In a groundbreaking medical milestone, surgeons have performed the world’s first successful pig-to-human liver transplant, marking a significant step forward in the field of organ transplantation.

According to reports from the News Agency of Nigeria, the procedure was carried out on a 71-year-old man whose liver had been severely damaged by hepatitis B infection and liver cancer. He was ineligible for a human liver transplant and lived for nearly six months following the operation.

This is the first instance where a liver from a genetically modified pig was transplanted into a human for therapeutic use. Previous trials had only been conducted on brain-dead patients to assess feasibility.

Researchers, writing in the Journal of Hepatology, explained that genetically modified pig livers can perform essential metabolic and synthetic functions in the human body. The Chinese research team utilized an “auxiliary graft” from a genetically engineered Diannan miniature pig, which had undergone specific gene modifications to improve organ compatibility.

During the first month, the transplanted liver functioned efficiently. However, by day 38, complications related to the procedure—known as xenotransplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (xTMA)—emerged, leading to the eventual removal of the graft. Although treatment resolved the condition, the patient passed away 171 days after the surgery.

Lead investigator Dr. Beicheng Sun, from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University in China’s Anhui Province, stated:

“This case proves that a genetically engineered pig liver can function in a human for an extended period. It is a pivotal step forward, demonstrating both the promise and the remaining challenges, particularly those linked to coagulation and immune complications.”

In an accompanying editorial, Journal of Hepatology co-editor Dr. Heiner Wedemeyer described the achievement as a landmark moment:

“This report demonstrates that a genetically modified porcine liver can engraft and perform key hepatic functions in a human recipient. At the same time, it highlights the biological and ethical challenges that must be addressed before this can be widely adopted. Xenotransplantation may open new possibilities for patients with acute liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. A new era of transplant hepatology has begun.”

Xenotransplantation refers to the transplantation of organs, tissues, or cells from animals into humans. Pigs are currently the most suitable donor species due to advancements in pig gene-editing technologies and their anatomical and physiological similarities to humans.

For decades, scientists have struggled to prevent the human immune system from rejecting pig organs. However, recent breakthroughs in gene editing and immune-suppression techniques have renewed hope.

Notably, the first heart transplant from a genetically modified pig was performed in 2022 on David Bennett, a 57-year-old patient at the University of Maryland Medical Center in the United States. He lived for two months after the operation. Similarly, in 2024, Richard Slayman became the first person to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant at Massachusetts General Hospital. He passed away nearly two months after the procedure at age 62.