CONCORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ:CERS) announced today that it has signed a new
agreement with Fresenius Kabi. The 10-year contract extends and
reinforces the existing partnership for the production of INTERCEPT
Blood System kits at the manufacturing facility in La Châtre, France.
Under the terms of the agreement, Fresenius Kabi has committed to
investing in the La Châtre facility. A number of investments are
planned, first to foster automation and installation of new equipment,
with additional future investments related to capacity expansion and
cost reduction initiatives. La Châtre is designated in the agreement as
the primary site of production. The agreement also provides that should
the volume expectations require, a second manufacturing facility would
be identified and qualified. Finally, under the new agreement, the
current license agreement with Fresenius Kabi will convert to a
royalty-free license and Cerus will no longer be required to pay
royalties on the sale of INTERCEPT kits.
“I am very pleased to make this announcement,” commented Dr. Christian
Hauer, member of the management Board of Fresenius Kabi AG, Medical
Devices Division. “The constructive discussions with Cerus and the
support of State services allowed us to finalize an agreement that
confirms an industrial future to the site of La Châtre. It offers
prospects to the more than 120 employees working on the production of
INTERCEPT products.”
“With our over 15 year history working with the very capable group at
the La Châtre facility, we are enthusiastic about continuing the
relationship for the long-term,” said William 'Obi' Greenman, President
and CEO of Cerus. “We believe that this agreement establishes a strong
foundation for the security of our supply chain as we plan to expand our
customer base with US blood centers and prepare to launch the INTERCEPT
red cell system in the future.”
ABOUT CERUS
Cerus Corporation is a biomedical products company focused in the field
of blood safety. The INTERCEPT Blood System is designed to reduce the
risk of transfusion-transmitted infections 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 of the
INTERCEPT treatment is designed to inactivate established transfusion
threats, such as Hepatitis B and C, HIV, West Nile Virus and bacteria,
as well as emerging pathogens such as chikungunya, malaria and dengue.
Cerus currently markets and sells the INTERCEPT Blood System for both
platelets and plasma in the United States, Europe, the Commonwealth of
Independent States, the Middle East and selected countries in other
regions around the world. The INTERCEPT red blood cell system is in
clinical development. See www.cerus.com
for information about Cerus.
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 projects
funded by Fresenius Kabi’s investments in the La Châtre manufacturing
facility, the expansion of our US customer base and the potential launch
of INTERCEPT red cells. 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 we do not have input into
the operations of the La Châtre manufacturing facility and Fresenius
Kabi may independently decide to invest in other projects, Cerus' lack
of commercialization experience in the United States and its ability to
develop and maintain an effective and qualified U.S.-based commercial
organization, as well as the resulting uncertainty of its ability to
achieve market acceptance of and otherwise successfully commercialize
the INTERCEPT Blood System in the United States the uncertain and
time-consuming development and regulatory process, including the risk
that Cerus may be unable to complete the additional development and
other activities necessary to support the potential CE mark submission
for the INTERCEPT red cell system in a timely manner or at all, and may
otherwise be unable to obtain any regulatory approvals for the INTERCEPT
red cell system, as well as other risks detailed in Cerus' filings with
the SEC, including Cerus' quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the
SEC on August 7, 2015. 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.
INTERCEPT and the INTERCEPT Blood System are trademarks of Cerus
Corporation.
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Source: Cerus Corporation