Japanese scientists have initiated clinical trials of a drug that could eventually enable humans to grow new teeth. According to Toregem BioPharma, the first phase of testing on volunteers has already been successfully completed, and the developers aim to bring the medication to market by 2030.
The therapy was created by researchers at the Kitano Medical Research Institute in Osaka, affiliated with Kyoto University. The core of the development involves blocking a protein that inhibits the development of dormant tooth buds in the jaw.
The drug TRG-035 is a neutralizing antibody. In experiments on mice and ferrets, third-generation teeth emerged after its administration.
The first phase of trials began in September 2024 at Kyoto University Hospital. It involved 30 healthy men aged 30 to 65, each missing at least one molar. Preliminary data showed no serious side effects.
The next phase is planned to involve children aged two to seven with congenital anodontia. However, experts emphasize that the drug’s effectiveness in humans has not yet been proven, and full results have not been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
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