Japanese Researchers Develop World's First
Expecting Treatment for Congenital Anodontia
Targeting Commercialization by 2030
A drug that stimulates tooth growth has been developed for the first time in the world in Japan. Clinical trials for practical application are scheduled to begin in September this year. Attention is focused on whether it can become a fundamental treatment for patients with congenital anodontia.
Japan's Kitano Hospital and the bio startup 'Trezem Biopharma' announced that they have developed a drug that promotes tooth growth for patients with congenital anodontia, a condition characterized by a reduced number of permanent teeth from birth, and plan to start clinical trials in September to confirm human safety, aiming for release by 2030.
Dentures. [Photo by Asia Economy DB]
Patients with congenital anodontia generally have six or more fewer teeth than average individuals. This often causes difficulties in eating or problems with jaw development. However, due to the lack of appropriate treatments, most patients have had to rely on dentures or implant procedures.
In Korea, implant procedures include non-reimbursable items, so if health insurance is not applied, costs vary widely depending on the procedure, ranging from a minimum of around 300,000 KRW to as much as 5 million KRW. Gum bone grafts cost between 300,000 and 2 million KRW, and screw implantation into the gum bone costs about 200,000 to 1 million KRW per screw.
There are three types of dentures: complete dentures, partial dentures, and implant-supported dentures. Prices vary greatly depending on type and materials, ranging from a minimum of 500,000 KRW to as much as 5 million KRW.
The Japanese research team focused on the mechanism of the protein 'USAG-1,' which inhibits tooth growth. They developed a drug that suppresses this protein's function.
According to the research team, human teeth do not grow anew after the transition from baby teeth to permanent teeth. Besides permanent teeth, there is a "third set of teeth" called "tooth buds," but these degenerate as growth progresses.
However, the team identified the protein that suppresses the growth of these "third teeth" and conducted research to promote the growth of tooth buds by inhibiting this protein's activity.
The developed drug reportedly succeeded in stimulating tooth growth in experiments conducted on mice and dogs. The research team plans to test its safety on healthy adults and anodontia patients starting this September. They aim to commercialize the drug by 2030 at the earliest.
Once developed, the drug is expected to enable treatment for congenital anodontia. Additionally, it could benefit general adults who have lost teeth due to acquired factors.
Takahashi Katsu, director of Trezem, emphasized, "Once this technology is commercialized, it will become a 'third option' differentiated from existing technologies such as dentures and implants."
Meanwhile, the price of the drug is reported to be 1.5 million yen (approximately 13.35 million KRW).
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