Following its successful merger with Italy-based Novuspharma, and the recent patent exclusivity extension for its marketed product Trisenox, Cell Therapeutics Inc (CTI) is significantly expanding its European commercial operations by hiring sales personnel previously trained and deployed by PharmaMar, a Madrid-based cancer company. PharmaMar closed the sales activities it had established after its initial cancer product failed to gain European Marketing approval in late 2003.

"We saw this as a perfect opportunity for CTI-Europe. For the past two years PharmaMar made a significant financial investment not only in training an oncology sales force but also in identifying the physicians who treat the majority of patients with blood-related cancers in each of the major market countries in Europe where their field force was based," noted James Bianco, CEO of CTI. "We believe we can leverage PharmaMar's investment and significantly expand sales of Trisenox in Europe."

"Within the next several weeks we expect to have approximately 16 fully trained field-based country managers and sales representatives in eight major market countries selling Trisenox," noted Steve Aselage, CTI's executive vice president. "This experienced sales force will be useful in promoting additional commercial products, which we are actively seeking to acquire. This should be an exciting year for the global commercial team and a year of revenue growth for Trisenox."