Galectin-inhibiting therapeutics to treat fibrotic liver disease and cancer

Of Interest-
Tough Choices, Big Opportunities
Oct 3 2011
In an agonizingly slow process, funding found its way to this research, and some very interesting things were discovered about a particular type of carbohydrate that binds to and blocks a protein called galectin, which appears to cause cirrhosis....continue reading..

Sept. 29, 2011, 9:15 a.m. EDT
Galectin Therapeutics Posts New Corporate Presentation Video to its Website
Highlights Leadership Position Developing Galectin-Inhibiting Therapeutics to Treat Fibrosis & Cancer

NEWTON, Mass., Sep 29, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Galectin Therapeutics Inc. today announced that it posted a new corporate presentation video to its website, http://www.galectintherapeutics.com/ (see below) , that highlights the Company's leadership position in developing galectin-inhibiting therapeutics to treat fibrosis and cancer. The video is narrated by Dr. Peter Traber, the Company's President, CEO and Chief Medical Officer.

"We continue to build the foundation for the development of our carbohydrate-based therapies for fibrotic liver disease and cancer based on the Company's unique understanding of galectin proteins, key mediators of biologic function," said Dr. Traber. "Our GM and GR series of compounds have demonstrated the ability to arrest and reverse liver fibrosis in pre-clinical studies and we are conducting additional studies to define the best compounds to take into clinical trials in 2012. There are currently no treatment options for liver fibrosis except liver transplantation.

"In our cancer chemotherapy program, we are awaiting review of the application for marketing approval in Colombia, South America for the use of GM-CT-01 in combination with 5-FU for metastatic colorectal cancer. We expect GM-CT-01 will be commercialized by our partner Pro-Caps in Colombia, pending regulatory approval in that country. We plan to make important progress in our cancer immunotherapy program as we expect The Ludwig Institute of Cancer Research in Brussels to initiate a Phase I/II clinical trial this year of our GM-CT-01 compound with their cancer vaccine in patients with metastatic melanoma. An IMPD (Investigational Medicinal Product Dossier) for this trial has been submitted to the EMA (European Medicines Agency). GM-CT-01 has demonstrated robust reactivation of tumor infiltrating T-cells in pre-clinical trials, an exciting new area of cancer immunotherapy."

Galectin Therapeutics Portfolio Overview
Galectin Therapeutics is focusing its galectin inhibitor development efforts in two key disease areas: fibrosis and cancer.

-- Liver Fibrosis: The Company is developing galectin inhibitors to treat liver fibrosis and the later stage of cirrhosis. Galectin Therapeutics candidates have demonstrated the ability to arrest and reverse liver fibrosis in pre-clinical studies.

-- 45,000 deaths from cirrhosis occurred last year in the United States of which only 6,200 of the approximately 400,000 U. S. cirrhosis patients received life saving liver transplants. Liver fibrosis is a disease with no current treatment options except liver transplantation.
Galectin Therapeutics' efforts in cancer encompass two distinct programs, cancer immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

-- Cancer Immunotherapy: Recent experiments by The Ludwig Institute of Cancer Research in Brussels, Belgium indicated that GM-CT-01 reactivates T-cell-dependent tumor cell killing that had been turned off by galectins secreted by cancer cells. The Ludwig Institute is planning a Phase 1/2 trial of GM-CT-01 for patients with advanced metastatic melanoma. Patients will receive a tumor-specific peptide vaccination combined with multiple systemic and intra-tumor doses of GM-CT-01 following the second month and subsequent month's vaccine administration.
-- Cancer Chemotherapy: The Company is currently awaiting review of its application for marketing approval in Colombia, South America for the use of GM-CT-01 in combination with 5-FU for metastatic colorectal cancer. GM-CT-01 will be commercialized by Galectin Therapeutics' partner in Colombia, Pro-Caps, pending regulatory approval in Colombia.

About Galectin Therapeutics
Galectin Therapeutics /quotes/zigman/5431495 GALT -4.97% is developing promising carbohydrate-based therapies for fibrotic liver disease and cancer based on the Company's unique understanding of galectin proteins, key mediators of biologic function. We are leveraging extensive scientific and development expertise as well as established relationships with external sources to achieve cost effective and efficient development. We are pursuing a clear development pathway to clinical enhancement and commercialization for our lead compounds in liver fibrosis and cancer. Additional information is available at http://www.galectintherapeutics.com/