Cerus Corporation’s INTERCEPT Blood System Receives CE Mark Label Expansion for Treatment of Previously Frozen Plasma

CONCORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ:CERS - News) announced today that it has received an expanded label claim allowing the use of its INTERCEPT Blood System(TM) to treat previously frozen plasma. Under the expanded claim, blood banks in countries that recognize the CE mark may now use INTERCEPT pathogen inactivation to treat either previously frozen or freshly collected plasma. This increases the supply of plasma available for pathogen inactivation by allowing treatment of imported plasma and plasma in quarantined inventory, both of which are previously frozen. In addition, the change also aids INTERCEPT customers who collect plasma over larger geographic regions, allowing plasma to be frozen after donation in remote collection locations and treated later at component processing centers. Cerus received CE mark registration for the INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets in 2002 and for plasma in 2006. The INTERCEPT system is used in blood centers in Europe, Russia and the Middle East.

"We are committed to expanding the scope of the INTERCEPT Blood System for use in various types of blood components," said Larry Corash, senior vice president and chief medical officer of Cerus Corporation. "Customers can have confidence when using INTERCEPT for pathogen inactivation, based upon Cerus' clinical trial data for each major plasma indication showing that INTERCEPT-treated plasma has therapeutic efficacy comparable to conventional plasma. Pathogen inactivation is an important safeguard to prevent infections in patients receiving blood transfusions."

ABOUT THE INTERCEPT BLOOD SYSTEM

The INTERCEPT Blood System is designed to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted diseases by inactivating a broad range of pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria and parasites, as well as harmful white blood cells that may be present in donated blood intended for transfusion. The system inactivates pathogens in platelets and plasma using a proprietary illumination device, process and active compound. The INTERCEPT Blood System is designed to be easily incorporated into the typical operations of blood banks and to provide protection against a broad spectrum of known and emerging pathogens. The INTERCEPT Blood System has received CE mark approvals for both the platelet and plasma systems. No pathogen inactivation system has been shown to inactivate all pathogens. For more information on the INTERCEPT Blood System visit www.interceptbloodsystem.com.

ABOUT CERUS

Cerus Corporation is a biomedical products company focused on commercializing the INTERCEPT Blood System to enhance blood safety. The INTERCEPT Blood System is designed to inactivate blood-borne pathogens in donated blood components intended for transfusion. Cerus currently markets the INTERCEPT Blood System for both platelets and plasma in Europe and the Middle East. The Company is also pursuing regulatory approvals in the United States and other countries. The INTERCEPT red blood cell system is currently in clinical development. For more information on Cerus Corporation or the INTERCEPT Blood System visit www.cerus.com.

INTERCEPT and the INTERCEPT Blood System are trademarks of Cerus Corporation.

Contact:

Cerus Corporation William J. Dawson Vice President, Finance & CFO 925-288-6053 or Porter Novelli Life Sciences Jason I. Spark, 619-849-6005

Source: Cerus Corporation