Praetorian Bio is developing a first-in-class vaccine that targets the bacteria responsible for dental cavities. Delivered through the nose, it trains the immune system to make protective antibodies right where they are needed, in the mouth, building lasting defense against Streptococcus mutans, the main driver of tooth decay. The diagram below shows how it works.
In our preclinical study, mice received two doses of different vaccine candidates as a nasal spray, three weeks apart. Two weeks after the second dose, we measured the immune response in both the blood and the mouth, and tested how strongly the antibodies they produced recognized Streptococcus mutans, the bacterium that causes cavities.
All vaccine candidates induced strong systemic IgG and IgA responses. The absence of adjuvant markedly reduced antibody titers, confirming the adjuvant effect. Most importantly, all candidates also elicited S. mutans-specific mucosal IgA in nasal washes.
We target only the specific bacteria that drive disease, Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis, using custom-designed antigens. The result is strong, focused protection without disturbing the hundreds of healthy microbes your mouth needs.
Instead of treating the damage after it happens, our vaccines stop the bacteria at their point of entry, the mouth. That heads off cavities, gum disease, and the heart, brain, and pregnancy risks linked to them, before they ever start.
Every program is designed from day one to be manufacturable at scale and to meet regulatory standards, so a proven vaccine can reach billions of people affordably, not just a fortunate few.