New contracts enable broad adoption of the INTERCEPT Blood System for
platelets in France
CONCORD, California--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ: CERS) announced today the signing of two,
new, expanded contracts with Établissement Français du Sang (EFS), the
French National Blood Service, for the INTERCEPT Blood System. One
contract covers the supply of INTERCEPT Platelet kits while the other is
for the purchase of additional Illuminators to help support the roll-out
to new regions. The initial term of this platelet kit supply agreement
is two years with two one-year extension options, supporting INTERCEPT
platelet production in all EFS regional centers.
In January, the EFS was informed of the Ministry of Health’s decision
that the INTERCEPT Platelet system should be deployed for the control of
bacterial infections transmitted by transfusion, in accordance with a
prior December 2016 recommendation by France’s regulatory authority,
ANSM, the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products
Safety.
“We are proud that our decade long relationship with the EFS has led to
an expanded supply agreement that supports a new standard of care,” said
William ‘Obi” Greenman, Cerus’ president and chief executive officer.
“Currently, approximately 10% of the annual platelet production in
France is treated with the INTERCEPT system. We look forward to working
with EFS to implement pathogen reduction throughout their system. In
support of this broad roll-out to new regions, we plan to ramp up
production of INTERCEPT Platelet kits to ensure ample supply,” continued
Greenman.
The EFS produces approximately 330,000 units of platelets annually
across 12 regional centers in continental France and 3 overseas
territories. The INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets has been used in
France since 2006, and is currently used in the Alsace region, as well
as throughout overseas French territories including the islands of La
Reunion, Guadeloupe, and Martinique. Implementation in the island
territories was driven by the need to maintain a safe platelet supply
during outbreaks of chikungunya, dengue and Zika in these tropical
regions. In addition, INTERCEPT is utilized by the French Army.
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 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 regarding the expected
implementation of the INTERCEPT Blood System through the EFS regional
centers, as well as Cerus’ plans to ramp up production of disposable
kits. 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 Securities and Exchange Commission, including Cerus’
Annual Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, filed
with the SEC on May 4, 2017. 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 disclaims any obligation or
undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained
in this press release.
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Source: Cerus Corporation