OrganOx and eGenesis develop innovative liver support system using modified porcine organs.
Biotechnology companies OrganOx and eGenesis announced an exclusive collaboration to develop an advanced liver support system for acute liver failure. This alliance combines OrganOx’s normothermic mechanical perfusion (NMP) technology with genetically modified porcine livers from eGenesis. Together, they offer a pioneering solution for thousands of patients with limited treatment options.
Innovative liver support for patients in the US
Each year, approximately 35,000 patients are admitted to hospitals in the US with severe liver failure and face a mortality rate of up to 50%3T. In response to this critical situation, the joint OrganOx and eGenesis system would offer temporary liver support with modified porcine livers, allowing the patient's liver to recover or providing time until a compatible transplant is available. This approach not only seeks to solve the shortage of organs for transplant, but also to provide hope for patients in serious conditions.
“The agreement with OrganOx supports our mission to create human-compatible organs for those who need them most,” said Dr. Michael Curtis, CEO of eGenesis. The developed liver, named EGEN-5784, has been genetically modified to reduce immune rejection, insert human transgenes that regulate the immune response and deactivate retroviruses present in the porcine genome.
Results of the OrganOx and eGenesis Project in Liver Support
The initial results of the project open the door to promising developments. During the test program PERFUSE-2, OrganOx and eGenesis conducted three experimental studies that demonstrated the viability of the system in controlled environments. Specifically, in these trials, the modified liver EGEN-5784 was connected to the OrganOx extracorporeal hepatic cross-circulation (ELC) system, maintaining the liver function necessary to support patients with liver failure.
Both companies plan to submit an application for a license in 2025. investigational new drug (IND) before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which will allow them to start a phase 1 clinical study and evaluate the safety and efficacy of their system. Therefore, according to Craig Marshall, CEO of OrganOx, “our agreement with eGenesis represents a significant advance in our mission to expand treatment options for patients with liver failure.”
Innovation in organ preservation and automated liver support
OrganOx and eGenesis seek to offer an innovative solution for the more than 300,000 patients in the U.S. who suffer from liver failure each year. This collaboration unites organ preservation technology with the use of modified porcine livers, an approach that could transform liver support.
The system OrganOx ELC is designed to offer liver support in an automated and efficient way, a hopeful option for those awaiting a transplant and in need of a better quality of life during that time. This agreement between OrganOx and eGenesis represents a key step forward towards viable solutions for acute liver failure. The collaboration combines biotechnology and organ preservation, opening a new era in treatment with modified porcine livers.
For more information on the collaboration between OrganOx and eGenesis, please consult the eGenesis official statement.
