The results demonstrated that GR-MD-02 reversed fibrosis in mouse models of steatohepatitis and prevented collagen deposits in groups treated before fibrotic cells were present.
The study also suggests that patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), also referred to as fatty liver disease, can benefit from galectin inhibition and GR-MD-02 can reduce steatosis, necrosis, inflammation and collagen deposits.
According to the company, the data provides promising evidence for advancing GR-MD-02 into clinical studies for the treatment of NASH.
Galectin president and CEO Peter G Traber said the company has expanded the data on galectin inhibitor compounds to include promising results in preclinical models of NASH.
"The broad effect of GR-MD-02 on all parameters of NASH liver injury, including fat deposition, liver cell death, inflammation, and fibrosis makes this a particularly attractive drug candidate," Traber added.