CTI BioPharma
CTI BioPharma was a Seattle-based biopharmaceutical company that developed and commercialized pacritinib (Vonjo), a JAK2 inhibitor for myelofibrosis patients with severe thrombocytopenia. Acquired by Sobi in 2023, it now operates within Sobi's global rare-disease and hematology franchise.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CTI BioPharma does
CTI BioPharma Corp. was a US-based, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 1991 and headquartered in Seattle, focused on developing and commercializing targeted therapies for blood-related cancers, with a specific emphasis on myelofibrosis patients with severe thrombocytopenia — a subpopulation with limited therapeutic options given that existing JAK inhibitors carry platelet-related safety concerns.
The company's core product was pacritinib (marketed as Vonjo), a proprietary JAK2 inhibitor designed to address this underserved segment. CTI BioPharma raised capital across multiple funding rounds from investors including New Enterprise Associates and Hercules Capital, and in August 2021 entered a financing arrangement with DRI Healthcare Trust totaling up to $135 million ($50 million in secured debt plus $60 million in royalty financing) to support commercialization pending FDA approval. Pacritinib was commercially launched in 2021.
In June 2023, Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi) acquired CTI BioPharma to strengthen its rare-disease and hematology portfolio. Following the transaction, CTI BioPharma operates as a private subsidiary of Sobi, distributing pacritinib through Sobi's global commercial infrastructure spanning North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. Go-to-market relies on targeted engagement with hematologists and oncologists through specialty field sales, supplemented by hematology and oncology medical conferences.
CTI BioPharma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CTI BioPharma
- Legal name
- CTI BioPharma Corp.
- Website
- https://ctibiopharma.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- CTI BioPharma was a Seattle-based biopharmaceutical company that developed and commercialized pacritinib (Vonjo), a JAK2 inhibitor for myelofibrosis patients with severe thrombocytopenia. Acquired by Sobi in 2023, it now operates within Sobi's global rare-disease and hematology franchise.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CTI BioPharma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hematology Pharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cardiometabolic Pharmaceuticals (Cardiovascular/Diabetes/Obesity) (HLAIAAAE)
Keywords
Where CTI BioPharma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CTI BioPharma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations
Revenue model
- Pharmaceutical product sales: Revenue from commercialization of specialty biopharmaceutical drugs, specifically pacritinib for myelofibrosis. Post-acquisition by Sobi, operates as part of Sobi's rare disease and hematology portfolio.
- Royalty financing: Structured funding arrangement with DRI Healthcare Trust providing $60 million in exchange for royalties on pacritinib sales, demonstrating alternative financing for pharmaceutical commercialization.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
CTI BioPharma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CTI BioPharma was a biopharmaceutical company that developed and commercialized pacritinib (marketed as Vonjo), a proprietary JAK2 inhibitor for the treatment of myelofibrosis patients with severe thrombocytopenia. Following its June 2023 acquisition by Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi), the company's product is distributed through Sobi's global commercial infrastructure for rare hematology therapies.
Product overview
CTI BioPharma was a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of targeted oncology and hematology drugs. The company's primary product was pacritinib (marketed as Vonjo), a JAK2 inhibitor for treating myelofibrosis patients with severe thrombocytopenia. CTI BioPharma was acquired by Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi) in June 2023 to strengthen Sobi's rare-disease and hematology portfolio with this differentiated commercial-stage myelofibrosis treatment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pacritinib (Vonjo)
Quantifiable outcome
- Potential commercial launch by end of 2021
Companies that use CTI BioPharma
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
CTI BioPharma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
CTI BioPharma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi)flagshipSobi acquired US-based CTI BioPharma Corp. in June 2023 to strengthen its rare-disease and hematology portfolio with a differentiated commercial-stage myelofibrosis treatment. This acquisition integrated pacritinib into Sobi's product portfolio, providing CTI BioPharma access to Sobi's global commercial infrastructure.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
CTI BioPharma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Incyte Corporation: Incyte markets Jakafi (ruxolitinib), the leading JAK1/2 inhibitor and standard of care in myelofibrosis. Incyte is the most directly comparable peer to CTI BioPharma in the myelofibrosis JAK inhibitor space, competing head-to-head with pacritinib for physician adoption and patient share.
- GSK (Sierra Oncology): GSK acquired Sierra Oncology and its JAK1/2/ACVR1 inhibitor momelotinib (Ojjaara) for myelofibrosis. GSK is a direct peer competing in the same JAK inhibitor category, with a label targeting anemia which overlaps with pacritinib's severe thrombocytopenia positioning.
- Bristol-Myers Squibb: Bristol-Myers Squibb markets Inrebic (fedratinib), an approved JAK2 inhibitor for myelofibrosis acquired via the Celgene transaction. BMS is a direct competitor in the JAK inhibitor myelofibrosis category and a useful peer for commercial-scale benchmarking.
Broad incumbents
- Pfizer: Pfizer operates a broad oncology and hematology portfolio and is a relevant broad incumbent peer. Its scale and global commercialization capabilities provide context for the challenges a smaller biopharma like CTI BioPharma faces in competing for hematology market share.
- Novartis: Novartis has a significant hematology and oncology portfolio and is a relevant broad incumbent peer. Its scale and global commercial reach provide a useful benchmark for the international expansion potential of CTI BioPharma's pacritinib under Sobi ownership.
- Roche: Roche is a global pharmaceutical incumbent with a substantial hematology and oncology portfolio. It serves as a broad incumbent peer relevant to rare disease and hematology commercialization strategy, particularly for label expansion of targeted therapies.
- AstraZeneca: AstraZeneca maintains an active oncology and hematology franchise, including Calquence (acalabrutinib). It serves as a broad incumbent peer for evaluating hematology commercial models and indication expansion strategies relevant to JAK inhibitor franchises.
- Sobi (Swedish Orphan Biovitrum): Sobi is CTI BioPharma's parent company post-June 2023 acquisition and a global rare disease and hematology specialist. Sobi is a relevant comparator for commercial infrastructure, rare disease launch execution, and broader hematology portfolio strategy.
- AbbVie: AbbVie operates a major hematology and oncology franchise including Imbruvica (ibrutinib) and Venclexta (venetoclax). As a broad incumbent with adjacent hematology assets, AbbVie provides a relevant benchmark for commercialization scale and pipeline breadth.
Emerging players
- MorphoSys: MorphoSys (now part of Novartis) focused on hematology-oncology with targeted therapeutics in similar disease areas. As an emerging/specialized peer, MorphoSys is comparable in size and strategic positioning during its commercial-stage evolution prior to Novartis acquisition.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
CTI BioPharma social profiles
Digital presenceCTI BioPharma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CTI BioPharma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
CTI BioPharma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CTI BioPharma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CTI BioPharma
What does CTI BioPharma do?
CTI BioPharma was a biopharmaceutical company that developed and commercialized pacritinib (marketed as Vonjo), a proprietary JAK2 inhibitor for the treatment of myelofibrosis patients with severe thrombocytopenia. Following its June 2023 acquisition by Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi), the company's product is distributed through Sobi's global commercial infrastructure for rare hematology therapies.
Is CTI BioPharma a public or private company?
CTI BioPharma is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was CTI BioPharma founded?
CTI BioPharma was founded in 1991. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is CTI BioPharma based?
CTI BioPharma is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does CTI BioPharma make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Pharmaceutical product sales are the primary driver. The others are royalty financing.
Who are CTI BioPharma's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Incyte Corporation, GSK (Sierra Oncology) and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Broad incumbents are Pfizer, Novartis, Roche, AstraZeneca, Sobi (Swedish Orphan Biovitrum) and AbbVie. MorphoSys is listed as an emerging player.
Does CTI BioPharma have an API?
No public API is recorded for CTI BioPharma.
What industry is CTI BioPharma in?
CTI BioPharma's product category is Hematology Pharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAAAE, Cardiometabolic Pharmaceuticals (Cardiovascular/Diabetes/Obesity). Its NAICS code is 3254 and its SIC code is 2834.