# GB20-5A8-31, an anti-TL1A antibody for treating inflammatory bowel disease

**Authors:** Yu Huang, Qiongying You, Tianqi Yao, Yanrong Tong, Xiaodong Yang, Xiangling Zhang, Xiaoting Huang, Qin Chen, Feng Lu, Huiming Li, Junfeng Wang, Suofu Qin

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1682346 · Frontiers in Immunology · 2026-02-03

## TL;DR

A new antibody, GB20-5A8-31, shows strong potential for treating inflammatory bowel disease by targeting TL1A with high affinity and effectiveness.

## Contribution

GB20-5A8-31 is a novel anti-TL1A antibody with ultra-high affinity, potent anti-inflammatory effects, and favorable biophysical properties for IBD treatment.

## Key findings

- GB20-5A8-31 has ultra-high affinity (KD = 5.11×10–11 M) for human TL1A and inhibits TL1A signaling effectively.
- The antibody shows potent anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects in rat and mouse IBD models.
- GB20-5A8-31 has an extended half-life (T1/2 = 248.54 h) and favorable properties for high-concentration formulations.

## Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains a critical unmet medical challenge, with a substantial number of patients experiencing ineffective treatment or therapeutic failure over time. Here, GB20-5A8-31, a novel anti-TNF-like ligand 1A (TL1A) antibody, was engineered for high potency and superior developability. GB20-5A8–31 exhibited ultra-high affinity (KD = 5.11×10–11 M) for human TL1A, potent inhibition of TL1A signaling in vitro. Meanwhile, GB20-5A8–31 demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory effects and anti-fibrotic tendencies in both the 2,4,6-trinitro-benzenesulfonic acid-induced rat and dextran sulfate-induced hTLIA-transgenic mouse acute IBD models. Its favorable pharmacokinetic profile, including an extended half-life (T1/2 = 248.54 h) in hFcRn-transgenic Sprague-Dawley rats, supports sustained target engagement. Crucially, GB20-5A8–31 exhibits advantageous biophysical properties—including high stability, solubility, and low aggregation—which facilitate the development of high-concentration formulations aimed at improving patient compliance. In summary, these findings indicate that GB20-5A8–31 is a therapeutic candidate for IBD with promising preclinical efficacy and the potential to advance to the Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls research.

## Linked entities

- **Proteins:** TNFSF15 (TNF superfamily member 15)
- **Chemicals:** 2,4,6-trinitro-benzenesulfonic acid (PubChem CID 11045)
- **Diseases:** inflammatory bowel disease (MONDO:0005265)
- **Species:** Mus musculus (taxon 10090)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** IL10 (interleukin 10) [NCBI Gene 3586] {aka CSIF, GVHDS, IL-10, IL10A, TGIF}, TNF (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 7124] {aka DIF, IMD127, TNF-alpha, TNFA, TNFSF2, TNLG1F}, IL18 (interleukin 18) [NCBI Gene 3606] {aka IGIF, IL-18, IL-1g, IL1F4}, IL12B (interleukin 12B) [NCBI Gene 3593] {aka CLMF, CLMF2, IL-12B, IMD28, IMD29, NKSF}, NFKB1 (nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1) [NCBI Gene 4790] {aka CVID12, EBP-1, KBF1, NF-kB, NF-kB1, NF-kappa-B1}, ACTA1 (actin alpha 1, skeletal muscle) [NCBI Gene 58] {aka ACTA, ASMA, CFTD, CFTD1, CFTDM, CMYO2A}, TNFRSF25 (TNF receptor superfamily member 25) [NCBI Gene 8718] {aka APO-3, DDR3, DR3, LARD, TNFRSF12, TR3}, TGFB1 (transforming growth factor beta 1) [NCBI Gene 7040] {aka CAEND1, CED, DPD1, IBDIMDE, LAP, TGF-beta1}, FCGRT (Fc gamma receptor and transporter) [NCBI Gene 2217] {aka FCRN, FcgammaRn, alpha-chain}, TNFSF15 (TNF superfamily member 15) [NCBI Gene 9966] {aka TL1, TL1A, TNLG1B, VEGI, VEGI192A}, IL17A (interleukin 17A) [NCBI Gene 3605] {aka CTLA-8, CTLA8, IL-17, IL-17A, IL17, ILA17}, IFNG (interferon gamma) [NCBI Gene 3458] {aka IFG, IFI, IMD69}
- **Diseases:** edema (MESH:D004487), abdominal pain (MESH:D015746), extra-intestinal malignancies (MESH:D007414), malignant tumors (MESH:D009369), Fibrosis (MESH:D005355), acute intestinal inflammation (MESH:D007249), HL (MESH:C538324), damage (MESH:D020263), fibrotic stenosis (MESH:D003251), diarrhea (MESH:D003967), ulcer (MESH:D014456), weight loss (MESH:D015431), colitis (MESH:D003092), infections (MESH:D007239), CD (MESH:D003424), tissue injury (MESH:D017695), UC (MESH:D003093), colonic (MESH:D003108), necrosis (MESH:D009336), gastrointestinal cancers (MESH:D005770), IBD (MESH:D015212), fecal bleeding (MESH:D005242)
- **Chemicals:** streptomycin (MESH:D013307), Tribromoethanol (MESH:C062527), phosphate (MESH:D010710), blasticidin (MESH:C004500), saline (MESH:D012965), paraffin (MESH:D010232), ethanol (MESH:D000431), SDS (MESH:D012967), hematoxylin (MESH:D006416), puromycin (MESH:D011691), penicillin (MESH:D010406), H&amp;E (MESH:D006371), H2O2 (MESH:D006861), 5A8 (-), formalin (MESH:D005557), Tween-20 (MESH:D011136), PBS (MESH:D007854), eosin (MESH:D004801), CO2 (MESH:D002245), DSS (MESH:D016264)
- **Species:** Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Rattus norvegicus (brown rat, species) [taxon 10116], Cercopithecidae (monkey, family) [taxon 9527], Macaca fascicularis (crab eating macaque, species) [taxon 9541]
- **Mutations:** T256E, Arg31, Gly31Arg, M252Y, S254T, Gly31
- **Cell lines:** C57BL — Homo sapiens (Human), Burkitt lymphoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_C152), HEK293 — Homo sapiens (Human), Transformed cell line (CVCL_0045), GB20-5A8-31 — Mus musculus (Mouse), Hybridoma (CVCL_B0KM), Jurkat — Homo sapiens (Human), Childhood T acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0065), CHO-S — Cricetulus griseus (Chinese hamster), Spontaneously immortalized cell line (CVCL_7183), hDR3 — Mus musculus (Mouse), Hybridoma (CVCL_C6V6)

## Full text

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## Figures

7 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12911411/full.md

## References

38 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12911411/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12911411