Cell Therapeutics Added to the NASDAQ OMX Global Biotechnology Index

SEATTLE, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (“CTI”) (NASDAQ and MTA: CTIC) announced today that it has been added to the NASDAQ OMX Global Biotechnology Index (NASDAQ: QGBI). Component changes to the index occurred prior to the market open on September 21, 2009.

The NASDAQ OMX Global Biotechnology Index is a modified market-capitalization weighted index designed to track the performance of the largest and most liquid companies engaged in the biotechnology sector.

“We are pleased that our efforts and progress toward commercializing better drugs for the treatment of cancer is reflected in the addition of CTI to the NASDAQ OMX Global Biotechnology Index,” said James A. Bianco, M.D., CEO of CTI. “Being added to this index will provide further exposure of CTI amongst institutional biotechnology investors.”

In June, 2009 CTI was added to the Russell 3000(R), Russell 2000(R) and Russell Global(R) Indexes by Russell Investments.

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.

Sign up for email alerts and get RSS feeds at our Web site, http://www.CellTherapeutics.com/investors_news.htm

This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, the outcome of which could materially and/or adversely affect actual future results and the trading price of our securities. Specifically, the risks and uncertainties include risks associated with preclinical and clinical developments in the biopharmaceutical industry in general and CTI in particular, determinations by regulatory, patent and administrative governmental authorities, competitive factors, technological developments, costs of developing products, CTI’s ability to continue to raise capital as needed to fund its operations, the impact of CTI’s inclusion in the NASDAQ OMX Global Biotechnology Index and the risk factors listed or described from time to time in CTI’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, CTI’s most recent filings on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K. Except as may be required by law, CTI does not intend to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Media Contact:
    Dan Eramian
    T: 206.272.4343
    C: 206.854.1200
    E: deramian@ctiseattle.com
    www.CellTherapeutics.com/press_room

    Investors Contact:
    Ed Bell
    T: 206.282.7100
    Lindsey Jesch
    T: 206.272.4347
    F: 206.272.4434
    E: invest@ctiseattle.com
    www.CellTherapeutics.com/investors

SOURCE Cell Therapeutics, Inc.