Profile: Cerus Corp (CERS.O)

Cerus Corporation, incorporated in September 1991, is a biomedical products company focused on commercializing the INTERCEPT Blood System to enhance blood safety. The INTERCEPT Blood System, which is based on the Company's technology for controlling biological replication, is designed to inactivate blood-borne pathogens in donated blood components intended for transfusion. The Company has worldwide rights for its intercepts Blood System for three blood components: platelets, plasma and red blood cells. The INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets, or platelet system, and the INTERCEPT Blood System for plasma, or plasma system, have received Conformite Europeene (CE) marks and are being marketed and sold in a number of countries in Europe, The Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East and selected countries in other regions worldwide. The Company sells both the platelet and plasma systems using its direct sales force and through distributors.

The platelet system is designed to inactivate blood-borne pathogens in platelets donated for transfusion. Separate approvals for use of INTERCEPT-treated platelet products have been obtained in France and Switzerland. In Germany and Austria, where approvals must be obtained by individual blood centers for use of INTERCEPT-treated platelets, several centers have obtained such approvals. The plasma system is designed to inactivate blood-borne pathogens in plasma donated for transfusion. Separate approvals for use of INTERCEPT-treated plasma products have been obtained in France and Switzerland. In Germany and Austria, approvals must be obtained by individual blood centers for use of INTERCEPT-treated plasma. The red blood cell system is designed to inactivate blood-borne pathogens in red blood cells donated for transfusion.

The Company competes with Grifols S.A., Octapharma AG, CaridianBCT and MacoPharma International.