<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000914062-14-000230.txt : 20140820
<SEC-HEADER>0000914062-14-000230.hdr.sgml : 20140820
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20140820113004
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000914062-14-000230
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20140819
FILED AS OF DATE:		20140820
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20140820

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GALECTIN THERAPEUTICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001133416
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				043562325
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4960 PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 240
		CITY:			NORCROSS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30071
		BUSINESS PHONE:		678-620-3186

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4960 PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 240
		CITY:			NORCROSS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30071

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PRO PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20010612

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Greenberg Arthur
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001456615

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31791
		FILM NUMBER:		141054110

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7 WELLS AVENUE
		CITY:			NEWTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02459
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-08-19</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001133416</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GALECTIN THERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GALT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001456615</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Greenberg Arthur</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GALECTIN THERAPEUTICS INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4960 PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BLVD, STE 240</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORCROSS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30071</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-08-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.56</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>96667</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jack W. Callicutt, as attorney-in-fact for Arthur Greenberg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-08-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
