eGenesis announces world’s first transplant of human-compatible engineered organ

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eGenesis, a biotechnology company developing human-compatible engineered organs to address the global organ shortage, announced the first-ever transplantation of a genetically engineered porcine kidney into a living human recipient. Human-compatible donor organs developed by eGenesis offer a potentially viable alternative to end waitlist mortality and alleviate the shortage of transplantable organs.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) authorised transplant was performed by a surgical team at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) led by Tatsuo Kawai, MD, Ph.D., and Nahel Elias, MD. The eGenesis donor kidney (EGEN-2784) used for this procedure is the company’s lead candidate for a kidney transplant and carries three classes of modifications to ensure that the genetically ‘edited’ porcine kidney efficiently addresses organ safety in the human recipient(s) & efficacy and preventing organ rejection by the recipient’s immune system. eGenesis is the only company in the industry developing organs that carry all three classes of edits to address organ safety and efficacy. 

Heralding a new era in medicine having the potential to eliminate organ supply as a barrier to transplantation, this new technology promises to realize the vision to ensure patient care in the face of transplant organ shortage. The large body of preclinical evidence of long-term recipient survival with EGEN-2784 generated has paved the way for the company to evaluate this product in the clinical setting. The immunosuppression regimen includes approved agents and a novel, investigational monoclonal antibody, Tegoprubart, targeting the co-stimulatory CD40L pathway. Eledon Pharmaceuticals supplies Tegoprubart and is currently being evaluated in two clinical trials for kidney allotransplantation.