SEATTLE, Sept. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cell Therapeutics,
Inc. (CTI) (NASDAQ and MTA: CTIC), a company focused on translating
science into novel cancer therapies, today appointed former
Managing Director and Head of West Coast Biotechnology for
Oppenheimer & Co. and its U.S. predecessor, CIBC World Markets,
Matthew J. Plunkett, Ph.D., as CTI's
Executive Vice President, Corporate Development. Dr. Plunkett will
lead CTI's partnering strategy including development
collaborations, licensing agreements, and strategic alliances.
Dr. Plunkett has more than 15 years' experience in the
biopharmaceutical industry. This includes 9 years at Oppenheimer
& Co. and CIBC World Markets. Dr. Plunkett advised on
more than 70 completed transactions companies in the U.S.,
Europe and Australia, including more than $4 billion in equity and equity-linked
transactions and $1 billion in
merger, acquisition and other financial advisory transactions.
Most recently, Dr. Plunkett was Chief Financial Officer at the
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, a $3 billion fund for California stem cell research. He also served
as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at iPierian, a
privately-held development-stage biotechnology company. He began
his scientific career at Sunesis Pharmaceuticals and Axys Advanced
Technologies. Dr. Plunkett received a doctorate in Organic
Chemistry from the University of California,
Berkeley, and a bachelor of science in Chemistry from
Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California.
"Matt has a wealth of experience in financing, mergers,
acquisitions and technology/market assessments," said James A. Bianco, M.D., President & CEO of
CTI.
"CTI is one of a select few companies that both have the
opportunity of a product approved in Europe, and drug candidates with attractive
commercial potential for different blood-related cancers," Dr.
Plunkett said. "It is all the more impressive that CTI has been
able to establish this pipeline during a time of unprecedented
challenges for the biotech industry. I look forward to contributing
to CTI's success with value-creating transactions."
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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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
F: 206.272.4434
E: invest@ctiseattle.com
www.CellTherapeutics.com/investors
SOURCE Cell Therapeutics, Inc.