Baylor And United Therapeutics Partnered On Pig Livers

The organizations launched a research center in Houston to develop genetically modified pig organs for human transplantation.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Life Sciences

Baylor And United Therapeutics Partnered On Pig Livers

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Baylor College of Medicine and United Therapeutics have partnered to develop genetically modified pig livers for human transplantation. The initiative includes establishing a specialized research center in Houston to address the critical shortage of human donor organs.

Why it matters

Unlike kidney or heart failure, there are currently no effective long-term mechanical substitutes like dialysis for patients in end-stage liver failure. Developing viable xenotransplants could provide a life-saving alternative for thousands of patients on waiting lists.

Researchers are investigating modifications to between 6 and 69 genes to prevent organ rejection. The five-year project includes four research arms focusing on basic biological reactions and liver-specific application.

The players

Baylor College of Medicine

This health sciences university located in Houston conducts significant biomedical research and operates several teaching hospitals.

United Therapeutics

This biotechnology company headquartered in Maryland and North Carolina focuses on developing innovative therapies for life-threatening diseases.

The details

Researchers will modify pig genes to remove sugar molecules that typically trigger immediate organ rejection in humans. The study incorporates four research arms, including pig genetic modification, organ extraction methods, and studies on how the human body reacts to the tissues.

Researchers have investigated the concept of xenotransplantation since the 1960s.
A patient in China received a pig liver transplant last year.
A Massachusetts patient lived for nine months with a genetically modified pig kidney earlier this year.
The new $96 million research facility is scheduled to open in Houston in fall 2026.
The research partnership agreement spans a five-year duration.

The Big Picture

The creation of the Center for Xenoliver Transplantation and Immunomodulation marks a shift from isolated experimental procedures toward a systematic, institutionalized approach to xenotransplantation. This project aims to resolve long-standing rejection hurdles that have historically limited the success of cross-species organ grafting.

If successful, this research could eventually provide a nearly limitless supply of donor organs, eliminating the waitlist for patients with end-stage liver failure. This could fundamentally change how hospitals manage critical organ transplants and improve long-term survival rates for thousands of patients.

The takeaway

While human-pig organ transplantation remains in the research phase, the progress made with hearts and kidneys suggests a potential paradigm shift in transplant medicine. Patients currently in need of organs should continue to monitor updates from their specialized transplant care teams.