Towana Looney's successful pig kidney transplant marks a significant milestone in xenotransplantation, offering hope for those awaiting life-saving organs.
An Alabama woman has achieved a significant milestone, becoming the longest-living recipient of a pig organ transplant . Towana Looney celebrated 61 days with her new kidney, radiating health and vitality. Looney's remarkable recovery serves as a beacon of hope in the ongoing quest to make animal-to-human transplants a reality. 'I'm superwoman,' Looney shared with The Associated Press while describing her ability to keep pace with family members on long walks around New York City.
'It's a new take on life.' Only four other Americans have received experimental transplants of gene-edited pig organs - two hearts and two kidneys - but none survived longer than two months. 'If you saw her on the street, you would have no idea that she's the only person in the world walking around with a pig organ inside them that's functioning,' said Dr. Robert Montgomery of NYU Langone Health, who led Looney's transplant. Montgomery hailed Looney's kidney function as 'absolutely normal.' Doctors anticipate Looney's return to her Gadsden, Alabama, home in about another month, after completing her temporary stay in New York for post-transplant checkups. 'We're quite optimistic that this is going to continue to work and work well for, you know, a significant period of time,' Dr. Montgomery expressed.Scientists are diligently working on genetically modifying pigs to create organs that are more compatible with humans. This groundbreaking research aims to address the critical shortage of transplantable human organs. Over 100,000 people in the U.S. are currently on the transplant list, with the majority requiring a kidney, and thousands tragically lose their lives while waiting. Pig organ transplants thus far have been classified as 'compassionate use' cases, experimental procedures authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in exceptional circumstances for patients who have exhausted all other options. The limited number of hospitals involved are actively collaborating and sharing their valuable insights on what has worked and what hasn't, in preparation for the world's first formal studies of xenotransplantation, anticipated to commence sometime this year. United Therapeutics, the company that provided Looney's kidney, recently requested FDA approval to begin a clinical trial.Looney's progress is considered a 'very precious experience' by Dr. Tatsuo Kawai of Massachusetts General Hospital, who led the world's first pig kidney transplant last year and collaborates with another pig developer, eGenesis. Dr. Kawai noted that Looney was in significantly better health than prior patients, and her advancements will be instrumental in guiding future attempts. 'We have to learn from each other,' he emphasized. Looney's journey is particularly inspiring as she had previously donated a kidney to her mother in 1999. Later, pregnancy complications led to high blood pressure, which ultimately damaged her remaining kidney, causing its eventual failure. This is a rare occurrence among living donors. After spending eight years on dialysis, doctors informed Looney that she was unlikely to receive a donated organ due to the development of abnormally high levels of antibodies that aggressively targeted human kidneys. This prompted Looney to seek out the experimental pig transplant option. No one could predict how it would work in someone with such a strong immune response. Discharged just 11 days after the November 25th surgery, Montgomery's team has meticulously tracked her recovery through blood tests and other assessments. Approximately three weeks post-transplant, they detected subtle indicators of rejection, signs they had learned to recognize from a 2023 experiment where a pig kidney functioned for 61 days inside a deceased man whose body was donated for research. Montgomery stated that they effectively treated Looney's rejection and have not observed any signs of it since. Looney recently met the family behind that deceased-body research. 'It feels really good to know that the decision I made for NYU to use my brother was the right decision and it's helping people,' said Mary Miller-Duffy, of Newburgh, New York.Looney is actively sharing her experience, serving as an ambassador for individuals who have reached out to her through social media. She listens to their concerns about the long wait for transplants and their inquiries about pig kidneys. One such individual, considering a xenotransplant at another hospital, expressed fear about the procedure. Instead of giving definitive advice, Looney encouraged him to consult his faith and follow his heart. 'I love talking to people, I love helping people,' she added. 'I want to be, like, some educational piece' for scientists to help others. The future duration of Looney's new kidney's function remains uncertain, but if it were to fail, she could resume dialysis. 'The truth is we don't really know what the next hurdles are because this is the first time we've gotten this far,' Montgomery said. 'We'll have to continue to really keep a close eye on her.
Xenotransplantation Pig Organ Transplant Alabama Towana Looney Kidney Transplant Organ Shortage Medical Breakthrough
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