NORCROSS, Ga., March 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galectin Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:GALT), the leading developer of therapeutics that target galectin proteins, today announced that Peter G. Traber, M.D., the Company’s CEO and CMO, will participate in two upcoming international conferences in March.
At China Healthcare Investment & Partnership Symposium (CHIPS), being held in Hangzhou, China on March 15-17, 2018, Dr. Traber will make a company presentation on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. China Standard Time. A live webcast of the presentation may be accessed at http://wsw.com/webcast/brileyco20/galt/. The webcast will be archived for 365 days following the live presentation on the company’s website at www.galectintherapeutics.com.
At BIO Asia International Conference, being held in Tokyo, Japan on March 19-20, 2018. Dr. Traber will be making a company presentation on Monday, March 19, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. Japan Standard Time. This event will not be webcast.
Recent International Patents
Galectin Therapeutics recently received two new patents in China and two new patents in Japan for the Company’s lead compound, GR-MD-02. The patent coverage period for each of these patents extends through 2032.
Positive Results in NASH Cirrhosis
GR-MD-02, a proprietary polysaccharide pharmaceutical preparation that inhibits galectin proteins, recently completed a Phase 2b clinical trial (NASH-CX). In that study there were statistically significant and clinically relevant positive effects of GR-MD-02 on HVPG and other parameters in patients with NASH cirrhosis without esophageal varices following one year of therapy. Patients without esophageal varices comprise about is 50 percent of the total population of patients with NASH cirrhosis, and is estimated to be 2.5 million people in the United States. This group of patients is readily diagnosed by endoscopy which is already part of the standard of care for patients with suspected NASH. The drug was well tolerated during this one year trial. The Company believes that this is the first randomized clinical trial of any drug to demonstrate clinically meaningful positive effects in this important group of patients. Full details of Galectin’s NASH-CX trial can be found in a supplemental slide deck to our corporate presentation on the home page of our website.
Encouraging Results in Cancer Immunotherapy
GR-MD-02 also showed encouraging Phase 1b results in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) to treat advanced melanoma. In the first two cohorts of this study, five out of eight patients (62.5 percent) with advanced melanoma had objective responses, with two complete and three partial responses, which compares favorably with the known response rates with pembrolizumab alone (~33 percent). The study continues with additional results expected in Summer 2018. Full details on Galectin’s combination cancer immunotherapy program can be found in a supplemental slide deck to our corporate presentation on the home page of our website.
About Galectin Therapeutics
Galectin Therapeutics is dedicated to developing novel therapies to improve the lives of patients with chronic liver and skin diseases and cancer. Galectin’s lead drug (GR-MD-02) is a carbohydrate-based drug that inhibits the galectin-3 protein which is directly involved in multiple inflammatory, fibrotic, and malignant diseases. The lead development program is in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with cirrhosis, the most advanced form of NASH related fibrosis. This is the most common liver disease and one of the largest drug development opportunities available today. Additional development programs are in treatment of severe atopic dermatitis, moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, and in combination immunotherapy for advanced melanoma and other malignancies. Galectin seeks to leverage extensive scientific and development expertise as well as established relationships with external sources to achieve cost-effective and efficient development. Additional information is available at www.galectintherapeutics.com.
Contacts:
Jack Callicutt, Chief Financial Officer
(678) 620-3186
ir@galectintherapeutics.com
Source: Galectin Therapeutics Inc.
