Towana Looney, a 53-year-old Alabama woman, is recovering well after receiving a genetically modified pig kidney transplant at NYU Langone Health in New York City on November 25th. This groundbreaking procedure offers hope for thousands awaiting organ transplants.
Looney’s journey began eight years ago when her remaining kidney failed due to pregnancy complications, after having donated a kidney to her mother in 1999. High antibody levels made a human kidney transplant unlikely, leading her to this experimental procedure. Looney is the fifth American to receive a gene-edited pig organ since 2022 and the third to receive a kidney. Sadly, previous kidney recipients did not survive beyond a few months.
Discharged after 11 days, Looney described feeling an incredible surge of energy and a renewed sense of life. “It’s like a new beginning,” she told the Associated Press. “To have a working kidney — and to feel it — is unbelievable.” Although briefly readmitted to adjust medications, her recovery remains positive.
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Before the surgery, Looney acknowledged the inherent risks, stating, “You don’t know if it’s going to work or not until you try.” She credits Dr. Jayme Locke, her original physician, and Dr. Robert Montgomery of NYU Langone Health for their collaborative efforts in securing FDA approval for the transplant after her application in April 2023.
Prior to the transplant, Looney endured years of dialysis, a physically demanding process that severely limited her daily life. Now, post-transplant, she marvels at her newfound ability to multitask and perform everyday activities without exhaustion. Looney anticipates returning to her home in Gadsden, Alabama, within three months.
Dr. Locke expressed immense satisfaction with Looney’s progress, emphasizing that this procedure was Looney’s best chance for survival. The innovative approach involved using a pig kidney with ten genetic modifications to minimize the risk of rejection, supplied by Revivicor, a United Therapeutics Corporation subsidiary.
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This successful xenotransplantation marks a significant advancement in addressing the critical organ shortage in the U.S. With over 100,000 people on the transplant waiting list, and thousands dying annually while waiting for a compatible organ, this procedure provides a beacon of hope. Dr. Montgomery, a heart transplant recipient himself, believes xenotransplantation could revolutionize organ transplantation by eliminating the uncertainty of finding a suitable human donor. He envisions a future where organ failure no longer carries a life-or-death gamble. The successful transplant provides a compelling case for expanding research and development in xenotransplantation.
