CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services (CTI), an international drug and device development organization, will collaborate with Galectin Therapeutics on a first-in-man phase I clinical trial  of GR-MD-02 for treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with advanced fibrosis.

The phase I clinical trial will be conducted in six centers in the U.S., all with experience in conducting liver disease trials. The enrollment and infusion of the first cohort will be completed by the end of the second quarter.

 “NASH affects between nine and 15 million people in the U.S., and is the third leading indication for liver transplantation,” said Lynn Fallon, executive vice president and president, consulting at CTI. “This trial will be critical to helping patients where there is currently no approved medical therapy.”