Can you regrow your teeth? Japanese scientist develop world’s first tooth regrowth drug

Losing a tooth is an important developmental stage in childhood, but it is far less pleasant in adulthood. It needs pricey dental substitutes like dentures or implants, but that could soon change.

Toregem Biopharma

, a Japanese pharmaceutical business, is about to launch a ground-breaking medication designed to promote tooth growth. The

Japan Times

claims that the group responsible for this outstanding accomplishment, which was supported by Kyoto University and headed by Toregem Biopharma, had been working hard on the project for years. A medication that targets the suppression of a protein that inhibits tooth growth is the result of their work.
Dr. Katsu Takahashi, a renowned researcher and the head of the dentistry and oral surgery department at the prestigious Medical Research Institute Kitano Hospital, is at the forefront of this medical advancement. When Dr. Takahashi started doing intensive study at Kyoto University in 2005, he began his relentless quest for the regrowth of teeth, an apparently unattainable ambition.
Their ground-breaking discovery is based on a particular mouse gene called USAG-1, which has a significant impact on how teeth form. The dual function of the gene, which may either stimulate or inhibit dental growth, was discovered by the researchers. The crucial concept that surfaced was the development of a “neutralizing antibody medicine” intended to successfully prevent the negative consequences of the USAG-1 gene, thereby opening the door for tooth regrowth.

The scientific community was shocked by the hopeful results of the first trials on mice, which showed that the new medication caused the creation of new teeth. But the researchers wasn’t satisfied with their success; they wanted to confirm their findings on ferrets, whose tooth patterns closely resembled those of humans. The experimental medication caused amazing

tooth regeneration

in the ferrets. It was a turning point in their quest to achieve tooth regeneration.

Human trials are the next stage of this incredible journey, and it is nothing short of momentous. At a pivotal point in their mission to make transformative medicine accessible to everyone, the Toregem Biopharma team is ready to start clinical trials as early as July 2024. By bringing the medication to market by 2030, they hope to usher in a time when people with oral problems can finally smile again.