CONCORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ:CERS) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009. Product revenue for the INTERCEPT Blood System was $3.1 million during the first quarter of 2009, down from $4.9 million during the first quarter of 2008, when $1.2 million of previously deferred product revenue was recognized. This decline in product revenue was largely due to no illuminators being sold during the first quarter of 2009 in contrast to the first quarter of 2008. Despite the lack of illuminator sales, disposable kit sales in total increased in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. Government grant revenue in the first quarter of 2009 was $0.4 million, compared to $0.1 million in the first quarter of 2008. Total revenue for the first quarter of 2009 was $3.5 million, down from $5.0 million for the first quarter of 2008, due primarily to decreased product sales offset by modestly higher government grant revenue.
