Scientists have reached a major milestone in animal-to-human transplant research as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first human clinical trials for kidney transplants from genetically modified pigs.
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The approval marks a significant step forward in addressing the critical organ shortage facing thousands of Americans.
There are over 100,000 Americans on organ transplant waiting lists, with kidneys representing the most needed organ type. Current wait times for kidney transplants can extend several years, and many patients die before receiving a compatible organ.
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Xenotransplantation — the process of transplanting organs, tissues or cells from one species to another — has long been considered a potential solution to the organ shortage crisis. Previous attempts using pig organs have faced significant challenges due to biological incompatibilities between species.
The genetic modifications developed by eGenesis and other biotech companies aim to overcome these barriers by creating pig organs that more closely resemble human organs at the cellular level.
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