The trial, which began in September 2024, follows years of research into an antibody that could stimulate tooth growth in humans.
The drug aims to help individuals suffering from tooth loss, a condition with no existing permanent cure. “We want to do something to help those who are suffering from tooth loss or absence,” said Katsu Takahashi, head of dentistry at Kitano Hospital’s medical research institute in Osaka, in an interview with The Mainichi. “While there has been no treatment to date providing a permanent cure, we feel that people’s expectations for tooth growth are high.”
The research focuses on the Uterine Sensitization–Associated Gene-1 (USAG-1), an antibody known to inhibit tooth development in mammals. In 2021, scientists at Kyoto University, who are also involved in the current trials, identified a monoclonal antibody capable of disrupting USAG-1’s interaction with bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP), which play a key role in tooth formation.
“We knew that suppressing USAG-1 benefits tooth growth. What we did not know was whether it would be enough,” said Kyoto University’s Katsu Takahashi, a co-author of the study, in a previous press statement. “Ferrets are diphyodont animals with similar dental patterns to humans.”
Now, researchers are testing the drug in a study lasting 11 months, involving 30 male participants aged 30 to 64 who are each missing at least one tooth. The drug is being administered intravenously to assess its safety and effectiveness. No adverse effects were observed in previous animal trials.
If successful, Kitano Hospital plans to expand the treatment to children aged 2 to 7 who are missing at least four teeth, with the ultimate goal of making the medication widely available by 2030. While the current focus is on patients with congenital tooth deficiencies, Takahashi hopes the treatment could eventually benefit anyone who has lost a tooth.