First living patient to receive genetically modified pig kidney dead at 62, weeks after historic transplant

Richard "Rick" Slayman was the first living patient to receive a kidney from a geneticaly modified pig.

The first living recipient of a kidney from a genetically modified pig, Richard “Rick” Slayman, 62, passed away two months after the groundbreaking transplant, as announced by his family and doctors on Saturday.

Slayman, a resident of Weymouth, a Boston suburb, was discharged in March following the transplant procedure at Massachusetts General Hospital. His family expressed gratitude for the efforts of the medical team but also acknowledged the challenges faced in healing human patients with animal cells, tissues, or organs.

Initially motivated by ongoing dialysis complications, which required frequent hospitalizations, Slayman viewed the procedure not only as a personal remedy but also as a beacon of hope for countless others awaiting transplants. His family remarked that his hope and optimism would endure, impacting many lives positively.

“I saw it not only as a way to help me, but a way to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive,” Slayman said of the groundbreaking procedure.

The transplant team clarified that Slayman's passing showed no indication of being linked to the recent xenotransplant, highlighting his significant role in advancing the field of xenotransplantation. The hospital extended heartfelt condolences to his family, acknowledging Slayman's generosity and kindness that touched those around him.

Prior to this groundbreaking procedure, Slayman had faced end-stage kidney disease and Type 2 diabetes for years, undergoing a human donor kidney transplant in 2018 after a prolonged period of dialysis. His optimism upon leaving the hospital post-transplant was palpable, representing a long-awaited moment of health and happiness in his life.

The transplant team at Mass General said it had “no indication" that Slayman's death "was the result of his recent transplant."

It's noteworthy that while pig organs had previously been tested on brain-dead donors and pig hearts had been transplanted into humans (both with fatal outcomes), Slayman's case marked a significant stride as the first living recipient of a genetically modified pig kidney.

This pioneering effort represents a promising advancement in overcoming immune system challenges associated with xenotransplantation, utilizing organs from pigs engineered to be more compatible with humans.