CONCORD, Calif. & AMERSFOORT, Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ: CERS) announced today that Gualtiero G.
Garlasco has been appointed as Interim General Manager for Cerus Europe,
transitioning from Caspar Hogeboom, who will be assuming a consulting
role effective April 1, 2016, after 10 years of service.
“Caspar’s leadership over the past decade was a critical component in
building our commercial organization and customer base in the EMEA
region. As Caspar transitions to a consulting role, Gualtiero will now
lead our next phase for INTERCEPT platelets and plasma and further
develop the required competencies for the proposed European red blood
cell launch anticipated in 2017,” said William ‘Obi’ Greenman, Cerus’
president and chief executive officer. “Gualtiero’s considerable global
commercial leadership experience at major corporations like ThermoFisher
Scientific, Novartis and bioMerieux will be a significant asset as we
evolve our commercial organization. Fortunately, he has a strong
background in the transfusion medicine field as well.”
Mr. Garlasco brings over 30 years of sales and marketing experience to
Cerus, most recently serving as Vice President of Global Sales and
Marketing for ThermoFisher’s Clinical Diagnostics Division where he was
responsible for its global commercial activities representing annual
sales of approximately $700 million. Prior to his role at ThermoFisher,
Mr. Garlasco was Vice President and General Manager, Europe, Middle
East, Africa Commercial Operations for Novartis’ blood testing business.
He has also held sales and marketing leadership roles previously with
Ventana Medical Systems, bioMerieux, and API Systems.
“My previous experience has given me an in depth understanding of the
importance of improving the safety of transfusion medicine,” commented
Gualtiero. “I look forward to working with the Cerus European team to
make INTERCEPT platelets and plasma the standard of care and prepare for
the potential launch of INTERCEPT red cells.”
ABOUT CERUS
Cerus Corporation is a biomedical products company focused in the field
of blood transfusion 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 more information about Cerus.
Forward-Looking Statements
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 concerning Cerus’
expectations regarding its future growth prospects and the potential
launch of INTERCEPT red cell system, including the timing thereof.
Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking
statements as a result of certain factors, including, without
limitation: risks associated with the commercialization and market
acceptance of, and customer demand for, the INTERCEPT Blood System,
including the risk that Cerus may otherwise not experience revenue
growth in future periods; risks related to adverse market and economic
conditions, including continued or more severe adverse fluctuations in
foreign exchange rates and/or weakening economic conditions in the CIS
and other markets where Cerus sells its products; Cerus’ reliance on
third parties to market, sell, distribute and maintain its products; 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 Securities and Exchange Commission, including
Cerus‘ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
2015, filed with the SEC on November 6, 2015. Cerus disclaims any
obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking
statements contained in this press release.
INTERCEPT and INTERCEPT Blood System are trademarks of Cerus Corporation.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160111005555/en/
Source: Cerus Corporation