Second Genetically Modified Pig Heart Transplant Recipient Dies After Six Weeks

"58-year-old Lawrence Faucette succumbs to organ rejection nearly six weeks following experimental procedure, highlighting challenges in pioneering organ transplant field."

Lawrence Faucette, the second person to receive a genetically modified pig heart transplant, died nearly six weeks post-surgery due to organ rejection. The procedure was carried out at the University of Maryland Medical Center after receiving emergency approval from the FDA.
Faucette, a 20-year Navy veteran and a married father of two, suffered from end-stage heart disease and wasn't eligible for a traditional heart transplant due to additional advanced medical conditions. Initially, he showed signs of recovery and made 'significant progress,' participating in physical therapy and spending time with family.
The heart transplant procedure involved a pig's heart that was genetically modified to reduce the chance of organ rejection by Faucette's immune system. Despite the progress made in the early weeks, Faucette's body started exhibiting initial signs of organ rejection in the final days leading up to his death.
Faucette's last wish was for doctors to learn from his experience to improve future transplants. His surgery, and a similar one performed in 2022 on David Bennett, represent significant advancements in xenotransplants - a potential solution to the current shortage of human organ donations.
More than 100,000 people are on the U.S. transplant waiting list, with the majority needing kidney transplants while thousands die waiting. Apart from the possibility of favorably addressing the human organ donation shortage, xenotransplants also present their own risks, including infection and greater propensity for organ rejection.