A drug to grow new teeth is being developed at a Japanese pharmaceutical company, with hopes to begin clinical trials in less than a year.
Key points:
- Toregem’s drug inactivates the “USAG-1 protein” to enable tooth growth
- The company says its priority is treating people whose teeth do not grow for genetic reasons
- In the future, the team wants the drug to help those who have lost teeth
Toregem Biopharma, funded by Kyoto University, has developed an antibody drug which inhibits the protein in the mouth that suppresses growth and stops “tooth buds” from developing.
The team has already successfully administered the drug to ferrets, which have both baby and permanent teeth similar to humans, in 2018.
They want to see trials on humans in July 2024, and want the drug on the market by 2030. The company also plans for a second clinic
