Decontamination System With Potential For Cleaning Blood Supplies

CONCORD, Calif., April 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Cerus Corporation (Nasdaq: CERS) today announced the publication of a scientific paper in the current issue of Transfusion (vol. 37, no. 4) released this week, that describes a photochemical treatment for the inactivation of viruses and bacteria in platelet concentrates. The paper, titled "Photochemical Inactivation of Viruses and Bacteria in Platelet Concentrates Using a Novel Psoralen and Long Wavelength Light," presents data demonstrating the Company's use of its proprietary compound (S-59) to inactivate a wide range of viral and bacterial pathogens in platelet concentrates while maintaining the viability of the platelets. The technology reported in this study, performed by a team of investigators at Cerus Corporation led by Lily Lin, Ph.D., offers the potential to significantly reduce transfusion related viral and bacterial diseases.

"We are extremely encouraged by the results of this work, which is the most comprehensive study to date demonstrating pathogen inactivation with preservation of platelet viability," said Dr. Lin., Director, Platelet Development. "Other methods to eradicate infectious agents from platelet concentrates have shown deleterious effects on platelet viability."

Currently, most screening tests utilized by blood centers to ensure that blood components are safe from infectious contaminants work by detecting antibodies to a limited number of known infectious pathogens rather than screening for pathogens themselves. These tests can fail to detect a pathogen if the blood was collected from an individual during the "infectivity window," a period before antibodies reach detectable levels in the bloodstream. Additionally, there are many pathogens that can cause serious illness for which testing is not routinely performed.

This study was designed to test the ability of the Company's pathogen inactivation technology to inactivate high levels of different types of viruses and bacteria added to platelet concentrates. Cerus's proprietary psoralen compound (S-59) binds selectively to nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) within cells or viruses, and once activated by light prevents them from replicating. After the pathogen inactivation procedure, assays were performed to demonstrate complete inactivation of infectious pathogens and preservation of platelet viability. Infective agents were shown to be eradicated from the platelet concentrates and platelet viability maintained.

"Our system for the inactivation of infectious pathogens in platelets is the first application of our platform technology towards developing decontamination systems for all blood components," said Cerus President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Isaacs. "We have extended this technology to develop a decontamination system for fresh frozen plasma (FFP), and are developing a similar technology to decontaminate red blood cells. This technology has the potential to create safe blood supplies globally."

Cerus Corporation is developing systems designed to improve the safety of blood transfusions by inactivating infectious pathogens in blood components used for transfusion (platelets, FFP and red blood cells) and by inhibiting the white blood cell activity that is responsible for certain adverse reactions to transfusions. The Company's inactivation system has the potential to inactivate known pathogens as well as those which have not been identified and hence for which no tests have been developed. The Company is presently in Phase 2b trials with its pathogen inactivation system for platelets and in Phase 1 trials for the FFP system.

Cerus Corporation is collaborating with the Fenwal Division of Baxter Healthcare Corporation's Biotech Group to develop, manufacture and market pathogen inactivation systems for blood components used for transfusion. Baxter, a global medical products company, is a leader in technologies related to blood and the circulatory system. The Fenwal Division develops, manufactures and markets products and services for the collection, separation, storage and transfusion of blood and its components.

Any forward-looking statements in this news release are based on current expectations and beliefs, which are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from any such forward- looking statements as a result of factors discussed in the Company's Prospectus dated January 30, 1997.

SOURCE Cerus Corporation