Abigail Brooks is an assistant managing editor for 

She joined MJH Life Sciences in August 2023 shortly after graduating from Monmouth University where she earned her BA in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations/Journalism and later an MA in Interactive Digital Media. She enjoys traveling, running, and reading books. She can be reached at abrooks@mjhlifesciences.com.

In the United States, there are more than 100,000 people on the national organ transplant waitlist. Of these, nearly 90,000 are seeking a kidney transplant, and 11 people die every day waiting for a new kidney they never receive.

The number of people seeking a life-saving kidney transplant far exceeds the number of kidneys available for transplant. However, renewed interest and recent progress in the transplantation of solid organs across species, known as xenotransplantation, may have the potential to reshape the narrative around kidney transplantation.

A Long Road to 2025: Decades of Xenotransplant Research

Although enthusiasm around renal xenotransplantation surged in 2025, its history stretches back more than half a century. Kidney xenotransplant research became popular in the 1960s, when investigators explored nonhuman primates as potential kidney donors, but with poor clinical results. Pigs later emerged as the preferred source in the 1990s, largely due to anatomical compatibility, availability, and the feasibility of large-scale gene editing.

Following decades of research, in 2021, several successful transplants of genetically modified pig kidneys into brain-dead humans took place at the University of Alabama and NYU Langone Health.

“I think what really broke the ice was when we started to put these organs into decedents, brain dead individuals, and were able to follow them for 1 or 2 months and provide that additional level of reassurance that there wasn't transmission of pathogens of concern or of interest,” Robert Montgomery, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Surgery and director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, explained to 

, describing how this knowledge helped pave the way for later compassionate use instances of kidney xenotransplantation.

Indeed, a few years later, in 2024, Massachusetts General Hospital made history when it successfully transplanted a genetically edited pig kidney into a living adult with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), though it only lasted for 2 months before the recipient passed away.

“Xenotransplantation is perhaps the most exciting frontier in kidney transplant that we've seen,” Pranav Garimella, chief medical officer of the American Kidney Fund, told 

. “It's not new. It's been around for a long time, but this is the first time we've seen substantial improvements in patient outcomes and substantial longevity in these xenotransplanted kidneys.”

Momentum accelerated further in early 2025 when Massachusetts General Hospital successfully completed its second transplant of a genetically-edited pig kidney into a living recipient in January. The procedure was performed under the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Expanded Access Protocol (EAP), a pathway allowing patients with serious, life-threatening illnesses or conditions to access experimental treatments when no comparable options are available, and used a kidney with 69 genomic edits provided by eGenesis.

The 66-year old male patient who received the xenotransplant had been on dialysis for more than 2 years due to end-stage kidney disease (EKSD). Beyond the daily struggles of dialysis, his path to a kidney transplant was further complicated by his O-group blood type, which can significantly extend wait time for a kidney transplant.

Just a few weeks later, the FDA made history when it cleared the first-ever clinical trials of xenokidneys with United Therapeutics’ investigational UKidney™ derived from a 10 gene-edited source pig and eGenesis’ 69 gene-edited pig kidney. Intended to support a Biologics License Application with the Agency, United Therapeutics’ clinical study was designed to enroll an initial cohort of 6 patients with ESKD and expand to up to 50 participants who have been assessed and determined to be ineligible for a conventional allogeneic kidney transplant for medical reasons or who have been on the kidney transplant waitlist but are more likely to die or go untransplanted than receive a deceased donor kidney transplant within 5 years.

“I've been in the field for decades, and I remember when I started as a young surgeon in transplantation, xenotransplantation was a field that you pursued in the lab using small animals, and the barriers seemed insurmountable,” Richard Knight, MD, medical director of transplant diagnostics at Thermo Fisher Scientific, told 

. “Lots of good researchers gave up, but this year, the progress has been amazing.”

Despite these advances, experts emphasize that xenotransplantation is far from ready for routine practice. Encouragingly, Montgomery notes that early pig kidney xenografts have “worked right out of the box” rather than failing from accelerated rejection, a problem that has plagued early primate studies.

Still, immunological concerns exist regarding the spread of infection from animal-specific diseases among humans. An unmet need exists for an immunosuppressive regimen capable of preventing rejection but not inducing infection in xenotransplanted patients.

“The xenograft barrier is enormous, although they've made tremendous progress in that,” Knight told 

. “The second big concern is transmission of viruses, pig viruses, to humans, which can be controlled through careful selection and breeding of these pigs and potentially the downregulation of these viruses.”

“Let's face it, this is very complicated stuff,” Montgomery added. “It's not out of the gates. Nothing like this out of the gates is in its final form. The gene edits, the immunosuppression, it's going to get better as time goes on.”

In addition to safety, the long-term efficacy of these organs remains to be fully proven. On average, a kidney transplant from a living donor lasts about 15 to 20 years, and a kidney from a deceased donor lasts about 8 to 12 years. Current kidney xenotransplant data only demonstrates the viability of these organs through a few months.

Because of this, Garimella says he still only sees xenotransplantation as a bridge to transplantation with a human kidney: “Whether or not these kidneys will last the 5, 10, 15, 20, years that we are seeing human kidneys last now is unknown.”

He and Montgomery both draw parallels to what left ventricular assist device (LVAD) serves as for heart transplantation, predicting that xenotransplantation may end up playing a similar role in the context of kidney transplantation.

“We might see that maybe in some cases, it's going to be a bridge to a transplant, and in other cases, it depends from organ to organ and how it evolves, but it could be something that's going to last long enough that it'll be destination therapy,” Montgomery explained.

Should xenotransplantation make it to frontline use as a potential solution to the current organ donor shortage, Garimella says large-scale implementation will require addressing ethical, regulatory, and logistical challenges.

Knight additionally questions whether or not xenotransplant can be scaled up, noting hundreds or thousands of these transplants would need to be done each year, as well as cost concerns.

“We can come up with all sorts of great medical advances. But the fact of the matter is, if these advances are too expensive, they're going to go nowhere,” he said. “I'm very interested in finding out more about whether this is scalable and if we can do it in a way that’s economically feasible.”

The progress of 2025 represents a turning point, not the finish line, but many in the field are optimistic that xenotransplantation may finally offer a viable pathway for thousands of patients who otherwise have no options.

“Beyond living donor and deceased donation, the only other option is xenotransplantation, and that's what I think clinicians are most excited about, that this may be a viable path to get more patients transplanted who simply don't have other options,” Knight said.

Health Resources & Services Administration. Organ Donation Statistics. May 2025. Accessed December 11, 2025. 

https://www.organdonor.gov/learn/organ-donation-statistics

UNOS. 90,000 people are waiting for a kidney. Here's one way to get them a kidney faster. January 27, 2025. Accessed December 11, 2025. 

https://unos.org/news/90000-people-are-waiting-for-a-kidney-heres-one-way-to-get-them-a-kidney-faster/

Cooper DKC, Ekser B, Tector AJ. A brief history of clinical xenotransplantation. Int J Surg. 2015;23(Pt B):205-210. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2015.06.060

National Kidney Foundation. Breaking Ground in Transplantation: A New Era with Xenotransplantation. May 31, 2024. Accessed December 11, 2025. 

https://www.kidney.org/news-stories/breaking-ground-transplantation-new-era-xenotransplantation

Brooks A. Second Xenotransplant with Gene-Edited Pig Kidney Performed at Mass General. HCPLive. February 7, 2025. Accessed December 11, 2025. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/mass-general-performs-second-xenotransplant-gene-edited-pig-kidney

Brooks A. FDA Clears First Xenotransplant Trial for Gene-Edited Kidneys. HCPLive. February 3, 2025. Accessed December 11, 2025. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/fda-clears-first-xenotransplant-trial-gene-edited-kidneys

Deeley M. FDA greenlights first clinical trials for genetically modified pig kidney transplants in humans. American Kidney Fund. February 6, 2025. Accessed December 11, 2025. 

https://www.kidneyfund.org/article/fda-greenlights-first-clinical-trials-genetically-modified-pig-kidney-transplants-humans

National Kidney Fund. Kidney Transplant. March 15, 2024. Accessed December 11, 2025. 

https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/kidney-transplant

Articles

Xenotransplantation, the transplantation of organs across species, is gaining momentum as a potential solution to the kidney transplant shortage. Despite its long history, recent advancements, particularly in genetically modified pig kidneys, have shown promise. Successful transplants in 2025, including FDA-approved clinical trials, mark significant progress. However, challenges remain, such as immunological concerns, long-term efficacy, and ethical considerations. Experts view xenotransplantation as a potential bridge to human kidney transplants, but large-scale implementation will require addressing scalability and cost issues.

Historic progress in renal xenotransplantation in 2025 brings pig kidney transplants closer to clinical reality amid an ongoing donor organ shortage.

News

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This Year In Medicine

Redefining Transplant Possibilities: The Emergence of Kidney Xenotransplants

Tim Smith joined the MJH Life Sciences team as an assistant editor for HCPLive in August 2022. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in political science, working in multimedia journalism as a staff writer prior to joining MJH. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, watching TV, listening to podcasts, and rock climbing. You can contact him at 

 has announced a proposal to expand the current list of active sunscreen ingredients to include bemitrizinol.

The December 11 announcement describes the FDA’s hope to modernize and expand sunscreen options as part of a larger initiative by the Office of Nonprescription Drugs. Agency officials have, as a result of this initiative, issued this new proposal to include bemotrizinol as an allowable active ingredient in formulations of sunscreen.

“The agency has historically moved too slowly in this area, leaving Americans with fewer options than consumers abroad,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, MPH, said in a statement.

 “We’re continuing to modernize the regulation of sunscreen and other over-the-counter drug products.”

Makary further highlighted his belief in Americans’ timely access to the over-the-counter products, which are only the safest and most effective. Bemotrizinol provides users, according to data reviewed by FDA officials, with broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB radiation.

In their announcement, the FDA also highlighted bemotrizinol’s minimal level of absorption through the skin into systemic circulation. They additionally noted the ingredient’s decreased likelihood of causing any 

. Bemotrizinol would, if the proposal is finalized, become an additional active ingredient recognized by the agency as safe and effective for adults and for children aged 6 months and older.

Under existing regulations, an over-the-counter monograph drug—such as a sunscreen—may be marketed without a formal drug application as long as it adheres to the conditions outlined in its monograph, including permitted ingredients, intended uses, and dosing parameters. The FDA can revise a monograph through a proposed and then final administrative order. This process can be started by a company via an OTC Monograph Order Request (OMOR).

In this instance, DSM Nutritional Products LLC had given the agency an OMOR asking officials to allow bemotrizinol, in concentrations of up to 6 percent, to be added as a new active ingredient in the sunscreen monograph. While bemotrizinol is already being implemented in sunscreen products internationally, it has never been approved by the FDA in a drug application nor previously included in the US’s sunscreen monograph.

“Bemotrizinol would be a welcome addition to the current array of effective sunscreen active ingredients already available to American consumers,” Karen Murry, MD, acting director of the FDA’s Office of Nonprescription Drugs, said in a statement.

 “The reforms to the monograph drug system contained in the CARES Act have greatly streamlined the monograph drug regulatory process, and we look forward to working with other companies on bringing products containing other new active ingredients to market for a wide array of conditions in multiple therapeutic areas, in a much more timely fashion than was possible in the past.”

FDA officials will continue to regulate sunscreen ingredients to ensure established standards for safety and effectiveness are met. Given the noted benefits of broad-spectrum sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher on public health and skin cancer, the agency advises the public to incorporate sunscreen into daily sun-safety practices.

The FDA announcement also highlighted the agency’s current acceptance of public comments on the proposed administrative order. Details on ways to submit any related feedback can be found in the proposed order posted on OTC Monographs@FDA. In this release, the FDA also noted its ultimate decision on bemotrizinol meeting the necessary criteria to be considered generally safe will be issued in a final order, adding the ingredient to OTC Monograph M020.

FDA Proposes Expanding Sunscreen Active Ingredient List. US Food and Drug Administration. December 11, 2025. 

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-proposes-expanding-sunscreen-active-ingredient-list?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Viale PH. Protecting Against Sun Exposure: Which SPF Will You Recommend? J Adv Pract Oncol. 2017 Mar;8(2):134-135. 

. Epub 2017 Mar 1. PMID: 29900021; PMCID: PMC5995491.

The FDA has proposed adding bemotrizinol to the list of approved sunscreen ingredients, aiming to modernize and expand sunscreen options. This initiative is part of a broader effort to improve over-the-counter drug regulations. Bemotrizinol offers broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection with minimal skin absorption and irritation risk. The proposal follows an OTC Monograph Order Request from DSM Nutritional Products LLC. If approved, bemotrizinol will be recognized as safe and effective for adults and children over six months. Public comments on the proposal are currently being accepted.

The FDA has announced a proposal to include bemitrizinol to its list of allowable active ingredients to include in sunscreens.

FDA News

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FDA Proposes Expanding Active Ingredient List for Sunscreens

Chelsie Derman is an associate editor for 

who covers psychiatry, sleep medicine, geriatrics, migraine, and allergy. She joined MJH Life Sciences in September 2023 after graduating from The College of New Jersey with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and professional writing. In her free time, she enjoys creative writing and reading.

A study found that patients with primary aldosteronism who undergo unilateral adrenalectomy are at an increased long-term risk of 

To address gaps in knowledge about the long-term renal and metabolic effects of unilateral adrenalectomy, study investigator Chu-Wen Fang, from Changhua Christian Hospital in Taiwan, and colleagues conducted a study with over 537 patients diagnosed with primary aldosteronism between 2000 and 2019 to assess outcomes. Primary outcomes included new-onset CKD/renal impairment, hyperuricemia, and gout.

The team used the Longitudinal Generation Tracking Database from the Health and Welfare Data Science Center in Taiwan to collect participants; the study excluded those with adrenal insufficiency or pre-existing hyperuricemia, gout, CKD, or plasma cell dyscrasia. The study also included a control arm (n = 2148), matched 4:1 using propensity scores based on age, gender, and comorbidities.

Compared with controls, participants undergoing unilateral adrenalectomy had a significantly increased risk of CKD or renal impairment (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58 – 2.72; 

 <.0001) and gout (aHR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.02 – 2.32;

 =.048). The study also revealed that participants undergoing adrenalectomy had an increased risk of hyperuricemia, but this did not reach statistical significance (aHR, 1.92; 95% CI, 0.82 – 4.52; 

Kaplan-Meier curves revealed that, over 20 years, patients who underwent adrenalectomy experienced a greater cumulative incidence of CKD and gout. As for hyperuricemia, differences in incidence between groups were comparatively modest.

Stratified analyses identified distinct age- and sex-related risk patterns. Older adults and male patients undergoing adrenalectomy were at a greater risk for postoperative CKD and hyperuricemia. Middle-aged adults (45 – 54 years) and women had a greater risk of gout following surgery. Patients who required ongoing or intensified antihypertensive therapy after adrenalectomy demonstrated a substantially elevated risk of CKD and gout.

“These findings underscore the need for vigilant renal and metabolic monitoring postoperatively, particularly in older patients and those with predisposing comorbidities,” investigators wrote.

Clinicians must account for the risks of gout and CKD in patients receiving unilateral adrenalectomy, and current research is examining new options to improve outcomes.

“Recommended therapies for primary aldosteronism have changed little over the past several decades and are completely effective in only a minority of patients,” wrote investigators of the phase 2a SPARK trial.

The New England Journal of Medicine published the results of the SPARK trial in July 2025, which showed the promise of baxdrostat, a highly selective, second-generation, nonimidazole aldosterone synthase inhibitor, for patients with primary aldosteronism.2 Participants received baxdrostat 2 mg daily for 4 weeks, after which the dose was increased monthly to 4 or 8 mg per day based on blood pressure measurements and the absence of unacceptable adverse events.

At week 12, all 15 patients had reduced systolic blood pressure (mean reduction, 24.9 mm Hg; 95% CI, 19.0 to 30.8). Participants also had reduced diastolic blood pressure (mean reduction, 10.6±9.0 mm Hg), plasma aldosterone-to-renin ratio (median reduction, 97.3%), plasma levels (mean reduction, 90.9%), and 24-hour urinary aldosterone levels (mean reduction, 91.6%).

Aside from baxdrostat, investigators have identified a new target for primary aldosteronism treatment: renin levels.

 and led by Sho Katsuragawa, from Monash University, PhD candidate, was the first to comprehensively synthesize data on the association between post-treatment renin levels and a broad range of clinical outcomes in primary aldosteronism. The investigators found that patients whose renin levels normalized after initiating a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) had a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular events and death compared with those whose renin remained suppressed.

“It supports current expert recommendations that renin normalization should be achieved by up-titrating MRA in medical management for PA, especially in a cardiovascular protection perspective,” Katsuragawa said in a statement.

Fang CW, Muo CH, Wu SC. Chronic kidney disease, hyperuricemia, and gout after adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism: a 20-year population-based study. 

Brooks A. Phase 2a Baxdrostat Data Show Promise for Primary Aldosteronism. HCPLive. Published July 14, 2025. Accessed December 11, 2025. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/phase-2a-baxdrostat-data-show-promise-for-primary-aldosteronism

New Primary Aldosteronism treatment target identified. Hudson Institute of Medical Research. Published November 19, 2025. Accessed December 11, 2025. 

https://hudson.org.au/news/new-primary-aldosteronism-treatment-target-identified/

Patients with primary aldosteronism undergoing unilateral adrenalectomy face increased long-term risks of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and gout. A study involving 537 patients revealed a significant rise in CKD and gout incidence post-surgery, with older adults and males particularly vulnerable. The SPARK trial highlighted baxdrostat, a promising aldosterone synthase inhibitor, showing significant blood pressure reductions. Additionally, research indicates that normalizing renin levels post-treatment with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists can lower cardiovascular risks. These findings emphasize the need for vigilant postoperative monitoring and evolving treatment strategies for primary aldosteronism.

A 20-year population study found unilateral adrenalectomy raises long-term risks of CKD and gout in primary aldosteronism.

Rheumatology

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Chronic Kidney Disease

Unilateral Adrenalectomy for Primary Aldosteronism Linked to CKD, Gout Risks

 has approved gepotidacin (Blujepa) as an oral treatment for patients with uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea.

This December 11 announcement by biopharmaceutical company GSK plc follows the FDA’s acceptance of the gepotidacin supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for priority review.

 The application for this oral treatment of uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea was submitted as an option for patients 12 years of age and older who weigh ≥45 kg.

"We're proud to have delivered the first new class of antibiotics for gonorrhoea in over three decades and a new oral option for US patients," Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer of GSK, said in a statement.

 "The ability of N. gonorrhoeae to develop resistance to currently available options, including standard of care, makes it important to expand the range of effective oral treatments".

Gonorrhea is a widespread sexually transmitted infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and the condition has been labeled a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization (WHO). Gonorrhea infection appears in individuals of all genders and, when untreated or inadequately treated, can result in infertility as well as other serious sexual and reproductive health concerns.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded more than 600,000 cases across the US in 2023, making this infection the country’s second most commonly reported sexually transmitted disease. There is no vaccine currently licensed in the US to prevent gonorrhea, and existing care relies on injectable treatments. Such options may not be accessible or appropriate for every individual.

Gepotidacin was designed to address patients' needs as a bactericidal, first-in-class triazaacenaphthylene antibiotic inhibiting the replication of bacterial DNA. It was evaluated in the phase 3 EAGLE-1 analysis, reported in 

. Oral gepotidacin was provided in EAGLE-1 to participants in two 3,000-mg doses. Those given the treatment saw a 92.6% success rate at the urogenital site (95% CI 88.0–95.8).

In the company's release, they noted this outcome met the study's criterion for non-inferiority when compared with the 91.2% success rate identified with the standard regimen of intramuscular ceftriaxone (500 mg) combined with oral azithromycin (1,000 mg) (95% CI 86.4–94.7). Additionally, the EAGLE-1 investigators had observed a lack of treatment group-reported urogenital failures attributable to persistent 

The safety profile of gepotidacin also showed alignment with earlier research, as no serious drug-related adverse events were seen among those in either cohort. EAGLE-1 investigators found the most frequently reported side effects to this treatment were gastrointestinal symptoms, primarily mild (45% Grade 1) or moderate (29% Grade 2).

This approval is the second major US indication for gepotidacin. Regulatory review for the treatment's implementation for individuals with uncomplicated urinary tract infection is underway in both the United Kingdom and Australia.

Blujepa (gepotidacin) approved by US FDA as oral option for treatment of uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhoea (uGC). Investis Digital (IDX). 

https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/us/gsk/SEC/sec-show.aspx?Type=html&FilingId=18990029&CIK=0001131399&Index=10000

Gepotidacin accepted for priority review by the US FDA for the oral treatment of uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea. GSK plc. August 11, 2025. Accessed December 9, 2025. 

https://us.gsk.com/en-us/media/press-releases/gepotidacin-accepted-for-priority-review-by-the-us-fda-for-the-oral-treatment-of-uncomplicated-urogenital-gonorrhea/

The FDA has approved gepotidacin, an oral antibiotic, for treating uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea in patients aged 12 and older. This marks the first new class of antibiotics for gonorrhea in over 30 years, addressing the pathogen's resistance to existing treatments. Gonorrhea, a common STI, poses significant health risks if untreated. Gepotidacin demonstrated a 92.6% success rate in phase 3 trials, comparable to standard treatments. The drug's safety profile showed no serious adverse events, with mild to moderate gastrointestinal symptoms being the most common side effects.

This approval of GSK plc’s gepotidacin as an oral option for patients with uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea follows EAGLE-1 phase 3 trial findings.

FDA Approves Gepotidacin as Oral Treatment of Uncomplicated Urogential Gonorrhea

Alex Hillenbrand is an assistant editor for 

. She earned her BA in English from Lafayette College in 2023 and went on to write for pop culture, entertainment, and sports media outlets before joining MJH Life Sciences in 2025. In her free time, Alex enjoys cooking, going on walks, and meeting new people. Contact her at mjhlifesciences.com.

Findings from a recent study are providing clinicians with an overview of 

 for kidney after liver transplantation (KALT) versus simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation (SLKT) in the "safety net" era.

Leveraging Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN)/United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) data, the study highlights similar allograft survival between transplantation modalities but reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in KALT recipients.

In August 2017, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) established specific criteria for SLKT: chronic renal insufficiency, sustained acute kidney injury, or the presence of a metabolic disease associated with the development of renal failure. Recognizing that the new policy could cause patients who benefit from a renal transplant to not receive one, they established a “safety net” protocol to allocate kidney allografts to liver transplant recipients with persistent renal dysfunction within 1 year after liver transplantation.

“This study is the first to assess OPTN/UNOS kidney allograft outcomes in those who underwent SLKT compared to KALT during the actual safety net era,” wrote study investigator Brian Lee, MD, a transplant hepatologist working at the Hoag Digestive Health Institute.

Lee and colleagues conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the OPTN/UNOS database of patients who underwent primary kidney transplantation via the SLKT or safety net KALT pathway between January 2018 and December 2021. They compared kidney allograft survival, patient survival, eGFR, and kidney rejection between the groups. Propensity score analysis was utilized to assess the differences in eGFR and rejection.

The study included adults ≥ 18 years of age who underwent SLKT (n = 2620) and KALT (n = 526). At baseline, ​​compared to patients who underwent SLKT, those who received KALT were more frequently male (67.1% vs 58.2%, 

 <.001), but investigators noted age was similar between the 2 groups.

From the findings, investigators reported a 36.3% prevalence of diabetes mellitus in KALT compared to 43.2% in SLKT (

= .003). There was a 43.0% instance of alcohol as the reason for liver transplantation in KALT compared to 30.8% in SLKT (

<.001), and a 73.2% frequency of dialysis before transplant compared to 53.5% (

At 1-year post-kidney transplant, investigators noted similar kidney allograft survival rates, with 97.7% for KALT (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 96.0 to 98.7) and 96.8% for SLKT (95% CI, 96.0 to 97.4; 

= .43). Patient survival rates were increased in KALT with a rate of 96.7% (95% CI, 94.8 to 98.0) compared to 93.9% in SLKT (95% CI, 92.9 to 94.8; 

Investigators reported consistently reduced eGFR in patients with KALT at 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years after kidney transplantation. At 1 year, the mean difference between KALT and SLKT was −6.6 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI, −8.5 to −4.7; 

 <.001) in the unadjusted and −4.7 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI, −7.0 to −2.4; 

 <.001) in the propensity score matched analysis. At 3 years, the mean difference was −6.3 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI, −8.8 to −3.7; 

 <.001) in the unadjusted and −3.8 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI, −6.5 to −1.1; 

 = .005) in the propensity score matched analysis.

Lee and colleagues also reported increased rates of rejection in KALT in 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years compared to SLKT, but upon propensity score-matched analysis, did not observe significant differences in rejection at any of these time points.

“Future studies should include longer-term follow-up to determine if kidney allograft health in safety net recipients remains optimal or if allograft failure results in re-transplantation and/or mortality,” investigators concluded. “Additionally, center-based studies assessing granular data on the type of immunosuppression used, rejection characteristics, and other variables are warranted.”

Lee BT, Dodge JL, Voora S, Ahearn A, Fong T. Comparison of Kidney Allograft Outcomes in Simultaneous Liver‐Kidney Versus Kidney After Liver Transplantation Since the Safety Net Era. 

Altshuler PJ, Shah AP, Frank AM, et al. Simultaneous liver kidney allocation policy and the Safety Net: an early examination of utilization and outcomes in the United States. 

A recent study compared kidney allograft outcomes between kidney after liver transplantation (KALT) and simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation (SLKT) in the "safety net" era. Utilizing OPTN/UNOS data, the study found similar allograft survival rates but reduced eGFR in KALT recipients. The study also noted increased rejection rates in KALT, though propensity score-matched analysis showed no significant differences. The research highlights the need for longer-term follow-up to assess kidney allograft health and suggests further studies on immunosuppression and rejection characteristics.

Findings comparing kidney-after-liver to simultaneous transplant highlight similarities in allograft survival outcomes, but notable eGFR differences.


Safety Net’s Kidney After Liver Transplant Linked to Reduced eGFR

Pooja Singhal, MD, is a gastroenterologist, hepatologist, and obesity medicine specialist at Oklahoma Gastro Health and Wellness.

Videos

Singhal reviews new AGA survey data on public perceptions of obesity as a chronic disease and describes opportunities to improve care.

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Public Perceptions and Clinical Realities of Obesity Care, With Pooja Singhal, MD

Podcasts

Veeral Sheth, MD, is joined by the senior vice president of sales and marketing at Nanoscope Therapeutics to discuss the company's trajectory and the MCO-010 program.

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New Insight with Veeral Sheth, MD

Sheth, Director of Clinical Trials at University Retina in Chicago, takes an in-depth look at the biggest news in ophthalmology and the behind the scenes work involved in eye care, with a rotation of guest experts involved in ophthalmic research, development, and clinical care.

New Insight: Restoring Sight With Nanoscope's MCO-010, With Ashish Patel, MD

David Brousseau is the pediatrician-in-chief, chair of pediatrics, and director of research at Nemours Children's Health. 

A prediction model ties emergency visits and opioid doses with return visits in children with sickle cell disease pain. 

Hematology

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Prior ED Visits, Opioid Doses Predict Return Rates in Pediatric SCD Pain, With David Brousseau, MD, MS

Rocco Serrao, MD, works for Dermatologists of Southwest Ohio, an affiliate practice of Dermatologists of Central States (DOCS), and as an associate clinical professor of Dermatology at Wright State University.

In this interview, Serrao discusses the significance of the phase 2 INTEGUMENT-INFANT study, assessing once-daily roflumilast (Zoryve) cream 0.05% in infants with atopic dermatitis.

Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic Dermatitis condition center page, audiences can find a variety of coverage mediums for medical news and updates, including articles, video interviews, podcasts, and breaking news on dermatitis research, treatment, and drug development.

Discussing INTEGUMENT-INFANT and Roflumilast Cream 0.05% in Atopic Dermatitis, With Rocco Serrao, MD

Linda Stein Gold, MD, is a dermatologist at Henry Ford Health. 

Review of new week 52 results showing durable responses and strong efficacy in both adults and adolescents.

Video Series

Icotrokinra vs Deucravacitinib: Results from the ICONIC-ADVANCE 1 and 2 Trials 

Discussion of nasopharyngitis and URTI as the most common AEs and how the safety profile compares to other oral agents.

Treating High-Impact Areas in Psoriasis: Results From the ICONIC-TOTAL and SPECTREM Trials

Valeria Cohran, MD is a professor of pediatrics and the medical director of intestinal rehabilitation and transplant at Ann and Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

Cohran describes her research on characteristics linked to treatment response to teduglutide for short bowel syndrome-associated intestinal failure.

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on digestive and GI conditions. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for 

, IBS and IBD, Crohn's disease, and more.

Predicting Teduglutide Treatment Response for Pediatric SBS-IF, With Valeria Cohran, MD

Shyam Joshi, MD, highlights the practical and patient-centered advantages of oral BTK inhibitors in the management of chronic spontaneous urticaria.


Potential Advantages of Oral BTKi in CSU Management

In a phase 3 trial, the first-in-class triple agonist delivered up to an average of 71.2 lbs weight loss and reduced WOMAC pain scores for knee osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis

On the HCPLive osteoarthritis page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into OA can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on degenerative joint disease, and more.

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