Galectin Therapeutics Receives U.S. Patent for Potential Ground-Breaking Treatment for Chronic Liver Disease with Fibrosis (Scarring) and Cirrhosis
<0> Galectin Therapeutics Inc.Maureen Foley, 617-559-0033Chief Operating Officer </0>
Galectin Therapeutics (NASDAQ: GALT), the leading developer of therapeutics that target galectin proteins to treat fibrosis and cancer, today announced that it has received a notice of issuance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for Patent Number 8,236,780 "Galactose-prolonged polysaccharides in a formulation for antifibrotic therapies". The patent covers key methods of derivation and use for the Company's carbohydrate-based galectin inhibitor compound for use in patients with chronic liver disease associated with the development of fibrosis, established liver fibrosis or end-stage scarring, or cirrhosis. Fibrotic disease of the liver is highly prevalent in the population because all chronic liver disease of multiple causes (e.g., viral hepatitis, fatty liver, alcohol) results in fibrosis of the liver and there are no currently approved pharmaceutical therapies.
"The issuance of this patent asserts Galectin Therapeutics as the leader in developing galectin inhibitors for the treatment of liver fibrosis, and its broad coverage allows us protection as we explore the range of liver fibrosis for which our compounds could be efficacious," said Peter G. Traber, MD, President, CEO and CMO of Galectin Therapeutics. "There is a truly vast unmet medical need for liver fibrosis, with the only current treatment option being liver transplantation. Preclinical results of our candidates have shown reversal of fibrosis in rodent models of disease, particularly in non-steatohepatitis, NASH, or fatty liver disease, which will be our first clinical indication for our fibrosis program."
The major claim is for a method of obtaining the galectin inhibitor compound, obtaining a composition for parenteral administration in an acceptable pharmaceutical carrier and administering to a subject having at least one of the following: chronic liver disease associated with the development of fibrosis, established liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. The use covers inhibiting or slowing the progression of fibrosis or the reversal of fibrosis. The lead compound in development for NASH with fibrosis, GR-MD-02, is covered by this patent and it provides opportunities for development of additional compounds in the class.
Galectin Therapeutics (NASDAQ: GALT) is developing promising carbohydrate-based therapies for the treatment of 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 .
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