<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001725595</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>


    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0001133416</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>GALECTIN THERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-31791</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>4960 PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARD</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>678-620-3186</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>LEWIS JOEL</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Stifel Nicolaus &amp; Company Inc</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>501 N Broadway</com:street1>
          <com:city>St. Louis</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>MO</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>63102</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>84000</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>352800.00</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>64472792</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>01/02/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>Nasdaq</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/01/2026</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Units</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>84000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/02/2026</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Equity Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Joel Lewis</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>Suite 240 4960 Peachtree Industrial Blv</com:street1>
          <com:city>Norcross</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>30071</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>11/18/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>6783</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>41723.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Joel Lewis</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>Suite 240 4960 Peachtree Industrial Blvd</com:street1>
          <com:city>Norcross</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>30071</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>11/17/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>15680</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>94643.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Joel Lewis</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>Suite 240 4960 Peachtree Industrial Blvd</com:street1>
          <com:city>Norcross</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>30071</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>11/10/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>1867</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>11252.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Joel Lewis</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>Suite 240 4960 Peachtree Industrial Blvd</com:street1>
          <com:city>Norcross</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>30071</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>11/05/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>200</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>1200.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Joel Lewis</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>Suite 240 4960 Peachtree Industrial Blvd</com:street1>
          <com:city>Norcross</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>30071</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>11/04/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>14420</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>87532.28</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Joel Lewis</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>Suite 240 4960 Peachtree Industrial Blvd</com:street1>
          <com:city>Norcross</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>30071</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>11/03/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>1300</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>7808.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Joel Lewis</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>Suite 240 4960 Peachtree Industrial Blv</com:street1>
          <com:city>Norcross</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>30071</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>12/17/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>7829</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>55242.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>01/02/2026</noticeDate>
      <planAdoptionDates>
        <planAdoptionDate>04/21/2025</planAdoptionDate>
      </planAdoptionDates>
      <signature>/s/ Luca Lotito, as a duly authorized representative of STIFEL, as attorney-in-fact for Joel Lewis</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
