Galectin Therapeutics Announces Nomination of Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr. to Board of Directors

NORCROSS, Ga., Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galectin Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: GALT), the leading developer of therapeutics that target galectin proteins, announced today that Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr. has been nominated to serve on the company’s board of directors.

Dr. Carson has served as a senior advisor to Galectin Therapeutics since 2021. In this role, he has increased awareness of Galectin’s ongoing Phase 2b/3 NAVIGATE clinical trial in cirrhosis caused by nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), expanding its research program in combination with cancer immunotherapy, and its potential in addressing other fibrotic diseases.

“We are honored Dr. Carson has accepted nomination as a candidate for Galectin’s board of directors. He brings exceptional medical, scientific, and regulatory acumen and a passion for the work we are doing to develop potentially life-saving therapies,” said Richard E. Uihlein, chairman of the board. “Dr. Carson’s participation on our board will no doubt help us accelerate our progress.”

Dr. Carson has a distinguished career in medicine, becoming the youngest director of a major division at Johns Hopkins Hospital when he was named chief of pediatric neurosurgery at the age of 33. He served as the program’s director until retirement in 2013, and subsequently served as the 17^th Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Further, Dr. Carson has served on the boards of directors of several companies and supports many charitable activities.  

“I am pleased to be nominated for the Galectin board. I have been impressed by Galectin’s mission to develop a treatment for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhosis, one of the fastest growing health concerns in our country for which there is still no approved therapy,” Dr. Carson said. “Galectin’s drug belapectin is believed to offer great promise as a treatment for NASH cirrhosis, which could give hope to those in the latest stage of the disease when liver transplant is now the only option. Additionally, I expect to continue to leverage my experience in oncology in assisting Galectin in advancing its clinical research of belapectin in combination cancer immunotherapy. I look forward to helping Galectin reach those milestones and beyond.”