The man who successfully received the first-ever pig kidney transplant has died nearly two months after the groundbreaking procedure was performed.
Richard Slayman, 62, who received the pig kidney back in March has died, his family announced on Saturday. Massachusetts General Hospital, where the transplant was done, said that there is “no indication” that Slayman died as a result of the transplant.
“Mr. Slayman will forever be seen as a beacon of hope to countless transplant patients worldwide and we are deeply grateful for his trust and willingness to advance the field of xenotransplantation,” the hospital said in a statement to ABC News. “We offer our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Slayman’s family and loved ones as they remember an extraordinary person whose generosity and kindness touched all who knew him.”
Prior to the transplant, the kidney inside Slayman was altered using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, which added some key human genes and excised harmful pig genes in order to make the kidney compatible with Slayman’s body.
At the time, the hospital said the surgery marked the first time a genetically modified pig kidney had been successfully put into a living person, although pig kidneys had been transplanted into donors who were brain dead.
In a statement following his death, Slayman’s family said they were “extremely grateful” for the team at Massachusetts General Hospital and said his legacy will be an inspiration for patients and researchers across the globe.
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“Our family is deeply saddened about the sudden passing of our beloved Rick but take great comfort knowing he inspired so many,” the statement said.
“Millions of people worldwide have come to know Rick’s story,” the family continued. “We felt — and still feel — comforted by the optimism he provided patients desperately waiting for a transplant.”
