A British company pioneering the development of pig organs for transplant
into people has begun a study to see whether pig viruses can infect humans.
Imutran of Cambridge has collected tissue samples from 150 patients whose
treatment involved exposure to pig tissue. Most received temporary life support
from pig spleens, livers or kidneys held outside the body. If the study reveals
no evidence of infection, the company says it will work towards the first
transplants of pig kidneys into humans.
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