CTI BioPharma (CTIC) 424B5 Prospectus supplement for primary offering

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-251161

The information contained in this preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The registration statement relating to the securities has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED March 31, 2021

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To prospectus dated December 15, 2020)

Shares of Common Stock

Shares of Series X¹ Preferred Stock

We are offering shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, or, for certain investors, shares of our Series X¹ convertible preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, or Series X¹ preferred stock. Each share of Series X¹ preferred stock is convertible into 10,000 shares of our common stock at the election of the holder, subject to beneficial ownership conversion limits applicable to the Series X¹ preferred stock. Shares of our Series X¹ preferred stock generally have no voting rights, except as required by law, and participate pari passu (on an as-converted basis) with any distribution of proceeds to the holders of our common stock, Series O preferred stock and Series X preferred stock, in the event of the Company’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up or the payment of a dividend on shares of our common stock.

Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “CTIC.” The last sale price for our common stock on March 30, 2021, as reported on the NASDAQ Capital Market, was $2.68 per share.

We have granted the underwriters an option for a period of 30 days from the date of this prospectus supplement to purchase up to an additional                shares of our common stock. See “Underwriting” for more information.

	Per share of common stock	Per share of Series X1 preferred stock	Total
Public offering price	$	$	$
Underwriting discounts(1)	$	$	$
Proceeds to CTI BioPharma Corp., before expenses	$	$	$

(1) The underwriters will also be reimbursed for certain expenses incurred in this offering. See “Underwriting” for details.

Our business and an investment in our securities involves significant risks. These risks are described under the caption “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-4 of this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus supplement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Delivery of the securities is expected to be made to purchasers on or about                     , 2021.

Book-Running Managers
Stifel	JMP Securities
Lead Manager
BTIG

The date of this prospectus supplement is                     , 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Page
Prospectus Supplement
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT		S-1
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY		S-2
THE OFFERING		S-3
RISK FACTORS		S-4
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		S-6
USE OF PROCEEDS		S-8
DILUTION		S-9
UNDERWRITING		S-10
LEGAL MATTERS		S-18
EXPERTS		S-18
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE		S-19

Prospectus
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	2
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	3
INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY	5
RISK FACTORS	6
USE OF PROCEEDS	7
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	8
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK	13
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK	14
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK	16
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES	18
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS	25
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS	28
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS	29
LEGAL MATTERS	30
EXPERTS	30
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE	31

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This document is in two parts. The first part is the prospectus supplement, including the documents incorporated by reference, which describes the specific terms of this offering. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference, provides more general information. Generally, when we refer to this prospectus supplement, we are referring to both parts of this document combined. Before you invest, you should carefully read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, all information incorporated by reference herein and therein, as well as the additional information described under “Where You Can Find Additional Information” on page 2 of the accompanying prospectus. These documents contain information that you should consider when making your investment decision. This prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in the accompanying prospectus. To the extent that any statement that we make in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with statements made in the accompanying prospectus or any documents incorporated by reference therein, the statements made in this prospectus supplement will be deemed to modify or supersede those made in the accompanying prospectus and such documents incorporated by reference therein.

Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from that contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered or made available to you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, shares of our common stock and Series X¹ preferred stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the offering of our common stock and Series X¹ preferred stock in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of our common stock and Series X¹ preferred stock and the distribution of this prospectus supplement outside the United States. This prospectus supplement does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered by this prospectus supplement by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offer or solicitation.

In this prospectus supplement, the terms “CTI,” “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to CTI BioPharma Corp., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires. We use “CTI” and other marks as trademarks within the United States and other countries. This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference contain references to our trademarks as well as third-party trademarks. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names, including logos, artwork and other visual displays, may appear without the ^® or TM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate in any way that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the rights of the applicable licensor to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use of third-party trade names or trademarks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other entity.

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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information about us, this offering and information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, in the accompanying prospectus and in the documents we incorporated by reference. This summary is not complete and does not contain all the information that you should consider before investing in our securities pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Before making an investment decision, to fully understand this offering and its consequences to you, you should carefully read this entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-4 of this prospectus supplement, the financial statements and related notes and the other information that we incorporated by reference herein, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and each subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

CTI BioPharma Corp.

Overview

We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of novel targeted therapies for blood-related cancers that offer a unique benefit to patients and their healthcare providers. Our goal is to build a profitable company by generating income from products we develop and commercialize, either alone or with partners. We concentrate our efforts on treatments that target blood-related cancers where there is an unmet medical need. In particular, we are focused on evaluating pacritinib, our sole product candidate currently in active development, for the treatment of adult patients with myelofibrosis. In addition, we have recently started developing pacritinib for use in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pacritinib is an investigational oral kinase inhibitor with specificity for JAK2, IRAK1 and CSF1R. The JAK family of enzymes is a central component in signal transduction pathways, which are critical to normal blood cell growth and development, as well as inflammatory cytokine expression and immune responses. Mutations in these kinases have been shown to be directly related to the development of a variety of blood-related cancers, including myeloproliferative neoplasms, leukemia and lymphoma. In addition to myelofibrosis, the kinase profile of pacritinib suggests its potential therapeutic utility in conditions such as acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, or CMML, prevention of graft versus host disease, or GvHD, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL, due to its inhibition of JAK2, IRAK1, FLT3 and CSF1R. We believe pacritinib has the potential to be delivered as a single agent or in combination therapy regimens.

Corporate Information and History

We are incorporated in the State of Delaware. Shares of our common stock trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CTIC.” Our principal executive offices are located at 3101 Western Avenue, Suite 800, Seattle, Washington 98121, and our phone number is (206) 282-7100. Our website is located at www.ctibiopharma.com; however, the information in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any other filings we make with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC.

S-2

THE OFFERING

Common stock offered by us             shares

Series X¹ preferred stock offered by us             shares

Each share of Series X¹ preferred stock is convertible into 10,000 shares of our common stock at the election of the holder, subject to beneficial ownership conversion limits applicable to the Series X¹ preferred stock. Shares of our Series X¹ preferred stock generally have no voting rights, except as required by law, and participate pari passu (on an as-converted basis) with any distribution of proceeds to the holders of our common stock, Series O preferred stock and Series X preferred stock, in the event of the Company’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up or the payment of a dividend on shares of our common stock.

Common stock to be outstanding after this offering             shares of common stock and             shares of common stock if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of common stock in full (in each case, assuming no conversion of any Series X¹ preferred stock offered hereby into common stock).

Option to purchase additional shares We have granted the underwriters an option for a period of up to 30 days from the date of this prospectus supplement to purchase up to an additional              shares of common stock at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions.

Use of Proceeds We currently plan to use the net proceeds from this offering for commercialization activities for pacritinib, general working capital and corporate purposes. Please see “Use of Proceeds” on page S-8.

Risk Factors See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-4 of this prospectus supplement for a discussion of factors that you should read and consider before investing in our securities.

Nasdaq Capital Market symbol CTIC

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 75,896,884 shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and excludes:

• 15,595,933 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options, at a weighted-average exercise price of $2.09 per share;

• 190,140 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants, at a weighted-average exercise price of $2.84 per share;

• 44,289,550 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of 4,429 shares of Series X preferred stock, at a conversion price of $1.00 per share;

• 8,383,333 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of 12,575 shares of Series O preferred stock, at a conversion price of $3.00 per share;

• 137,827 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our employee stock purchase plan; and

• 1,401,748 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity compensation plans.

S-3

RISK FACTORS

Investors should carefully consider the risks described below and those included in the filings incorporated by reference, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and each subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, before deciding whether to invest in our securities. The risks described below and those described in the filings incorporated by reference are not the only ones we face. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects could be adversely affected. In such case, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements made throughout this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference as a result of different factors, including the risks we face described below and those described in the filings incorporated by reference.

Risks Related to this Offering

If you purchase shares of our common stock or Series X¹ preferred stock sold in this offering, you may experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of your shares. In addition, we may issue additional equity or convertible debt securities in the future, which may result in additional dilution to investors.

If you purchase shares of our common stock or Series X¹ preferred stock in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution in the as adjusted net tangible book value of your common stock (or with respect to the Series X¹ preferred stock, the common stock that such Series X¹ preferred stock is convertible into) of $                per share of common stock as of December 31, 2020, based on the public offering price of $                per share of common stock and $                per share of Series X¹ preferred Stock, because the price that you pay will be substantially greater than the net tangible book value per share of the shares of common stock you acquire (or with respect to the Series X¹ preferred stock, the common stock that such Series X¹ preferred stock is convertible into). For a more detailed discussion of the foregoing, see the section entitled “Dilution” below. To the extent outstanding stock options are exercised, there will be further dilution to new investors. In addition, to the extent we need to raise additional capital in the future and we issue additional shares of common stock or securities convertible or exchangeable for our common stock, our then existing stockholders may experience dilution and the new securities may have rights senior to those of our common stock offered in this offering.

We will have broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may apply it to uses that do not improve our operating results or the value of your securities.

We will have broad discretion to use the net proceeds to us from this offering, and investors will be relying solely on the judgment of our board of directors and management regarding the application of these proceeds. Although we expect to use the net proceeds from this offering for commercialization activities for pacritinib, general working capital and corporate purposes, we have not allocated these net proceeds for specific purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” for additional information. Investors will not have the opportunity, as part of their investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. Our use of the proceeds may not improve our operating results or increase the value of the securities being offered hereby.

Shares of our common stock and Series X¹ preferred stock are subordinate to any senior preferred stock we may issue and to existing and any future indebtedness.

Shares of our common stock and Series X¹ preferred stock rank junior to any shares of our senior preferred stock or shares of our senior preferred stock that we may issue in the future and to our existing indebtedness, including under our senior secured term loan agreement, and any future indebtedness we may incur, as well as to all creditor claims and other non-equity claims against us and our assets available to satisfy claims on us, including claims in a bankruptcy or similar proceeding. Our secured term loan agreement restricts, and any future indebtedness and preferred stock may restrict, payment of dividends on our common stock.

S-4

Furthermore, unlike indebtedness, where principal and interest customarily are payable on specified due dates, in the case of our common stock, (i) dividends are payable only when and if declared by our board of directors or a duly authorized committee of our board of directors, and (ii) as a corporation, we are restricted to making dividend payments and redemption payments out of legally available assets. We have never paid a dividend on our common stock and have no current intention to pay dividends in the future. Furthermore, our common stock places no restrictions on our business or operations or on our ability to incur indebtedness or engage in any transactions, subject only to the voting rights available to our shareholders generally.

Following this offering, we expect to seek to increase the number of authorized shares in our Certificate of Incorporation. An inability to secure requisite stockholder approval for such increases could materially and adversely impact our ability to fund our operations

At our 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, we sought and received approval of an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the total number of authorized shares and the total number of authorized shares of our common stock by 35 million. We proposed the increase in authorized shares due to the anticipated need to issue additional shares of common stock in the future in connection with one or more of the following:

• financing transactions, such as public or private offerings of common stock or derivative securities;

• our equity incentive plans and employee stock purchase plan;

• debt, warrant or other equity restructuring or refinancing transactions, such as debt or warrant exchanges or offerings of new convertible debt or modifications to existing securities, or as payments of interest on debt securities;

• acquisitions, strategic partnerships, collaborations, joint ventures, restructurings, divestitures, business combinations and strategic investments;

• corporate transactions, such as stock splits or stock dividends; and

• other corporate purposes that have not yet been identified.

Following this offering, we expect to again seek the approval of our stockholders to approve an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the total number of authorized shares and the total number of authorized shares of common stock. We are seeking this increase for the reasons described above as well as to provide for sufficient authorized shares that would enable holders or our Series X¹ preferred stock to convert their shares of Series X¹ preferred stock into shares of common stock. Without such an increase in the number of authorized shares, holders of Series X¹ preferred stock will be unable to convert into shares of common stock. In addition, a failure to increase the total number of our authorized shares may impair ability to raise capital when needed, and we may lose important business opportunities, including to competitors, which could adversely affect our financial performance, growth and ability to continue our operations.

S-5

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may contain certain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. When used in this in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference herein and therein, terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “should,” or “will” or the negative of those terms or other comparable terms are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

• our expectations regarding business disruptions and related risks resulting from the ongoing worldwide coronavirus pandemic known as COVID-19;

• our expectations regarding sufficiency of cash resources, cash expenditures, sources of cash flows and other projections, product manufacturing and sales, research and development expenses, general and administrative expenses and additional losses;

• our ability to obtain funding for our operations;

• the timing of, and our ability to develop, commercialize, and obtain regulatory approval of pacritinib, including priority review and potential accelerated approval of pacritinib as a treatment for myelofibrosis patients with severe thrombocytopenia, and other development programs we may pursue in the future;

• the design of our clinical trials and anticipated enrollment, and the progress and potential of pacritinib and other development programs we may pursue in the future;

• the safety, effectiveness and potential benefits and indications of pacritinib and any other product candidates we may develop in the future;

• the timing of and results from clinical trials and pre-clinical development activities, including those related to pacritinib and any other product candidates we may develop in the future;

• our ability to advance product candidates, including pacritinib and any other product candidates we may develop in the future, into, and the successful completion of, clinical trials;

• our ability to achieve profitability, including our ability to effectively implement cost reduction strategies and realize anticipated cost savings from those efforts;

• our expectations regarding federal, state and foreign regulatory requirements;

• the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of pacritinib or any other product candidates we may develop in the future;

• our and our collaborators’ ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for pacritinib or any other product candidates we may develop in the future, and the timing of such approvals;

• our ability to maintain and establish collaborations;

• our expectations regarding market risk, including interest rate changes and foreign currency fluctuations;

• our ability to protect our intellectual property and operate our business without infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others;

• the impact of government laws and regulations;

S-6

• our ability to negotiate, integrate, and implement collaborations, acquisitions and other strategic transactions;

• our ability to engage and retain the employees required to advance our development activities and grow our business; and

• developments relating to our competitors and our industry, including the success of competing therapies that are or become available.

These statements are based on assumptions about many important factors and information currently available to us to the extent that we have thus far had an opportunity to fully and carefully evaluate such information in light of all surrounding facts, circumstances, recommendations and analyses. Additionally, these statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those discussed above and elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference herein and therein. Although we believe that expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. These statements, like all statements in this report, speak only as of their date, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements in light of future developments, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this prospectus supplement, and although we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted a thorough inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and you are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.

S-7

USE OF PROCEEDS

We currently plan to use the net proceeds from this offering for commercialization activities for pacritinib, general working capital and corporate purposes. The timing and amount of our actual expenditures will be based on many factors, including cash flows from operations and the anticipated growth of our business. As a result, our management will have broad discretion to allocate the net proceeds of the offerings.

S-8

DILUTION

Purchasers of common stock offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus will suffer immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value per share of common stock. Our net tangible book value as of December 31, 2020 was approximately $40.0 million, or approximately $0.53 per share of common stock. Net tangible book value per share represents the amount of total tangible assets less total liabilities, divided by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2020.

After giving effect to the sale of shares of common stock in this offer at the public offering price of $         per share and shares of Series X¹ preferred stock at the public offering price of $         per share and after deducting the commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2020 would have been approximately $         million, or $         per share of common stock. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $         per share of common stock to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $         per share of common stock to new investors participating in this offering. The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis:

Public offering price per share of common stock			$
Net tangible book value per share of common stock as of December 31, 2020	$	0.53
Increase in net tangible book value per share of common stock attributable to new investors in this offering	$
As adjusted net tangible book value per share of common stock as of December 31, 2020, after giving effect to this offering			$
Dilution per share of common stock to new investors participating in this offering			$

If the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase up to an additional              shares of common stock, the as adjusted net tangible book value after this offering would be $         per share, representing an increase in net tangible book value of $         per share to existing stockholders and immediate dilution of $         per share to new investors participating in this offering.

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 75,896,884 shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and excludes as of that date:

• 15,595,933 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options, at a weighted-average exercise price of $2.09 per share;

• 190,140 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants, at a weighted-average exercise price of $2.84 per share;

• 44,289,550 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of 4,429 shares of Series X preferred stock, at a conversion price of $1.00 per share;

• 8,383,333 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of 12,575 shares of Series O preferred stock, at a conversion price of $3.00 per share;

• 137,827 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our employee stock purchase plan; and

• 1,401,748 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity compensation plans.

To the extent that any options or warrants are exercised, convertible stock is exercised, new options are issued under our equity incentive plans, additional shares of common stock are sold under our employee stock purchase plan or we otherwise issue additional shares of common stock in the future, there will be further dilution to investors participating in this offering.

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UNDERWRITING

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement, each of the underwriters named below has severally agreed to purchase from us the aggregate number of securities set forth opposite its name below:

Underwriters	Number of Common Shares	Number of Series X1 Preferred Shares
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
JMP Securities LLC
BTIG, LLC
Total

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters are subject to various conditions, including approval of legal matters by counsel. The nature of the underwriters’ obligations commits them to purchase and pay for all of the securities listed above if any are purchased.

The underwriting agreement provides that we will indemnify the underwriters against liabilities specified in the underwriting agreement under the Securities Act, or will contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make relating to these liabilities.

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and JMP Securities, LLC are acting as representatives of the underwriters, and expect to deliver the securities to purchasers on or about, April 5, 2021.

Commissions and Discounts

The underwriters propose to offer the securities directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, and to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $        per share of common stock and $        per share of Series X¹ preferred stock. After this offering, the offering price, concessions and other selling terms may be changed by the underwriters. The securities are offered subject to receipt and acceptance by the underwriters and to the other conditions, including the right to reject orders in whole or in part.

The following table summarizes the compensation to be paid to the underwriters by us and the proceeds, before expenses, payable to us:

	Per share of common stock	Per share of Series X1 preferred stock	Total
Public offering price	$	$	$
Underwriting discount	$	$	$
Proceeds, before expenses, to us	$	$	$

We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for costs and expenses incident to the performance of their obligations under the underwriting agreement.

Indemnification of Underwriters

We will indemnify the underwriters against some civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and liabilities arising from breaches of our representations and warranties contained in the underwriting agreement. If we are unable to provide this indemnification, we will contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

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No Sales of Similar Securities

All of our officers and directors have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, not to (1) directly or indirectly (i) sell or offer to sell, contract to sell or lend, (ii) effect any short sale or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease any call equivalent position, (iii) pledge, hypothecate or grant any security interest in, or (iv) in any other way transfer or dispose of any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of our common stock (the “Lock-Up Shares”); (2) enter into any swap, hedge or similar arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic risk of ownership of the Lock-Up Shares; (3) make any demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the registration under the Securities Act of the offer and sale of any Lock-Up Shares, or cause to be filed a registration statement, prospectus or prospectus supplement (or an amendment or supplement thereto) with respect to any such registration, or (4) publicly announce any intention to the foregoing with regard to the Lock-Up Shares without the prior written consent of Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and JMP Securities, LLC, for a period of 90 days after the date of this prospectus supplement.

The restrictions described above do not prohibit (1) the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of common stock in accordance with such plan, provided that such plan shall not provide for any transfers during the 90 day period, (2) the transfer of shares of common stock upon the termination or foreiture of an equity or equity-based award, or (3) the transfer of shares of common stock by gift, by will or inestate succession to a family member or to a trust whose beneficiaries include the director or officer or their family member.

We have also agreed that for a period of 90 days after the date of this prospectus supplement, we will not, without the prior written consent of Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and JMP Securities, LLC, and subject to certain exceptions, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our common stock or Series X¹ preferred stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock or Series X¹ preferred stock or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of common stock or Series X¹ preferred stock, other than (1) the shares to be sold pursuant to the underwriting agreement, (2) the issuance of options to acquire shares of common stock or Series X¹ preferred stock granted pursuant to the Company’s benefit plans existing on the date hereof, or (3) the issuance of shares of common stock or Series X¹ preferred stock upon the exercise of any such options.

Nasdaq Capital Market Listing

Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CTIC.” There is no established public trading market for the Series X¹ preferred stock and we do not expect a market to develop. We do not plan on making an application to list the Series X¹ preferred stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market, any securities exchange or any recognized trading system.

Short Sales, Stabilizing Transactions, and Penalty Bids

In order to facilitate this offering, persons participating in this offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the price of common stock during and after this offering. Specifically, the underwriters may engage in the following activities in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Stabilizing transactions. The underwriters may make bids for or purchases of the securities for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities, so long as stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.

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Penalty bids. If the underwriters purchase securities in the open market in a stabilizing transaction or syndicate covering transaction, they may reclaim a selling concession from the underwriters and selling group members who sold those securities as part of this offering. Stabilization and syndicate covering transactions may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would be in the absence of these transactions. The imposition of a penalty bid might also have an effect on the price of the securities if it discourages presales of the securities.

The transactions above may occur on The Nasdaq Global Select Market or otherwise. Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the securities. If these transactions are commenced, they may be discontinued without notice at any time.

Other Relationships

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full-service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have provided in the past to us and our affiliates, and may in the future provide, various commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services for us and such affiliates in the ordinary course of their business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates, officers, directors and employees may purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and trading activities may involve and relate to our assets, securities or instruments (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) or persons and entities with relationships with us. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they should acquire, long or short positions in such assets, securities and instruments.

Selling Restrictions

General

Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required.

The securities offered by this prospectus supplement may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus supplement or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus supplement comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus supplement in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.

European Economic Area

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a relevant member state), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is

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implemented in that relevant member state (the relevant implementation date), no offer of securities described in this prospectus supplement may be made to the public in that Relevant Member State other than under the following exemptions in the Prospectus Directive:

(a) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

(b) to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive) in such Relevant Member State, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters; or

(c) in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, provided that no such offer of securities shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive and each person who initially acquires any securities or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with us and each of the underwriters that it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of the law in that Relevant Member State implementing Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive.

In the case of any securities being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that the securities acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer of any securities to the public other than their offer or resale in a Relevant Member State to qualified investors as so defined or in circumstances in which the prior consent of their representative has been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of securities to the public” in relation to any securities in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase securities, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State. The expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended, including by Directive 2010/73/EU), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Prospectus Directive) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”) and/or (ii) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”) or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in an offer to the public of the securities in the United Kingdom within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on the information included in this document or use it as basis for taking any action. In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity that this document relates to may be made or taken exclusively by relevant persons.

Switzerland

The securities may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (“SIX”) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document does not constitute a prospectus within the meaning of, and has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure

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standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the securities or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, us, or the securities have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of securities will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA (FINMA), and the offer of securities has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (“CISA”). The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of securities.

Dubai International Financial Centre

This prospectus supplement relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority, or the DFSA. This prospectus supplement is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus supplement nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for the prospectus supplement. The securities to which this prospectus supplement relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered should conduct their own due diligence on the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus supplement you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

Australia

This prospectus supplement:

• does not constitute a product disclosure document or a prospectus under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the “Corporations Act”);

• has not been, and will not be, lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), as a disclosure document for the purposes of the Corporations Act and does not purport to include the information required of a disclosure document under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act;

• does not constitute or involve a recommendation to acquire, an offer or invitation for issue or sale, an offer or invitation to arrange the issue or sale, or an issue or sale, of interests to a “retail client” (as defined in section 761G of the Corporations Act and applicable regulations) in Australia; and

• may only be provided in Australia to select investors who are able to demonstrate that they fall within one or more of the categories of investors, or Exempt Investors, available under section 708 of the Corporations Act.

The securities may not be directly or indirectly offered for subscription or purchased or sold, and no invitations to subscribe for or buy the securities may be issued, and no draft or definitive offering memorandum, advertisement or other offering material relating to any securities may be distributed in Australia, except where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act or is otherwise in compliance with all applicable Australian laws and regulations. By submitting an application for the securities, you represent and warrant to us that you are an Exempt Investor.

As any offer of securities under this document will be made without disclosure in Australia under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act, the offer of those securities for resale in Australia within 12 months may, under section 707 of the Corporations Act, require disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D.2 if none of the exemptions in section 708 applies to that resale. By applying for the securities you undertake to us that you will not, for a period

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of 12 months from the date of issue of the securities, offer, transfer, assign or otherwise alienate those securities to investors in Australia except in circumstances where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act or where a compliant disclosure document is prepared and lodged with ASIC.

Hong Kong

The securities have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance; or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance. No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the securities has been or may be issued or has been or may be in the possession of any person for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made under that Ordinance.

Japan

The securities have not been and will not be registered pursuant to Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. Accordingly, none of the securities nor any interest therein may be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any “resident” of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan in effect at the relevant time.

Singapore

This prospectus supplement has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of shares may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the shares be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275, of the SFA, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the securities are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

(a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

(b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor, securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the securities pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

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(i) to an institutional investor or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;

(ii) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

(iii) where the transfer is by operation of law;

(iv) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

(v) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore.

China

This prospectus supplement does not constitute a public offer of the securities, whether by sale or subscription, in the PRC. The securities are not being offered or sold directly or indirectly in the PRC to or for the benefit of, legal or natural persons of the PRC.

Further, no legal or natural persons of the PRC may directly or indirectly purchase any of the securities or any beneficial interest therein without obtaining all prior PRC’s governmental approvals that are required, whether statutorily or otherwise. Persons who come into possession of this document are required by the issuer and its representatives to observe these restrictions

Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have provided in the past to us and our affiliates and may provide from time to time in the future certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services for us and such affiliates in the ordinary course of their business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions. In addition, from time to time, certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates may effect transactions for their own account or the account of customers, and hold on behalf of themselves or their customers, long or short positions in our debt or equity securities or loans, and may do so in the future.

Canada

This prospectus constitutes an “exempt offering document” for the purposes of applicable Canadian securities laws. No prospectus has been filed with any securities commission or similar regulatory authority in Canada in connection with the offer and sale of the securities. No securities commission or similar regulatory authority in Canada has reviewed or in any way passed upon this prospectus or on the merits of the securities and any representation to the contrary is an offence.

Canadian investors are advised that this prospectus has been prepared in reliance on section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (“NI 33-105”). Pursuant to section 3A.3 of NI 33-105, this prospectus is exempt from the requirement that the company and the underwriters provide Canadian investors with certain conflicts of interest disclosure pertaining to “connected issuer” and/or “related issuer” relationships that may exist between the company and the underwriters as would otherwise be required pursuant to subsection 2.1(1) of NI 33-105.

The offer and sale of the securities in Canada is being made on a private placement basis only and is exempt from the requirement that the company prepares and files a prospectus under applicable Canadian securities laws. Any resale of securities acquired by a Canadian investor in this offering must be made in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, which may vary depending on the relevant jurisdiction, and which may require resales to be made in accordance with Canadian prospectus requirements, pursuant to a statutory exemption from the prospectus requirements, in a transaction exempt from the prospectus requirements or otherwise under a discretionary exemption from the prospectus requirements granted by the applicable local Canadian securities regulatory authority. These resale restrictions may under certain circumstances apply to resales of the securities outside of Canada.

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Each Canadian investor who purchases securities will be deemed to have represented to the Company, the underwriters and to each dealer from whom a purchase confirmation is received, as applicable, that the investor is (i) purchasing as principal, or is deemed to be purchasing as principal in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, for investment only and not with a view to resale or redistribution; (ii) an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in section 1.1 of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or, in Ontario, as such term is defined in section 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario); and (iii) is a “permitted client” as such term is defined in section 1.1 of National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations.

Any discussion of taxation and related matters contained in this prospectus does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to a Canadian investor when deciding to purchase the securities and, in particular, does not address any Canadian tax considerations. No representation or warranty is hereby made as to the tax consequences to a resident, or deemed resident, of Canada of an investment in the securities or with respect to the eligibility of the securities for investment by such investor under relevant Canadian federal and provincial legislation and regulations.

Securities legislation in certain of the Canadian jurisdictions provides certain purchasers of securities pursuant to an offering memorandum (such as this prospectus), including where the distribution involves an “eligible foreign security” as such term is defined in Ontario Securities Commission Rule 45-501 Ontario Prospectus and Registration Exemptions and in Multilateral Instrument 45-107 Listing Representation and Statutory Rights of Action Disclosure Exemptions, as applicable, with a remedy for damages or rescission, or both, in addition to any other rights they may have at law, where the offering memorandum, or other offering document that constitutes an offering memorandum, and any amendment thereto, contains a “misrepresentation” as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws. These remedies, or notice with respect to these remedies, must be exercised or delivered, as the case may be, by the purchaser within the time limits prescribed under, and are subject to limitations and defenses under, applicable Canadian securities legislation. In addition, these remedies are in addition to and without derogation from any other right or remedy available at law to the investor.

Upon receipt of this document, each Canadian investor hereby confirms that it has expressly requested that all documents evidencing or relating in any way to the sale of the securities described herein (including for greater certainty any purchase confirmation or any notice) be drawn up in the English language only. Par la réception de ce document, chaque investisseur canadien confirme par les présentes qu’il a expressément exigé que tous les documents faisant foi ou se rapportant de quelque manière que ce soit à la vente des valeurs mobilières décrites aux présentes (incluant, pour plus de certitude, toute confirmation d’achat ou tout avis) soient rédigés en anglais seulement.

New Zealand

The securities offered hereby have not been offered or sold, and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly in New Zealand and no offering materials or advertisements have been or will be distributed in relation to any offer of securities in New Zealand, in each case other than:

• to persons whose principal business is the investment of money or who, in the course of and for the purposes of their business, habitually invest money;

• to persons who in all the circumstances can properly be regarded as having been selected otherwise than as members of the public;

• to persons who are each required to pay a minimum subscription price of at least NZ$500,000 for the securities before the allotment of those securities (disregarding any amounts payable, or paid, out of money lent by the issuer or any associated person of the issuer); or

• in other circumstances where there is no contravention of the Securities Act 1978 of New Zealand (or any statutory modification or reenactment of, or statutory substitution for, the Securities Act 1978 of New Zealand).

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, San Francisco, California. The underwriters are being represented in connection with this offering by Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., New York, New York.

EXPERTS

Our consolidated financial statements appearing in our Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2020 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon (which contains an explanatory paragraph describing conditions that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern as described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements) included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that we have filed separately with the SEC. You should read the information incorporated by reference because it is an important part of this prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference the following information or documents that we have filed with the SEC (excluding those portions of any Form 8-K that are not deemed “filed” pursuant to the General Instructions of Form 8-K):

• our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2021;

• our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 15, 2021; and

• the description of our capital stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the SEC on June 27, 1996, as amended.

We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement additional documents that we may file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the completion or termination of the offering, including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, but excluding any information deemed furnished and not filed with the SEC. Any statements contained in a previously filed document incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement is deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus supplement, or in a subsequently filed document also incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes that statement.

We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus supplement is delivered, upon written or oral request, at no cost to the requester, a copy of any and all of the information that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

Requests for such documents should be directed to:

CTI BioPharma Corp.

3101 Western Avenue, Suite 800

Seattle, WA 98121

(206) 282-7100

Attention: Investor Relations

You may also access the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement through our website at www.ctibiopharma.com. Except for the specific incorporated documents listed above, no information available on or through our website shall be deemed to be incorporated in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the registration statement of which it forms a part.

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PROSPECTUS

CTI BIOPHARMA CORP.

$200,000,000

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Rights

Units

From time to time, we may offer and sell in one or more offerings:

• shares of our common stock;

• shares of our preferred stock;

• debt securities;

• warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities;

• rights to purchase common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities; and

• units consisting of two or more of these classes or series of securities.

We may sell any combination of these securities in one or more offerings, up to an aggregate offering price of $200,000,000, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of each offering thereof. Each time we offer securities using this prospectus, we will provide specific terms of the securities and the offering in one or more supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplements may also add to, update or change the information in this prospectus and will also describe the specific manner in which we will offer the securities. The securities may be offered and sold by us to or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, or directly to purchasers on a continuous or delayed basis. See “Plan of Distribution.”

This prospectus may not be used by us to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. You should carefully read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, including the information incorporated by reference, prior to investing in any of our securities.

Our common stock is quoted on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CTIC.” On December 3, 2020, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market was $3.26 per share. We do not expect our preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights or units to be listed on any securities exchange or over-the-counter market unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully review the risks and uncertainties referenced under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 6 of this prospectus as well as those contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement.

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

The date of this prospectus is December 15, 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	2
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	3
INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY	5
RISK FACTORS	6
USE OF PROCEEDS	7
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	8
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK	13
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK	14
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK	16
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES	18
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS	25
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS	28
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS	29
LEGAL MATTERS	30
EXPERTS	30
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE	31

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under the shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights, units or any combination of these securities in one or more offerings, for a total maximum offering price not to exceed $200,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer.

Each time we sell any securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain more specific information about the terms of that offering, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered. Any prospectus supplement may include a discussion of risks or other special considerations applicable to us or the offered securities. Any prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus, on the one hand, and the information contained in any prospectus supplement, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.

You should read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any documents that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement, and the additional information described below under “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” before making an investment decision.

Neither we nor any dealer or salesperson has authorized anyone to provide you with information in addition to or different from that contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurances as to the reliability of, any information not contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement. This prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement does not offer to sell or ask for offers to buy any securities other than those to which it relates and it does not constitute an offer to sell or ask for offers to buy any of the securities in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful, where the person making the offer is not qualified to do so, or to any person who cannot legally be offered the securities.

You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus or any documents we incorporate by reference herein or therein is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

Market data and industry statistics disclosed in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus or any other document we incorporate by reference herein or therein are based on independent industry publications, reports by market research firms and other published independent sources. Some data and other information is also based on our good faith estimates, which are derived from our review of internal surveys and independent sources. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on this information. By including such market data and information, we do not undertake a duty to update or provide that data in the future.

In this prospectus, the terms “CTI,” “Company,” “registrant,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to CTI BioPharma Corp., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires. “CTI” and “Pacritinib” are our proprietary marks. All other product names, trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus, as supplemented from time to time, are the property of their respective owners.

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the information requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. In accordance with the Exchange Act, we file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such reports, proxy statements and other information filed by us are available to the public free of charge at www.sec.gov. Copies of certain information filed by us with the SEC are also available on our website at www.ctibiopharma.com.

This prospectus omits some information contained in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. You should review the information and exhibits in the registration statement for further information about us and the securities we are offering. Statements in this prospectus concerning any document we filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or that we otherwise filed with the SEC are not intended to be comprehensive and are qualified by reference to these filings. You should review the complete document to evaluate these statements.

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any documents we incorporate by reference herein or therein may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. We have made these statements in reliance on the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation:

• our expectations regarding business disruptions and related risks resulting from the ongoing worldwide coronavirus pandemic known as COVID-19;

• our expectations regarding sufficiency of cash resources, cash expenditures, sources of cash flows and other projections, product manufacturing and sales, research and development expenses, general and administrative expenses and additional losses;

• our ability to obtain funding for our operations;

• the timing of, and our ability to develop, commercialize, and obtain regulatory approval of pacritinib and other development programs we may pursue in the future;

• the design of our clinical trials and anticipated enrollment, and the progress and potential of pacritinib and other development programs we may pursue in the future;

• the safety, effectiveness and potential benefits and indications of pacritinib and any other product candidates we may develop in the future;

• the timing of and results from clinical trials and pre-clinical development activities, including those related to pacritinib and any other product candidates we may develop in the future;

• our ability to advance product candidates, including pacritinib and any other product candidates we may develop in the future, into and successfully complete clinical trials;

• our ability to achieve profitability, including our ability to effectively implement cost reduction strategies and realize anticipated cost savings from those efforts;

• our expectations regarding federal, state and foreign regulatory requirements;

• the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of pacritinib or any other product candidates we may develop in the future;

• our and our collaborators’ ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for pacritinib or any other product candidates we may develop in the future, and the timing of such approvals;

• our ability to maintain and establish collaborations;

• our expectations regarding market risk, including interest rate changes and foreign currency fluctuations;

• our ability to protect our intellectual property and operate our business without infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others;

• the impact of government laws and regulations;

• our ability to negotiate, integrate, and implement collaborations, acquisitions and other strategic transactions;

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• our ability to engage and retain the employees required to advance our development activities and grow our business; and

• developments relating to our competitors and our industry, including the success of competing therapies that are or become available.

In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should” or “will” or the negative thereof, variations thereof and similar expressions. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such expectations or any of the forward-looking statements will prove to be correct, and actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in the forward-looking statements. We urge you to carefully review the disclosures we make concerning risks and other factors that may affect our business and operating results, including those made in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in “Part II—Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020, as such risk factors may be updated in subsequent SEC filings, as well as our other reports filed with the SEC and in any prospectus supplement. We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We do not intend, and we undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking information to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, unless required by law to do so.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY

We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of novel targeted therapies for blood-related cancers that offer a unique benefit to patients and healthcare providers. Our goal is to build a profitable company by generating income from products we develop and commercialize, either alone or with partners. We concentrate our efforts on treatments that target blood-related cancers where there is an unmet medical need. In particular, we are focused on evaluating pacritinib, our sole product candidate currently in active development, for the treatment of adult patients with myelofibrosis. In addition, we have recently started developing pacritinib for use in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We were incorporated in the State of Washington in 1991. In May 2014, we changed our name from “Cell Therapeutics, Inc.” to “CTI BioPharma Corp.” We completed our initial public offering in 1997 and our shares of common stock are listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CTIC.” On January 24, 2018, we changed our state of incorporation from the State of Washington to the State of Delaware. Our principal executive offices are located at 3101 Western Avenue, Suite 800, Seattle, Washington 98121, and our phone number is (206) 282-7100. Our website is located at www.ctibiopharma.com; however, the information in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus.

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RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the risks under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 22 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 13, 2020, and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2020, August 7, 2020 and November 10, 2020, respectively, which information is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and the additional risks and other information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein before deciding to invest in our securities. If any of the identified risks actually occur, they could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results or prospects and the trading price of our securities. Additional risks and uncertainties that we do not presently know or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects and the trading price of our securities.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds to us from the sale of our securities under this prospectus. Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we anticipate that any net proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes or for strategic acquisitions from time to time. General corporate purposes may include:

• increasing our working capital;

• funding research and development (including clinical trials); or

• repaying debt.

We may temporarily invest funds that we do not immediately use in short- and medium-term marketable securities. When we offer particular securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will set forth in the prospectus supplement our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of such securities.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplements from time to time through underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods or in one or more transactions:

• to or through one or more underwriters or dealers;

• to investors directly;

• through agents; or

• through any combination of these methods of sale.

Our securities may be offered and sold from time to time in one or more transaction at:

• a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

• market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

• prices related to the prevailing market prices; or

• negotiated prices.

Any of the prices at which we sell securities may be at a discount to market prices. Broker-dealers may also receive from us, as applicable, or the purchasers of the securities compensation that is not expected to exceed that customary in the types of transactions involved.

Each prospectus supplement, to the extent applicable, will describe the number and terms of the securities to which such prospectus supplement relates, including:

• any over-allotment options under which underwriters, if any, may purchase additional securities;

• the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents with whom we have entered into an arrangement with respect to the sale of such securities;

• the public offering or purchase price of such securities;

• any underwriting discounts, commissions or agency fees or other items constituting underwriter or agent compensation;

• any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers;

• any securities exchanges or markets on which the securities may be listed;

• any delayed delivery arrangements; and

• estimated offering expenses and the net proceeds we will receive from such sale.

We may engage in at-the-market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. Any at-the-market offering will be through an underwriter or underwriters acting as principal or agent for us.

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Underwritten Offerings

If underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions described above. The applicable prospectus supplement will name any underwriter involved in a sale of securities. Such securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts. Generally, the underwriters’ obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if they purchase any of the securities. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe any such underwriters in the applicable prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter and the nature of any such relationship.

Direct Sales and Sales through Agents

We may sell securities directly to purchasers. Such purchasers may be institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, with respect to any sale of those securities. We also may, from time to time, authorize dealers or agents to offer and sell these securities, upon such terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, if applicable. In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the securities offered will be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with. This prospectus, one or more prospectus supplements, and the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part may be used in conjunction with one or more other registration statements to the extent permitted by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Rights Offerings

We also may sell directly to investors through subscription rights distributed to our shareholders on a pro rata basis. In connection with any distribution of subscription rights to shareholders, if all of the underlying securities are not subscribed for, we may sell the unsubscribed shares of our securities directly to third parties or may engage the services of one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, including standby underwriters, to sell the unsubscribed securities to third parties.

We may also sell securities in one or more of the following transactions:

• block transactions (which may involve crosses) in which a broker-dealer may sell all or a portion of the shares as agent but may position and resell all or a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

• purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its own account;

• ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

• sales “at the market” to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise, for securities; and

• sales in other ways not involving a market maker or established trading markets, including direct sales to purchasers.

We may also enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement

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of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or in a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Any dealers or agents that participate in the distribution of securities may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act, and in such event, any discounts or commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on the resale of securities they realize may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.

Indemnification

Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the underwriters, dealers, agents or remarketing firms may be required to make.

Stabilization

In connection with any offering of the securities hereby, certain underwriters and selling group members and their respective affiliates may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the applicable securities. These transactions may include stabilization transactions pursuant to which these persons may bid for or purchase securities for the purpose of stabilizing their market price.

The underwriters in an offering of securities may also create a “short position” for their account by selling more securities in connection with the offering than they are committed to purchase from us. In that case, the underwriters could cover all or a portion of the short position by either purchasing securities in the open market following completion of the offering of these securities or by exercising any over-allotment option granted to them by us. In addition, the managing underwriter may impose “penalty bids” under contractual arrangements with other underwriters, which means that it can reclaim from an underwriter (or any selling group member participating in the offering) for the account of the other underwriters, the selling concession for the securities that are distributed in the offering but subsequently purchased for the account of the underwriters in the open market. Any of the transactions described in this paragraph or comparable transactions that are described in any accompanying prospectus supplement may result in the maintenance of the price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. None of the transactions described in this paragraph or in an accompanying prospectus supplement are required to be taken by an underwriter and, if they are undertaken, may be discontinued at any time.

Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, under certain circumstances a person engaged in the distribution of the securities offered under this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to our securities for a specified period prior to the commencement of such distribution.

Passive Market-Making on Nasdaq

Any underwriters who are qualified market makers on The Nasdaq Capital Market may engage in passive market making transactions in our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market making bid, however, the passive market making bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded.

Remarketing Arrangements

Offered securities may also be offered and sold in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. We will identify any remarketing firm and describe the terms of its agreements, if any, with us and its compensation in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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Delayed Delivery Contracts

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize dealers acting as our agents to solicit offers by institutions to purchase securities covered by this prospectus from us at the public offering price set forth in the relevant prospectus supplement under delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in the relevant prospectus supplement. Each delayed delivery contract will be for an amount not less than, and the aggregate principal amount of securities sold pursuant to delayed delivery contracts shall be not less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Institutions with whom delayed delivery contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions, and other institutions, but will in all cases be subject to our approval. Delayed delivery contracts will not be subject to any conditions except (i) the purchase by an institution of the securities covered by its delayed delivery contracts may not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which the institution is subject, and (ii) if the securities are being sold to underwriters, we will be required to have sold to such underwriters the total principal amount of the securities less the principal amount thereof covered by delayed delivery contracts. The underwriters and any other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of delayed delivery contracts.

Electronic Auctions

We may also make sales through the Internet or through other electronic means. Since we may from time to time elect to offer securities directly to the public, with or without the involvement of agents, underwriters or dealers, utilizing the Internet or other forms of electronic bidding or ordering systems for the pricing and allocation of such securities, you will want to pay particular attention to the description of that system we will provide in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Such electronic system may allow bidders to directly participate, through electronic access to an auction site, by submitting conditional offers to buy that are subject to acceptance by us, and which may directly affect the price or other terms and conditions at which such securities are sold. These bidding or ordering systems may present to each bidder, on a so-called “real-time” basis, relevant information to assist in making a bid, such as the clearing spread at which the offering would be sold, based on the bids submitted, and whether a bidder’s individual bids would be accepted, prorated or rejected. For example, in the case of debt security, the clearing spread could be indicated as a number of “basis points” above an index treasury note. Of course, many pricing methods can and may also be used. Upon completion of such an electronic auction process, securities will be allocated based on prices bid, terms of bid or other factors. The final offering price at which securities would be sold and the allocation of securities among bidders would be based in whole or in part on the results of the Internet or other electronic bidding process or auction.

Other Relationships

Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of business for which they receive customary compensation. Unless we specify otherwise in the related prospectus supplement, each class or series of securities will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than shares of our common stock, which are listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in our securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for our securities.

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General Information

The specific terms of any lock-up provisions in respect of any given offering will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

In compliance with guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, the maximum consideration or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer presently will not exceed 8% of the aggregate amount of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

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GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following summaries of common stock and preferred stock do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by, the provisions of our certificate of incorporation, as amended, which we refer to as our certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated bylaws, which we refer to as our bylaws, and all applicable provisions of Delaware law. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The particular terms of any offering of our securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such offering.

We are authorized to issue 166,500,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 33,333 shares of preferred stock, no par value. As of November 30, 2020 there were 75,471,355 shares of common stock outstanding, 12,575 shares of Series O preferred stock outstanding and 4,429 shares of Series X preferred stock outstanding. In addition, as of November 30, 2020, 17,016,496 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under our equity compensation plans and 172,876 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under our employee stock purchase plan.

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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

General

Each holder of common stock is generally entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted upon by the shareholders and there are no cumulative voting rights. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably the dividends, if any, that are declared from time to time by the board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common stock are entitled to share in our assets remaining after the payment of liabilities and the satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate in the future.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Listing

Our shares of common stock trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CTIC.”

Certain Anti-Takeover Matters

Our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws include a number of provisions that may have the effect of encouraging persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other unilateral takeover proposals to negotiate with our board of directors rather than pursue non-negotiated takeover attempts. These provisions include the items described below.

Board Vacancies

Our bylaws provide that any vacancy on our board of directors, however occurring, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the size of our board, may only be filled by a vote of the board.

Advance Notice Requirements

Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with regard to stockholder proposals relating to the nomination of candidates for election as directors or new business to be brought before meetings of our stockholders. These procedures provide that notice of stockholder proposals must be timely given in writing to our corporate secretary prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken. Generally, to be timely, notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days or more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year. The notice must contain certain information specified in the bylaws. These provisions may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed. These provisions may also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company.

Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

As required by the Delaware General Corporation Law, any amendment of our certificate of incorporation must first be approved by a majority of our board of directors and, if required by law or our certificate of incorporation, thereafter be approved by a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the amendment, and a majority of the outstanding shares of each class entitled to vote thereon as a class. Our bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, subject to any limitations set forth in the bylaws, and may also be amended by the affirmative vote of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the amendment.

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Blank Check Preferred Stock

Our certificate of incorporation provides for 33,333 authorized shares of preferred stock. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock may enable our board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise.

For example, if in the due exercise of its fiduciary obligations, our board of directors were to determine that a takeover proposal is not in the best interests of us or our stockholders, our board of directors could cause shares of preferred stock to be issued without stockholder approval in one or more private offerings or other transactions that might dilute the voting or other rights of the proposed acquirer or insurgent stockholder or stockholder group. In this regard, our certificate of incorporation grants our board of directors broad power to establish the rights and preferences of authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock. The issuance of shares of preferred stock could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to holders of shares of common stock. The issuance may also adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of these holders and may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control of us.

Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law

We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that this stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes, among other things, a merger, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or did own within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock.

Under Section 203, a business combination between a corporation and an interested stockholder is prohibited unless it satisfies one of the following conditions:

• before the stockholder became interested, the board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

• upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding, shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and employee stock plans, in some instances; or

• at or after the time the stockholder became interested, the business combination was approved by the board of directors of the corporation and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

A Delaware corporation may “opt out” of these provisions with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or an express provision in its certificate of incorporation or bylaws resulting from a stockholders’ amendment approved by at least a majority of the outstanding voting shares. We have not opted out of these provisions. As a result, mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts of us may be discouraged or prevented.

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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

General

The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the preferred stock of each series will be fixed by the certificate of amendment to the certificate of incorporation relating to that series and will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Our board of directors has the discretion to fix the number of shares of any such series and the designation thereof, and to fix and amend the powers, preferences and rights, and the limitations or restrictions granted to or imposed upon any wholly unissued series of preferred stock, including the voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, rights and terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions), redemption prices and liquidation preferences of any such series. It is not possible to state the actual effects of the issuance of any shares of preferred stock upon the rights of holders of the common stock until our board of directors determines the specific rights of the holders of such preferred stock. However, the effects could include, among other things:

• restricting dividends on the common stock;

• diluting the voting power of the common stock;

• impairing the liquidation rights of the common stock; or

• delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company without further action by the shareholders.

As stated above, the applicable prospectus supplement will specify the terms of the series of preferred stock being offered, including the following:

• the number of shares of preferred stock being offered;

• the designation of the series of preferred stock;

• the per share purchase price of the preferred stock;

• the dividend rate or method of determining the dividend rate, if any, including whether the dividend rate is fixed or variable;

• the date or dates on which dividends will accrue and the dividend payment dates;

• whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the dates from which dividends will accrue;

• the price and the terms and conditions for redemption, if any, including redemption at our option or at the option of the holders, the time period for redemption, and any accumulated dividends or premiums;

• the liquidation preference, if any, and any accumulated dividends upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs;

• any sinking fund or similar provision, and, if so, the terms and provisions relating to the purpose and operation of the fund;

• the terms and conditions, if any, for conversion or exchange of preferred stock for any other class or classes of our securities, including the price or the rate of conversion or exchange and the method, if any, of adjustment;

• the voting rights of the preferred stock;

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• any exchange on which the preferred stock will be listed;

• the transfer agent for the preferred stock; and

• any or all other preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, privileges or qualifications, limitations or restrictions.

Rank

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the preferred stock will, with respect to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company, rank (i) senior to our common stock and to any series of preferred stock which specifically provides that it will rank junior to the preferred stock being offered, (ii) junior to any series of preferred stock which specifically provides that it will rank senior to the preferred stock being offered and (iii) on parity with any other series of preferred stock.

The issuance of preferred stock will affect, and may adversely affect, the rights of holders of common stock. It is not possible to state the actual effect of the issuance of any shares of preferred stock on the rights of holders of common stock until our board of directors determines the specific rights attached to that preferred stock. The effects of issuing preferred stock could include one or more of the following:

• restricting dividends on the common stock;

• diluting the voting power of the common stock;

• impairing the liquidation rights of the common stock; or

• delaying or preventing changes in control or management of our company.

Dividend Rights

Holders of preferred stock will have the dividend rights set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Dividends on any series of preferred stock, if cumulative, will be cumulative from and after the date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any restriction on the repurchase or redemption of shares of preferred stock while dividends on such shares are in arrears shall be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Certain Anti-Takeover Matters

Refer to “Description of Common Stock—Certain Anti-Takeover Matters” for a discussion of provisions under Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws that may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

This summary, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will generally apply to any future debt securities we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities we offer under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below.

The debt securities may be either secured or unsecured and will either be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. We will issue the senior notes under the senior indenture which we will enter into with one or more trustees. We will issue the subordinated notes under the subordinated indenture which we will enter into with one or more trustees. We have filed forms of these documents as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We use the term “indentures” to refer to both the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture.

The indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. We use the term “debenture trustee” to refer to either the senior trustee or the subordinated trustee, as applicable.

The following summaries of the material provisions of the senior notes, the subordinated notes and the indentures are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the debt securities that we sell under this prospectus, as well as the complete indentures that contain the terms of the debt securities. Except as we may otherwise indicate, the terms of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are identical.

General

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms relating to a series of debt securities, including, to the extent applicable:

• the title;

• the principal amount being offered and, if a series, the total amount authorized and the total amount outstanding;

• any limit on the amount that may be issued;

• whether or not we will issue the series of debt securities in global form and, if so, the terms and who the depositary will be;

• the maturity date;

• the principal amount due at maturity and whether the debt securities will be issued with any original issue discount;

• whether and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay additional amounts on any debt securities held by a person who is not a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and whether we can redeem the debt securities if we have to pay such additional amounts;

• the interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate, the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates;

• the rate or rates of amortization of the debt securities;

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• whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, the terms of any secured debt and the properties secured by any such debt;

• whether or not the debt securities will be senior or subordinated, and the terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt;

• the place where payments will be payable;

• restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any;

• our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;

• the date, if any, after which, the conditions upon which, and the price at which we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions, and any other applicable terms of those redemption provisions;

• provisions for a sinking fund, purchase or other analogous fund, if any;

• the date, if any, on which, and the price at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to retire, redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities;

• whether the indenture will restrict our ability and/or the ability of our subsidiaries to:

• incur additional indebtedness;

• issue additional securities;

• create liens;

• pay dividends and make distributions in respect of our capital stock and the capital stock of our subsidiaries;

• redeem capital stock;

• place restrictions on our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends, make distributions or transfer assets;

• make investments or other restricted payments;

• sell or otherwise dispose of assets;

• enter into sale-leaseback transactions;

• engage in transactions with shareholders and affiliates;

• issue or sell stock of our subsidiaries; or

• effect a consolidation or merger;

• whether the indenture will require us to maintain any interest coverage or other financial reserve, fixed charge, cash flow-based, asset-based or other financial ratios;

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• a discussion of any material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities;

• information describing any book-entry features;

• the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any;

• the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

• if other than U.S. dollars, the currency in which the series of debt securities will be denominated; and

• any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, including any events of default that are in addition to those described in this prospectus or any covenants provided with respect to the debt securities that are in addition to those described above, and any terms which may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of the debt securities.

Conversion or Exchange Rights

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplements the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or other securities of ours or a third party, including the conversion or exchange rate, as applicable, or how it will be calculated, and the applicable conversion or exchange period. We will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of our securities or the securities of a third party that the holders of the series of debt securities receive upon conversion or exchange would, under the circumstances described in those provisions, be subject to adjustment, or pursuant to which those holders would, under those circumstances, receive other property upon conversion or exchange, for example in the event of our merger or consolidation with another entity.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

The indentures in the form initially filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part do not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. However, any successor of ours or acquirer of such assets must assume all of our obligations under the indentures and the debt securities.

If the debt securities are convertible into our other securities, the person with whom we consolidate or merge or to whom we sell all of our property must make provisions for the conversion of the debt securities into securities which the holders of the debt securities would have received if they had converted the debt securities before the consolidation, merger or sale.

Events of Default Under the Indentures

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following are events of default under the indentures with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:

• if we fail to pay interest when due and payable and our failure continues for 90 days and the time for payment has not been validly extended;

• if we fail to pay the principal, or premium, if any, or to make payment required by any sinking fund or analogous fund when due and payable and the time for payment has not been validly extended;

• if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant contained in the debt securities or the indentures, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive notice from the debenture trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and

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• if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur.

If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the debenture trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, by notice to us in writing (and to the debenture trustee if notice is given by such holders), declare the unpaid principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, the principal amount of and accrued interest, if any, of each series of debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the debenture trustee or any holder.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture.

Subject to the terms of the indentures, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the debenture trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the debenture trustee reasonable indemnity. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the debenture trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the debenture trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that:

• the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and

• subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act, the debenture trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding.

A holder of the debt securities of any series will only have the right to institute a proceeding under the indentures or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies, if:

• the holder has given written notice to the debenture trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series;

• the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and such holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the debenture trustee, to institute the proceeding as trustee; and

• the debenture trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions, within 90 days after the notice, request and offer.

These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities.

We will be required to deliver to the debenture trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year during which any debt securities were outstanding, a certificate stating whether the signors know that any default or event of default occurred during such fiscal year, as well as certain other reports.

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Modification of Indenture; Waiver

We and the debenture trustee may modify an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters, including, without limitation:

• to fix any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture or in the debt securities of any series;

• to comply with the provisions described above under “Consolidation, Merger or Sale”;

• to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of any indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

• to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under the indenture by a successor trustee;

• to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated securities and to make all appropriate changes for such purpose;

• to add to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issuance, authentication and delivery of debt securities of any series;

• to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the debt securities of any series authorized pursuant to the indentures, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the indentures or any series or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of debt securities;

• to add to our covenants such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the holders, to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default, or to surrender any of our rights or powers under the indenture; or

• to change anything that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of debt securities of any series in any material respect.

In addition, under the indentures, the rights of holders of debt securities of any series may be changed by us and the debenture trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, we and the debenture trustee may only make the following changes with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:

• extending the fixed maturity of the debt securities of any series;

• reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption of any debt securities; or

• reducing the percentage of debt securities the holders of which are required to consent to any supplemental indenture.

Discharge

The indentures provide that we can elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for certain obligations, including obligations to:

• register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series;

• replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities of the series;

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• maintain paying agencies;

• compensate and indemnify the debenture trustee; and

• appoint any successor trustee.

In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the debenture trustee money or government obligations, or a combination of both, sufficient to pay all of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.

Form, Exchange and Transfer

We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indentures provide that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, or another depositary named by us and identified in a prospectus supplement with respect to that series.

At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

Subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplements, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will not impose a service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges applicable to or associated with such registration of transfer or exchange.

We will name in the applicable prospectus supplements the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.

If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:

• issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of any series being redeemed in part during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or

• register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part.

Information Concerning the Debenture Trustee

The debenture trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the debenture trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the debenture trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indentures at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.

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Payment and Paying Agents

Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.

We will pay principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that, unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may make certain payments by check which we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in a prospectus supplement, we will designate an office or agency of the debenture trustee in the city of New York as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

All money we pay to a paying agent or the debenture trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities which remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.

No Protection in the Event of a Change in Control

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement with respect to a particular series of debt securities, the debt securities will not contain any provisions that may afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction, whether or not such transaction results in a change in control.

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Shareholders

No incorporator, shareholder, employee, agent, officer, director or subsidiary of ours will have any liability for any obligations of ours, or because of the creation of any indebtedness under the debt securities, the indentures or supplemental indentures. The indentures provide that all such liability is expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of such indentures and the issuance of the debt securities.

Governing Law

The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.

Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities

The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the extent described in a prospectus supplement. The indentures in the form initially filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part do not limit the amount of indebtedness which we may incur, including senior indebtedness or subordinated indebtedness, and do not limit us from issuing any other debt, including secured debt or unsecured debt. Additional or different subordination provisions may be described in a prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities.

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

This summary, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, which consist of warrants to purchase our common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in one or more series. Warrants may be offered independently or together with our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and/or rights offered by any prospectus supplement, and may be attached to or separate from those securities. While the terms we have summarized below will generally apply to any future warrants we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any warrants we offer under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below.

We will issue the warrants directly or under a warrant agreement which we will enter into with a warrant agent to be selected by us. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of offered warrants. We use the term “warrant agreement” to refer to any of these warrant agreements. We use the term “warrant agent” to refer to the warrant agent under any of these warrant agreements. The warrant agent will act solely as an agent of ours in connection with the warrants and will not act as an agent for the holders or beneficial owners of the warrants.

The following summary of material provisions of the warrants and the warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the warrant agreement applicable to a particular series of warrants. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the warrants that we sell pursuant to this prospectus, as well as the complete warrant agreements that contain the terms of the warrants.

General

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplements the terms relating to a series of warrants.

If warrants for the purchase of securities are offered, the prospectus supplement will describe the following terms, to the extent applicable:

• the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase such shares and the price at which such number of shares may be purchased upon such exercise (as well as provision for changes to or adjustments in such exercise price);

• the currencies in which the warrants are being offered;

• the designation, stated value and terms (including, without limitation, liquidation, dividend, conversion and voting rights) of the series of preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of warrants to purchase preferred stock;

• the principal amount of debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a debt warrant and the exercise price for the warrants, which may be payable in cash, securities or other property, together with the designation, denominations, currencies and other terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of debt warrants;

• the date on and after which the holder of the warrants can transfer them separately from the related security;

• the principal amount of the series of debt securities that can be purchased if a holder exercises a warrant and the price at which and currencies in which such principal amount may be purchased upon exercise;

• the terms of any anti-dilution or other adjustment provisions;

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• the terms of any mandatory or optional call or redemption of the warrants;

• the date on which the right to exercise the warrants begins and the date on which such right expires, and any expiration acceleration provisions;

• the number of warrants outstanding, if any;

• a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the warrants;

• whether the warrants are issued pursuant to a warrant agreement with a warrant agent or issued directly by us;

• the number of warrants then-outstanding, if any; and

• any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the warrants.

A holder of warrant certificates may exchange them for new certificates of different denominations, present them for registration of transfer and exercise them at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Until any warrants to purchase debt securities are exercised, the holder of the warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the related security that can be purchased upon exercise, including any rights to:

• receive notice as shareholders with respect to any meeting of shareholders for the election of our directors or any other matter;

• exercise any rights as shareholders; or

• receive payments of principal, premium or interest on any underlying debt securities or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture.

Exercise of Warrants

Warrants may be exercised at the applicable price at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

Warrants may be exercised in the method(s) as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement or other offering material, we will forward, as soon as practicable, the securities purchasable upon such exercise.

Amendments and Supplements to the Warrant Agreements

We may amend or supplement a warrant agreement without the consent of the holders of the applicable warrants to cure ambiguities in the warrant agreement, to cure, correct or supplement a defective provision in the warrant agreement, or to provide for other matters under the warrant agreement that we and the warrant agent deem necessary or desirable, so long as, in each case, such amendments or supplements do not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.

Warrant Adjustments

Unless the applicable prospectus supplements state otherwise, the exercise price of, and the number of securities covered by, a common stock warrant or preferred stock warrant will be adjusted proportionately if we subdivide or combine our common stock or preferred stock, as applicable.

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In addition, unless the prospectus supplements state otherwise, if we, without payment therefor:

• issue capital stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or preferred stock, or any rights to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any of the foregoing, as a dividend or distribution to holders of our common stock or preferred stock;

• pay any cash to holders of our common stock or preferred stock other than a cash dividend paid out of our current or retained earnings or other than in accordance with the terms of the preferred stock;

• issue any evidence of our indebtedness or rights to subscribe for or purchase our indebtedness to holders of our common stock or preferred stock; or

• issue common stock or preferred stock or additional stock or other securities or property to holders of our common stock or preferred stock by way of spinoff, split-up, reclassification, combination of shares or similar corporate rearrangement;

then the holders of common stock warrants and preferred stock warrants, as applicable, will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the warrants, in addition to the securities otherwise receivable upon exercise of the warrants and without paying any additional consideration, the amount of stock and other securities and property such holders would have been entitled to receive had they held the common stock or preferred stock, as applicable, issuable under the warrants on the dates on which holders of those securities received or became entitled to receive such additional stock and other securities and property.

Except as stated above, the exercise price and number of securities covered by a common stock warrant or preferred stock warrant, and the amounts of other securities or property to be received, if any, upon exercise of those warrants, will not be adjusted or provided for if we issue those securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for those securities, or securities carrying the right to purchase those securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for those securities.

Holders of common stock warrants and preferred stock warrants may have additional rights under the following circumstances:

• certain reclassifications, capital reorganizations or changes of the common stock or preferred stock, as applicable;

• certain share exchanges, mergers, or similar transactions involving us and which result in changes of the common stock or preferred stock, as applicable; or

• certain sales or dispositions to another entity of all or substantially all of our property and assets.

If one of the above transactions occurs and holders of our common stock or preferred stock are entitled to receive stock, securities or other property with respect to or in exchange for their securities, the holders of the common stock warrants and preferred stock warrants then outstanding, as applicable, will be entitled to receive upon exercise of their warrants the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities or property that they would have received upon the applicable transaction if they had exercised their warrants immediately before the transaction.

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DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

This summary, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the rights that we may offer under this prospectus, which consist of rights to purchase our common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in one or more series. Rights may be offered independently or together with our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and/or warrants offered by any prospectus supplement, and may be attached to or separate from those securities. While the terms we have summarized below will generally apply to any future rights we may offer pursuant to this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any rights that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplements. The terms of any rights we offer under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below.

The applicable prospectus supplements relating to any rights that we offer will include specific terms of any offering of rights for which this prospectus is being delivered, including the following, to the extent applicable:

• the date for determining the persons entitled to participate in the rights distribution;

• the price, if any, per right;

• the exercise price payable for each share of common stock, share of preferred stock or debt security upon the exercise of the rights;

• the number of rights issued or to be issued to each holder;

• the number and terms of the shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock or debt securities that may be purchased per each right;

• the extent to which the rights are transferable;

• any other terms of the rights, including the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the rights;

• the respective dates on which the holder’s ability to exercise the rights will commence and will expire;

• the number of rights outstanding, if any;

• a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the rights;

• the extent to which the rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities or an over-allotment privilege to the extent the securities are fully subscribed; and

• if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement entered into by us in connection with the offering of such rights.

The description in the applicable prospectus supplements of any rights that we may offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable rights agreement and/or rights certificate, which will be filed with the SEC in connection therewith. Therefore, you should carefully consider the actual provisions of the rights, the rights agreement and the applicable securities.

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

This summary, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the units that we may offer under this prospectus, which may consist of one or more shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights or any combination of such securities. While the terms we have summarized below will generally apply to any future units we may offer pursuant to this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any units that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplements. The terms of any units we offer under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below.

The applicable prospectus supplements relating to any units that we offer will include specific terms of any offering of units for which this prospectus is being delivered, including the following, to the extent applicable:

• the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;

• whether we will apply to have the units traded on a securities exchange or securities quotation system;

• a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and

• how, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the purchase price paid for the units is to be allocated among the component securities.

The description in the applicable prospectus supplements of any units that we may offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable unit agreement, which will be filed with the SEC in connection therewith. Therefore, you should carefully consider the actual provisions of the units, the units agreement and the applicable securities.

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LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters in connection with the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, San Francisco, California.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as set forth in their report, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

SEC rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus much of the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those publicly available documents. The information that we incorporate by reference into this prospectus is considered to be part of this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (in each case, other than those documents or the portions of those documents deemed to be furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules) until the offering of the securities under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is terminated or completed:

• our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 13, 2020;

• portions of the proxy statement for our 2020 annual meeting of shareholders, filed with the SEC on April 23, 2020, to the extent specifically incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019;

• our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020, filed with the SEC on May  15, 2020, August  7, 2020 and November 11, 2020, respectively;

• our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 3, 2020 (containing Items 1.01, 3.02, 8.01 and 9.01), February  14, 2020, March  9, 2020, April 13, 2020, April  22, 2020, June  10, 2020, and September 29, 2020; and

• the description of our capital stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the SEC on June 27, 1996, as amended.

Because we are incorporating by reference future filings with the SEC, this prospectus is continually updated and later information filed with the SEC may update and supersede some of the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. This means that you must look at all of our SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus or in any document previously incorporated by reference have been modified or superseded.

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owners, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon his or her written or oral request, a copy of any or all documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus, excluding exhibits to those documents unless they are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents. You may request a copy of these documents by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

CTI BioPharma Corp.

3101 Western Avenue, Suite 800

Seattle, Washington 98121

(206) 282-7100

Attention: Investor Relations

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Shares of Common Stock

Shares of Series X¹ Preferred Stock

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

Book-Running Managers

Stifel

JMP Securities

Lead Manager

BTIG

                    , 2021