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Towana Looney holds the distinction of being the sole individual in the world who has a fully functioning pig kidney. However, her doctor foresees a future where pig-to-human organ transplants, such as hers, could become commonplace within the next ten years.
53-year-old Looney, originally from Alabama, underwent a life-changing transplant at NYU Langone Transplant Institute in New York on November 25. Just eleven days after the surgery, she joyfully walked out of the hospital with hospital staff lining the hall, applauding her progress. Adorned in NYU Langone Health sweats and a mask, Looney proudly raised both thumbs in the air to express her gratitude and excitement.
Doctors provided an update on Tuesday, stating that Looney is in good condition and the kidney appears to be functioning properly.
She currently resides in an apartment close to the hospital to facilitate her daily checkups. Her health is closely monitored by a team of doctors using advanced technology such as artificial intelligence and wearable devices. These devices provide continuous tracking of her vitals and have the potential to detect issues like infections before they manifest as symptoms.
Looney’s doctors have informed her that she won’t be able to return to Alabama in time for the holidays. However, they are optimistic that if her recovery continues smoothly, she may be able to go home in three months. Looney is looking forward to resuming a normal life and cherishing precious moments with her family and grandchildren.
Looney’s life has been far from ordinary for quite some time now. She finds herself among the over 90,000 individuals currently waiting for a kidney transplant in the United States.
In a video shared by NYU, she expressed her determination by saying, “I don’t give up, even though there have been many letdowns.”
Looney was already familiar with transplants even prior to this surgery. In 1999, she selflessly donated a kidney to her mother, which ultimately saved her life. However, she later became one of the rare few, accounting for less than 1% of living kidney donors, who developed kidney failure, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
During the final months of her pregnancy, Looney experienced preeclampsia, a severe condition characterized by high blood pressure that caused damage to her remaining kidney. Additionally, she required a blood transfusion, making it challenging to find a suitable kidney donor.
In 2016, Looney underwent dialysis, a procedure that aids in the removal of waste and excess fluid from the blood. Although dialysis provides short-term relief, it can only perform 10% to 15% of the functions of a healthy kidney. Studies indicate that individuals on dialysis have a 50% chance of mortality within five years of commencing treatment.
Dr. Robert Montgomery, director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, explained that due to her pregnancies and blood transfusions, she has become highly sensitized. This means that her body produces harmful antibodies against other people’s tissue types.
Looney joined the waiting list for a kidney transplant in 2017 after her doctors informed her that her available blood vessels for dialysis were diminishing. They warned her that dialysis would eventually become ineffective and without a suitable donor, her life would be at risk.
Dr. Jayme Locke, who was then a professor of surgery and director of the Division of Transplantation at the Heersink School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, was the one who first informed Looney about the possibility of a pig kidney transplant. Recently, Locke was appointed to a new transplant leadership position at the US Health Resources and Services Administration.
Locke elaborated on her involvement in xenotransplantation, which refers to the transplantation of organs from animals to humans. Despite being a relatively new field, with ongoing research, Looney became the third individual to undergo a live kidney transplant from a gene-edited pig. Without hesitation, Looney eagerly embraced the opportunity, expressing her willingness to participate even before Locke had finished explaining the approach.
According to Locke, he inquired about the chances and questioned Looney regarding her decision to participate in an experimental procedure. In response, Looney expressed her desire to assist numerous individuals.
The US Food and Drug Administration permits doctors to perform organ transplants from pigs to humans through a process known as “compassionate use.” This allows for the use of experimental therapies or procedures when there are no comparable or satisfactory alternatives available.
Pigs have organs that are similar to humans, making them a viable option for organ transplantation. One of the advantages of using pig organs is the rapid rate at which they reproduce, allowing for a quick procurement process. Scientists have also developed techniques to edit the genes of pigs, reducing the chances of organ rejection in humans.
She is the first person to receive a kidney with 10 gene edits among the three individuals who have received a kidney from a gene-edited pig while still alive.
In March, Massachusetts General Hospital performed a groundbreaking pig kidney transplant on Rick Slayman, a 52-year-old with end-stage renal failure. Initially, the transplant was successful, allowing him to return home after two weeks. Unfortunately, tragedy struck as he passed away approximately two months later.
NYU successfully conducted a pig kidney transplant for Lisa Pisano, a 54-year-old patient who lived for nearly three more months with the help of a mechanical heart pump.
According to doctors, Looney’s health has improved compared to the previous two recipients, despite her kidney problems. Montgomery reports that Looney’s operation was a success, with the newly transplanted kidney quickly turning pink and functioning effectively.
“I want to make a difference, even though I know that anything can happen now, just like in dialysis,” expresses Looney in the NYU video.
The patient will need to take medication to prevent her body from rejecting the pig kidney. However, the medical team is optimistic that the kidney will continue to function well, allowing her to enjoy a long and healthy life.
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Montgomery expresses optimism regarding recent advancements in the field of xenotransplantation. Over the past few decades, scientists have been extensively researching this area. However, in the past couple of years, they have made rapid progress in understanding the causes of organ rejection in recipients and developing effective treatment methods.
Montgomery expresses in an NYU video that with each endeavor, they gain more knowledge and become more equipped to tackle the obstacles that come their way.
There are still numerous unanswered questions surrounding xenotransplantation. For instance, the durability of pig organs remains uncertain. However, Montgomery offers a confident forecast, stating that after a few more transplants conducted under compassionate use, clinical trials could commence in 2025 to demonstrate the efficacy of this practice. He further predicts that xenotransplantation will become a standard procedure within the next decade.
Having the option to receive a kidney transplant could be life-changing. Every day, approximately 13 individuals in the United States lose their lives while waiting for this life-saving procedure.
In a video by NYU, Montgomery expresses his belief that while it won’t entirely replace human-to-human transplantation, the use of xenotransplantation can help augment the organ supply. He emphasizes that this can significantly reduce the number of people dying or getting critically ill while waiting for a transplant.
Living without the need to go to dialysis all day has been a wonderful experience for Looney.
She expressed her immense joy, exclaiming, “It is an incredible feeling! To experience the vibrant energy and the circulation of blood within the kidney is truly wonderful.”
