In the statement, the medical facility noted that the individual, Richard "Rick" Slayman from Weymouth, Massachusetts, had been confronting end-stage kidney disease and necessitated an organ transplantation.
During a four-hour surgical procedure on 16 March, his physicians effectively implanted a genetically modified pig kidney into his body.
They reported that Mr. Slayman's kidney is presently operating optimally, and he has discontinued dialysis treatment.
Expressing his feelings, Mr. Slayman conveyed that departing from the hospital and returning home marked "one of the most joyous moments" in his life.
"I eagerly anticipate resuming quality time with my family, friends, and loved ones, liberated from the constraints of dialysis which have impacted my life for numerous years."
In 2018, he underwent a kidney transplant from a deceased human donor, yet it started failing last year, prompting doctors to suggest the possibility of a pig kidney transplant.
"I perceived it not only as a solution for my situation, but also as a beacon of hope for the countless individuals in need of a transplant to survive," he remarked.
The pig kidney he received had been genetically altered by eGenesis, a pharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, to eliminate "harmful pig genes while incorporating certain human genes to enhance its compatibility with humans," as stated.
In carrying out the procedure, the hospital drew upon its legacy of pioneering the world's inaugural successful human organ transplant - a kidney - in 1954, along with its collaborative research endeavors with eGenesis on xenotransplantation (the transplantation of organs between different species) over the past half-decade.
The procedure was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which granted a single Expanded Access Protocol - commonly referred to as compassionate use - reserved for patients facing life-threatening illnesses, allowing them access to experimental treatments.
The team responsible for the transplant celebrated it as a monumental stride forward that could offer a potential remedy to the global organ scarcity dilemma, particularly benefiting ethnic minority communities disproportionately affected by the shortage.
"An ample supply of organs resulting from this technological breakthrough could significantly contribute to achieving health equity and provide the optimal solution to kidney failure - a functioning kidney - for all patients in need," stated Winfred Williams, the physician overseeing Mr. Slayman's care at MGH.
According to data from the US non-profit United Network for Organ Sharing, over 100,000 Americans are in dire need of a life-saving organ transplant.
Meanwhile, the tally of donors - both deceased and living - for the year 2023 stood at just below 23,500 individuals.
It's estimated that 17 individuals perish daily in the United States while awaiting an organ, with kidneys ranking as the most sought-after organ for transplantation.
Although this marks the maiden instance of a pig kidney being transplanted into a human, it isn't the inaugural employment of a pig organ in a transplant procedure.
Two other patients had undergone pig heart transplants previously, albeit those attempts were futile as both recipients succumbed within a few weeks thereafter.
In one instance, there were indications that the recipient's immune system had rejected the organ, a common hazard associated with transplantation.
