Tim Andrews lived 271 days with pig kidney before human transplant

September 4, 2026 at 02:23 PM2 min

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Tim Andrews, 66, lived a record 271 days with a genetically modified pig kidney before receiving a human kidney transplant in January 2026. The pig kidney, implanted in January 2025, allowed him to stop dialysis and regain appetite and muscle mass. The organ was later removed due to blood clots in its vessels.

Key Facts

Tim Andrews, 66, lived 271 days with a genetically modified pig kidney, the longest recorded duration for such a transplant.
The pig kidney was implanted in January 2025 and removed after blood clots formed in its vessels.
Andrews received a human kidney transplant in January 2026 from a compatible donor.
The pig kidney was developed by biotech company eGenesis under an FDA program that has treated five patients.
Three of the five patients in the FDA program lived with pig kidneys for more than eight months.

The Transplant Journey

Andrews suffered from kidney failure caused by hypertension and diabetes, and his rare blood type made a human donor match unlikely. In January 2025, he agreed to an experimental transplant of a kidney from a genetically modified pig. The pig kidney functioned for 271 days, filtering his blood and allowing him to stop dialysis. During that period, Andrews regained his appetite and muscle mass. The organ was eventually removed because blood clots formed in its vessels.

Human Transplant and Recovery

In January 2026, Andrews received a kidney from a compatible human donor. Doctors said his case showed that a prior pig organ transplant does not prevent a subsequent human transplant. The procedure was part of an FDA program using pig kidneys developed by eGenesis. Five patients have received pig kidneys under the program, and three lived with the organs for more than eight months.

Xenotransplantation Outlook

Specialists view transplantation of genetically modified animal organs as a possible temporary bridge for patients awaiting a human donor kidney. Doctors said Andrews' experience provided important data for the further development of xenotransplantation.