Lygenesis is currently in the process of testing a groundbreaking method for treating liver failure – a technology that involves growing miniature livers directly in the lymph nodes of patients. The second stage of testing has recently commenced, with the hope that this therapy could potentially save the lives of thousands of individuals suffering from life-threatening liver diseases for which traditional transplantation is not a viable option.
This experimental therapy, known as LyG-LIV-001, utilizes hepatocytic cells extracted from donor organs that are unsuitable for transplantation to patients. These cells are cultivated in a solution and then introduced into the lymph nodes of the abdominal cavity using minimally invasive surgery and endoscopic ultrasound. The lymph nodes are expected to act as “bioreactors,” facilitating the growth and development of hepatocytes into fully functional liver tissue despite their unconventional location.
Lygenesis is seeking approval to use LyG-LIV-001 in treating terminal liver failure, a chronic condition that accounts for approximately 2% of all deaths annually. While organ transplantation can often be an effective treatment, many patients are unable to meet the necessary criteria to be placed on a transplant waitlist. Tragically, about 17% of those on the waitlist ultimately die before receiving a transplant.
Recently, the first patient with terminal liver failure began receiving therapy with LYG-LIV-001 as part of clinical trials. Scientists will closely monitor the patient’s progress over the coming months to assess the treatment’s efficacy. The second phase of testing is scheduled to continue until early 2026 and will involve 12 volunteers. If the results are promising, the potential applications of this technology could be extensive. Lygenesis is already exploring the development of similar methods for growing donor buds, thymus glands, and pancreases.