Richard “Rick” Slayman, a 62-year-old man who made history as the first person to receive a genetically edited pig kidney transplant, died two months after the groundbreaking surgery.
Massachusetts General Hospital, where he had the transplant, made this known in a statement.
The statement reads in part, “Mass General is deeply saddened at the sudden passing of Mr. Rick Slayman. We do not indicate that it was the result of his recent transplant.”
Slayman had been living with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension for many years.
He was on dialysis for many years before receiving a kidney transplant from a human deceased donor in December 2018 at Massachusetts General Hospital.
However, the kidney began to fail about five years later, and Slayman was forced to resume dialysis in May 2023, which the hospital said affected his quality of life.
The kidney was provided by eGenesis, a pharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, from a pig donor genetically edited using CRISPR-Cas9 technology.
The harmful pig genes were removed, and certain human genes were added to improve its compatibility with humans.
Slayman’s family thanked the doctors and his care team at Mass General Hospital, saying: “Our family is deeply saddened about the sudden passing of our beloved Rick but take great comfort knowing he inspired so many. Millions of people worldwide have come…”
Slayman’s legacy will inspire patients, researchers, and healthcare professionals. He will forever be seen as a beacon of hope to countless transplant patients worldwide, and his trust and willingness to advance the field of xenotransplantation are deeply appreciated.
