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Xenotransplantation Can’t Solve the Organ Shortage, New Paper Argues
The radical “innovation” of xenotransplantation—the idea of transplanting genetically engineered organs from animals into humans—has been touted as a solve for the growing organ shortage, but a recent article by Physicians Committee scientists in Advanced Biology raises critical concerns. It highlights several risks associated with the practice, including its high cost and safety issues.
Since 2022, several high-profile organ transplants have been attempted, but these efforts have not been without tragedy. Despite widespread media coverage touting xenotransplantation’s promise to solve the organ shortage, all but one of the initial patients survived for only a few months before dying.
Xenotransplantation is a radical approach that warrants substantial skepticism. While billions of dollars in public and private funds have been poured into research and development of xenotransplantation, the results thus far have been disappointing, and its many harms and risks largely ignored. The authors of the paper call for a more careful evaluation of the likelihood of organ rejection, the risk of infectious disease transmission, and the ethical and environmental concerns that come with breeding and raising pigs in pathogen-free environments.
Rather than investing further in xenotransplantation, the authors advocate for improving existing human organ transplantation systems in these key areas: increasing organ donation and recovery, improving organ preservation and transport methods, expanding donor criteria, and improving the diagnosis and management of organ rejection. Additionally, the authors note that preventing chronic diseases such as coronary artery disease, adult-onset diabetes, emphysema, and cirrhosis would reduce demand for transplants.
The global xenotransplantation market was valued at $15 billion in 2024, more than nine times the CDC budget for chronic disease prevention for 2024, and far more than the $67 million proposed by the Senate for the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Modernization Initiative for 2025. With adequate investment, alternative approaches could have a significant impact on, if not completely meet, the need for organ transplants while avoiding the risks and harms that xenotransplantation poses to humans, public health, the environment, and animals.
As the organ shortage continues to grow, it is crucial to focus on practical, ethical, and evidence-based solutions that can make a real difference in the lives of those waiting for a transplant. While xenotransplantation may seem promising, it is ultimately a costly and risky approach that diverts attention from more viable, sustainable alternatives.
