CONCORD, Calif. & SARASOTA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ: CERS) and the SunCoast Blood Bank (SCBB)
announced today that the first pathogen reduced platelet units have been
produced in the continental US. This follows Cerus’ FDA approvals
received for the INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets and plasma in
December 2014.
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“We believe that initiating the production of INTERCEPT platelet
components is a significant milestone in improving blood safety.
Providing our hospitals with pathogen reduced products is essential to
reducing transfusion-transmitted infections, including sepsis,” said
Scott Bush, chief executive officer of SCBB. “INTERCEPT platelets also
present a potential opportunity for the hospitals we serve to streamline
inventory and allow the release of platelets earlier for the needs of
their patients by eliminating procedures such as gamma irradiation.”
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.
“Having pathogen reduced platelet components available in the US is the
first step in helping our blood center customers transform the safety
and availability of the blood supply,” commented William 'Obi' Greenman,
Cerus’ president and chief executive officer. “We are proud to have
collaborated with SunCoast in successfully implementing INTERCEPT, and
we look forward to helping SunCoast provide pathogen reduced components
to its Southwest Florida hospitals.”
SCBB collects over 45,000 units of blood products, including 6,000 units
of platelets and over 5,500 plasma units per year, to support 12
hospitals and healthcare providers.
ABOUT SUNCOAST BLOOD BANK
SunCoast Blood Bank (SCBB) is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit
organization, providing a reliable supply of safe blood products and
transfusion services to Southwest Florida for 66 years. SCBB offers a
variety of blood products and specialized services such as bedside
Therapeutic Apheresis, transfusion testing, and patient blood management
for Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System, Manatee Memorial Hospital,
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, Complex
Care Hospital at Ridgelake, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of
Sarasota, Surgery Center at St. Andrews Venice, North Port
Emergency Room, Fawcett Memorial Hospital of Port Charlotte,
Englewood Community Hospital, DeSoto Memorial Hospital and Bayflite 2
Emergency Helicopter Transport. SCBB is recognized as a distinguished
provider with outstanding customer service and the ability to provide
rare blood services onsite. For SCBB donor locations and more
information, visit www.scbb.org
or call 1-866-97-BLOOD.
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 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 http://www.cerus.com
for information about Cerus.
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 streamlining
inventory, early release of platelets and eliminating other procedures
to treat blood components. 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, risks associated with the implementation
and use of the INTERCEPT Blood 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 May 8, 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.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150629005348/en/
Source: Cerus Corporation