Xenotransplantation: How close are we from clinical application?

Xenotransplantation is one of the avenues currently being explored in an attempt to overcome the shortage of human organs. Progress in the field is undeniable and includes the prolonged survival of xenografted nonhuman primates and demonstration that pig organs meet the physiological requirements and sustain the life of primates for several months. In addition, reassuring safety data have also been generated. However, as yet, existing preclinical data are not sufficient to justify the initiation of clinical trials.

Section editors:Claudine Bruck – GlaxoSmithKline, King of Prussia, USAMichel Goldman – University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium