Spectrum Pharmaceuticals to Acquire Worldwide Rights to Market ZEVALIN(R)

Irrevocable License From Bayer Healthcare Leverages Spectrum's Existing Clinical, Regulatory and Marketing Investments;--Spectrum Will Continue To Advance ZEVALIN's Clinical Development Program And Will Now Be Better Positioned To Grow ZEVALIN Sales Globally In The Long-Term.Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (nasdaqgs:SPPI) announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire licensing rights to market ZEVALIN (ibritumomab tiuxetan) injection for intravenous use outside of the United States of America from Bayer Healthcare. ZEVALIN is currently approved in more than 40 countries outside the U.S. for the treatment of follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, including countries in Europe, Latin America and Asia. Under the agreement, Spectrum will have all rights related to marketing, sales, and patents, and access to existing inventory of ZEVALIN from Bayer. Spectrum will utilize a combination of company resources and partnerships to support the product outside the U.S."We are excited to expand our commercial footprint globally with an approved, state-of-the-art drug that we know very well," said Rajesh C. Shrotriya, MD, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals. "Our experience in the U.S. marketplace and the impressive and broadening clinical outcome data from ZEVALIN, as presented at major international scientific conferences over the past two years, has increased our confidence in the long-term potential of ZEVALIN. With the licensing of ex-U.S., worldwide rights to ZEVALIN, we will be able to further leverage our existing clinical, regulatory and marketing investments. Working closely with European investigators who have spearheaded exciting new data with ZEVALIN in recent years, Spectrum will continue to advance its clinical development program and will now be better positioned to grow ZEVALIN sales globally in the long-term. Our access to the worldwide market will help patients with follicular lymphoma who can benefit from ZEVALIN.""The global market for ZEVALIN is several times larger than the US, with more than 350,000 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosed every year. Since acquiring the U.S. rights to ZEVALIN in 2008, we have successfully reversed the declining sales trajectory and nearly tripled 2008 sales. We hope to achieve similar milestones outside the U.S. with our focused sales and marketing efforts. This licensing transaction demonstrates our commitment to being focused on our strategy of bringing novel cancer treatments to patients while at the same time delivering value to our shareholders," concluded Dr. Shrotriya.The closing of the agreement is subject to customary closing conditions. The Merchant Banking Group of Burrill & Company acted as advisor to Spectrum Pharmaceuticals in this transaction.