CONCORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ:CERS) 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.
INTERCEPT and the INTERCEPT Blood System are trademarks of Cerus
Corporation.
Source: Cerus Corporation