MA Man Dead After Receiving World's 1st Pig Kidney Transplant

BOSTON, MA — The 62-year-old Weymouth man who in March became the first person in the world to receive a successful genetically-edited pig kidney transplant, has died, Massachusetts General Hospital announced Saturday.

Richard 'Rick' Slayman, who suffered from end-stage kidney failure, underwent the four-hour surgery at Mass General on March 16 as a life-saving measure and was initially recovering well, hospital officials had said.

Seven weeks later, Slayman, described by loved ones as "a kind-hearted man with a quick-witted sense of humor who was fiercely dedicated to his family, friends, and co-workers," was gone — though Mass General says they "have no indication that it was the result of his recent transplant."

"Our family is deeply saddened about the sudden passing of our beloved Rick but take great comfort knowing he inspired so many," Slayman's family said. "Millions of people worldwide have come to know Rick's story. We felt – and still feel – comforted by the optimism he provided patients desperately waiting for a transplant."

Mass General added that Slayman "will forever be seen as a beacon of hope to countless transplant patients worldwide and we are deeply grateful for his trust and willingness to advance the field of xenotransplantation."

The pig kidney, which had 69 genomic edits, was provided by eGenesis of Cambridge from a pig donor that was genetically edited using CRISPR-Cas9 technology.

During the procedure, "harmful pig genes" were removed while certain human genes were added to improve the organ's compatibility with the patient, hospital officials previously said. Scientists also inactivated retroviruses in the pig donor to minimize risk of infection in humans.

Mass General Brigham has a rich history in organ transplant innovation. The world’s first successful human organ transplant, of a kidney, was performed at Brigham and Women's Hospital in 1954, and the nation's first penile transplant was performed at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2016.

According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, more than 100,000 people in the U.S. await an organ for transplant and 17 people die each day waiting for an organ. A kidney is the most common organ needed for transplant, and end-stage kidney disease rates are estimated to increase 29-68 percent in the U.S. by 2030, according to literature published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

This story is being updated.