CERUS CORP

Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ: CERS) is a biomedical products company focused on developing and commercializing the INTERCEPT Blood System to enhance blood safety by reducing blood-borne pathogens in donated blood components intended for transfusion. The company's website is www.cerus.com.

The INTERCEPT Blood System represents the company's core technology platform, based on proprietary mechanisms for controlling biological replication. The system is designed to inactivate a broad array of pathogens including viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, West Nile, and SARS, as well as bacteria, parasites, and potentially harmful white blood cells, while preserving the therapeutic properties of blood components.

Cerus has commercialized the INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets and plasma in multiple markets including the United States, Canada, and numerous countries across Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East, and selected regions worldwide. Both the platelet and plasma systems have received FDA approval in the U.S. and CE Certificates of Conformity under the Medical Devices Regulation in the European Union. The company also received FDA approval for the INTERCEPT Blood System for Cryoprecipitation, which produces INTERCEPT Fibrinogen Complex for treating bleeding associated with fibrinogen deficiency.

The red blood cell system remains in development and has not yet been commercialized. The company is conducting the Phase 3 RedeS study in the United States to assess safety and efficacy of INTERCEPT-treated red blood cells compared to conventional red blood cells. The company previously completed Phase 3 clinical trials in Europe for both acute and chronic anemia applications. A resubmitted conformity assessment application for CE certification in the European Union is currently under review.

Cerus employs a direct sales force and works through distributors to market and sell its products. The company relies on third-party manufacturers, including Fresenius Kabi AG as its primary supplier for disposable kits, to produce components of the INTERCEPT Blood System. The company has received significant funding from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority and the U.S. Department of Defense to support development of the red blood cell system.