The First Living Recipient of a Genetically Edited Porcine Kidney. Mr. Richard Slayman · 52 days with transplant

In March 2024, Richard ​“Rick” Slayman, 62, became the first person in the world to receive a genetically edited porcine kidney transplant. The procedure, conducted by a team from Mass General Brigham, marked a historic moment in the evolution of xenotransplantation and a major milestone in our mission to address the global organ shortage.

Rick had lived with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension for many years and previously underwent a human kidney transplant. When that kidney began to fail in 2023, he returned to dialysis and faced recurrent complications that significantly affected his quality of life. Presented with the option of a genetically edited pig kidney, an organ developed by eGenesis with three different classes of genomic edits designed to improve compatibility and safety, Rick chose to participate not only to improve his life, but to inspire hope for hundreds of thousands of patients waiting for transplants.

His extraordinary courage helped catalyze the scientific and regulatory progress that followed, including FDA clearance of the IND for EGEN-2784 in patients with ESKD. Rick’s legacy continues with every milestone reached since, and in every patient who will have a chance at a future he helped unlock.