A 62-year-old man died months after being the world’s first surviving recipient of a genetically altered pig kidney transplant, which was heralded as a medical breakthrough.
Rick Slayman received the kidney at Massachusetts General Hospital in March after being diagnosed with end-stage renal failure the previous year. The hospital emphasised that there is no indication that his death was caused by the transplant.
In April, Slayman, a manager with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, was released from the hospital after undergoing the four-hour operation recommended by his physicians. After the procedure, physicians said they expected the replacement kidney to live for years, although they admitted that animal-to-human transplants have many unknowns.
“Mr Slayman will forever be seen as a beacon of hope to countless transplant patients worldwide and we are deeply grateful for his trust and willingness to advance the field of xenotransplantation,” Massachusetts General Hospital said in a statement.
“We offer our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Slayman’s family and loved ones as they remember an extraordinary person whose generosity and kindness touched all who knew him.”
Slayman’s relatives characterised him as a compassionate man who was deeply committed to those in his life.
“Our family is deeply saddened about the sudden passing of our beloved Rick but take great comfort knowing he inspired so many,” the statement said. “Rick’s tale has reached millions of people worldwide. We were soothed – and continue to be – by the hope he gave those who were severely in need of a transplant.”
Slayman had been a transplant patient at the hospital for 11 years, according to a prior statement. After years of suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure, he received a kidney from a human donor in 2018. Five years later, the kidney began to deteriorate, and he went back on dialysis in 2023.
“I saw it not only as a way to help me, but a way to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive,” Slayman stated in his statement.
Dr. Tatsuo Kawai, head of the Legorreta Centre for Clinical Transplant Tolerance, led the breakthrough procedure in March, which was met with acclaim in the operating room.
The demand for organs vastly outstrips the amount available in the United States. According to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, over 100,000 people are now waiting for an organ donation.
Experts have long been exploring ways to safely and successfully transplant animal organs into humans, which they believe might help to alleviate the organ shortage.
Prior to Slayman’s surgery, only two pig organ transplants had been conducted, both of which were heart transplants undertaken for compassionate reasons. Both individuals died weeks after getting their hearts.
In a statement released late Saturday night, EGenesis, the biotech company that provided the genetically altered pig kidney, referred to Slayman as a “true pioneer.”
“We are profoundly grateful to Mr. Slayman and his family and we will honour his legacy and invaluable contribution to science and medicine by continuing our efforts to advance xenotransplantation for the millions of patients globally in need of lifesaving organs,” the business stated.
Slayman’s family praised his care staff at Massachusetts General in a statement.
“After his transplant, Rick stated that one of the reasons he did the treatment was to give hope to the thousands of individuals who require a transplant to survive. Rick completed his aim, and his hope and optimism will last forever. “His legacy will be one that inspires patients, researchers, and health care professionals worldwide,” his family stated.
Source: Paradise Afshar, Chris Boyette and Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN
