Galectin Therapuetics appoints Harold Shlevin as chief operating officer

Dr Harold Shlevin has been appointed chief operating officer of Galectin Therapeutics, a US-based company that develops therapeutics that target galectin proteins to treat fibrosis and cancer.

Dr Shlevin (pictured) will take over from company co-founder Maureen Foley on October 1, 2012, as Galectin looks to advance its drug candidates.

Peter Traber, president, CEO and chief marketing offcier of Galectin said: “Dr Shlevin will be a tremendous asset to Galectin Therapeutics as he brings a broad range of technical, managerial and leadership experience in small, medium and large pharmaceutical companies that includes a track-record of attracting capital, competing successfully to negotiate partnering deals and developing and commercialising new pharmaceutical products.”

Most recently, Dr Shlevin led Georgia Institute of Technology's Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) as principle and manager of bioscience commercialisation efforts, where he helped the development of new bioscience startup companes.

Previously, he served as president and CEO of Solvay Pharmaceuticals, where he oversaw the successful launch of the first topical testosterone gel product in the US and he was co-founder of CIBA Vision Ophthalmics, a specialty ophthalmic drug company.

He also founded, and was president and CEO of, Tikvah Therapeutics, a company focused on clinical development of therapeutics for treatment of neurological diseases, and was once also VP and head of operations and commercial development for Altea Therapeutics Corporation.