Japan is preparing to begin clinical trials of pig-to-human kidney transplants as early as 2028, according to reporting from multiple outlets. A Japanese startup, described as having spun out of Meiji University, says it will carry out the first such trials at two hospitals. The goal is to confirm the safety of pig kidney transplants through human testing and, if results are favorable, to proceed toward production and marketing authorization in Japan.
The initiative is positioned as a potential response to Japan’s organ shortage. One report notes that Japan has a large number of people receiving dialysis and that a portion of patients are on the transplant waiting list. The coverage also places the plan in context of prior overseas research and earlier trial efforts, including pig kidney transplants conducted on a trial basis in countries such as the United States and China.
Across the sources, the central points are the targeted start date (2028), the use of two hospitals for clinical trials, and the pathway from trial safety confirmation to potential regulatory approval.
