The second half of 2025 marked a significant transition for xenotransplantation, shifting further from experimental feasibility to early clinical translation. Prolonged physiologic support from genetically engineered porcine kidneys and livers in human recipients provided unprecedented insight into organ compatibility, rejection dynamics, and species-specific physiology. Parallel advances in molecular profiling refined the understanding of innate and humoral immune injury, while innovations in donor-pig engineering, immunomodulation, and biosafety frameworks strengthened translational readiness. Preclinical non-human primate studies continued to inform clinical trial design, particularly regarding proteinuria, complement incompatibility, and novel xenoantigens. Alongside these scientific advances, growing attention to ethics, patient selection, and public trust highlighted the societal dimensions of clinical implementation. Collectively, these developments underscore the rapid maturation of xenotransplantation and define the scientific and regulatory foundations for ongoing first-in-human trials.
Shirini et al. (2026) studied this question.