Clinical Trials for "Xenotransplantation" of Pig Kidneys into Human to Be Conducted at Hokkaido University and Other Hospitals

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

ブタの腎臓ヒトに“異種移植”の治験 北大などで実施へ

2026年6月29日6:38

サイエンス

ブタの腎臓を重い腎不全のヒトに移植するいわゆる「異種移植」の実用化を目指した治験を、北海道大学病院などで再来年にも始めると明治大学発のベンチャー企業が発表しました。

明治大学発のベンチャー企業やアメリカのバイオ企業などの研究グループは、拒絶反応が起こりにくいよう遺伝子操作したブタの腎臓を腎不全の患者に移植する「異種移植」の実用化に向けた研究を進めています。

ベンチャー企業は安全性を確認するための治験を北海道大学病院と、神奈川県の徳洲会 湘南鎌倉総合病院の2か所で、重い腎不全の患者を対象に早ければ再来年にも始めると発表しました。

研究グループに参加するアメリカのバイオ企業は、先行してアメリカで試験的に移植を行っていて、透析が必要ない状態を半年以上維持している患者もいるということです。

手術を執刀する予定の北海道大学の堀田記世彦 准教授は「国内では腎臓移植を受けるまで15年ほど待つ必要があり、将来的に課題の解決につながる治療になればと思う。今回の治験は安全性を確認するのが目的で、慎重に準備したい」と話していました。

異種移植をめぐっては、国内ではほかに東京慈恵会医科大学などのグループが腎臓に障害のある胎児にブタの腎臓を移植する研究の計画を明らかにしています。

Translation

Clinical Trials for "Xenotransplantation" of Pig Kidneys into Human to Be Conducted at Hokkaido University and Other Hospitals

June 29, 2026, 6:38 AM

Science

A venture company spun off from Meiji University announced that it would begin clinical trials aimed at the practical application of "xenotransplantation," the transplantation of pig kidneys into human with severe renal failure, to start at Hokkaido University Hospital and other locations the year after next.

A research group including a venture company spun off from Meiji University and an American biotech company was conducting research towards the practical application of "xenotransplantation," which involved transplanting genetically modified pig kidneys, designed to reduce the likelihood of rejection, into patients with renal failure.

The venture company announced that it would begin clinical trials to confirm safety at two locations: Hokkaido University Hospital and Tokushukai Shonan Kamakura General Hospital (徳洲会 湘南鎌倉総合病院) in Kanagawa Prefecture as early as two years from now, targeting patients with severe renal failure,

The American biotech company participating in the research group had already conducted experimental transplants in the United States, and reported that some patients had maintained a state of not requiring dialysis for more than six months.

Associate Professor Kiyohiko Hotta (堀田記世彦) of Hokkaido University, who was scheduled to perform the surgery, said, "In Japan, there is a waiting period of about 15 years for a kidney transplant, and I hope this treatment will help solve that problem in the future. The purpose of this clinical trial is to confirm safety, so we want to prepare carefully."

Regarding xenotransplantation, another group in Japan, including one from Tokyo Jikei University School of Medicine (東京慈恵会医科大学), had also announced plans to transplant pig kidneys into unborn baby that had kidney damage.

So, Japan will begin clinical trials aimed at the practical application of the transplantation of pig kidneys into human with severe renal failure starting the year after next. The hope is that this treatment will help solve the kidney failure problems in Japan.