WASHINGTON — A self-described science nerd is the latest American to get an experimental pig kidney transplant at a crucial point in the quest to prove if animal organs really might save human lives.
The 54-year-old New Hampshire man is faring well after his June 14 operation, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital announced Monday.
“I really wanted to contribute to the science of it,” Bill Stewart, an athletic trainer from Dover, New Hampshire, told The Associated Press.
That’s not the only milestone the Mass General team is marking: A pig kidney has kept another New Hampshire man, Tim Andrews, off dialysis for a record seven months and counting. Until now, the longest that a gene-edited pig organ transplant was known to last was 130 days.
Based on lessons from the New Hampshire men and a handful of other one-off attempts, the Food and Drug Administration approved pig producer eGenesis to begin a rigorous study of kidney xenotransplants.
People are also reading… Mixed emotions expressed as La Crosse parks closed over ‘unsafe behaviors’ The Big Lady makes its debut in Onalaska – Steve Cahalan Hub’s Fries, a 50-year tradition, takes its final bow in 2025 5 La Crosse area high school boys stars of the week: Sept. 2 edition Fired UW-L chancellor Gow to be on TMZ special about OnlyFans Woman arrested for drunken driving with kids in vehicle La Crosse man faces drug charges and parole violation Committee hostile toward La Crosse mayor’s fast-tracked director of operations plan Longtime La Crosse Central coach headed to WBCA Hall of Fame Week 3 high school football scores 5 La Crosse area high school girls stars of the week: Sept. 4 edition Rivoli Building set to host arts district. See what’s inside. Former Green Bay Packers QB cited after bar altercation in Eau Claire Soft opening for new La Crosse trails delayed as funds are sought for safe public entry La Crosse mayor moves Director of Operations position forward amid city admin debate
“Right now we have a bottleneck” in finding enough human organs, said Mass General kidney specialist Dr. Leonardo Riella, who will help lead the new clinical trial.
More than 100,000 people are on the U.S. transplant list, most who need a kidney, and thousands die waiting. As an alternative, scientists are genetically altering pigs so their organs are more humanlike, less likely to be immediately attacked and destroyed by people’s immune system.
Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts
Initial experiments, two hearts and two kidneys, were short-lived and included very ill patients. Chinese researchers also recently announced a kidney xenotransplant but released little information. An Alabama woman whose pig kidney lasted 130 days before rejection prompted its removal, sending her back to dialysis, helped researchers shift to not-as-sick patients.
South Korea, US reach deal over workers; Alcaraz, Sabalenka win US Open titles
On today’s episode:
Palestinian gunmen open fire at Jerusalem bus stop, killing 6, Israeli officials say. Police in Nepal open fire on protesters outside parliament, killing 10. South Korea says it has reached a deal with the US for the release of workers in a Georgia plant. Jury selection begins in the trial of the man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump in Florida. Pakistan evacuates 25,000 people from eastern city as rivers threaten flooding. Australian woman sentenced to life in prison for mushroom poisonings. Trump threatens Chicago with apocalyptic force and Pritzker calls him a ‘wannabe dictator’. President Trump says RFK. Jr is a “different kind of a guy.” Bipartisan House lawmakers push to release its Epstein files. Postal traffic to US sank 80% after Trump administration ended exemption on low-value parcels. Judge blocks Trump administration’s ending of legal protections for 1.1M Venezuelans and Haitians. Trump executive order aims to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War. Justice Department talks about banning transgender gun owners spark fury across political spectrum. Powerball lottery players in Missouri and Texas to split estimated $1.8 billion jackpot. Trillion dollar man New pay package could make Musk that much richer if Tesla thrives. Stocks wobble as Wall Street wrangles with whether the job market is too weak. Hall of Fame Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden dies of cancer at age 78. Josh Allen outduels Lamar Jackson in a Sunday night NFL thriller, Aaron Rodgers gets his revenge against the Jets, Matthew Stafford eclipses a major passing milestone and the majors’ top home run hitter adds another in a blowout. Carlos Alcaraz beats rival Jannik Sinner at the U.S. Open for a 6th Slam title and the No. 1 ranking. Aryna Sabalenka defeats Amanda Anisimova for her 2nd consecutive US Open title and 4th at a major.
— The Associated Press
About this program
Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.
Theme music
The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX
Lee Enterprises
In New Hampshire, high blood pressure caused Stewart’s kidneys to fail but he had no other health problems. It can take up to seven years for people with his blood type to find a matching kidney from a deceased donor, and some would-be living donors didn’t qualify. After two years in dialysis, he heard about Mass General’s most recent xenotransplant recipient — Andrews — and applied to be the next candidate.
“I’ve always been a little bit of a science nerd,” Stewart said. Conscious of how new these experiments are, he sought out Andrews for advice and ultimately decided, “worst case scenario, they can always take it out.”
Thrilled to no longer have his time and energy sapped by dialysis, Stewart said he’s easing back into desk duties at work and visited his old dialysis clinic to “let everyone know I’m doing all right and maybe kind of give some people some hope.”
Riella, the kidney specialist, said Stewart had his anti-rejection drugs adjusted to counter an early concern and that Andrews needed similar adjustments. He said it’s far too early to predict how long pig kidneys might be able to last — but it would be useful even if initially they can buy people time off dialysis until they get a matching human organ.
“A year, hopefully longer than that — that’s already a huge advantage,” he said.
The new eGenesis trial will provide gene-edited pig kidney transplants to 30 people age 50 or older who are on dialysis and the transplant list. Another developer of gene-edited pig organs, United Therapeutics, is about to start enrolling people in a similar FDA-approved study.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Read more on La Crosse Tribune
