Benzinga | Aug 7, 2020 08:55AM EDT

Cerus Says INTERCEPT Blood System Kit Shipments Surpass 7.5 Million Treatable Platelet And Plasma Doses Since Launch

Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ:CERS) announced today that INTERCEPT Blood Systems disposable kit shipments have surpassed 7.5 million treatable platelet and plasma doses globally since commercial launch.

"This is a significant milestone for Cerus and highlights the scope our technology has had within the transfusion industry and on the millions of patients worldwide transfused with INTERCEPT treated platelet and plasma components," said William 'Obi' Greenman, Cerus' president and chief executive officer. "We have a solid track record with the safety and efficacy of our INTERCEPT products, which now surpasses more than 7.5 million treatable doses."

The INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets and plasma provides a proactive approach to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted infectious disease (TTID). Cerus' proprietary pathogen-reduction technology provides a foundational strategy for safeguarding the blood supply against a broad spectrum of known and emerging pathogens. Annually, over 115 million units of blood are donated worldwide and there is no therapeutic alternative for patients who need blood1.

About the Cerus INTERCEPT Blood System:

* Provides robust, broad-spectrum reduction of the risks of TTID, including sepsis, and can be used to replace bacterial detection, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Babesia testing and gamma irradiation for prevention of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD).

* INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets and plasma utilizes amotosalen, a photoactive compound activated with ultra-violet light that specifically targets DNA and RNA, irreversibly cross-linking nucleic acids, which blocks the replication of viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

* Over a decade of national hemovigilance data on INTERCEPT treated platelets establishing a proven track record of safety and clinical utility . The INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets is now the standard of care in nine countries including France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Austria.?

* INTERCEPT complies with the FDA guidance on bacterial safety in platelets and also provides a proactive solution to address pandemic preparedness.

* A recent study conducted at the King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah Saudi Arabia demonstrated that INTERCEPT Blood System inactivates SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent for COVID-19, in plasma components.

* The use of INTERCEPT provides an alternative to the three-month donor deferral period for residents of non-malaria endemic countries after traveling to malaria-endemic regions, thereby potentially improving blood component availability for hospitals, blood banks, and ultimately, patients in need.

? Standard of care defined as treating greater than 50% of platelets

2 World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/news-room/facts-in-pictures/detail/blood-transfusion