<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <!-- Generated by Workiva -->
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001557082</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0001133416</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>GALECTIN THERAPEUTICS INCORPORATED</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-31791</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>4960 peachtree industrial BLVD</com:street1>
        <com:street2>SUITE 240</com:street2>
        <com:city>NORCROSS</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>30071</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>6786203186</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Shlevin Harold H.</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Merill Lynch</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>401 E Las Olas Blvd, 9th Floor</com:street1>
          <com:city>Fort Lauderdale</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>33301</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>441500</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>1836640</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>64472792</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>01/02/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>12/30/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>PURCHASE</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>OPEN MARKET</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>6500</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>12/30/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>CASH</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/23/2025</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>STOCK OPTION EXCERCISE</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>60000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/23/2025</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>CASH UPON EXCERCISE</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/15/2018</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>STOCK OPTION EXCERCISE</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>90000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/15/2018</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>CASH UPON EXCERCISE</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/18/2018</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>STOCK OPTION EXCERCISE</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>45000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>05/18/2018</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>CASH UPON EXCERCISE</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>06/08/2018</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>STOCK OPTION EXCERCISE</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>35000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>06/08/2018</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>CASH UPON EXCERCISE</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/16/2019</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>STOCK OPTION EXCERCISE</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>70000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/16/2019</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>CASH UPON EXCERCISE</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/26/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>STOCK OPTION EXCERCISE</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>20000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/26/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>CASH UPON EXCERCISE</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/24/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>STOCK OPTION EXCERCISE</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>25000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/24/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>CASH UPON EXCERCISE</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/25/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>STOCK OPTION EXCERCISE</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>55000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/25/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>CASH UPON EXCERCISE</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/09/2020</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>STOCK OPTION EXCERCISE</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>35000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/09/2020</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>CASH UPON EXCERCISE</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>HAROLD SHLEVIN</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>4960 PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BLVD SUITE 240</com:street1>
          <com:city>NORCROSS</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>30071</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>12/08/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>159000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>943448.33</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>HAROLD SHLEVIN</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>4960 PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BLVD SUITE 240</com:street1>
          <com:city>NORCROSS</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>30071</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>12/09/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>16790</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>104198.72</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>HAROLD SHLEVIN</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>4960 PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BLVD SUITE 240</com:street1>
          <com:city>NORCROSS</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>30071</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>12/12/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>19793</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>122993.7</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>HAROLD SHLEVIN</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>4960 PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BLVD SUITE 240</com:street1>
          <com:city>NORCROSS</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>30071</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>12/15/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>8417</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>52541.9</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>HAROLD SHLEVIN</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>4960 PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BLVD SUITE 240</com:street1>
          <com:city>NORCROSS</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>30071</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>12/17/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>24706</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>172222.56</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <remarks>GALT relying on adjusted 4 week average trading volume of 3,622,800 shares for the period ending Friday, 01/02.</remarks>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>01/06/2026</noticeDate>
      <planAdoptionDates>
        <planAdoptionDate>08/29/2025</planAdoptionDate>
      </planAdoptionDates>
      <signature>HAROLD SHLEVIN</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
