The ability to regrow your own teeth could be just around the corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A team of scientists, led by a Japanese pharmaceutical startup, are getting set to start human trials on a new drug that has successfully grown new teeth in animal test subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Toregem Biopharma is slated to begin clinical trials in July of next year after it succeeded growing new teeth in mice<\/strong><\/a> five years ago, the Japan Times reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Katsu Takahashi, a lead researcher on the project and head of the dentistry and oral surgery department at the Medical Research Institute Kitano Hospital, says \u201cthe idea of growing new teeth is every dentist\u2019s dream<\/strong><\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve been working on this since I was a graduate student<\/strong><\/a>,\u201d he told Japan\u2019s national daily news site, the Mainichi, earlier this year. \u201cI was confident I\u2019d be able to make it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In his research, which he\u2019s been conducting at Kyoto University since 2005, Takahashi learned of a particular gene in mice that affects the growth of their teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The antibody for this gene, USAG-1<\/strong><\/a>, can help stimulate tooth growth if it is suppressed \u2013 and scientists have since worked to develop a \u201cneutralizing antibody medicine\u201d that is able to block USAG-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, his team has been testing the theory that \u201cblocking\u201d this protein could grow more teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After their successful tests on mice, the team went on to perform similarly positive trials on ferrets \u2013 animals who have a similar dental pattern to humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, testing will turn to healthy adult humans and, if all goes well, the team plans to hold a clinical trial for the drug from 2025 for children between two and six years old with anodontia \u2013 a rare genetic disorder that results in the absence of six or more baby and\/or adult teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Japan Times, the children involved in the clinical trial will be injected with one dose of the drug<\/strong><\/a> to see if it induces teeth growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If successful, the medicine could be available for regulatory approval by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takahashi hopes the new medicine could be just another option for those who don\u2019t have a full set of teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn any case, we\u2019re hoping to see a time when\u00a0tooth-regrowth medicine<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is a third choice alongside dentures and implants,\u201d Takahashi told Mainichi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n