Japanese Startup Makes Strides in Growing New Teeth

JAPAN: Toregem Biopharma Co., a Japanese pharmaceutical startup with funding from Kyoto University, is making significant progress in the development of a drug that stimulates the growth of new teeth. This innovative approach, if successful, could mark a historic milestone in the field of dentistry. The team is working towards putting the tooth-regeneration drug on the market by approximately 2030.

Clinical Trials on Healthy Adults Planned for July 2024

Toregem Biopharma’s ambitious journey began in 2018 when they achieved the growth of new teeth in mice. Building on this achievement, the team is now gearing up to commence clinical trials on healthy adults around July 2024. These trials aim to confirm the drug’s safety and efficacy in humans.

The key to Toregem Biopharma’s breakthrough lies in their creation of an antibody drug designed to inhibit the protein that suppresses the growth of teeth. Most individuals possess dormant “tooth buds,” which have the potential to develop into new teeth, alongside their baby and permanent teeth. Typically, these tooth buds remain undeveloped and eventually disappear. The drug developed by the team targets these tooth buds, effectively stimulating their growth.

HKU Researchers Develop Smart Dental Crown Manufacturing with Generative AI

Success in Ferrets Paves the Way

The team administered the drug to ferrets in 2018. Ferrets possess both baby and permanent teeth, similar to humans, and the drug successfully induced the growth of new teeth in these animals. This promising result demonstrated the drug’s potential for broader applications.

Toregem Biopharma is not stopping at adults. Starting from 2025, the team plans to conduct clinical trials on children aged 2 to 6 years old who suffer from anodontia, a condition where individuals are born without some or all of their permanent teeth. These young participants will receive a single dose of the drug with the aim of triggering the growth of their missing teeth. This approach has the potential to reshape the lives of children affected by this condition.

Vision for Adult Tooth Regeneration

Beyond children, there are hopes to utiliSe the drug for adults who have lost teeth due to cavities or other dental issues. Dr. Katsu Takahashi, co-founder of Toregem Biopharma and head of dentistry and oral surgery at Kitano Hospital in Osaka, emphasised the broader impact of this innovation, saying, “Missing teeth in a child can affect the development of their jaw bone. We hope the drug will serve as a key to solving those problems.”

The progress made by Toregem Biopharma, in collaboration with Kyoto University, holds promise not only for dental health but also for enhancing the quality of life for individuals facing tooth-related challenges. As clinical trials approach, the world watches with anticipation, eager to witness the potential transformation of dentistry as we know it.

Researchers from Tohoku University Find Oral Suction Devices Reduce Dental Aerosol Spread