World-first tooth-regrowing drug will be given to humans in September | The world’s first human trial of a drug that can regenerate teeth will begin in a few months, less than a year on from news of its success in animals.
https://newatlas.com/medical/tooth-regrowing-human-trial/
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From the article: The trial, which will take place at Kyoto University Hospital from September to August 2025, will treat 30 males aged 30-64 who are missing at least one molar. The intravenous treatment will be tested for its efficacy on human dentition, after it successfully grew new teeth in ferret and mouse models with no significant side effects.
“We want to do something to help those who are suffering from tooth loss or absence,” said lead researcher Katsu Takahashi, head of dentistry and oral surgery at Kitano Hospital. “While there has been no treatment to date providing a permanent cure, we feel that people’s expectations for tooth growth are high.”
Following this 11-month first stage, the researchers will then trial the drug on patients aged 2-7 who are missing at least four teeth due to congenital tooth deficiency, which is estimated to affect 1% of people. The team is recruiting for this Phase IIa trial now.
Researchers are then looking at expanding the trial to those with partial edentulism, or people missing one to five permanent teeth due to environmental factors. The incidence of this varies from country to country, but it’s estimated around 5% of Americans are missing teeth, with a much higher incidence among older adults.
The medicine itself deactivates the uterine sensitization-associated gene-1 (USAG-1) protein, which suppresses tooth growth. As we reported in 2023, blocking USAG-1’s interaction with other proteins encourages bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling, which triggers new bone to generate.
It resulted in new teeth emerging in the mouths of mice and ferrets, species that share close to the same USAG-1 properties as humans.
“The USAG-1 protein has a high amino acid homology of 97% between different animal species, including humans, mice, and beagles,” the researchers noted. However, there’s no word on a beagle trial just yet…
This is actually one of the coolest breakthroughs I’ve been following. Doesn’t seem like a huge deal but tooth decay is up there with hips breaks as a leading natural cause of death for mammals. This has the potential to alleviate a LOT of discomfort, increase a lot peoples confidence, and even improve digestion for those suffering from the natural aging process.
Also dental work is entirely too fucking expensive and tends to be one of the first things people put on the back burner during economic decline. I can only imagine there will be *lot* of people who will need and want this in the coming years
This is great news, and I hope it works well, fuck implants and crowns, give me real teeth.
Im scared man. Imagine if it gives you bonecancer. Suck a horrible painful death
Just thinking of a not-so distant future where a detective solving a murder mystery realizes the reason they can’t identify the victim based off their dental records is because they have regrown teeth.
Add it to the list of one more breakthrough we’ll never hear about again…
This will be extraordinary if it works, and if not it will be a terrifying horror series.
I wonder how they plan to control where the teeth grow and how many grow.
Really cool. Also sounds like the beginning to a good scifi horror flick.
I sure hope it regenerates them inside the mouth. Finger teeth could be useful, but my big fear is the undeveloped twin hiding inside me will suddenly start biting.
I remember reading about this sort of thing awhile ago. One of the comments I read mentioned that the problem is getting the new teeth to stop growing.
Bro if this works, dentistry will lobby against this so hard
It’s actually useful so we will be charged through the nose for it.
A biologic alternative to dental implants/bridges for congenitally missing teeth sounds ground breaking indeed, will see how it works out.
I guess this isn’t viable when you’ve had a root canal then?
I’m sitting here with 3 broken teeth, and this is the best news I’ve gotten since one stopped throbbing this morning!!
This is absolutely amazing!!!!!
Congrats to all involved!!!!