About Us
Xerostomia, or dry mouth, affects nearly 1 in 4 adults over the age of 50, yet it remains one of the most under recognized and insufficiently diagnosed oral health issues. This condition occurs when the salivary glands fail to produce enough saliva, leading to severe discomfort, difficulty speaking, swallowing, eating, and disrupting sleep. The consequences extend beyond an individual’s quality of life, as patients face higher risk for oral infections, tooth decay, gum disease, and digestive problems.
Xerostomia can be caused by a variety of factors, including radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, autoimmune diseases like Sjögren’s syndrome, medications, or simply aging. Unfortunately, existing treatments are limited to temporary relief, without addressing the underlying cause of salivary gland dysfunction.
At Hydronovo we’re committed to changing the therapeutic landscape. Our innovative solution, Ceviginate (CVGN8), is the first regenerative treatment designed to restore salivary gland function and reverse the effects of dry mouth. We accomplish this using a patented formulation and unique delivery method to stimulate organ regeneration by mimicking the role of nerves. Our science-backed approach demonstrates that Ceviginate offers a long-term, transformative method to restore saliva production through stem cell reactivation.
Drs. Sarah Knox and Chelsea Bahney met years ago when both scientists were presenters at a conference at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). As each scientist spoke about the role of nerves in tissue regeneration from their unique subject matter areas at the conference—Dr. Knox, in salivary glands; Dr. Bahney in bone—the scientists began meeting to share research and data around their common research interest.
Drs. Knox and Bahney began to collaborate, exploring how a regenerative product could repair and regenerate damaged salivary glands, responding to an unmet clinical need. When there was an application call for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Dental, Oral & Craniofacial Tissue & Organ Regeneration (C-DOCTOR) award in 2017, Drs. Knox and Bahney applied and secured funding. The scientists brought in Dr. Eben Alsberg, a biomaterials expert from the University of Chicago, to help develop a hydrogel platform for drug delivery. Hydronovo is now one of only four projects that has gotten to its current stage in the C-DOCTOR program, meeting all major milestones and advancing the scientific project.
In addition to NIH funding for discovery (5R35DE028255; 5R01DE024188) and translation (U24DE026914), Drs. Knox and Bahney recently secured funding from California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) for translation and prototype development (TRAN1-15330). Combined, Hydronovo has raised over $6 million in non-dilutive funding to date and aims to raise additional funding to move the project into clinical trials in 2026.
While working on this project, Dr. Knox was diagnosed with a non-malignant brain tumor and underwent surgery and radiation treatment. Her experience and survivorship post-radiation offers a unique lens into the clinical need for Hydronovo, a connection with fellow patients and a passion for the product’s success.
