Beijing , China– August 26, 2025
Milestone Reached in Xenotransplantation as Pig Lung Functions for Nine Days
In a groundbreaking medical achievement, scientists in China have performed the world’s first-ever pig-to-human lung transplant on a brain-dead person. The organ, sourced from a genetically modified pig, remained viable and functional for nine days, marking a major step forward in the field of cross-species organ transplantation, known as xenotransplantation.
The procedure, which was conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, involved a 39-year-old male patient who had been declared brain-dead following a hemorrhagic stroke. Researchers transplanted a single lung from the pig, which had been genetically modified to reduce the risk of the patient’s immune system rejecting the organ. The results, published in the journal Nature Medicine, demonstrated that the pig lung was able to perform its primary function of gas exchange and did not trigger a rapid, violent immune response.
Headlines of the Report
* Nine-Day Functionality: The transplanted pig lung remained viable and functional for nine days, a significant breakthrough for an organ that is particularly susceptible to immune rejection.
* Overcoming Rejection: The donor pig was genetically edited to remove certain genes that cause immediate rejection and to add human genes to make the organ more compatible.
* Addressing Organ Shortage: The successful experiment is a “proof of concept” that could one day help solve the critical worldwide shortage of human organ donations.
* Early Signs of Rejection: While there was no immediate rejection, the transplanted lung did show signs of damage and swelling after 24 hours, and signs of rejection by days three and six.
* Challenges Remain: The research team acknowledged that significant challenges related to organ rejection, infection, and long-term function still need to be addressed before the procedure can be attempted in living patients.
The experiment’s success is particularly notable because the lungs, unlike other organs such as kidneys or hearts, are directly exposed to the external environment, which increases the risk of infection and makes them especially vulnerable to rejection. This latest achievement follows previous successful pig-to-human transplants of kidneys and hearts, and provides crucial insights into how the human body reacts to a foreign lung.
The experiment was terminated on the ninth day at the request of the patient’s family. While the results are promising, scientists and medical experts are quick to point out that the procedure is still in its early experimental phase. Further research is needed to refine the genetic modifications of the pigs, improve immunosuppressive drug regimens, and enhance organ preservation strategies before this life-saving technology can become a clinical reality for patients in need.
