An Alabama woman has recently achieved a significant milestone by becoming the longest-living recipient of a pig organ transplant, successfully thriving with her new kidney for over 61 days.
Towana Looney, who is delighted with her progress, expressed her joyful mindset by quipping, “I’m superwoman,” as she joyfully walks around New York City, leaving family members behind. This development represents a fresh start and a novel perspective on life for Looney, adding a positive note to the ongoing efforts to establish the feasibility of animal-to-human organ transplants.
Her successful recovery comes as a notable morale boost in the field, as only four other Americans have undergone experiments with gene-edited pig organ transplants, including two hearts and two kidneys, but sadly, none survived beyond two months. Dr. Robert Montgomery from NYU Langone Health, who oversaw Looney’s transplant, mentioned, “If you saw her on the street, you would have no idea she’s the only person in the world with a functioning pig organ inside her.”
Looney’s kidney function has been reported as “absolutely normal” by her medical team. They anticipate that she will soon return to her home in Gadsden, Alabama, as she completes her required checkups in New York. Montgomery expressed optimism about her ongoing success, stating, “We’re quite optimistic that this is going to continue to work well and for a significant period of time.”
Research is currently underway to genetically modify pigs, making their organs more suitable for human transplantation in an attempt to alleviate the ongoing shortage of available human organs. More than 100,000 individuals are currently on the transplant waiting list in the U.S., primarily for kidneys, and countless others pass away each year while waiting.
The current pig organ transplants fall under the category of “compassionate use,” which the FDA permits only under specific circumstances for patients without other treatment options. Hospitals engaged in these procedures are collaboratively sharing what has worked and what has not, paving the way for the upcoming formal studies on xenotransplantation, which are expected to commence this year. United Therapeutics, which provided Looney’s kidney, has also sought FDA approval to initiate a trial.
Dr. Tatsuo Kawai of Massachusetts General Hospital, who led the world’s first pig kidney transplant last year, indicated that Looney’s remarkable health compared to previous patients will contribute valuable insights for future attempts. He emphasized the importance of shared knowledge in this pioneering field of research.
Towana Looney has a personal history with kidney donation; she gave a kidney to her mother in 1999. Subsequently, complications from pregnancy led to high blood pressure, which damaged her remaining kidney. Unfortunately, this resulted in kidney failure—a rare scenario among living donors. After spending eight years on dialysis, doctors informed her that finding a compatible organ for a transplant was unlikely due to her body developing exceptionally high levels of antibodies that were predisposed to attacking another human kidney.
Consequently, at the age of 53, Looney pursued the experimental procedure involving pig organs. Her case was especially uncertain, given her condition with the heightened antibody levels. Just 11 days post-surgery on November 25th, she was discharged, and her recovery has been closely monitored through detailed blood tests and assessments. A few weeks after the transplant, subtle indicators of potential rejection were detected, but the medical team was able to manage the situation effectively. Since then, Looney has not shown any signs of rejecting her new kidney.
She also had the opportunity to meet the family of the patient whose body was used in the studies that contributed knowledge for her treatment, bringing a sense of connection and hope. Mary Miller-Duffy, whose brother was part of this research, expressed her satisfaction in knowing that their family’s contribution is helping others.
Towana Looney is also keen on assisting others who find themselves in similar situations. She has embraced her role as an ambassador for those seeking information about pig kidneys through social media. One individual who approached her was facing a decision regarding a xenotransplant at another facility but was hesitant. Instead of pushing for a decision, Looney encouraged him to reflect on his faith and follow his heart.
“I love talking to people and I love helping people,” said Looney, highlighting her desire to serve as an educational tool for those in need as well as for scientific communities working to improve these transplant techniques. Although the longevity of her new kidney remains uncertain, she is prepared to return to dialysis if it eventually fails.
“We don’t really know what the next hurdles are, as this is our first time reaching this milestone,” Montgomery concluded. Moving forward, a proactive approach will be essential, as the team plans to meticulously monitor Looney’s condition.
