United Therapeutics and eGenesis have reportedly been given the green light by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to carry out clinical trials of pig kidneys for human transplants.
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This move which is very monumental is a major headway in attempts to tackle the shortage of kidneys in the US.
Reports reveal over 100,000 people are in need of kidney transplants due to various illnesses associated with the organ.
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United Therapeutics which recently announced its FDA clearance intends to enroll six patients suffering from end-stage renal disease in its initial trial, expecting the first transplant to occur by mid-2025.
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However, the trial could eventually broaden to include 50 participants.
Leigh Peterson, company’s executive vice president, characterized the authorization as “a significant step forward in our relentless mission to expand availability of transplantable organs.”
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eGenesis, another prominent entity in the area of xenotransplantation disclosed that it received FDA approval in December for a unique trial involving 3 patients with kidney failure.
This trial, therefore, represents not just a step forward but also a challenge to conventional practices.
