CONCORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ: CERS) announced today that it has entered
into a partnership agreement with Kawasumi Laboratories to develop an
INTERCEPT platelet kit designed for use in Japan.
“We are delighted to enter into this important partnership with Kawasumi
Laboratories,” said William ‘Obi’ Greenman, Cerus’ chief executive
officer and president. “By leveraging Kawasumi's global manufacturing
expertise and unique position in the Japanese market, we will be able to
propose to the Japanese Red Cross a version of the INTERCEPT Blood
System for platelets that is optimized for Japan’s blood products
specifications, with kits meeting the highest quality standards.”
The Japan Red Cross (JRC), national provider of blood components for
transfusion, makes over 3.4 million whole blood collections annually. It
produces more than 800,000 apheresis platelet doses and 2.3 million
fresh frozen plasma (120 ml-equivalent) units for transfusion each year.
The JRC previously selected a competitive pathogen inactivation
technology that is under evaluation for platelets, and has yet to make a
decision on the adoption of pathogen inactivation for the territory.
“We are pleased to partner with Cerus in an effort to propose a solid
alternative for pathogen inactivation to the Japan Red Cross,” said
Takeshi Saino, senior corporate officer and general manager of sales and
marketing divison at Kawasumi Laboratories. “We understand the value of
pathogen inactivation in blood safety, and we are confident in our
ability to work together to develop and manufacture an INTERCEPT
platelet set specifically for use in Japan.”
Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc. (Tokyo Stock Exchange Ticker Code 7703),
founded in 1957, was Japan’s first manufacturer of plastic disposable
blood collection and transfusion sets. Today, the company develops,
produces, and supplies medical devices and pharmaceuticals globally,
with consolidated annual sales of over 27 billion yen. Its businesses
include hemodialysis, plasmapheresis, blood banking and transfusion, and
infusion therapy.
ABOUT CERUS
Cerus Corporation is a biomedical products company focused in the field
of blood safety. Cerus currently markets and sells the INTERCEPT Blood
System for both platelets and plasma in Europe, the Commonwealth of
Independent States, the Middle East and selected countries in other
regions around the world. In the United States, Cerus is seeking
regulatory approval of the INTERCEPT Blood System for plasma and
platelets. 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.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Any statements
contained in this press release that are not statements of historical
fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without
limitation, statements relating to the potential success of the
development activities for an INTERCEPT platelet set designed for use in
Japan and JRC adoption of the INTERCEPT Blood System in Japan. These
forward-looking statements are based upon Cerus’ current expectations.
Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking
statements as a result of certain factors, including, without
limitation, the risk that the parties may encounter unanticipated
difficulties developing a platelet set for the Japanese market, or
obtaining regulatory approval of such platelet sets in Japan and the
risk that the JRC may not adopt the INTERCEPT Blood System in Japan, as
well as other risks detailed in Cerus' filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC), including in Cerus' quarterly report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, filed with the SEC on August
8, 2014. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this
press release. Cerus does not undertake any obligation to update any
forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future
events, changed assumptions or otherwise.
Source: Cerus Corporation