Shares climbed to $3.38 in midday trading Tuesday, offering a reprieve for investors after the company faced a 19% decline earlier this year. The company is currently refining its development strategy for belapectin, a drug designed to address metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.

Chief Executive Officer Joel Lewis noted that the consensus reached with the FDA regarding primary endpoints and the regulatory framework allows for a more aggressive timeline. Galectin Therapeutics plans to submit its final Phase 3 protocol by the third quarter while simultaneously exploring potential strategic partnerships to support the program's advancement.