On March 31, 2022 CTI BioPharma Corp. (Nasdaq: CTIC) reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2021 (Press release, CTI BioPharma, MAR 31, 2022, View Source [SID1234611279]).

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"VONJO’s recent FDA approval establishes a new standard of care for myelofibrosis patients suffering from cytopenic myelofibrosis. With a fully funded commercial launch following the debt and royalty transaction with DRI, we are pleased to provide these patients with a new, efficacious, and safe treatment option," said Adam R. Craig, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of CTI Biopharma. "We believe the launch of VONJO positions CTI for sustained growth as we work towards our mission to make a meaningful impact on the lives of patients with blood-related cancers."

Fourth Quarter Financial Results
Operating loss was $35.4 million and $95.3 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2021, respectively, compared to operating loss of $14.8 million and $47.8 million for the corresponding periods in 2020. The increase in operating loss for the three months and year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the comparable periods in 2020 resulted primarily from increases in selling, general and administrative activities related to the growth in our commercial infrastructure and commercial-launch readiness activities in support of commercialization of VONJO, as well as research and development activities related to the continued development of pacritinib.

Net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2021 was $36.8 million, or $0.38 for basic and diluted loss per share, compared to net loss of $15.0 million, or $0.20 for basic and diluted loss per share, for the same period in 2020. Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $97.9 million, or $1.09 for basic and diluted loss per share, compared to net loss of $52.5 million, or $0.74 for basic and diluted loss per share, for the same period in 2020.

As of December 31, 2021, cash and cash equivalents totaled $65.4 million. As of December 31, 2020, cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $52.5 million. We expect our current cash and cash equivalents, together with $60.0 million received from DRI Healthcare Trust following FDA approval of VONJO, will enable us to fund our operations into the fourth quarter of 2022.

About Myelofibrosis
Myelofibrosis is bone marrow cancer that results in formation of fibrous scar tissue and can lead to thrombocytopenia and anemia, weakness, fatigue and an enlarged spleen and liver. Within the United States, there are approximately 21,000 patients with myelofibrosis, 7,000 of which have severe thrombocytopenia (defined as blood platelet counts of less than 50 x109/L). Severe thrombocytopenia is associated with poor survival and high symptom burden and can occur as a result of disease progression or from drug toxicity with other JAK2 inhibitors, such as JAKAFI and INREBIC.