The 62-year-old man who made history as the first recipient of a genetically edited pig kidney transplant has died two months after the landmark surgery, though it wasn't caused by the experimental procedure itself.
Richard "Rick" Slayman, the 62-year-old man who made medical history as the first person to receive a genetically edited pig kidney transplant, has passed away two months after the landmark surgery, according to his family and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Slayman had suffered from health issues including type 2 diabetes and hypertension, requiring a human kidney transplant in 2018 that ultimately failed five years later. With no other treatment options, he was approved under the FDA's "compassionate use" rules to undergo the first-ever xenotransplant of a pig kidney engineered with 69 genetic modifications to prevent rejection.
While expressing "deep sadness" over Slayman's death, the Boston hospital emphasized it was not related to the experimental transplant procedure itself. In a statement, his family said they took "great comfort knowing he inspired so many" and were "comforted by the optimism he provided patients desperately waiting for a transplant."
The pioneering xenotransplantation surgery in March 2024 generated immense hope for the thousands of people awaiting life-saving organ donations each year. Slayman's family revealed one of his key motivations was "to provide hope for those who need a transplant to survive."
Despite his relatively brief survival following the pig kidney transplant, Slayman's bold willingness to participate in the groundbreaking medical procedure is being hailed as an inspirational milestone. As his family stated, "His legacy will inspire patients, researchers, and health care professionals."
While xenotransplantation remains an emerging field with many challenges yet to overcome, Slayman's story has catalyzed valuable research and represents a brave first step towards one day making animal-to-human organ transplants safe, viable, and accessible.
