Invited commentary: Initial reflections on the world's first clinical genetically‐engineered pig heart transplant

Early testing of porcine organ xenotransplantation products in humans: Microbial safety as illustrated for porcine cytomegalovirus

“…On January 7, 2022, the group at University of Maryland in Baltimore (UMD) conducted a life‐supporting pig heart transplant in a 57‐year‐old male with terminal heart failure 17 . This study attracted much media attention, 18 a public commentary about the ethical aspects 19 and a number of commentaries 9,20–22 . The donor was a 10‐GE pig (same genetic modifications as described above) provided by Revivicor.…”

“…17 This study attracted much media attention, 18 a public commentary about the ethical aspects 19 and a number of commentaries. 9,[20][21][22] The donor was a 10-GE pig (same genetic modifications as described above) provided by…”

Xenotransplantation: A historical–ethical account of viewpoints

“…Experimental surgeries on brain-dead persons, [1][2][3] and the emergency authorization of a clinical pig heart transplant have shown mixed, 4,5 but some encouraging, results, 6 and so the likelihood of moving to formal clinical trials in the near future is increasing. Yet, despite this, caution is warranted due to the potential global health risk posed by xenozoonosis.…”

“…Today, XTx has come to the foreground of medicine, with several recent experiments of XTx being performed in individuals declared dead by neurologic criteria [1][2][3][4] and one case of the emergency use of a transgenic pig heart being transplanted into a living patient who was reportedly not a candidate for an allograft. [4][5][6] The medical literature now includes many ethical analyses of various XTx issues, and both governmental and nongovernmental committees have published guidelines and opinions on ethical considerations. However, on occasion, viewpoints conflict and may even change over time, as ethical opinions may adjust to reflect changing scientific and social understandings.…”

“…The highly publicized case of Baby Fae in 1984 brought many of the ethical issues regarding XTx to the foreground, whereas prior to this event, one is hard‐pressed to find ethical viewpoints discussed in the literature. Today, XTx has come to the foreground of medicine, with several recent experiments of XTx being performed in individuals declared dead by neurologic criteria 1–4 and one case of the emergency use of a transgenic pig heart being transplanted into a living patient who was reportedly not a candidate for an allograft 4–6 . The medical literature now includes many ethical analyses of various XTx issues, and both governmental and nongovernmental committees have published guidelines and opinions on ethical considerations.…”