Cerus to support ongoing development of INTERCEPT red cell system

Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ:CERS) announced today that it has received a $2.1 million award from the U.S. Department of Defense to support the advanced development of the company's technology for inactivating pathogens and leukocytes in red blood cells. Cerus is developing the INTERCEPT system for red cells to prevent transmission of infectious diseases through red blood cell transfusions and to minimize complications caused by residual white blood cells.

"The U.S. Department of Defense is again demonstrating its support of pathogen inactivation," said Dr. Laurence Corash, Cerus' chief medical officer. "This award will allow Cerus to support ongoing development of the INTERCEPT red cell system."

The award, granted by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, covers a performance period between August 2011 and August 2012. The award was granted to Cerus in recognition of the INTERCEPT red blood system's potential to provide U.S. military personnel with prospective protection against transfusion-transmitted diseases. To date, Cerus has received more than $32 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Defense to improve blood safety for the U.S. military.