ECO Kidney Conversion System

Avivo Biomedical's ECO (Enzyme-Converted type-O) technology is an ex vivo organ conversion system designed to transform Type A donor kidneys into universal Type O organs prior to transplantation. The system utilizes a proprietary enzyme cocktail consisting of two bacterial enzymes—FpGalNAc deacetylase and FpGalactosaminidase—derived from the bacterium *Flavonifractor plautii*. These enzymes are administered to the donor organ via normothermic or hypothermic machine perfusion. The mechanism of action involves the selective enzymatic cleavage of the N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) residues that constitute the A-antigen determinants on the renal vascular endothelium. By removing approximately 80% of these antigens within a two-hour perfusion window, the technology aims to eliminate ABO-incompatibility, thereby expanding the donor pool and reducing wait times for Type O transplant candidates. The system is currently being evaluated under an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) and has undergone successful feasibility testing in a brain-dead recipient model.

Other names

A to O Kidney ConversionEnzyme-Converted type-O technologyAvivo Biomedical-A antigen (ABO blood group antigen) on donor kidney tissue-enzyme-based organ conversion systemABO A to O kidney conversion system