Curious: I heard about an American woman who received a pig kidney. Is that true?

Expert: Yes, Towana Looney, a 53-year-old from Alabama, is now the third person in the world to receive a genetically modified pig kidney.

Curious: Why a pig kidney?

Expert: She had been on dialysis for eight years because her only kidney was damaged during a pregnancy complication. Despite being on a waiting list since 2017, no compatible human donor was available.

Curious: Does it work?

Expert: So far, it’s working great! Three weeks after the surgery, her health is stable. Her surgeon, Dr. Robert Montgomery, confirmed that her body is accepting the organ, which was genetically modified to prevent rejection.

Curious: How is this different from regular transplants?

Expert: The kidney has ten genetic modifications. Unlike previous transplants, they didn’t include a pig thymus, and they used a new combination of medications.

Curious: Is this the first time this has been done?

Expert: Not exactly. Two patients tried it earlier this year, but they didn’t survive due to pre-existing health issues. Towana Looney is the first to have such a successful outcome.

Curious: Does this mean it’s a solution for everyone?

Expert: Not yet. The company Revivicor, which provided the kidney, plans to apply for clinical trials in 2025. This marks a huge step forward in addressing the organ shortage. Over 90,000 Americans are currently waiting for a kidney.

Curious: How’s Towana doing now?

Expert: She feels full of energy, jokes that she can “go to the bathroom normally,” and hopes to return home within three months. She called the transplant a “second chance at life.”

Curious: That’s amazing!

Expert: Absolutely, and each surgery provides critical knowledge for the future. This breakthrough offers hope to thousands of patients worldwide.