CTI Receives the Second Payment of $6.5 million Associated with the Sale of Interest in Zevalin Joi...( SEATTLE April 6 /- Cell Therapeutics ...)

SEATTLE, April 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) (Nasdaq and MTA: CTIC) announced today that it received $6.5 million from Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Spectrum) in connection with the sale of its 50% interest in the Zevalin joint venture to Spectrum for approximately $16.5 million that closed in March 2009. CTI previously received approximately $6.5 million on March 2, 2009, related to this transaction, and the remaining $3.5 million, subject to adjustments for expenses and revenues, among other things, is to be received on April 15, 2009. CTI sold an initial 50% interest in Zevalin to Spectrum in connection with the establishment of a 50/50 owned joint venture with Spectrum for approximately $15 million in December 2008, bringing total gross funds that will be received from Spectrum for 100% interest in Zevalin to approximately $31.5 million. CTI originally purchased Zevalin from Biogen Idec Inc. in December 2007 for $10 million (plus certain milestone payments, all of which will be the responsibility of Spectrum if or when they come due).

"In this difficult capital market we are pleased to have access to this non-dilutive operating capital as we advance our products through the regulatory process to approval and commercialization," said James A. Bianco, M.D., CEO of Cell Therapeutics. "We will continue to seek product partnerships and other sources of financing to fund our ongoing operations that in addition to our efforts reducing in expenses will ultimately drive shareholder value."

About Cell Therapeutics, Inc.

Headquartered in Seattle, CTI is a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing an integrated portfolio of oncology products aimed at making cancer more treatable. For additional information, please visit www.CellTherapeutics.com.

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