An Alabama woman is recovering well after receiving a pig kidney transplant last month, a breakthrough procedure that freed her from eight years of dialysis.
Towana Looney, 53, is the fifth American to receive a gene-edited pig organ and the first to show notable progress, offering hope for future advancements in xenotransplantation.
“It’s like a new beginning,” Looney said, describing the energy she felt immediately after surgery. “To have a working kidney — and to feel it — is unbelievable.” Looney’s operation was performed on November 25 at NYU Langone Health by Dr. Robert Montgomery, marking a significant milestone as scientists prepare for clinical trials of animal-to-human organ transplants next year.
Looney, a former living kidney donor to her mother, developed kidney failure years later due to complications from pregnancy-related high blood pressure. Despite her priority status, she was unable to find a suitable human donor because of antibodies that would cause her body to reject any traditional kidney transplant.
Desperate for a solution, Looney volunteered for the experimental pig kidney transplant after learning about ongoing research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her case was approved under FDA emergency-use rules for patients with no other options.
The surgery was a success. The genetically altered pig kidney, provided by Blacksburg-based Revivicor, immediately turned pink and began producing urine once implanted. Looney was discharged 11 days after surgery but was briefly readmitted for medication adjustments. Doctors expect her to return to her home in Gadsden, Alabama, within three months.
Dr. Jayme Locke, Looney’s original surgeon, praised her resilience. “To see hope restored to her and her family is extraordinary,” Locke said. Meanwhile, Montgomery emphasized the procedure’s importance, noting it offers a potential lifeline to thousands of people on the U.S. transplant waiting list.
Revivicor’s pig kidney features 10 genetic modifications to make it more compatible with humans. United Therapeutics, Revivicor’s parent company, plans to file with the FDA soon to launch formal clinical trials.
Looney remains optimistic about the future, telling the Associated Press, “You don’t know if it’s going to work or not until you try.” Doctors continue to monitor her progress closely, learning from every step of her recovery to advance this groundbreaking field.
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