Pig Kidney Transplant Keeps Patient Alive for Nine Months

A patient in the world’s first successful long-term pig kidney transplant lived with the organ for nine months before receiving a human kidney, according to the Irish Independent. The procedure was reported as a world first by the outlet on Friday, September 4, 2026.

The man eventually underwent a second transplant to replace the genetically modified pig kidney with a human organ, Sky News reported. The pig kidney had been functioning in his body for 271 days, according to BBC News. The case is being described as a record for how long a genetically modified pig organ has kept a human alive, The Guardian reported.

The transplant is part of a broader push to address the shortage of human donor organs. Financial Times reported that pig kidneys have now been successfully transplanted into humans in multiple cases. The organs are genetically modified to reduce the risk of rejection by the human immune system.

The nine-month duration of this case marks a significant step forward for xenotransplantation, the use of animal organs in humans. Previous attempts have typically failed within weeks or months due to immune rejection or other complications. The fact that this patient survived long enough to receive a human organ suggests the genetic modifications may be effective in preventing early organ failure.

pig kidney

The patient’s identity and the specific medical center where the procedure took place have not been disclosed in the reports. The Irish Independent and other outlets have not provided details on the patient’s current condition following the human kidney transplant.

What to watch next: Whether regulators and transplant centers will expand trials of genetically modified pig organs to more patients awaiting human donor organs.