US researchers are set to test gene-edited liver from pigs that could potentially help treat sudden liver failure by temporarily filtering the blood to allow the organs to heal.
The first clinical trial has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Pig producer Egenesis announced the milestone in collaboration with partner Olgax on Tuesday.
Every year, an estimated 35,000 people in the United States are hospitalized due to sudden liver failure, with limited treatment options and a mortality rate of 50%. Many individuals are not eligible for a liver transplant or are unable to receive one in time.
A new study set to begin later this spring will explore inter-animal organ transplantation. Instead of transplanting pig livers, researchers will externally connect them to study participants.
While the liver is capable of regeneration, the key question is whether pig livers can efficiently filter into patients’ bloodstreams for extended periods.
Egenesis CEO Mike Curtis demonstrated that temporary “bridge” attempts have shown pig livers can sustain some human liver functions for several days.
The trial aims to enroll up to 20 ICU patients ineligible for liver transplants. The device, created by a UK-based company that currently preserves donated human livers, will pump participant blood through the pig livers.
This marks the latest advancement in using gene-edited pig organs to potentially save human lives. Experimental transplants using pig kidneys from Egenesis and United Therapeutics, another pig producer, have also been conducted.
Source: www.nbcnews.com