Benzinga | Oct 27, 2021 08:03AM EDT

Galectin Pharmaceuticals To Present 6 Scientific Abstracts At The Liver Meeting 2021, Hosted By AASLD

Galectin Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:GALT), the leading developer of therapeutics that target galectin proteins, today announced that it will present six scientific abstracts at The Liver Meeting(tm) 2021, hosted by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), to be held virtually from November 12 to 15, 2021.

"Much of the focus on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has been on preventing the progression to liver cirrhosis, but there has been little focus on treating those affected with actual NASH cirrhosis. We are dedicated to change this situation, and our objective is to bring new solutions to cirrhotic patients, as they are in greatest need of therapeutic options," said Pol Boudes, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for Galectin Therapeutics. "Our work in developing belapectin, our galectin-3 inhibitor, focuses on the prevention of esophageal varices in NASH cirrhosis patients. We have generated a wealth of new data on NASH cirrhosis and portal hypertension and we are pleased to share this research at The Liver Meeting. Also, NAVIGATE, our phase 2b/3 global study, represents a new way to undertake clinical research in cirrhotic patients, and we hope this will trigger the interest of the hepatic community and drug developers around the world in addressing this devastating disease."

These abstracts will be available for viewing by attendees on the AASLD website and are also featured in the October supplement to the AASLD journal, Hepatology.

Presentation Details

Title: Mechanism of galectin-3 binding by belapectin, a galectin-3 inhibitor developed for NASH cirrhosis

Galectin-3, a glycan binding protein, plays a central role to foster liver inflammation and fibrosis in NASH cirrhosis. Belapectin is a galectin-3 inhibitor in development for NASH cirrhosis. We use heteronuclear Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to evaluate the intimate, and unique, binding of belapectin to galectin-3.

Publication Number: 2177

Authors: Pol Boudes, M.D.; Eliezer Zomer, Ph.D.; Harold Shlevin, Ph.D.

Session title: NAFLD and NASH: Therapeutics -- Pharmacologic and Other

Date: Friday, November 12, 2021

Time: 6:00 am - 11:55 am ET

Title: Pharmacokinetic exposure and safety of belapectin, a candidate treatment for NASH-cirrhosis, in patients with hepatic insufficiency

We share interim results of an open-label Phase I study assessing the pharmacokinetic and safety profiles of belapectin, a galectin-3 inhibitor, in patients with different degrees of hepatic insufficiency.

Publication Number: 2177

Authors: Pol Boudes, M.D., Barbara Lomeli, M.D.; Eliezer Zomer, Ph.D.; Stephen A. Harrison, M.D.; Juan Rondon, M.D., J.D.; Eric Lawitz, M.D.

Session title: NAFLD and NASH: Therapeutics -- Pharmacologic and Other

Date: Friday, November 12, 2021

Time: 6:00 am - 11:55 am ET

Title: Innovating in cirrhosis: NAVIGATE, a seamless, adaptive, phase 2b/3 of belapectin, a galectin-3 inhibitor, for the prevention of esophageal varices in NASH cirrhosis

Drug development in NASH cirrhosis is a challenge. The safety profile of candidate drugs is difficult to establish, particularly for liver-related side effects, there is no overall measure of liver function available, and there is no sensitive method to measure cirrhosis improvement on histology. These challenges led to the proposal of an innovative study design for the NAVIGATE Study. The study evaluates the risk/benefit of belapectin to prevent esophageal varices in NASH cirrhosis.

Publication Number: 2304

Authors: Pol Boudes, M.D.; Stephen A. Harrison, M.D.; Naga Chalasani, M.D.

Session title: NAFLD and NASH: Experimental: Clinical

Date: Friday, November 12, 2021

Time: 6:00 am - 11:55 am ET

Title: Distribution of the AST/ALT (de Ritis) ratio in a cohort of patients with NASH cirrhosis and portal hypertension and correlation with portal pressure

In patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), an increased AST/ALT ratio may indicate the progression to liver cirrhosis. This poster uses data from Galectin Therapeutics' large Phase 2 clinical study in patients with well-documented liver cirrhosis due to NASH and hemodynamically measured portal hypertension. We explore whether the AST/ALT (de Ritis) ratio could be used as a simple, non-invasive way to estimate the degree of portal hypertension.

Publication Number: 2307

Authors: Pol Boudes, M.D.; J?rn M. Schattenberg, M.D.; Eric Lawitz, M.D.

Session title: Portal Hypertension and Other Complications of Cirrhosis: Varices and Bleeding

Date: Friday, November 12, 2021

Time: 6:00 am - 11:55 am ET

Title: Features of portal hypertension predict health related quality of life over time in NASH cirrhosis

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis has a significant negative effect on health-related quality of life. In cirrhosis, age and features of clinically significant portal hypertension at baseline are determinants of lower quality of life.

Publication Number: 1687

Authors: Andrea Mladenovic, M.D.; Raj Vuppalanchi, M.D.; Pol Boudes, M.D.; Harold Shlevin, Ph.D.; Stephen A. Harrison, M.D.; Naga P. Chalasani, M.D.; Archita Parikh Desai, M.D.

Session title: NAFLD and NASH: Epidemiology and Natural History, Prevention and Outcomes

Date: Friday, November 12, 2021

Time: 6:00 am - 11:55 am ET

Title: Development of machine learning histological scores that correlated with portal pressures and development of varices in NASH patients with cirrhosis

In this study, portal pressure was accurately extrapolated from liver histology in patients with NASH cirrhosis by use of a machine learning algorithm. Clinically significant portal hypertension and the development of varices were also accurately predicted.

Publication Number: 1591

Authors: Mazen Noureddin, M.D., MHSc; Zachary Goodman, M.D., Ph.D.; Dean Tai, Ph.D.; Yayun Ren Sr., Pol Boudes, M.D.; Elaine Lay Khim Chng, Ph.D. Harold Shlevin, Ph.D.; Stephen A. Harrison, M.D.; Naga P. Chalasani, M.D.

Session title: NAFLD and NASH: Diagnostics and Biomarkers

Date: Friday, November 12, 2021

Time: 6:00 am - 11:55 am ET