A monkey survived for more than two years with a pig kidney.
A monkey survived with a pig kidney for two years
21 macaque monkeys were given organs from genetically modified Yucatan miniature pigs and scientists made 69 alterations to stop the kidneys being rejected.
The remarkable work is the latest to emerge from the US biotech firm eGenesis and Harvard Medical School - where genetically altered pigs are viewed as a solution to the worldwide shortage of donors for patients with organ failure.
Scientists have spent years trying to work out if animal organs could ever function properly and safely in humans without them being rejected by the immune system but have faced significant challenges in their efforts.
eGenesis chief executive Dr. Michael Curtis says that the "extraordinary milestone" provides hope for the approach and could "pave the way for better outcomes for countless individuals in need of lifesaving organ transplants".