T-Boost: Enhancing the Potency, Persistence, and Tumor Resistance of T and NK Cell Therapies for Hematologic and Solid Tumors

Cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of hematologic malignancies and remains one of the most promising modalities in cancer immunotherapy. However, despite notable clinical successes, major challenges remain—particularly high relapse rates. For instance, up to 60% of patients treated with CAR-T cells for large B-cell lymphoma relapse within one year, largely due to poor T-cell persistence, functional exhaustion, antigen loss, and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME).
To address these barriers, Sakura Bio developed T-Boost, a proprietary, non-GMO platform that reprograms T and NK cells to enhance their potency, persistence, and resistance to TME-induced dysfunction. T-Boost–engineered cells exhibit key features associated with improved therapeutic outcomes, including:
• Enhanced cytotoxicity against hematologic and solid tumors
• Enrichment of naïve and central memory (CD62L⁺) subsets
• Increased metabolic fitness and cellular energy
• Improved tumor homing and infiltration
• Superior resistance to exhaustion and TME-induced dysfunction

In head-to-head comparisons with CAR-T cells manufactured using standard protocols, T-Boost–engineered cells consistently demonstrated superior potency, including higher cytokine secretion, greater expansion of CD62L⁺ “younger” T cells, and improved metabolic activity. Notably, T-Boost–enhanced cells showed robust anti-tumor activity in xenograft models of AML and ovarian cancer while maintaining a favorable safety profile: sparing healthy CD34⁺ progenitors and avoiding GVHD in irradiated NSG mice.
T-Boost offers a modular, plug-in solution compatible with a broad range of cell therapy platforms. By enabling the production of more potent, persistent, and resilient immune cells, T-Boost has the potential to significantly enhance the efficacy and durability of both current and next-generation cell therapies.