CELL THERAPEUTICS INC

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. and Novuspharma S.p.A. sign merger agreement

Seattle, and Milan, Italy, June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) (Nasdaq: CTIC) and Novuspharma S.p.A. (Novuspharma) (Nuovo Mercato: NOV.MI and NOV IM) management will host an investor conference call on Tues., June 17, 2003, at 2:30 p.m. Central European/1:30 p.m. United Kingdom/8:30 a.m. Eastern/5:30 a.m. Pacific to discuss the merger of the two biopharmaceutical companies. The conference call will be webcast live with presentation slides, and archived for viewing approximately two hours after the call ends.

A press conference call will also be hosted on Tues., June 17, 2003, at 7:45 p.m. Central European/6:45 p.m. United Kingdom/1:45 p.m. Eastern/10:45
a.m. Pacific.

Investor Conference Call
Tues., June 17

2:30 p.m. Central European/1:30 p.m. United Kingdom/ 8:30 a.m. Eastern/5:30 a.m. Pacific

1-800-967-7141 (US Participants)

+1-719-457-2630 (International)
Entry code: 424535

Live webcast with presentation slides at
www.cticseattle.com
Archived for post listening
approximately two hours after call ends

Call-back Numbers for Post Listening
1-888-203-1112 (US Participants)
+1-719-457-0820 (International) Entry code: 424535

Press Conference Call Tues., June 17
7:45 p.m. Central European/6:45 p.m. United Kingdom/
1:45 p.m. Eastern/10:45 a.m. Pacific
1-888-208-1812 (US Participants)
+1-719-457-2654 (International) Entry code: 675493

For further information please contact:
Investors Media Cell Therapeutics, Inc. Cell Therapeutics, Inc.
Leah Grant Candice Douglass T: +1 206.282.7100 T: +1 206.272.4472

F: +1 206.272.4010 F: +1 206.272.4010

E:
invest@ctiseattle.com E: media@ctiseattle.com www.cticseattle.com/investors.htm www.cticseattle.com/media .htm

In Europe
Novuspharma S.p.A.
Karl Hanks
T: +39 02 61035807
Mobile: +39 335 7882247
Silvano Spinelli
Tel: +39 02 61035700
www.novuspharma.com

Contact: investors, Leah Grant, +1-206-282-7100, or fax,
+1-206-272-4010,
or invest@ctiseattle.com, or media, or Candice Douglass,
+1-206-272-4472,
or fax, +1-206-272-4010, or media@ctiseattle.com, both of Cell Therapeutics,
Inc.; or in Europe, Karl Hanks, +39-02-61035807, or mobile,
+39-335-7882247,
or Silvano Spinelli, +39-02-61035700, both of Novuspharma S.p.A.

Web site: http://www.novuspharma.com

Web site: http://www.cticseattle.com

(CTIC)


17 jun 03 08:39