Sec Form 4 Filing - Craig Adam R @ CTI BIOPHARMA CORP - 2017-03-20

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Craig Adam R 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol CTI BIOPHARMA CORP [ CTIC] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X __ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) See Remarks (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O CTI BIOPHARMA CORP., 3101 WESTERN AVE., SUITE 600 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 03/20/2017 (Street) SEATTLE, WA98121 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 4.24 03/20/2017 A 1,200,000 ( 1 ) 03/19/2027 Common Stock 1,200,000 $ 0 1,200,000 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Craig Adam R C/O CTI BIOPHARMA CORP. 3101 WESTERN AVE., SUITE 600 SEATTLE, WA98121 X See Remarks Signatures /s/ Bruce J. Seeley, Attorney-in-fact for Adam R. Craig 03/21/2017 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )The stock options will vest in six equal semi-annual installments over a three-year period beginning March 20, 2017, subject to Dr. Craig's continued employment by CTIC through the applicable vesting dates. The options will fully vest, to the extent then outstanding and unvested, if either (i) Dr. Craig's employment is terminated by CTIC without "Cause" or by him for "Good Reason" following a change in control of CTIC or (ii) Dr. Craig's employment is terminated due to his death or "Disability" (as such terms are defined in Dr. Craig's Employment Agreement). Of the total award, stock options covering 80,000 shares were granted under CTIC's 2015 Equity Incentive Plan and the balance were granted on a stand-alone basis (not under CTIC's 2015 Equity Incentive Plan) in accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

Remarks: Chief Executive Officer and President

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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