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Galmed Announces Successful First-in-Human Proof-of-Concept Clinical Study Results for Colospan's Novel Intraoperative Tissue Assessment Technology

(Positive)

Galmed Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: GLMD) announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Colospan completed a first-in-human, prospective single-arm feasibility study of a novel intraoperative colon tissue quality assessment platform in 32 colorectal cancer patients undergoing elective surgery at three leading medical centers in Israel.

The study demonstrated that quantitative measurement of colon tissue compliance using a novel ex-vivo methodology was technically feasible, with successful measurements in all 32 patients and no measurement failures or procedure-related technical issues. These results establish a clinical foundation for continued development of an intraoperative device to provide surgeons with objective, real-time tissue quality data, complementing Colospan’s CG-100 intraluminal bypass device and supporting Galmed’s strategy to build a diversified GI oncology and colorectal surgery portfolio.

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Positive

  • 32-patient feasibility study completed with successful measurements in all cases and no technical issues
  • Second technology platform added to Colospan’s pipeline, complementing CG-100 in colorectal surgery
  • Study results provide a clinical foundation for continued development toward intraoperative device use
  • Supports Galmed’s strategy to build a diversified GI oncology and colorectal surgery technology portfolio

Negative

  • Study limited to feasibility and ex-vivo measurements, without reported surgical outcome or efficacy data
  • Platform remains in development, with future clinical trials and regulatory submissions still planned and outstanding

Market Context

-11.93% was the platform’s tag-specific average move across the available clinical-trial history. Th...
Analysis

-11.93% was the platform’s tag-specific average move across the available clinical-trial history. That record adds a cautionary comparison to this feasibility announcement; the main watchpoint remains progression from technical feasibility to clinical and regulatory validation.

Key Figures

Study enrollment: 32 colorectal cancer patients Clinical centers: 3 centers Successful measurements: 32 patients
3 metrics
Study enrollment 32 colorectal cancer patients Prospective, single-arm feasibility study
Clinical centers 3 centers Israeli medical centers
Successful measurements 32 patients Quantitative colon tissue compliance measurements

Previous Clinical trial Reports

1 past event · Latest: Sep 25 (Positive)
Same Type Pattern 1 events
Date Event Sentiment 24h Move Catalyst
Sep 25 Phase 3 clinical results Positive -11.9% Aramchol Phase 3 open-label results reported fibrosis improvement in NASH patients

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

The available tag-specific record showed positive clinical news followed by a -11.93% 24-hour move, indicating divergence.

Key Terms

first-in-human, ex-vivo methodology, intraluminal bypass device, low anterior resection syndrome, +1 more
5 terms
first-in-human medical
"Successful First-in-Human Proof-of-Concept Clinical Study Results"
A first-in-human study is the initial test of a new drug, medical device, or therapy in people to check safety, side effects and appropriate dosing. It matters to investors because it marks a major development milestone: successful early human testing can reduce scientific and regulatory uncertainty, much like moving a prototype from the workshop to a real-world test drive, and often affects a company’s valuation and funding prospects.
ex-vivo methodology technical
"using a novel ex-vivo methodology"
A laboratory approach that studies cells, tissues, or organs removed from a living body and kept alive under controlled conditions to test how they respond to drugs, devices, or treatments. Think of it like testing a car engine on a workbench instead of driving the whole car: it lets researchers see direct effects without the complexity of a whole organism. For investors, ex-vivo results can provide early evidence about efficacy, safety, and market potential while shaping development and regulatory plans.
intraluminal bypass device technical
"CG-100 intraluminal bypass device"
An intraluminal bypass device is a medical implant or catheter placed inside a blood vessel to create an alternate passage for blood flow around a blockage or damaged segment, similar to putting a short inner sleeve in a clogged pipe to restore flow. For investors, these devices matter because they can offer less invasive treatment options, potentially lower procedure risk and recovery time, influence hospital adoption, reimbursement decisions, and address specific market demand in vascular and endovascular therapies.
low anterior resection syndrome medical
"increased risk of developing Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS)"
A collection of bowel symptoms that can follow surgical removal of the lower part of the colon and rectum, including frequent bowel movements, urgency, incontinence, and incomplete emptying. It matters to investors because the condition affects patient demand for follow‑up care, medical devices, drugs, and long‑term services, and can influence clinical trial design, regulatory review, and the commercial market for treatments and supportive products—think of it as a lasting side effect that changes ongoing healthcare needs.
breakthrough device designation regulatory
"was granted FDA Breakthrough Device Designation"
A breakthrough device designation is a regulatory program that gives promising medical devices for serious or life‑threatening conditions priority support and faster review from a health authority (e.g., the U.S. FDA). Think of it as a “fast lane” or VIP pass through development and review: it can shorten time to market, lower regulatory uncertainty, and boost a company’s commercial prospects — but it is not an approval by itself.

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  • The prospective, single-arm study enrolled 32 colorectal cancer patients at three leading clinical centers in Israel. The primary objective was to demonstrate feasibility of intraoperative quantitative measurement of colon tissue quality.
  • The study establishes the clinical foundation for novel intraoperative tissue assessment technology, with an aim to expand Colospan's product pipeline with a second technology platform for Colorectal Surgery.
  • The new technology platform, which complements Colospan's CG-100 intraluminal bypass device, is designed to advance Galmed's strategy to build a leading innovative medtech and biotech company addressing unmet needs in GI oncology and colorectal surgery.

RAMAT-GAN, Israel, Aug. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Colospan Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: GLMD), today announced the successful completion of a feasibility study supporting the development of a novel intraoperative colon tissue quality assessment platform. The technology represents Colospan's second platform, expanding the innovation pipeline beyond its lead product, CG-100, and reinforcing Galmed's strategy of building a diversified portfolio of technologies addressing significant unmet needs in colorectal surgery.

The feasibility study enrolled 32 colorectal cancer patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery at three leading Israeli medical centers. The study successfully demonstrated that quantitative measurement of colon tissue compliance is technically feasible using a novel ex-vivo methodology. Successful measurements obtained in all 32 patients with no measurement failures or procedure-related technical issues. These results establish the clinical foundation for continued development of an intraoperative device intended to objectively evaluate colon tissue quality during surgery.

The new platform is being developed to provide surgeons with objective, quantitative measurements of colon tissue quality during colorectal surgery. By providing real-time information regarding tissue mechanical properties, the technology is intended to provide objective information that may ultimately support intraoperative surgical decision-making. This may contribute over time to a better understanding of tissue properties relevant to surgical planning prior to creation of a colorectal anastomosis, and may potentially help surgeons identify patients at increased risk of developing Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS).

Allen Baharaff, President and CEO of Galmed Pharmaceuticals, commented:

"The acquisition of Colospan was driven by our conviction that the company represents far more than a single-product opportunity. We recognized an innovation platform with deep scientific expertise, a differentiated technology portfolio and the ability to develop multiple solutions addressing significant unmet needs in colorectal surgery. The data we are publishing today support our belief that Colospan's engineering concepts have the potential to transition effectively into real-world clinical use. We believe that the data give Colospan a strong foundation for the continued development of the platform and support our plans to advance toward future clinical trials and regulatory submissions."

Boaz Assaf, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Colospan, commented:

"The tissue assessment platform complements CG-100 Intraluminal Bypass Device, Colospan's investigational device designed to provide an alternative to diverting stomas following low anterior resection. Together, these technologies reflect Colospan's long-term strategy of developing innovative solutions that address critical challenges across the continuum of colorectal cancer surgery from intraoperative tissue quality assessment to postoperative healing and recovery."

About Colospan

Colospan Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: GLMD), is a commercial-stage medical device company headquartered in Kfar Saba, Israel. Its flagship product, CG-100, is an intraluminal bypass device designed to protect colorectal anastomoses and reduce the need for diverting stomas, offering a less invasive alternative to standard surgical practice. CG-100 was granted FDA Breakthrough Device Designation, is CE marked under the EU Medical Device Regulation, and is approved for investigational use in the United States under an FDA approved IDE. The device is not approved for commercial use in the US. For more information, visit www.colospan.com.

About Galmed Pharmaceuticals

Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: GLMD) is an Israel-based biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Ramat Gan, with a growing focus on gastrointestinal and oncological innovation. Galmed's flagship asset, Aramchol, is a first-in-class synthetic fatty acid-bile acid conjugate molecule under evaluation across liver disease and oncological indications, including GI cancers. For more information, visit www.galmedpharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of the date they are made. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the continued development, clinical evaluation and regulatory advancement of Colospan's tissue assessment platform; the potential benefits, capabilities and clinical applications of the technology; the expansion of Colospan's product pipeline; the expected benefits of Galmed's acquisition of Colospan; and Galmed's business strategy and growth plans. Many factors could cause our actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, our inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of Colospan; expectations with respect to future performance and growth of Colospan; the development and approval of the use of Aramchol or any other product candidate for indications outside of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, also known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH, and fibrosis or in combination therapy; the timing and cost of any pre-clinical or clinical trials of CG-100, Aramchol or any other medical device or product candidate we develop; completion and receiving favorable results of any pre-clinical or clinical trial; regulatory action with respect to CG-100, Aramchol or any other medical device or product candidate by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, or the European Medicines Authority, or EMA, including but not limited to acceptance of an application for marketing authorization, review and approval of such application, and, if approved, the scope of the approved indication and labeling; the commercial launch and future sales of CG-100, Aramchol and any future medical devices or product candidates; our ability to comply with all applicable post-market regulatory requirements for CG-100, Aramchol, or any other medical device or product candidate in the countries in which we seek to market the product; our ability to achieve favorable pricing for CG-100, Aramchol, or any medical device or other product candidate; third-party payor reimbursement for CG-100, Aramchol, or any other medical device or product candidate; our estimates regarding anticipated capital requirements and our needs for additional financing; market adoption of CG-100 Aramchol or any other medical device or product candidate by physicians and patients; the timing, cost or other aspects of the commercial launch of CG-100, Aramchol or any other medical device or product candidate; our ability to obtain and maintain adequate protection of our intellectual property; the possibility that we may face third-party claims of intellectual property infringement; our ability to manufacture our CG-100 or product candidates in commercial quantities, at an adequate quality or at an acceptable cost; our ability to establish adequate sales, marketing and distribution channels; intense competition in our industry, with competitors having substantially greater financial, technological, research and development, regulatory and clinical, manufacturing, marketing and sales, distribution and personnel resources than we do; our expectations regarding licensing, acquisitions and strategic operations; current or future unfavorable economic and market conditions and adverse developments with respect to financial institutions and associated liquidity risk; our ability to maintain the listing of our ordinary shares on The Nasdaq Capital Market; and the security, political and economic instability in the Middle East that could harm our business, including due to the current security situation in Israel. We believe these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, these statements are only current predictions and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. We discuss many of these risks in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2026 in greater detail under the heading "Risk Factors." Given these uncertainties, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf speak only as of the date hereof and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this report. We undertake no obligations to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. In evaluating forward-looking statements, you should consider these risks and uncertainties.

 

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/galmed-announces-successful-first-in-human-proof-of-concept-clinical-study-results-for-colospans-novel-intraoperative-tissue-assessment-technology-302855153.html

SOURCE Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

FAQ

What did Galmed (NASDAQ: GLMD) announce about Colospan's intraoperative tissue assessment study on August 19, 2026?

Galmed announced successful completion of Colospan’s first-in-human feasibility study for a novel intraoperative colon tissue quality assessment platform. According to Galmed, the study showed technically feasible quantitative colon tissue compliance measurements in 32 colorectal cancer patients, with no measurement failures or procedure-related technical issues reported.

How many patients were included in Colospan's first-in-human feasibility study and where was it conducted?

The feasibility study enrolled 32 colorectal cancer patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. According to Colospan, these patients were treated at three leading Israeli medical centers, providing initial clinical experience for the ex-vivo methodology used to quantify colon tissue compliance and assess intraoperative tissue quality.

What is the purpose of Colospan's new intraoperative tissue assessment platform for colorectal surgery?

The platform is being developed to give surgeons objective, quantitative measurements of colon tissue quality during colorectal surgery. According to Colospan, real-time data on tissue mechanical properties may support intraoperative decision-making and help characterize factors relevant to anastomosis planning and potential risk of Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS).

How does Colospan's new tissue assessment technology complement the CG-100 intraluminal bypass device?

The tissue assessment platform is designed to complement Colospan’s CG-100 intraluminal bypass device in colorectal cancer surgery. According to Colospan, together they target challenges from intraoperative tissue quality assessment to postoperative healing, including providing an alternative to diverting stomas after low anterior resection.

What development steps does Galmed plan next for Colospan's colon tissue assessment platform?

Galmed plans to continue developing the platform based on the feasibility study’s clinical foundation. According to Galmed, the data support advancing toward future clinical trials and regulatory submissions, aiming to transition Colospan’s engineering concepts into real-world intraoperative clinical use in colorectal surgery.

What is Galmed Pharmaceuticals' broader focus beyond Colospan's colorectal surgery technologies?

Galmed is an Israel-based biopharmaceutical company focusing on gastrointestinal and oncological innovation. According to Galmed, its flagship asset Aramchol is a first-in-class synthetic fatty acid–bile acid conjugate being evaluated across liver disease and oncological indications, including gastrointestinal cancers, alongside its colorectal surgery technology portfolio.