Press Room

CTI Quick Facts

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel agents that seek to improve the safety and efficacy of existing standard-of-care chemotherapies, and those that may have unique, new mechanisms to kill cancer cells. We use genomic information to determine which tumors have the greatest chance of responding favorably to a specific drug candidate. This has the potential to change the way anti-cancer drugs are developed, by allowing investigators to pick the right drug for individual patients.

We are focused on gaining approvals for our two phase III product candidates, pixantrone in relapsed or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and OPAXIO in maintenance therapy for ovarian cancer and as a radiation sensitizer in the treatment of esophageal cancer. We have one product in phase II clinical development, and other candidates in preclinical research. These products may address the therapeutic limitations of conventional cancer therapies. Our capabilities span drug discovery, development, and commercialization.

Clinical Development Products

Pixantrone (pick-san-trone) dimaleate (BBR 2778) is a next generation antitumor aza-anthracenedione with a molecular structure similar to other topoisomerase II inhibitors, such as anthracyclines like doxorubicin. It is under development for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

OPAXIO™ (Oh-packs-ee-oh) (paclitaxel poliglumex, CT-2103; formerly known as XYOTAX) is a biologically enhanced chemotherapeutic that links paclitaxel to a biodegradable polyglutamate polymer, resulting in a new chemical entity. OPAXIO was designed to improve the delivery of paclitaxel to tumor tissue while protecting normal tissue from toxic side effects.

We are studying OPAXIO as potential treatment for ovarian, non-small cell lung (NSCLC), and other cancers.

Brostallicin (bräst-al-iss-in) is a small molecule, anti-cancer drug with a novel and unique mechanism of action and excellent long-term patent protection. Data in more than 230 patients treated in phase I/II clinical trials reveal evidence of activity in patients with refractory cancer and patient/physician-friendly dosage and administration. Brostallicin may ultimately be useful in combination with standard chemotherapy and newer, targeted cancer therapies.

Brostallicin is currently in phase II clinical trials versus doxorubicin as first-line single-agent chemotherapy in patients with advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. In late 2007, we also initiated a phase II trial of brostallicin for the treatment of myxoid liposarcoma.