CONCORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ:CERS - News) announced today that the Swiss regulatory body, Swissmedic, has approved the use of plasma components treated with Cerus’ INTERCEPT Blood System.
The INTERCEPT platelet system was approved by Swissmedic in August of 2009, and is currently being implemented by the Swiss Red Cross in 12 of their 13 centers. The approval of the INTERCEPT plasma system provides Swiss blood centers the option to treat both platelets and plasma using the INTERCEPT Blood System, taking advantage of the natural synergy between the two processes. Switzerland produces approximately 30,000 platelet doses and 65,000 plasma units for transfusion annually. To date, the INTERCEPT Blood System is the only technology approved in Switzerland for pathogen inactivation treatment of platelet and plasma components on a single platform.
The regulatory review process by Swissmedic is similar to the regulatory processes in France (Afssaps) and Germany (Paul Ehrlich Institute), in which INTERCEPT-treated blood components are approved as a biologics for patient use. Cerus previously received CE mark approval for the INTERCEPT platelet and plasma systems, which allows Cerus to sell the systems in the European Union.
ABOUT CERUS
Cerus Corporation is a biomedical products company focused on commercializing the INTERCEPT Blood System to enhance blood safety. The INTERCEPT system is designed to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted diseases by inactivating a broad range of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and parasites that may be present in donated blood. The nucleic acid targeting mechanism of action enables INTERCEPT treatment to inactivate both established transfusion threats, such as hepatitis B and C, HIV, West Nile virus and bacteria, and is designed to inactivate emerging pathogens such as influenza, malaria and dengue. Cerus currently markets and sells the INTERCEPT Blood System for both platelets and plasma in Europe, the CIS, the Middle East and selected countries in other regions around the world. The INTERCEPT red blood cell system is in clinical development. See http://www.cerus.com for more information.
