There is a shortage of available organs for all the patients waiting for organ transplants in the United States, but researchers at Harvard University say using organs from animal sources could help close that gap.

Researchers at Harvard University report in a new study that they have used the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technique to enable pig-to-human organ transplantation without disease transfer, which could help lessen the number of patients who do not receive an organ transplant because of shortages.

While there were 33,600 organ transplants in 2016, the 116,800 patients on organ transplant lists may not have to wait much longer.

The research, published today in Science, showed that some of the problems with xenotransplantation, the process of transplanting organs or tissue between different species, could be overcome with gene-editing techniques.

A main concern with pig-to-human organ transplantation is not only immunological compatibility, but also the risk of cross-species transmission of porcine endogenous retroviruses, or PERVs.
PERVs have been shown to infect human cells and previous research has shown the horizontal transfer of PERVs among human cells.
To overcome this, researchers used the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technique to inactivate all the PERVs in a porcine primary cell line and generated PERV-inactivated pigs through somatic cell nuclear transfer.

Dr. David Klassen told The New York Times that if pig organs were safe and effective to transplant into humans "they could be a real game changer."

Although pig heart valves are routinely transplanted into heart patients, xenotransplantation still faces some religious and ethical obstacles. While most major religious groups say pig organs are acceptable in the case of lifesaving transplantation, one example that could be a problem for Jewish and Muslim patients is accepting a kidney transplant, because dialysis is a viable alternative.

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Bionic prosthetics need an open-source business model hinging on affordability, in order to succeed, according to Frost & Sullivan’s TechVision team.

The legal and procedural complications associated with the wide-scale prescription of brain implants for treating epilepsy and other psychiatric disorders have created huge concerns among stakeholders, the team reported.

Despite efforts to demonstrate the clinical safety and efficacy of bionic prosthetics proving its economic value, the current reimbursement scenario across developing nations and inadequate product diversification efforts affect brand positioning across high-growth markets.

Manufacturers want to mitigate the risks of sourcing parts and components from single-source suppliers, thereby opening up opportunities for in-house product research and development (R&D) of bionic prosthetics.

Governments are increasing their spending on bionic devices that help clinicians resolve technological challenges in restoring haptic sense to bionic hands.

Additionally, escalating volumes of ophthalmic procedures require caregivers to identify the optimal stimulation parameters for bionic retinal implants, developed for restoring blindness.

“There is huge commercial potential for artificial pancreas, which can sense the level of insulin and glucagon in the blood and deliver the appropriate doses for clinically effective management of diabetes,” said Frost & Sullivan TechVision industry analyst Arjunvasan Ambigapathy.
“Another likely blockbuster bionic solution is brain-powered prosthetics that can completely replace the function of a lost limb through activation of brain-controlled interface.”

Future of Bionics is part of Frost & Sullivan’s TechVision (Health & Wellness) Growth Partnership Service program. The study analyses the top trends from both technology and end-user perspectives as well as the competitive landscape, with a focus on the roles and strategies of existing and emerging participants in the global market. The research also studies the ongoing transformations in healthcare and technology-enabled business models of established participants.
Cardiac bionics is a recent entrant to the field of bionics for emerging markets and has already established its credibility in addressing a range of debilitating disorders such as ischemic heart disease, necessitating invasive interventions.

In addition, bionic devices for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) involve minimally invasive devices that mimic the function of lungs.

While there are many bionic devices at various stages of commercialisation, their adoption rates are modest, with the exception of robotic exoskeletons for rehabilitation. In North America, companies such as Advanced Bionics, ReWalk Robotics and Medtronic have been successful in increasing the large-scale adoption of bionic prosthetics, achieving impressive market penetration.

Bionic manufacturers employing the open-source prosthetics business model have enjoyed a significant competitive advantage by gaining wider access to customers. This business model involves the use of inexpensive electronics and 3D printing to create bionic prosthetics, like bionic hands and legs, which meet the needs of patients who do not receive reimbursement for bionic prosthetics.

Other innovative business models include the bionic runner and bionic gym, which help patients achieve their fitness goals and support their lifestyle modification programs. These business models are poised for very high commercial success across emerging markets, considering their strategy of sourcing innovations from emerging markets.

“The most successful participants will be those that actively collaborate with care providers and insurance providers during new product development initiatives and explore novel applications such as design of clinically safe and effective implantable bionic prosthetics,” said Ambigapathy.

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