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Oral care
Biofilm problem:
Dental cavities caused by the formation of dental plaque biofilms on teeth.
Market size:
The US $3.7 billion oral care market in the United States includes and over US $1.8 billion market for toothpaste and mouthwash. The last toothpaste innovation, triclosan in Colgate Total, achieved sales of US $450 million in the first year alone.
Kane Biotech solution:
Competence stimulating peptide (CSP) based technology, a novel toothpaste and mouthwash additive for preventing and dispersing dental plaque biofilms.
Technology status:
Dental cavities are one of the most common infectious diseases in humans and are caused primarily by Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). Kane Biotech’s CSP technology focuses on preventing the ability of S. mutans to form dental plaque and has demonstrated proof-of-concept in vitro. The Company is currently conducting studies to select its lead dental cavity fighting agent.
Pre-clinical results: Effects of CSP technology on dental plaque formation
Pre-clinical results: Effects of CSP technology on S. mutans plaque formation
A dental cavity is one of the most common infectious diseases in humans. Approximately 50% of adults have at least 4 cavities that have been treated or require treatment. Stretococcus mutans (S. mutans) is the principal bacteria responsible for dental cavities in humans and is recognized as the primary initiator of dental cavities when it exists in the biofilm environment of dental plaque.
Efforts towards the prevention of dental cavities have traditionally revolved around the use of a toothbrush and floss to remove dental plaque. In addition, toothpastes and mouth rinses containing various constituents that are touted as aids in the prevention of dental cavities are used to supplement oral health routines.
This approach has been advocated over antibiotic approaches to preventing dental cavities because an overall reduction in oral bacteria is not a practical means to prevent tooth decay; and in fact, most oral bacteria are beneficial to oral health. However, a product of that specifically targets the most prominent causal agent in dental cavities, S. mutans biofilms, would be a considerable breakthrough.
Kane Biotech is developing an anti-dental cavity product based upon the breakthrough competence stimulating peptide (CSP) technology invented by Dr. Dennis Cvitkovitch at the University of Toronto. The lead application for this technology is expected to be a novel toothpaste or mouthwash additive.
The Company has positive proof-of-principle data for this technology from studies sponsored by Kane Biotech in a well recognized, multi-species dental plaque model. The data showed that Kane Biotech’s technology was able to reduce or inhibit the formation of dental plaque.
As the Company advances this technology through in vitro and in vivo testing, it continues to evaluate its opportunities through the complimentary studies using CSP in combinations, and in additional product areas. The priority patent for the CSP technology has been issued in the United States, and Kane Biotech has the exclusive global rights to this technology from the University of Toronto.
CSP is a particularly exciting target as it is responsible for the ability of S. mutans to form dental plaque biofilms, as well as many factors in the ability of the bacteria to cause damage to the host. Kane Biotech has tested several peptides that have been shown to interfere with the CSP system. These peptides represent a novel approach to the prevention of dental cavities by specifically preventing the formation of S. mutans biofilms. The Company is particularly enthusiastic about the potential of a product derived from these peptides and among the numerous applications for a product of this type are over-the-counter dental products such as toothpaste or mouthwash; chewing gum or candies; beverages such as sports drinks, soft drinks or bottled water; dental office applications and veterinary applications.
Kane Biotech is presently in the final stages of selecting the most promising peptide for further development, as part of the first product application of this technology.
