Japanese Startup PorMedTec to Launch Japan's First Pig-to-Human Kidney Transplant Clinical Trials by 2028
核心洞察
Japanese biotech startup PorMedTec Co. (搜索) announced plans to conduct Japan's first clinical trials of pig-to-human kidney transplantation as early as 2028.
The trials will take place at Hokkaido University Hospital and Shonan Kamakura General Hospital, using kidneys from genetically modified cloned pigs.
The genetically modified pigs were developed using cells imported from U.S. startup eGenesis (搜索), which has demonstrated successful pig-to-human kidney transplants in the U.S.
A Japanese biotechnology startup is poised to make history in the field of xenotransplantation, announcing plans to launch Japan's first clinical trials of pig-to-human kidney transplantation. PorMedTec Co. (搜索), a venture originating from Meiji University, said Monday that the trials could begin as early as 2028 at two major medical institutions in the country.
The clinical trials will be conducted at Hokkaido University Hospital in Japan's northernmost prefecture and Shonan Kamakura General Hospital in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo. The procedures will use kidneys harvested from cloned pigs that have been genetically modified to reduce the likelihood of immune rejection in human recipients.
Addressing a Critical Organ Shortage
The transplantation of animal organs into humans, known as xenotransplantation, represents a promising strategy to address the chronic shortage of donor organs that has long plagued healthcare systems worldwide. In Japan, the need is particularly acute. Hokkaido University Associate Professor Hotta Kiyohiko, who is scheduled to serve as a surgeon in the clinical trial project, noted that the waiting list for kidney transplants in the country extends to roughly 15 years.
Patients with serious renal failure (搜索) stand to benefit most directly from the initiative. The research group, which involves the Meiji University startup and a U.S. bio firm, aims to verify the safety of the transplants through these clinical trials before pursuing manufacturing and marketing approval.
Scientific Foundation and U.S. Precedent
PorMedTec's approach builds on technology developed by U.S. startup eGenesis (搜索). The Japanese company imported cells of genetically modified pigs from eGenesis and raised cloned pigs for transplantation purposes in Japan. These pigs have been engineered specifically to reduce the likelihood of rejection when their organs are transplanted into human bodies.
The U.S. partner has already established a track record of performing pig-to-human kidney transplants on a trial basis in the United States. According to reports, patients who underwent the surgery have not required dialysis for more than six months at the longest follow-up point, offering encouraging preliminary evidence for the approach's potential durability.
Broader Japanese Xenotransplantation Efforts
PorMedTec's initiative is not the only xenotransplantation research underway in Japan. A separate research group consisting of staff from the Jikei University School of Medicine and the National Center for Child Health and Development is pursuing a distinct plan focused on transplanting pig kidneys into human fetuses with severe renal conditions, highlighting the growing momentum behind this therapeutic modality in the country.
The PorMedTec trials, if successful, could pave the way for regulatory approval and ultimately provide a transformative solution for thousands of Japanese patients awaiting kidney transplants.