Galectin Therapeutics Stock Surges After Robust Data From Belapectin/Keytruda Combo In Melanoma, Head & Neck Cancer

Galectin Therapeutics Inc GALT has announced top-line clinical data from the extension cohort of Phase 1b trial of Belapectin in combination with Merck & Co Inc's MRK Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in patients with metastatic melanoma and head & neck cancer.
The extension study enrolled heavily-pretreated nine melanoma patients and five head & neck squamous cell carcinoma cancer patients.
Melanoma patient results included one partial response, four stable diseases, and four progressive diseases, providing a disease control rate of 56% (five out of nine patients).
In head and neck cancer patients, two stable diseases and three progressive diseases, providing a disease control rate of 40% (two out of five patients), were reported.
The combination of Belapectin and pembrolizumab was well tolerated and appeared safe.
No toxicities deemed related, probably related, or possibly related to Belapectin were reported.
Belapectin (GR-MD-02) is a complex carbohydrate drug that targets galectin-3, a critical protein in the pathogenesis of NASH and fibrosis, and has a significant role in cancer.
Price Action: GALT shares are up 44.6% at $3.99 during the premarket session on the last check Friday.