This is the first time in the world that this medication has been tested on humans, offering hope to many people suffering from congenital tooth loss or those unable to grow back lost teeth for various reasons.
If successful, this medication will provide a third option for individuals with congenital tooth loss. (Illustrative image).
According to reporters in Japan, the trials are expected to take place at Kyoto University Hospital in Kyoto Prefecture, to confirm the safety of the tooth growth medication developed by Toregem Biopharma. The mechanism of action of this tooth growth medication involves the use of an antibody to target a protein that inhibits normal tooth development. In previous animal experiments, this medication has been shown to stimulate tooth buds in the jawbone, allowing teeth to grow normally.
As planned, the initial phase of testing will commence in September with 30 healthy adult men who have been confirmed to have difficulties growing teeth in damaged areas. Following this, in the second phase of testing scheduled for 2025, Toregem Biopharma will collaborate with a hospital in Osaka and a medical research institute to assess the effectiveness of the medication on patients with congenital tooth loss aged between 2 and 7 years. To date, these patients have no treatment options and are forced to wear dentures as they grow or undergo artificial tooth implant surgery in adulthood.
Typically, an adult has 28 teeth, excluding 4 wisdom teeth, and having fewer than 6 may indicate the individual has congenital tooth loss. According to estimates from Toregem Biopharma, approximately 0.1% of adults in Japan suffer from this condition. If left untreated, this condition can lead to difficulties in chewing food, and even jawbone atrophy, and currently, there is no specific treatment available.
A representative from Toregem Biopharma stated that if the human trials are successful, this medication will provide a third option for individuals with this condition, following the alternatives of dentures or artificial tooth implants, with a cost of around 1.5 million yen (nearly $10,000), which may be covered by health insurance.
