If the trials prove successful, the drug could become commercially available by 2030.
Osaka: A team of researchers in Japan has developed a breakthrough drug that could help humans grow “third-generation” teeth — offering a natural replacement for lost adult teeth. After achieving success in animal trials, clinical testing on humans has now begun, raising hopes that dentures and implants could one day become obsolete.
The research is being led by Dr. Katsu Takahashi, head of oral surgery at Kitano Hospital, Osaka Medical Research Institute, in collaboration with Kyoto University Hospital. If the trials prove successful, the drug could become commercially available by 2030.
Antibody Drug Succeeds in Animal Trials
Humans, like many animals, possess tooth buds with the potential to generate new teeth. However, in most cases, these buds fail to develop and eventually disappear. The research team developed an antibody drug that blocks proteins preventing tooth bud growth. In 2018, the drug was administered to ferrets, leading to the successful regrowth of fully functional teeth.
Dr. Takahashi explained, “Missing teeth in children can affect the development of the jawbone. We believe this drug could play a vital role in solving such problems.”
Experts Call It a Promising but Challenging Path
Commenting on the development, Professor Chengfei Zhang, clinical professor of endodontics at the University of Hong Kong, described the effort to regrow human teeth as an “ultra-marathon.” He praised Takahashi’s approach as innovative and promising but cautioned that results seen in animal studies do not always translate directly to humans.
He also highlighted a key question — whether regenerated teeth would be able to fully replace lost natural teeth in terms of strength and function. If successful, this could mark one of the most revolutionary advances in dental medicine in decades.
