Galectin Therapeutics Appoints Joel Lewis as Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Harold Shlevin retires as CEO, transitions to role of scientific and business consultant and will remain on the Board

Board strengthened in scientific expertise with addition of Dr. Elissa Schwartz and in business expertise with Mr. Richard Zordani

NORCROSS, Ga., Sept. 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galectin Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: GALT), the leading developer of therapeutics that target galectin proteins, today announced the appointment of current board member, Joel Lewis, to the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President. In this position, Mr. Lewis will set corporate strategy and oversee operations, most importantly the Company’s global NASH-RX adaptively-designed trial for the prevention of varices in NASH cirrhosis patients using its proprietary galectin-3 inhibiting compound, belapectin (GR-MD-02). Dr. Harold Shlevin, who is retiring from the CEO position, has signed a consulting agreement through which he has agreed to devote significant effort to advancing the NASH-RX trial. Dr. Shlevin and Mr. Lewis will retain their positions on Galectin’s Board of Directors.

Chairman of Galectin Therapeutics, Mr. Richard E. Uihlein said, “On behalf of the entire board of directors, I am extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Joel Lewis, an accomplished and seasoned executive, to the position of Chief Executive Officer and President of Galectin. For more than a decade, Joel has been one of my most trusted advisors in all aspects of my business and investments. This includes consulting on my first investment in Galectin in 2009, my accepting the role as its Chairman, as well as my substantial personal investment of $22.5 million in the Rights Offering. My belief in, and commitment to, the Company, including its phenomenal employees, world-class investigators, and its research-driven approach in addressing unmet medical needs, will only be strengthened by Joel’s involvement. Along with our established, highly dedicated and experienced scientific, clinical and management team (Mr. Rex Horton, Vice President Commercial Development, Regulatory Affairs and Quality, Dr. Eliezer Zomer, VP Discovery Research and Product Development, and Mr. Jack Callicutt, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer) we are pleased with the recent addition of Dr. Pol F. Boudes as Chief Medical Officer, as well as the promotion of Dr. Adam Allgood to Vice President of Clinical Development and Clinical Operations. I have every confidence that Joel possesses the skills needed and to successfully lead our team’s efforts to advance our drug candidate, belapectin, through the NASH-RX trial and more. We have and will continue to build a strong management team, and I am extremely pleased that Joel accepted this role. In addition to his management and business ability, from which I have personally benefited, Joel’s impeccable character and principled approach to finding solutions will ensure the best interests of our patients, medical partners, and all shareholders are served.