A Healing Gel to Rebuild Damaged Jawbone
A side effect of common bone-strengthening drugs for osteoporosis and cancer can damage the jawbone, leading to chronic infection that often requires major surgery. This project, REBORN, tests an innovative gel that helps the body rebuild this lost bone while fighting infection, offering a minimally invasive alternative. This crucial work is being advanced through a public-private partnership between medical experts at Radboudumc, analytical scientists at HAN University of Applied Sciences, and the specialized Dutch company Inborn B.V.
The need for this innovation is urgent. In the Netherlands, tens of thousands of people using these medications are at risk of this debilitating side effect, which affects up to 15% of high-risk cancer patients. The condition severely reduces quality of life and creates significant costs for our healthcare system due to complex surgeries and long-term care. A less invasive and more effective treatment would provide immense value to both patients and society.
Our solution is an gel made from bone-like materials. It has a smart, dual function: it creates a scaffold to help the body’s own cells rebuild healthy bone, while simultaneously releasing medication to fight infection directly at the source. Over the next 24 months, this project will rigorously test the gel's safety and effectiveness in a preclinical model that closely resembles the human jaw.
The project's main deliverable is the scientific proof that this new treatment is safe and effective. We will produce a comprehensive data report and a complete dossier ready for review by health authorities. This evidence is the essential key to attract investment for human clinical trials and, ultimately, bring this promising treatment to patients.
