New Consensus Statement on Clinical Cardiac Xenotransplantation
20.02.2026
In 2000, the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) concluded that thoracic organ xenotransplantation was not yet ready for human trials because of major immunologic, infectious, and ethical challenges. The 2026 ISHLT Consensus Statement on Clinical Cardiac Xenotransplantation builds on these developments and provides a practical roadmap for moving the field forward responsibly. It reviews lessons from the first clinical cases, evaluates readiness for formal clinical trials, defines the outcomes needed to justify further progress, and outlines the infrastructure and technologies required for safe and ethical implementation. The new guidance marks an important transition for cardiac xenotransplantation—from a largely experimental concept toward a carefully regulated clinical pathway that could ultimately expand the supply of donor hearts.