Japan Begins Human Trials for Groundbreaking Tooth Regrowth Drug TRG-035
Japanese scientists have taken a major step toward revolutionizing dental care with the launch of human trials for TRG-035, a pioneering drug designed to regrow human teeth. This development could one day replace traditional implants and dentures with a natural, biological solution to tooth loss.
The new drug works by targeting a protein called USAG-1, which suppresses tooth development. By inhibiting this protein, TRG-035 reawakens the body’s natural ability to grow new teeth — a process once thought impossible in adults.
In previous animal trials, researchers successfully stimulated new tooth growth in mice and ferrets. These findings offered strong evidence that the drug could activate dormant tooth buds — tiny, undeveloped structures in the gums that have the potential to form new teeth.
Now, the first human clinical trial is underway at Kyoto University Hospital, involving 30 adults aged 30 to 64 who are each missing at least one tooth. This initial phase will focus on testing the safety and tolerability of the drug before progressing to later stages that assess its effectiveness.
Following the adult trials, scientists plan to extend testing to children with congenital tooth agenesis, a rare condition where permanent teeth never develop. For these patients, TRG-035 could offer a life-changing alternative to prosthetic treatments.
If the trials proceed as planned, researchers hope to bring the drug to market by 2030. Experts believe TRG-035 could mark a new era in regenerative dentistry, allowing people to naturally regrow lost teeth rather than relying on artificial replacements.
With its potential to redefine how we treat tooth loss, TRG-035 represents one of the most promising medical innovations in modern dentistry — and a future where a lost tooth might simply grow back.