<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179022-19-000023.txt : 20190131
<SEC-HEADER>0001179022-19-000023.hdr.sgml : 20190131
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20190131105503
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179022-19-000023
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20190128
FILED AS OF DATE:		20190131
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20190131

REPORTING-OWNER:	

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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31791
		FILM NUMBER:		19554127

	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/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-01-28</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2019-01-30</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <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>2019-01-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.7717</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2538289</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-01-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>48500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.871</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2586789</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares were purchased in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $4.77 to $4.78. This amount represents the weighted average purchase price of such transactions. The reporting person undertakes to provide full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares were purchased in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $4.75 to $5.00. This amount represents the weighted average purchase price of such transactions. The reporting person undertakes to provide full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This Form 4 is being amended to correct footnotes  (1) and (2) for the purchase transactions on January 28, 2019 and January 29, 2019, which footnotes incorrectly stated that the shares were sold in multiple transactions, but should have stated that the shares were purchased in multiple transactions.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jack W. Callicutt, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-01-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
