Researchers in Japan are making progress on a groundbreaking drug that could potentially enable the regrowth of teeth.
Clinical trials are set to start in July next year, with the drug potentially available for dentists to use by 2030. The research, led by the Medical Research Institute Kitano Hospital in Osaka, aims to develop a therapeutic drug for patients who lack a full set of adult teeth due to congenital factors. Tooth anomalies, affecting 1% of people worldwide, can hinder basic abilities like chewing, swallowing, and speaking. The drug targets a gene called USAG-1 to stimulate tooth regrowth and could provide an alternative solution for tooth loss due to cavities or dental diseases.
