The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved pioneering clinical trials by two biotech firms to evaluate the transplantation of kidneys from genetically engineered pigs into human patients with renal failure. This breakthrough authorization could mark a significant step toward addressing the chronic shortage of human organs for transplant. Until now, such transplants were only possible through compassionate use waivers from the US Food and Drug Administration.
The two companies are United Therapeutics Corporation and eGenesis, Inc.
Read more about the Food and Drug Administration approval on the United Therapeutics press release at this link and on the LinkedIn announcement by eGenesis Inc here
United Therapeutics has ongoing research also on lung transplantation, which is very relevant to the pulmonary hypertension community.
ULobe™ is a development-stage engineered lung generated with a porcine lung scaffold and human allogeneic lung cells.
ULung™ is a development-stage personalized lung composed of a 3D printed lung scaffold cellularized with either allogeneic cells or a patient’s own cells.
Source: United Therapeutics: Enabling Inspiration corporate presentation link
