Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

In conjunction with Cerus Corporation's (Nasdaq:CERS) Second Quarter Financial Results release, you are invited to listen to its conference call that will be broadcast live over the Internet on July 31, 2002 at 4:30 p.m. ET with Stephen Isaacs, President and CEO, Laurence Corash, M.D., VP, Medical Affairs, Greg Schafer, CFO, and Jim Vaughn, R.Ph., VP Marketing of Cerus Corporation.

What:Cerus Corporation Second Quarter Financial Results as well as an Update on Progress and Future Outlook 
When:Wednesday, July 31, 2002 at 4:30 p.m. ET 
Where: http://www.firstcallevents.com/service/ajwz362424138gf12.html 
How: Live over the Internet -- Simply log on to the web at the address above Contact: Lisa Luttinger/Cerus Corporation, 925-288-6036 

Cerus Corporation is building on its leading position in the biopharmaceutical industry by developing medical systems and therapeutics to provide safer and more effective options to patients. The company is developing products based on its proprietary Helinx(R) technology for controlling biological replication. Cerus' most advanced programs are focused on systems to enhance the safety of the world's blood supply. The INTERCEPT Blood System, based on the company's Helinx technology, is designed to inactivate viruses, bacteria, other pathogens and white blood cells. In collaboration with its partner, Baxter Healthcare, the company has received a CE Mark for the INTERCEPT Blood System disposable set for platelets. The next step is completion of the CE Mark process for the illumination device prior to commercialization of the system. The companies have begun the regulatory submission process to obtain approval in the United States. Separately, the companies are preparing the U.S. regulatory submission for the INTERCEPT Blood System for plasma, which will be followed by a CE Mark application for this product. In addition, the companies are conducting Phase III clinical trials for INTERCEPT Red Blood Cells. The Concord, Calif.-based company also is pursuing therapeutic applications of Helinx technology to treat and prevent serious diseases.

Helinx is a trademark of Cerus Corporation.

INTERCEPT Blood System is a trademark of Baxter International, Inc.

Statements in this announcement regarding regulatory filings, product development and commercial potential are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from the above forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks and uncertainty of the timing and results of clinical trials and other development activities, actions by regulatory authorities at any stage of the development process, additional financing activities, manufacturing, market acceptance of any products, competitive conditions and other factors discussed in the company's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the

call will be archived for 72 hours on the Website

www.cerus.com.

(Minimum Requirements to listen to broadcast: The RealPlayer software, downloadable free from www.real.com/products/player/index.html, and at least a 14.4Kbps connection to the Internet. If you experience problems listening to the broadcast, send an email to webmaster@vdat.com.)