The world's first case! The "bridging" plan of pig kidneys to human kidneys has been validated. "First stock in organ regeneration" True Health Medical (02697) has positioned itself in the critical link of external organ support.

On September 3, The Lancet published the world's first human study on "pig kidney bridges and human kidney transplants", marking a significant step from laboratory exploration to clinical validation in xenotransplantation. As this breakthrough attracts global attention, Zhenjiankang Medical (02697) has entered a key supporting role: in August of this year, the company's organ normothermic perfusion system was procured by the Key Laboratory of Gene Editing and Xenogeneic Organ Transplantation at Yunnan Agricultural University, aimed at conducting research on normothermic cross-perfusion of genetically edited miniature pig xenogeneic organs. By employing normothermic mechanical perfusion technology for organ preservation, functional evaluation, and pre-transplant support, Zhenjiankang Medical is positioning itself in the vital infrastructure sector for future clinical translation in ex vivo organ support. The case disclosed by The Lancet shows that Tim Andrews, a 66-year-old patient with end-stage renal failure, maintained 271 days without dialysis supported by a genetically edited pig kidney, before finally receiving a matching human kidney transplant. He has since returned to activities like swimming, rowing, and cycling. This case not only demonstrates the clinical potential of xenogeneic organs as a temporary "bridge," but also brings the supporting technologies related to organ preservation, functional assessment, and pre-transplant support to the forefront of industry attention. By the end of 2025, xenogeneic organ transplantation is expected to be included in the top ten scientific breakthroughs of the year by Science magazine. With over a million patients waiting for organ transplants and a significant supply-demand gap, there are high hopes for xenotransplantation. For xenogeneic organs to truly reach clinical application, a critical supporting step is required: after the donor organ is extracted from the genetically edited pig and before implantation in the human body, there exists a window period that must rely on ex vivo equipment to maintain its vitality. The ability of the organ to remain viable in an ex vivo state and complete functional evaluations prior to transplantation directly impacts the success of the transplant. Currently, organ preservation technology is evolving from static cold storage to normothermic mechanical perfusion, the latter allowing organs to maintain metabolism close to physiological conditions while dynamically assessing their availability through parameters like blood oxygen, pressure, and flow. Zhenjiankang Medical's ex vivo mechanical perfusion platform utilizes normothermic mechanical perfusion technology, pumping warm, oxygenated perfusion fluid to simulate natural blood flow, achieving normothermic transport, preservation, and assessment of organs, bridging diagnosis, intervention, and transplantation. This model can perfuse multiple organs including the heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys, employing a magnetic levitation centrifugal pump to stabilize blood flow, with an integrated ventilator to solve the challenges of lung ventilation and perfusion coordination. Andrews' surgery has opened up the imaginative space for xenotransplantation, and ex vivo organ support is the foundational infrastructure that brings this imagination to reality. While the field still needs time to mature, the trend is clear: as forefront directions like xenotransplantation advance, the procurement of equipment extending from research to clinical applications is inevitable. The global market for ex vivo organ perfusion devices has reached several hundred million dollars but has long been dominated by foreign brands. Although the domestic government procurement market is still in its early stages, there is significant long-term potential to extend into clinical departments, and the window for domestic alternatives has already opened.