Transplant Industry

In the United States, the waiting list for solid organs has surpassed 105,652 adults and children – sadly an all time high.

The gap between the rapidly growing organ demand and available organ supply is widening at an alarming rate. According to this data, while the waitlist or demand for transplants has more than tripled in the past 10 years, the gap between those in need and those transplanted has quadrupled. With the growing obesity, and related diabetes epidemics, it is unlikely that this trend will alter its course in the near future.

Average waiting time prior to receiving an organ can stretch into years. Based on OTS’ conversations, transplant professionals estimate that if everyone who would benefit from a transplant was permitted access to the waiting list, the list would be three times the number it is today, or more than 285,000 Americans. The international outlook collectively represents numbers equivalent to or slightly larger than America’s.

There is a maximum of eight solid organs (1 heart, 2 lungs, 1 liver, 2 kidneys, 1 pancreas and 1 bowel) that a single donor may physically provide in addition to selected tissues. In spite of the incredible need, the average organ utilization today is only 3.06 organs per deceased donor. If we take a closer look, it is revealed that only 27% of the donated hearts are transplanted and only 9% of the lungs.

In response to this surprisingly low utilization number, a recent federal action, the Donor Organ Breakthrough Collaborative spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is aimed at improving the utilization of the donated organs. This focus falls quickly on the heels of the initial Breakthrough Collaborative led by Secretary Tommy G. Thompson that had a significant impact on increasing the donor pool.

There is a real need and opportunity for process, treatment or technology improvements that will provide healthier organs, allow more time to utilize good organs, and possibly enhance previously non-transplantable organs.