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. This paves the way for the medicine to be commercially available as early as 2030.
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.
Yussss! Finally I will have the ferret teeth I have dreamed of for so long, and the world will be mine for the taking!
Seriously though, since getting my first filling, I have dreamed of being able to regrow teeth! What an age we live in!
A process called rapid recalcification has existed for almost a decade. I don’t understand why it hasn’t made its way into dentistry yet.
Hard to not be a cynic and assume the ADA (American Dental Association) isn’t wholly made up of “the 10th dentist” lobbying against dental progress but…
That is not the only dental care breakthrough that isn’t widely available in the US (they’re all available and priced for the ‘I don’t actually need to worry about price tags’ crowd, who can also just travel elsewhere) but which would promote healthier lives at the cost of less dentist visits. Curious how it happens.