a gene-edited pig kidney functioning in a patient for more than 200 days.

The surgery was conducted on March 6 under the guidance of Dou Kefeng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It was Asia's first and the world's fifth such procedure.

"The transplanted kidney stabilized after surgery, with the patient's serum creatinine levels returning to normal within three days," said Qin Weijun, director of the hospital's urology department. The organ has maintained stable performance, producing about 2,000 milliliters of urine daily and regulating electrolytes and blood pressure effectively.

Four similar pig kidney transplants have been attempted in the United States since 2024, with survival times ranging from less than two months to nearly eight months.

"In China, more than 100 million people have chronic kidney disease, yet only about 10,000 receive transplants each year," Dou said. "The progress in Xi'an represents a significant step toward providing new treatment options for patients worldwide."

Liu Xueru contributed to this story.