Genetically Modified Pigs Born in Japan... Monkey Experiments This Year, Human Trials Next Year

"After testing on monkeys this summer...
Human trials planned around next fall"

A genetically modified pig engineered for organ transplantation into the human body was born for the first time in Japan.

Genetically modified pig born in Japan. [Image source=Captured from Formedtec YouTube]

On the 13th, local media including the Asahi Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Japanese venture company "Formedtec" of Meiji University succeeded in giving birth to three pigs whose immune-related genes were modified to prevent rejection reactions when their organs are transplanted into humans. The company imported special pig cells developed by the U.S. biotech venture eGenesis in September last year, then implanted oocytes injected with cell nuclei into the uterus of female pigs to induce birth. The pigs born this time are miniature pigs smaller than ordinary pigs, and through genetic modification, the likelihood of rejection during organ transplantation was reduced.

The media quoted Kagoshima University and Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine as saying, "There are plans to conduct research to confirm safety by transplanting the kidneys of the pigs born this time into monkeys as early as this summer." Hiroshi Nagashima, founder of Formedtec and a biotechnology researcher at Meiji University, stated that the goal is to conduct clinical research targeting patients with severe renal failure and liver failure as early as next fall. He said, "Discussions for clinical application will also take place domestically (in Japan)," and added, "We want to deepen discussions on ethical issues as well."

Research on xenotransplantation, which involves transplanting organs from animals other than humans, initially focused on transplanting organs from primates. Currently, pigs are mainly used as organ donor animals. This is because they are considered ideal donors for humans due to ▲organ size ▲rapid growth ▲large litter sizes ▲and the fact that they are already raised as a food source.

Earlier, eGenesis announced in a paper published last year that a monkey that received a genetically edited miniature pig kidney with 69 gene edits survived for up to 758 days. Last month, it was revealed that a pig liver was connected to the body of a brain-dead patient, circulating blood for three days.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.