HPV levels drop 93% with new bioengineered chewing gum from Penn researchers

Behind the bioengineered gum

According to НВ — Техно: HPV is linked to certain head and neck cancers, which makes this research especially relevant. A team at the University of Pennsylvania has developed a chewing gum based on lablab beans, incorporating the natural antiviral protein FRIL and the antimicrobial peptide protegrin. In laboratory tests with patient saliva and tissue samples, the gum reduced HPV levels by 93% in saliva and by 80% in oral rinse samples. A single dose also nearly wiped out Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, two bacteria associated with more severe head and neck cancer. Importantly, the gum left beneficial oral microbes unharmed, a clear advantage for future clinical use.

Research focus and what comes next

The scientists centered their work on squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, highlighting the targeted nature of the study. Despite these promising lab results, the gum's safety and effectiveness must still be confirmed through human clinical trials, which could take considerable time. Even so, the current findings have sparked optimism among researchers. Should those trials succeed, the gum might offer a new route for preventing and treating head and neck cancers, while also opening the door to longer-term studies on its clinical impact.