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Galectin Therapeutics’ Phase 2 NASH Cirrhosis Clinical Trial Results on Belapectin (GR-MD-02) Published in Gastroenterology
NORCROSS, Ga., Dec. 09, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galectin Therapeutics Inc.(NASDAQ:GALT), the leading developer of therapeutics that target galectin proteins,
About this update from Galectin Therapeutics Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"NORCROSS, Ga., Dec. 09, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galectin Therapeutics Inc.(NASDAQ:GALT), the leading developer of therapeutics that target galectin proteins, today announced that a paper highlighting the results of its NASH-CX Phase 2 clinical trial in NASH cirrhosis have been published in the peer-reviewed journal Gastroenterology. The paper, titled “Effects of Belapectin, an Inhibitor of Galectin-3, in Patients with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis with Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension,” was authored primarily by Naga Chalasani, M.D., of the Indiana University School of Medicine with the extensive support and assistance of many others.\n Gastroenterology is the most prominent journal in the field of gastrointestinal disease. As the official journal of the AGA Institute, Gastroenterology delivers up-to-date and authoritative coverage of both basic and clinical gastroenterology. The paper is available now on the journal’s website, gastrojournal.org, and will be included in an official issue of the journal at a later date. The paper outlines that in a phase 2b study of 162 patients with NASH, cirrhosis, and portal hypertension, one year of biweekly infusion of belapectin was safe but not associated with significant reduction in HVPG or fibrosis, compared with placebo. However, in a subgroup analysis of patients without esophageal varices, 2 mg/kg belapectin (GR-MD-02) did reduce HVPG and development of varices. This subgroup analysis suggests that there may be benefits from belapectin in patients with NASH cirrhosis without esophageal varices. Further, if this observation can be reproduced in subsequent studies, belapectin may have a role in the management of patients with NASH cirrhosis and portal hypertension but no varices. Galectin Therapeutics is planning an adaptively-designed Phase 3 trial of belapectin in NASH cirrhosis patients as previously disclosed. A recent presentation is available on the Company’s website. “Our special thanks to Dr. Chalasani and his team, who wrote the paper with the help of Dr. Adam Allgood and others at Galectin, and assistance of the other authors,” said Harold H. Shlevin, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Galectin Therapeutics. “We are gratified that the results of the NASH-CX study and the quality of our science merited inclusion in a peer-reviewed journal of the caliber of Gastro...