<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179022-17-000075.txt : 20171218
<SEC-HEADER>0001179022-17-000075.hdr.sgml : 20171218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20171218161041
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179022-17-000075
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20171214
FILED AS OF DATE:		20171218
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20171218

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Uihlein Richard E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001694903

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31791
		FILM NUMBER:		171261479

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12575 ULINE DRIVE
		CITY:			PLEASANT PRAIRIE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53158

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
</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>2017-12-14</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001694903</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Uihlein Richard E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>12575 ULINE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PLEASANT PRAIRIE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53158</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14644</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.39</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2524553</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Ed Uihlein Family Foundation</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.39</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>46875</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2027-12-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>46875</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>46875</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These restricted shares were issued in lieu of cash retainer and meeting fees of $35,000 for 2018.  Restrictions on the shares lapse at a rate of 25% per calendar quarter in 2018.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person is president and director of Ed Uihein Family Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation. The reportion person has no pecuniary interest in the shares, however, he shares voting and dispositive power over the shares and, therefore, remains the beneficial owner of the shares solely for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The options vest 100% on December 14, 2018.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jack W. Callicutt, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-12-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
