The drug that helps grow teeth was successfully tested on animals in 2023. Its testing on humans begins in September 2024. Its marketing is planned for 2030.
The trial is being carried out at Kyoto University Hospital in Japan between September 2024 and August 2025. 30 men who are aged 30 to 64 will be treated. They must be missing at least one molar. This is an intravenous treatment. The test will demonstrate effectiveness on human teeth. The animals that were used for the test are ferrets, as well as mice. They did not have any significant side effects.
Lead researcher Katsu Takahashi, who is the head of the department of dentistry and oral surgery at Kitano Hospital, hopes to improve the condition of people who suffer from missing or losing teeth. He believes there are high expectations from the public regarding the possibilities when it comes to tooth growth.
Following an initial experiment lasting 11 months, the drug will then be tested on children aged 2 to 7 years old, who are missing at least 4 teeth due to a congenital dental deficiency. This genetic condition affects 1% of people. A test will subsequently be carried out on people who have tooth loss following environmental consequences. For example, 5% of Americans have missing teeth due to environmental factors.
The drug works to deactivate the uterine sensitization gene 1 protein, also called USAG-1. This protein normally suppresses tooth growth. When the interaction of USAG-1 with other proteins is blocked, bone morphogenetic proteins, also called BMP, become activated and trigger the generation of new bones. New teeth then appear in the mouths of ferrets and mice. These animals have the same USAG-1 properties as humans. Indeed, the homology between these animals and humans regarding the USAG-1 protein is very high.
Japanese researcher Takahashi has been working on this drug since 2005. He hopes that this medical solution will not only be useful for people with congenital dental disease, but also for all people who have lost teeth, regardless of the 'age.
If the tests are successful, then the therapy will be available to all patients who are permanently missing teeth, starting in 2030.
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