Galectin Therapeutics Receives Patent for GR-MD-02 Patent for Method and Treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis

Galectin Therapeutics (NASDAQ:GALT) the leading developer of therapeutics that target galectin proteins to treat fibrosis and cancer, today announced that the Company has received notice of issuance of U.S. Patent Number 9,968,631 titled “Method and Treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis.” The patent’s principal claims cover method of use of GR-MD-02 as a means to treat pulmonary fibrosis. The patent is expected to provide broad protection for the use of GR-MD-02 for compositions, methods of using and methods of manufacturing compositions capable of treating pulmonary fibrosis.

As quoted in the press release:

The patent includes a method in obtaining a composition for parenteral or enteral administration comprising a galacto-rhamnogalacturonate in a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier and administering to a subject in need of an effective dose of the composition that results in at least five percent improvement of pulmonary function tests where the subject has at least a primary or secondary lung fibrotic disease. The Company’s GR-MD-02 compound is covered by this patent.

“This patent protects our commercial ability to use GR-MD-02 to potentially treat pulmonary fibrosis and is yet another example of the widespread applicability of our galectin-3 inhibitor in treating fibrotic disease,” said Dr. Harold H. Shlevin, chief executive officer of Galectin Therapeutics.  “Pharmaceutical companies may have an interest in this disease as there is a sizeable section of the population in need of treatment and well defined regulatory pathways for approval of agents to treat pulmonary fibrosis. This patent further strengthens the protection of the intellectual property behind our proprietary compound, GR-MD-02, which has been shown in animal models to resolve fibrosis in a variety of tissues and organs. The company is currently focused on planning and conducting additional supportive work to prepare for a Phase 3 trial for GR-MD-02 in NASH cirrhosis based on the positive effects of GR-MD-02 on HVPG and the possible prevention or postponement of development of esophageal varices in its Phase 2 NASH-CX trial, which we believe is the first large, randomized clinical trial of any drug to demonstrate a clinically meaningful improvement in these patients.”

Click here to read the full press release.