Galectin Therapeutics (GALT) -- an Atlanta-based biotech company leading in the field of NASH therapeutics, announced the appointment of Pol F. Boudes, M.D. (62) to the position of chief medical officer. Dr. Boudes brings more than 25 years of experience in clinical drug development in liver-related diseases (including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis "NASH") and will oversee the company's global advanced clinical development of its leading compound -- Belapectin (GR-MD-02) to treat patients with NASH cirrhosis.

NASH is now overtaking hepatitis C as the most common cause of advanced liver disease among people awaiting liver transplants and the total annual costs for inpatient, outpatient, physician, and pharmacy for the disease rose from $19,908 to $129,276. With stats like these, it's now more important than ever for field professionals to find a cure. GALT believes Dr. Boudes's arrival will aid in enhancing future growth and addressing this major, unmet medical need as the company nears the launch of its NASH-RX trial -- an adaptively-designed Phase 3 trial in NASH cirrhosis, targeting patients without esophageal varices -- where Belapectin demonstrated positive results in its earlier Phase 2 NASH-CX clinical trial.