A UK startup that builds a new mineral layer on worn or chipped tooth enamel using keratin, a protein extracted from human hair and wool, has secured funding to bring the technology to market. The company is Eterna Regeneratives, which develops dental biomaterials.
On September 17, Eterna Regeneratives announced it had raised a $4 million seed round (about ₩5.4 billion, based on the Seoul foreign exchange market's closing rate on October 13) led by Hoxton Ventures and The Venture Collective. Founded in 2024 as a spinout from King's College London, the company is led by co-founders Khaled Eissa, Chief Executive Officer, and Sherif Elsharkawy, Chief Scientific Officer.
How Wool Keratin Builds a New Mineral Layer
According to the company, the mechanism works by anchoring the protein keratin onto the surface of damaged enamel, triggering a biomimetic mineralization process. Calcium and phosphate gather at the sites where keratin has settled, forming a new mineral layer. In experiments using extracted tooth samples, the company said the resulting layer showed hardness and mechanical strength close to that of natural enamel, along with a reduction in wear.
Two Product Lines: Toothpaste and In-Office Treatment
The company plans to bring the same material to market in two product lines. One is added to toothpaste or mouthwash for continuous use at home, and the other is a treatment applied directly by a dental professional in the clinic. The company is targeting an early 2027 launch for its first product. It puts the global oral care market at $43 billion, and it is also researching the application of the same keratin material to regenerating bone at fracture sites.
A Protein Instead of a Peptide, the Same Goal
The goal of repairing teeth without cutting them down is already taking shape in several forms across the dental industry. On October 9, this publication covered Vvardis's Curodont, a treatment that uses a self-assembling peptide to remineralize early-stage cavity lesions from within, before they form a hole. The material Eterna Regeneratives uses is different. Rather than targeting a hole caused by a cavity, it coats the entire surface of enamel that has already worn down or chipped with a new protein layer, and it is aimed at a broader range of conditions, including tooth wear and erosion.
This material is not yet sold as a product in any country. Since the company's own launch target is early 2027, the supply chain and pricing for dental clinics or pharmacies in Korea have not yet been determined. Even if the toothpaste version arrives first, it will still need approval from Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and import procedures, so there is no change Korean consumers will notice at this point.