Japanese company Toregem Biopharma, funded by Kyoto University, plans to launch a drug that stimulates tooth growth in people by 2030. The startup hopes to begin human trials next year.
According to Kyodo, Toregem plans to be the first to enter the global market with a similar invention in 2030. The company already managed to grow new teeth in mice in 2018, and that same year the startup successfully conducted tests on ferrets.
The drug being developed affects the “tooth buds” found in the oral cavity. These rudiments can develop into full teeth, but they often stop developing and disappear over time.
The drug suppresses the action of a protein that stops the development of “tooth germs”, as a result of which dental tissue formations can form, replacing unerupted or fallen teeth.
The startup intends to begin human trials in 2024 to confirm the safety of the drug. In 2025, Toregem Biopharma will be able to begin testing the drug in children aged 2 to 6 years who suffer from anodontia, a disease characterized by the complete or partial absence of teeth in children.
In the future, the company hopes to help adults who have lost teeth due to cavities.
Author:
Akhmed Sadulayev
Source: RB
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