The leading United Therapeutics Corporation has completed its first clinical xenotransplantation in its EXPAND study, using UKidney™ in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). At NYU Langone Health, this successful transplant procedure was performed. The UKidney is an investigational xenokidney studied from a pig having 10 gene edits. The six human genes are integrated into the pig genome to harness immunological acceptance and measure compatibility of the organ in the human recipient.
The EXPAND study will add a new feather to its ongoing clinical trial to bolster its scientific progress and growth. The four porcine genes are knocked out or inactivated to alleviate the risk factor of organ rejection and to accelerate the organ growth.
With this first transplant in the EXPAND clinical trial of UKidney in end-stage renal disease patients the United Therapeutics have moved a step ahead in presenting the potential of its clinical study and consistent push to discover treatment and excellence in the end-stage renal disease condition. This new milestone of United Therapeutics has paved new way for development and improvement in the organ transplantation process.
The PhD, Executive Vice President, Product Development and Xenotransplantation at United Therapeutics, Leigh Peterson, said, “The first transplant in this first-of-its-best study signifies a watershed moment for the company’s vision plan to expand access to transplatable organs. This trial fills the gap to offer ESRD patients an alternative option to lifelong dialysis, mainly those who don’t receive a kidney from a human donor.”
Leigh added, “Our entire team is pleased with the partnership that made this possible. We’re sharply focused on scientific progress and patient safety as the study is leading consistently.”
The Professor at Surgery, Chair of the Department of Surgery at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, and D.Phil, the H. Leon Pachter MD, the one who led the transplant team that executed the first xenotransplantation in the EXPAND study, Robert Montgomery, came up with a statement.
He said, “This milestone stamps a transformative moment in transplant medicine. The EXPAND study gives new hope to American individuals recently been on a kidney transplant waiting list. Many of whom might not live long enough to receive a human organ. This progress gets us closer to a future where xenotransplantation at some point may address the critical organ shortage crisis.”
Mansi Kadam is a market research writer with over 3 years of experience analyzing trends in the healthcare industry. At Towards Healthcare, she covers innovations in medical sector, sustainability initiatives, and the evolving regulatory landscape.
