Genetically Modified Pig Kidney Sets New Survival Record in US Patient

A genetically modified pig kidney has functioned in a US patient’s body for a record 271 days, allowing him to avoid dialysis for nine months while awaiting a human donor organ. The milestone marks a significant advancement in xenotransplantation research.

3 Sept, 22:30 — 4 Sept, 07:32

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Why this matters

Xenotransplantation offers a potential solution to the chronic shortage of human donor organs. This record 271-day survival with a pig kidney demonstrates significant progress in overcoming immune rejection and could pave the way for broader clinical use, potentially saving thousands of lives each year.

Key entitiesTim Andrews Wilma Mass General Brigham

The Story

What 18 sources agree on, dispute, and miss

What sources agree on

Tim Andrews received a genetically modified pig kidney on January 25, 2025 (or January 2025).
The pig kidney functioned for 271 days (approximately nine months), a record for xenotransplantation.
After the pig kidney failed, Andrews underwent dialysis for about three months before receiving a human kidney transplant.
The pig kidney acted as a bridge to keep Andrews off dialysis while waiting for a human donor organ.

Key claims4 agreed · 2 unverified

✓

The pig kidney functioned for 271 days.

agreed·BBCThe GuardianThe Independentirish-independentder-spiegel+8

✓

The pig kidney was genetically modified.

agreed·BBCThe GuardianThe Independentirish-independentder-spiegel+8

✓

Tim Andrews later received a human kidney transplant.

agreed·BBCThe GuardianThe Independentirish-independentder-spiegel+8

✓

The pig kidney was removed after failure.

agreed·vijesti-meBBCThe GuardianThe Independentirish-independent+8

The pig was named Wilma.

unverified·The Guardian

The patient said 'I haven't felt this good in a long time.'

unverified·iefimerida

Where they diverge

Outlook on xenotransplantation

irish-independent

Presents the case as a step toward routine animal-to-human transplants, quoting doctors who believe it could become the norm.

The Guardiander-spiegelhelsingin-sanomat

Frames the pig kidney primarily as a temporary bridge solution, emphasizing its role in buying time for a human transplant rather than a long-term replacement.

Coverage gaps

The pig kidney was named Wilma.

ReportedThe Guardian

MissingBBCThe Independentirish-independent+9

Patient quote: 'I haven't felt this good in a long time.'

Reportediefimerida

MissingBBCThe GuardianThe Independent+9

Explicit mention that the pig kidney failed and was surgically removed.

Reportedvijesti-me

MissingBBCThe GuardianThe Independent+9

Specific hospital: Mass General Brigham in Massachusetts.

Reportedmorgunbladid

MissingBBCThe GuardianThe Independent+9

Coverage matrix(18 sources)

1–10 of 18

	BBC	The Guardian	helsingin-sanomat	berlingske	der-spiegel	el-mundo	morgunbladid	digi24	index-hr	The Independent
Outlook on xenotransplantation
The pig kidney was named Wilma.
Patient quote: 'I haven't felt this good in a long time.'
Explicit mention that the pig kidney failed and was surgically removed.
Specific hospital: Mass General Brigham in Massachusetts.

Covered Divergent Not mentioned

The Story

Analyzing sources…

Source Diversity

Excellent (92/100)

18 sources33/33

Spectrum spread— 4/5 buckets covered25/33

Far L2

Far Left (2)

The GuardianThe Independent

Left8

Left (8)

vijesti-medanasiefimeridader-spiegelindex-hrhotnewshelsingin-sanomatBBC

Center3

Center (3)

digi24punch-ngstar-kenya

Right5

Right (5)

berlingskela-vanguardiael-mundoirish-independentmorgunbladid

Far R

Geographic diversity— 14 regions34/34

UK3Romania2Spain2Denmark1Montenegro1Serbia1Greece1Nigeria1Kenya1Germany1Croatia1Ireland1Finland1Iceland1

Sources

Showing 6 of 18 sources

BBCHigh17h ago

Transplanted pig kidney works in US man's body for record 271 days

A man has lived for a record nine months with a transplanted pig kidney while waiting for a human transplant.

Read full article →

The GuardianMostly Factual17h ago

Genetically modified pig kidney keeps man alive for record nine months

Organ kept Tim Andrews off dialysis and acted as a ‘bridge’ while he waited for a human transplant in the US A genetically modified kidney from a pig called Wilma has kept a 66-year-old man with kidney failure alive for a record nine months and successfully acted as a “bridge” to a human transplant in a world first. Tim Andrews was seriously ill with end-stage kidney disease caused by type 2 diabetes and had only a 9% chance of receiving a human kidney within five years, against a more than 4...

By Andrew Gregory Health editor

Read full article →

The IndependentMostly Factual17h ago

Man able to live with genetically modified pig kidney for nine months in world first

Tim Andrews, who had end-stage kidney disease, was 66 when he received the pig kidney in January 2025

By Jane Kirby

Read full article →

irish-independent11h ago

Man given genetically modified pig kidney for nine months in world first

Doctors believe transplants between animals and humans could become the norm

By Jane Kirby

Read full article →

punch-ngMostly Factual8h ago

Pig kidney transplant helps US man avoid dialysis for nine months

A genetically modified pig kidney functioned in a US man for 271 days, setting a new record and offering hope for xenotransplantation patients. Read More: https://punchng.com/pig-kidney-transplant-helps-us-man-avoid-dialysis-for-nine-months/

By Punch Newspapers

Read full article →

star-kenyaMixed9h ago

Transplanted pig kidney works in US man's body for record 271 days - the-star.co.ke

Transplanted pig kidney works in US man's body for record 271 days the-star.co.ke

Read full article →

Coverage Timeline

First report: The Independent · 3 Sept, 22:30|Full coverage: 18 · 11h|Window: 11h

Left-leaningCenterRight-leaning

The Independent3 Sept, 22:30First to report

Man able to live with genetically modified pig kidney for nine months in world first

The Guardian3 Sept, 22:30

Genetically modified pig kidney keeps man alive for record nine months

BBC3 Sept, 22:31

Transplanted pig kidney works in US man's body for record 271 days

1h later

morgunbladid3 Sept, 23:55

Lifði 271 dag með nýra úr svíni

helsingin-sanomat4 Sept, 00:11

Lääketiede | Sialta ihmiseen siirretty munuainen toimi ennätykselliset 271 päivää

4h later

irish-independent4 Sept, 04:30

Man given genetically modified pig kidney for nine months in world first

hotnews4 Sept, 04:47

Record în lumea medicală: Un rinichi de porc modificat genetic l-a ținut în viață nouă luni

index-hr4 Sept, 05:28

Muškarcu u SAD-u presadili svinjski bubreg. Izdržao je rekordan 271 dan

1h later

der-spiegel4 Sept, 06:43

USA: Mensch überbrückt Wartezeit auf Spenderniere mit Organ eines Schweins

star-kenya4 Sept, 07:06

Transplanted pig kidney works in US man's body for record 271 days - the-star.co.ke

el-mundo4 Sept, 07:16

Sobrevive nueve meses con un riñón de cerdo hasta recibir un trasplante humano

punch-ng4 Sept, 07:32

Pig kidney transplant helps US man avoid dialysis for nine months

iefimerida4 Sept, 08:00

Παγκόσμια πρωτιά: Ασθενής έζησε για 271 ημέρες με γενετικά τροποποιημένο νεφρό χοίρου -«Είχα πολύ καιρό να νιώσω έτσι»

la-vanguardia4 Sept, 08:04

Un paciente prescinde 9 meses de la diálisis con un riñón de cerdo hasta lograr uno humano

danas4 Sept, 08:45

Genetically Modified Pig Kidney Sets New Survival Record in US Patient

Why this matters

The Story

What sources agree on

Key claims4 agreed · 2 unverified

Where they diverge

Coverage gaps

Coverage matrix(18 sources)

The Story

Source Diversity

Source Diversity

Sources

Transplanted pig kidney works in US man's body for record 271 days

Genetically modified pig kidney keeps man alive for record nine months

Man able to live with genetically modified pig kidney for nine months in world first

Man given genetically modified pig kidney for nine months in world first

Pig kidney transplant helps US man avoid dialysis for nine months

Transplanted pig kidney works in US man's body for record 271 days - the-star.co.ke

Coverage Timeline

Man able to live with genetically modified pig kidney for nine months in world first

Genetically modified pig kidney keeps man alive for record nine months

Transplanted pig kidney works in US man's body for record 271 days

Lifði 271 dag með nýra úr svíni

Lääketiede | Sialta ihmiseen siirretty munuainen toimi ennätykselliset 271 päivää

Man given genetically modified pig kidney for nine months in world first

Record în lumea medicală: Un rinichi de porc modificat genetic l-a ținut în viață nouă luni

Muškarcu u SAD-u presadili svinjski bubreg. Izdržao je rekordan 271 dan

USA: Mensch überbrückt Wartezeit auf Spenderniere mit Organ eines Schweins

Transplanted pig kidney works in US man's body for record 271 days - the-star.co.ke

Sobrevive nueve meses con un riñón de cerdo hasta recibir un trasplante humano

Pig kidney transplant helps US man avoid dialysis for nine months

Παγκόσμια πρωτιά: Ασθενής έζησε για 271 ημέρες με γενετικά τροποποιημένο νεφρό χοίρου -«Είχα πολύ καιρό να νιώσω έτσι»

Un paciente prescinde 9 meses de la diálisis con un riñón de cerdo hasta lograr uno humano

Bubreg svinje radio u ljudskom telu rekordnih 271 dan

Bubreg svinje radio u ljudskom tijelu rekordnih 271 dan

Transplanteret grisenyre slog rekord i amerikansk mands krop

Record medical. Un rinichi de porc transplantat a funcţionat în corpul unui pacient din SUA timp de 271 de zile

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Why this matters

The Story

What sources agree on

Key claims4 agreed · 2 unverified

Where they diverge

Coverage gaps

Coverage matrix(18 sources)