Massachusetts General Hospital has announced the passing of Mr. Rick Slayman, the first human to undergo a transplant of a genetically modified pig kidney.
The hospital expressed sorrow at Mr. Slayman’s sudden passing. However, they did not reveal the cause of his death. The statement released on Saturday stated:
“We have no indication that it was the result of his recent transplant.”
“Mr. Slayman will forever be seen as a beacon of hope to countless transplant patients worldwide and we are deeply grateful for his trust and willingness to advance the field of xenotransplantation,” it added.
To which the Slayman’s family replied,
“Our family is deeply saddened about the sudden passing of our beloved Rick but take great comfort knowing he inspired so many,” they shared. “Their enormous efforts leading the xenotransplant gave our family seven more weeks with Rick, and our memories made during that time will remain in our minds and hearts.”
Slayman’s medical journey began in 2018 when he received a human kidney transplant after enduring seven years of dialysis. However, the organ failed after five years, and he resumed dialysis treatments.
Recall that on March 16, doctors from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston conducted the first transplantation of a kidney from a genetically modified pig to a human.
The genetically modified pig kidney, provided by eGenesis of Cambridge, Massachusetts, was engineered to remove harmful genes and incorporate human genes for better compatibility. Additionally, it included experimental drugs, such as an antibody called tegoprubart, developed by Eledon Pharmaceuticals, to mitigate rejection by the recipient’s immune system.
The surgery lasted for four hours, after which he recovered well, with hospital officials expecting him to be discharged soon.
