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  <xs:element name="ConvertiblePreferredStockDividends" id="galt_ConvertiblePreferredStockDividends" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xs:element name="TemporaryEquityDividends" id="galt_TemporaryEquityDividends" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xs:element name="ReclassificationOfAccruedBonusToAdditionalPaidInCapital" id="galt_ReclassificationOfAccruedBonusToAdditionalPaidInCapital" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xs:element name="CommonStockWarrantsAbstract" id="galt_CommonStockWarrantsAbstract" type="xbrli:stringItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="CommonStockWarrantsDisclosureTextBlock" id="galt_CommonStockWarrantsDisclosureTextBlock" type="dtr-types:textBlockItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="ContractCancelationNoticePeriod" id="galt_ContractCancelationNoticePeriod" type="xbrli:durationItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="SBHSciencesIncMember" id="galt_SBHSciencesIncMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="CapitalContributionExpense" id="galt_CapitalContributionExpense" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xs:element name="GalectinSciencesLLCMember" id="galt_GalectinSciencesLLCMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="FreeRentPeriod" id="galt_FreeRentPeriod" type="xbrli:durationItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="NumberOfOperatingLeases" id="galt_NumberOfOperatingLeases" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePriceAbstract" id="galt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePriceAbstract" type="xbrli:stringItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice" id="galt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice" type="dtr-types:perShareItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xs:element name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice" id="galt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice" type="dtr-types:perShareItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice" id="galt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice" type="dtr-types:perShareItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice" id="galt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice" type="dtr-types:perShareItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="RestrictedStockGrantsAbstract" id="galt_RestrictedStockGrantsAbstract" type="xbrli:stringItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="DeferredCompensationArrangementPercentageOfDeferredShareUnitsShallBeIssuedPeriodThree" id="galt_DeferredCompensationArrangementPercentageOfDeferredShareUnitsShallBeIssuedPeriodThree" type="dtr-types:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xs:element name="DeferredCompensationArrangementPercentageOfDeferredShareUnitsShallBeIssuedPeriodTwo" id="galt_DeferredCompensationArrangementPercentageOfDeferredShareUnitsShallBeIssuedPeriodTwo" type="dtr-types:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xs:element name="DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualCashAwardGrantedPaidInDeferredStockUnitsPercent" id="galt_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualCashAwardGrantedPaidInDeferredStockUnitsPercent" type="dtr-types:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="DeferredCompensationArrangementPercentageOfDeferredShareUnitsShallBeIssuedPeriodOne" id="galt_DeferredCompensationArrangementPercentageOfDeferredShareUnitsShallBeIssuedPeriodOne" type="dtr-types:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xs:element name="DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualCashAwardGrantedPaidInCashPercent" id="galt_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualCashAwardGrantedPaidInCashPercent" type="dtr-types:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="TwoThousandTwentyMarketAgreementMember" id="galt_TwoThousandTwentyMarketAgreementMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="AggregateOfferingPrice" id="galt_AggregateOfferingPrice" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xs:element name="CommissionRate" id="galt_CommissionRate" type="dtr-types:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xs:element name="SeriesAAndSeriesCPreferredStockMember" id="galt_SeriesAAndSeriesCPreferredStockMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="ContingentInterestAprilNoteMember" id="galt_ContingentInterestAprilNoteMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="ContingentInterestSeptemberNoteMember" id="galt_ContingentInterestSeptemberNoteMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="ContingentInterestDecemberNoteMember" id="galt_ContingentInterestDecemberNoteMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="AccruedResearchAndDevelopmentCostsAndOtherCurrent" id="galt_AccruedResearchAndDevelopmentCostsAndOtherCurrent" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xs:element name="BasisOfPresentationsAbstract" id="galt_BasisOfPresentationsAbstract" type="xbrli:stringItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="AccrualToCoverEstimatedCostOfTrial" id="galt_AccrualToCoverEstimatedCostOfTrial" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xs:element name="ConvertibleNotesPayableRelatedPartyAbstract" id="galt_ConvertibleNotesPayableRelatedPartyAbstract" type="xbrli:stringItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="NumberOfPromissoryNotesEvidencedByLoansAgreement" id="galt_NumberOfPromissoryNotesEvidencedByLoansAgreement" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="NumberOfPromissoryNotesExecuted" id="galt_NumberOfPromissoryNotesExecuted" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="SeptemberConvertiblePromissoryNoteMember" id="galt_SeptemberConvertiblePromissoryNoteMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="FirstClosingMember" id="galt_FirstClosingMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="AnnualInterestRate" id="galt_AnnualInterestRate" type="dtr-types:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xs:element name="AprilConvertiblePromissoryNoteMember" id="galt_AprilConvertiblePromissoryNoteMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="QuarterlyInterestRate" id="galt_QuarterlyInterestRate" type="dtr-types:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xs:element name="SecondClosingMember" id="galt_SecondClosingMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="NumberOfLoansClosing" id="galt_NumberOfLoansClosing" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="DecemberConvertiblePromissoryNoteMember" id="galt_DecemberConvertiblePromissoryNoteMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
</xs:schema>
