Pork Producer Expands its Products for Medical Uses

“It’s not like changing a couple genes and you’ve got it solved,” Venter said.

Stanton would not rule out breeding genetically modified animals, but said Smithfield’s first ventures will likely involve whole pig organs that go through decellularization—a process in which existing cells are washed away and replaced with human cells.

Miromatrix Medical Inc., Eden Prairie, Minn., for example, is using whole pig livers to make a surgical mesh used in hernia repair and breast reconstruction, and it is working toward developing replacement livers, hearts and kidneys.

Church welcomes the involvement of a big pork producer. “Even though we’ve got companies like eGenesis that would make the first pigs, you still need someone who will breed them and do it to scale,” he said.