A groundbreaking preclinical study, published on Nature, has unveiled a new molecule, dubbed SABER, that could supercharge vaccines against cancer and infectious diseases.

SABER enhances the immune system’s ability to fight off tumors and viruses by targeting a key step in how immune cells process antigens, according to the findings published.
The study, conducted on mice, focuses on improving the effectiveness of CD8+ T cells—immune system warriors critical for attacking infected or cancerous cells.

Vaccines often struggle to activate these cells efficiently, especially with protein-based formulas. SABER, short for Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) Agonist-Based ER-Targeting molecule, tackles this problem by delivering antigens directly to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) inside dendritic cells, a type of immune cell. This “last mile” delivery, as the researchers call it, creates mini-factories—or “microreactors”—that speed up antigen processing and boost T cell responses.

In the lab, SABER outperformed existing vaccine helpers, known as adjuvants, by a wide margin. When paired with tumor antigens, it triggered CD8+ T cell responses up to 120 times stronger than antigen alone and far surpassed traditional adjuvants like poly-I:C. In mice with melanoma, SABER-based vaccines slowed tumor growth and saved 75% of the animals, compared to just 10% with a standard mix of antigen and STING agonists. For colorectal cancer, it completely cured mice and protected them from future tumor growth.

The molecule also showed promise against viruses. Mice vaccinated with SABER targeting a SARS-CoV-2 peptide saw a 150-fold increase in T cell activity and a 100-fold drop in viral loads in their lungs and brains when challenged with the Omicron variant. SABER even boosted antibody production when paired with a SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine, offering hope for broader protection against evolving viruses.

The research team plans to move toward human studies, pending further safety and scalability checks. If successful, SABER could redefine how vaccines are designed, offering a powerful new tool in the fight against some of humanity’s toughest diseases.

Source.