CTI BioPharma Announces Independent DMC Recommendation to Continue GOG-0212 Phase 3 Study of OPAXIO™ as Maintenance Therapy in Ovarian Cancer, an NRG Oncology/GOG Study

SEATTLE, Feb. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- CTI BioPharma Corp. (CTI BioPharma) (NASDAQ and MTA: CTIC) today announced that the Gynecologic Oncology Group, now part of NRG Oncology, informed CTI BioPharma that an independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) recommended continuation of the GOG-0212 Phase 3 clinical study of OPAXIO™ (paclitaxel poliglumex) as maintenance therapy in ovarian cancer with no changes following a second of four planned interim analyses for survival and futility. CTI BioPharma remains blinded to the interim analysis results. GOG-0212 is the largest maintenance study in this setting, having enrolled 1,150 patients.

The trial is being conducted and managed by the Gynecologic Oncology Group, now part of NRG Oncology, which is one of the National Cancer Institute's funded cooperative cancer research groups with a focus on the study of gynecologic malignancies.

"We believe that there remains a significant unmet need in keeping a patient's cancer from returning following initial treatment for ovarian cancer," said James A. Bianco, M.D., CTI BioPharma's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The GOG-0212 study is designed to investigate whether Opaxio, when used in a maintenance setting in ovarian cancer, could keep these women in remission and potentially extend their lives."

About GOG-0212

The GOG-0212 study is a randomized, multicenter, open label Phase 3 trial of either monthly Opaxio or paclitaxel for up to 12 consecutive months compared to surveillance among women with advanced ovarian cancer who have no evidence of disease following first-line platinum-taxane based therapy. For purposes of registration, the primary endpoint of the study is overall survival of patients treated with Opaxio compared to no maintenance therapy. Secondary endpoints are progression-free survival, safety and quality of life. The statistical analysis plan calls for up to four interim analyses and one final analysis, each with boundaries for early closure for superior efficacy or for futility. The first interim analysis was conducted in January 2013, and at that time the DMC recommended continuation with no changes. Additional information about GOG-0212 may be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov, study identifier: NCT00108745.

About Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Annually, over 238,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer around the world and approximately 152,000 will die from the disease.¹ In 2015, it is estimated that 21,290 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. and 14,180 deaths will result. Treatment for ovarian cancer usually involves advanced surgery and chemotherapy.²

About Opaxio

Opaxio™ (paclitaxel poliglumex, CT-2103), is an investigational, biologically enhanced chemotherapeutic that links paclitaxel, the active ingredient in Taxol®, to a biodegradable polyglutamate polymer, which results in a new chemical entity. When bound to the polymer, paclitaxel is inactive, potentially sparing normal tissue's exposure to high levels of paclitaxel and its associated toxicities. Blood vessels in tumor tissue, unlike blood vessels in normal tissue, are porous to macromolecules such as Opaxio. Based on preclinical studies, it appears that Opaxio is preferentially distributed to tumors due to their leaky blood vessels and trapped in the tumor bed, allowing significantly more of the dose of chemotherapy to localize in the tumor than with standard paclitaxel. Once inside the tumor cell, enzymes metabolize the protein polymer, releasing active paclitaxel. Unlike standard radiosensitizing agents, Opaxio appears tumor selective and does not appear to enhance radiation toxicity to normal tissues.

About the Gynecologic Oncology Group

The legacy Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), now part of NRG Oncology, is a non-profit international organization with the purpose of promoting excellence in the quality and integrity of clinical and basic scientific research in the field of Gynecologic malignancies. NRG Oncology is committed to maintaining the highest standards in clinical trials development, execution, analysis and distribution of results. Continuous evaluation of its processes is utilized in order to constantly improve the quality of patient care. NRG Oncology conducts clinical trials for patients with a variety of gynecologic malignancies, including cancers that arise from the ovaries, uterus, cervix, vagina, and vulva. General information on many of these trials for medical professionals and the lay public can be obtained from the clinicaltrials.gov.

NRG Oncology is one of four adult cooperative groups funded under the newly structured NCI National Clinical Trials Network. NRG Oncology is comprised of three legacy cooperative groups, the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), and the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG).

About CTI BioPharma

CTI BioPharma Corp. (NASDAQ and MTA: CTIC) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of novel targeted therapies covering a spectrum of blood-related cancers that offer a unique benefit to patients and healthcare providers. CTI BioPharma has a commercial presence in Europe and a late-stage development pipeline, including pacritinib, CTI BioPharma's lead product candidate that is currently being studied in a Phase 3 program for the treatment of patients with myelofibrosis. CTI BioPharma is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with offices in London and Milan under the name CTI Life Sciences Limited. For additional information and to sign up for email alerts and get RSS feeds, please visit www.ctibiopharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, the outcome of which could materially and/or adversely affect actual future results and the trading price of CTI BioPharma's securities. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential benefits of Opaxio as a maintenance therapy, the statistical analysis plan for GOG-0212, the projected diagnosis of and deaths from ovarian cancer and CTI BioPharma's expectations with respect to the development of CTI BioPharma and its product and product candidate portfolio, including Opaxio. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include, among others, risks associated with the biopharmaceutical industry in general and with CTI BioPharma and its product and product candidate portfolio including Opaxio in particular including, among others, risks associated with the following: that CTI BioPharma cannot predict or guarantee the pace or geography of enrollment of its clinical trials, that CTI BioPharma cannot predict or guarantee the outcome of preclinical and clinical studies, that CTI BioPharma may not obtain favorable determinations by other regulatory, patent and administrative governmental authorities, that CTI BioPharma may experience delays in the commencement of preclinical and clinical studies, risks related to the costs of developing pacritinib and CTI BioPharma's other product candidates, and other risks, including, without limitation, competitive factors, technological developments, that CTI BioPharma may not be able to sustain its current cost controls or further reduce its operating expenses, that CTI BioPharma may not achieve previously announced goals and objectives as or when projected, that CTI BioPharma's average net operating burn rate may increase, that CTI BioPharma will continue to need to raise capital to fund its operating expenses, but may not be able to raise sufficient amounts to fund its continued operation as well as other risks listed or described from time to time in CTI BioPharma's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. Except as required by law, CTI BioPharma does not intend to update any of the statements in this press release upon further developments.

Opaxio is a trademark of CTI BioPharma Corp. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

References:

1. GLOBOCAN 2012, IARC-31.1.2015
2. American Cancer Society, http://tinyurl.com/m2qnpk2, Accessed January 2015.

Contacts:
Monique Greer
+1 206-272-4343
[email protected]

Ed Bell
+1 206-282-7100
[email protected]

In Europe:

CTI Life Sciences Limited, Milan Branch
Laura Villa
+39 02 94751572
[email protected]

SOURCE CTI BioPharma Corp.

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