New Five-Year Agreement Maintains Exclusive Use of INTERCEPT Platelets and Expands Use of INTERCEPT Plasma
CONCORD, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Cerus Corporation (Nasdaq:CERS) announced today that it has signed a new five-year commercial contract with Swiss Transfusion SRC, a company of the Swiss Red Cross, for purchase of the INTERCEPT Blood System. The new agreement includes both INTERCEPT platelet and plasma kits in addition to Illuminators and service contracts.
“Swiss Transfusion SRC is one of our longest standing clinical and commercial partners, with a track record of stringent safety requirements. We are honored that Swiss Transfusion SRC continues to entrust Cerus and the INTERCEPT Blood System to enhance the safety and availability of its blood component supply,” said William ‘Obi’ Greenman, Cerus’ president and chief executive officer.
Since 2011, all platelet components in Switzerland have been treated with the INTERCEPT Blood System. Based on haemovigilance data published by Swissmedic, between 2011 and 2018, over 280,000 units of INTERCEPT treated platelets were transfused in Switzerland with no reported cases of transfusion-transmitted sepsis. Conversely, between 2005 and 2011, approximately 157,000 units of conventional platelets were transfused with 16 reported cases of septic transfusions resulting in three fatalities. Furthermore, at the University of Basel hospital during the same period, patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplant receiving INTERCEPT platelets demonstrated improved survival compared to those patients who had previously been transfused with conventional platelet products (Infanti et al. Transfusion 59 (11); 3350-61, 2019).
“Cerus has been, and continues to be, an important collaboration partner in helping enhance patient safety in Switzerland. The ability to extend platelet storage to seven days has also improved our ability to maintain availability of this sometimes scarce blood component,” said Dr. Bernhard Wegmüller, chief executive officer, Swiss Transfusion SRC. “In the future, we look forward to the expected CE mark approval for INTERCEPT red blood cells.”
In 2018, approximately 220,000 RBC doses, 39,000 units of platelets, and 30,500 units of fresh frozen plasma were transfused in Switzerland.
The Cerus partnership with Swiss Transfusion SRC to develop a whole blood pathogen inactivation system is also continuing in an effort to find a solution to improve the safety of transfusion practice in Africa. The program is expected to begin clinical studies in the Côte d’Ivoire in 2020. In many parts of the world with limited resources, there is not enough blood to save women’s lives with severe postpartum haemorrhage, to treat children with malaria infection‐induced severe anaemia, or to reduce the burden of sickle cell disease and other haemoglobinopathies.
ABOUT CERUS
Cerus Corporation is dedicated solely to safeguarding the world’s blood supply and aims to become the preeminent global blood products company. Based in Concord, California, our employees are dedicated to deploying and supplying vital technologies and pathogen-protected blood components for blood centers, hospitals and ultimately patients who rely on safe blood. With the INTERCEPT Blood System, we are focused on protecting patients by delivering the full complement of reliable products and expertise for transfusion medicine. Cerus develops and markets the INTERCEPT Blood System, and remains the only company in the blood transfusion space to earn both CE Mark and FDA approval for pathogen reduction of both platelet and plasma components. Cerus currently markets and sells the INTERCEPT Blood System 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. For more information about Cerus, visit www.cerus.com.
INTERCEPT and the INTERCEPT Blood System are trademarks of Cerus Corporation.
Forward Looking Statements
Except for the historical statements contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the anticipated approval of Cerus’ CE Mark submission for the INTERCEPT red blood cell system and the timing of commencement of clinical studies for a whole blood pathogen inactivation system in the Côte d’Ivoire. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, without limitation, risks associated with the uncertain and time-consuming regulatory process; that Cerus may be unable to obtain CE Mark approval, or any other regulatory approvals, of INTERCEPT red blood cell system in a timely manner or at all; that applicable regulatory authorities may disagree with Cerus’ interpretations of the data from its clinical studies and/or may otherwise determine not to approve Cerus’ regulatory submissions in a timely manner or at all, that anticipated clinical trials may not be initiated on the anticipated timing or at all, or if initiated, may be extended, delayed, suspended or terminated, including as result of safety concerns, 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, 2019, filed with the SEC on October 30, 2019. Cerus disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
Contacts
Tim Lee – Investor Relations Director
Cerus Corporation
925-288-6137