CTI reports financial results for fourth-quarter and year ended December 31, 2009

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) (Nasdaq and MTA: CTIC) today reported recent accomplishments and financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

Review of 2009 Key Accomplishments and Targeted 2010 Milestones

• Pixantrone New Drug Application ("NDA") for relapsed/refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") and accepted for review in 2009.  The FDA established Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of April 23, 2010.
• Initiated a Marketing Authorization Application ("MAA") for pixantrone in Europe in 2009 and received Orphan Drug Designation by the European Medicines Agency. CTI expects to file a Marketing Authorization Application in mid-2010.
• Phase II clinical data on OPAXIO demonstrated high rates of pathologic complete remissions for treatment of patients with advanced esophageal cancer paving way for potential registration trial as radiation sensitizer.  CTI expects to meet with the FDA in the first half of 2010 to discuss a potential registration trial for OPAXIO as a radiation sensitizer.
• Decreased debt in 2009 by $57.4 million through exchanges and eliminated all of outstanding preferred stock.
• Added in 2009 to the Russell 2000, 3000 and Global Indices as well as the Nasdaq Global Biotechnology Index.
• Adopted Shareholder Rights Plan designed to deter coercive takeover tactics, and to prevent an acquirer from gaining control of CTI without offering a fair price to all of CTI's shareholders.
• Received net proceeds of $136 million in 2009 through sale of Zevalin and investments by institutions to fund operations and decrease debt.

"In 2009 we focused on streamlining our operations, improving our balance sheet and supporting our late stage product to position us for the potential commercialization of a CTI product," stated James A. Bianco, M.D., CEO of CTI. "We look forward to presenting the benefit-risk pixantrone data to the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee at the meeting which is being rescheduled especially in light of the completion of the updated study overall survival results."

Financial Results

For the quarter ended December 31, 2009, total net operating expenses were approximately $26.2 million, compared to $11.2 million for the same period in 2008. The increase in total net operating expenses was mainly a result of a non-cash equity based compensation expense of $11.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 and a $9.4 million gain on the sale of Zevalin to a 50/50 owned joint venture with Spectrum that was recognized in the quarter ended December 31, 2008. Research and development expenses decreased by 15% to $7.3 million compared to $8.6 million for the same period in 2008. Net loss attributable to common shareholders decreased by 34% to $27.4 million ($0.05 per share), compared to a net loss attributable to common shareholders of $41.3 million ($0.52 per share) for the same period in 2008. The decrease in net loss for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 is mainly a result of the decrease in expenses associated with financings for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared to the expenses associated with financings incurred in the same period in 2008.

For the year ended December 31, 2009, total net operating expenses decreased to $81.6 million, compared to $88.7 million for the same period in 2008. Research and development expenses decreased by 42% to $30.2 million compared to $51.6 million for the same period in 2008. Net loss attributable to common shareholders decreased 42% to $116.8 million ($0.25 per share), compared to a net loss attributable to shareholders of $202.9 million ($7.00 per share) for the same period in 2008. The decrease in net loss for the year ended December, 31, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008 is mainly the result of a decrease in research and development expenses and expenses associated with financings.

CTI had approximately $37.8 million in cash, cash equivalents and securities available-for-sale as of December 31, 2009. This does not include approximately $28.2 million in net proceeds, the Company received in January 2010 in connection with a registered offering of preferred stock and warrants.