Alabama Woman Recovers After Groundbreaking Pig Kidney Transplant
An Alabama woman, Towana Looney, is showing promising recovery after receiving a genetically modified pig kidney in a groundbreaking transplant procedure. This marks a significant step in the field of xenotransplantation, which aims to address the critical shortage of human organs by using animal donors.
Looney, 53, underwent the experimental surgery on November 25, 2024, at NYU Langone Health, led by Dr. Robert Montgomery. She is the fifth American to receive a gene-edited pig organ and the first to show such positive results. Unlike previous recipients, Looney wasn’t severely ill, which may have contributed to her better outcomes.
A New Lease on Life
Looney, who had been on dialysis for eight years, described the experience as transformative.
“It’s like a new beginning,” she told the Associated Press. “The energy I have is amazing. To have a working kidney—and to feel it—is unbelievable.”
She was discharged just 11 days after the surgery and, despite a brief readmission to adjust her medication, is expected to return to her home in Gadsden, Alabama, within three months. If the pig kidney eventually fails, she can return to dialysis.
Dr. Jayme Locke, Looney’s original surgeon, is now with the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration expressed hope for Looney and her family. “To see hope restored to her and her family is extraordinary,” she said.
The Journey to the Transplant
Looney’s story is one of perseverance. In 1999, she donated one of her kidneys to her mother, only to experience kidney failure years later due to complications from pregnancy-induced high blood pressure. Her unique antibody profile made her a poor match for human kidney donors, leaving her with no viable transplant options.
Determined to explore alternative solutions, Looney volunteered for the experimental pig kidney transplant. The kidney was provided by Revivicor, a Blacksburg, Virginia-based company specializing in genetically modified pigs. This particular pig had 10 gene alterations to make its organs more compatible with human biology.
Her transplant follows earlier attempts at xenotransplantation, including procedures at Massachusetts General Hospital and NYU Langone Health, where recipients had mixed results due to underlying health conditions. Despite these challenges, Looney remained optimistic.
“You don’t know if it’s going to work or not until you try,” she said.
Hope for the Future
This successful transplant is a major milestone in xenotransplantation research, with plans for clinical trials in the near future. United Therapeutics, Revivicor’s parent company, announced that it intends to file an application with the FDA soon.
Dr. Montgomery emphasized the experimental nature of the procedure. “A lot of what we’re seeing, we’re seeing for the first time,” he said. Doctors are closely monitoring Looney’s recovery, using advanced tracking devices and regular checkups to gather critical data for future transplants.
A Message of Gratitude
Looney remains deeply grateful to the medical team that gave her a second chance. During a recent visit, she embraced Dr. Locke and said, “Thank you for not giving up on me.”
This groundbreaking transplant offers hope to the more than 100,000 Americans awaiting organ donations. As scientists continue to refine these procedures, xenotransplantation could eventually save thousands of lives, turning experimental treatments into everyday solutions.
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Alabama Woman Recovers After Groundbreaking Pig Kidney Transplant