Breakthrough in Xenotransplant: Woman Recovers After Pig Kidney Removal

A medical breakthrough has been reported in Alabama, United States, where Towana Looney survived for 130 days with a transplanted pig kidney, setting a new record. Until now, no human had lived beyond two months with an animal kidney.

The genetically modified pig kidney was transplanted into Towana Looney on November 25 last year. However, doctors recently identified side effects in her condition, prompting them to surgically remove the kidney. The removal procedure was successfully performed on April 4 at the NYU Langone Health Center in New York, and doctors confirmed that she is now recovering well.

Towana Looney will resume dialysis treatment and is expected to undergo a human kidney transplant once a suitable donor is found. She has been on dialysis since 2016.

Reflecting on her experience, Towana Looney stated, “I’ve learned a lot from my 130 days living with the pig kidney. This will help and inspire many people on their journey to overcome kidney disease.”

Before Looney’s surgery, only four Americans had undergone experimental xenotransplants using genetically modified pig organs—two heart transplants and two kidney transplants. In all those cases, the organs functioned for less than two months, and the recipients, who were already critically ill, passed away.

Researchers are now shifting their focus toward patients like Looney, who are less critically ill, in hopes of improving outcomes in xenotransplantation. In line with this effort, doctors revealed that a man from New Hampshire who received a pig kidney transplant in January 2025 is currently doing well.