Galectin Therapeutics, a developer of therapeutics that target galectin proteins to treat fibrosis and cancer, will be relocating its corporate offices to Atlanta, Ga., effective October 1, 2012, while maintaining a laboratory-based effort in the Boston area.

The strategic move will bring Galectin Therapeutics in close proximity of the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center at the University of Georgia, with which the company has ongoing collaborations.

“This reorganization is an important move for the company that will strengthen our ability to deliver on the promise of our carbohydrate-based therapeutic agents and afford us greater opportunities to attract highly-skilled talent in the field of carbohydrates to our company,” said Peter G. Traber, president, CEO and CMO, Galectin Therapeutics. “We will be able to expand on the work we are doing with the world-class researchers at the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center while maintaining the excellent work being done with our collaborators at SBH Sciences. In addition to enhancing our development activities, the move and re-organization will decrease our operations expenses which we will put back into our programs in liver fibrosis and cancer.”

The Georgia corporate office will be located in a technology park area called Northwoods Commons. This office will be the site of all executive, strategi, and development functions of the Galectin Therapeutics, while the Boston area location will continue product development and analysis, cell culture models of drug action and the development of analytical tools for complex carbohydrate drugs. The Boston area laboratory effort will be located at SBH Sciences in Natick, Mass., where the company has had a long-term relationship, and will be led by Dr. Eliezer Zomer, the senior vice president for manufacturing and development.

“This move and reorganization of the company will allow continued utilization of the excellent environment for biotechnology in the Boston area while taking advantage of the robust and collaborative research and clinical assets in the Atlanta area,” said Harold Shlevin, incoming COO of Galectin Therapeutics. “My networks in the local life science industry will help foster the company’s connections within the business and research community that drive new product development and business expansion.”