The world's first “tooth growth drug” will be tested in Japan from September 2024 (3 photos)

No more crowns and implants - scientists have learned to grow teeth in adults. So we’ll wait (but that’s not certain).





Japan is preparing to test on humans the world's first drug for growing new teeth. Since September of this year.

Clinical trials are set to begin at Kyoto University Hospital. Once the safety of the drug is confirmed, it will be given to patients who do not have a full set of teeth to confirm its effectiveness. Researchers hope to begin marketing the drug in 2030.

Lead researcher Katsu Takahashi commented on the scientific breakthrough:

We want to help those who suffer from lost or missing teeth. We think people are waiting for this.

Congenital dental deficiency is thought to affect about 1% of the population.



The first stage of clinical trials will take place from September this year to August 2025. The medication will be administered intravenously and participants must be missing at least one back tooth.

To date, animal testing has shown no serious side effects. In the next stage, the medicine will be administered to patients with congenital lack of teeth. The medicine deactivates a protein that inhibits tooth growth.



The team believes that in the future it will be possible to grow teeth not only in people with congenital diseases, but also in those who have lost teeth due to caries or injury