CONCORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 19, 2006--Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ:CERS) announced today that the company's INTERCEPT Blood System will be featured at the annual meeting of the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) being held in Miami, Florida, October 21st - 24th.

Cerus' pathogen inactivation programs will be highlighted during one oral and six poster presentations covering the INTERCEPT platelet, plasma, and red blood cell systems. The INTERCEPT Blood System, which is based on Cerus' proprietary nucleic acid crosslinking technology, is designed to enhance the safety of donated blood components by inactivating viruses, bacteria, and parasites, as well as potentially harmful white blood cells.

"We're pleased to share our progress with the blood banking community at the AABB meeting," said Claes Glassell, president and chief executive officer of Cerus. "Our seven presentations, in addition to the 20 presentations last month at the International Society of Blood Transfusion congress underscore the promise to potentially transform blood safety."

Cerus' oral presentation at the meeting, Abstract #503, will take place on Tuesday, October 24th at 3:00 p.m. Researchers will describe the INTERCEPT system's potential to inactivate pathogens in red blood cells while maintaining critical red blood cell functions. Presented data will compare treatment methods with previous inactivation processes.

Cerus will also present two abstracts on the INTERCEPT red blood cell system during the conference poster presentations, beginning Saturday, October 21st at 9:00 a.m. Abstract #451 describes the modified treatment process used to inactivate pathogens in red blood cells with the INTERCEPT Blood System, and presents data on bacterial and viral inactivation following treatment. Abstract #510 presents evidence for the absence of immunoreactivity to red blood cells treated with the modified INTERCEPT red blood cell system in non-transfused patient serum samples.

Cerus researchers will also present two posters on the company's INTERCEPT plasma system, also beginning Saturday, October 21st. The first, Abstract #584, compares therapeutic levels of coagulation factors in INTERCEPT plasma prepared from fresh plasma and from fresh frozen plasma, Abstract #361 describes therapeutic levels of coagulation factors in INTERCEPT plasma following extended periods (up to 18 months) of cold storage.

Also during the Saturday poster presentation, Cerus will present two additional studies on the INTERCEPT Blood System. Abstract #317 discusses the use of the INTERCEPT platelet system to inactivate pathogens in donor platelets during a recent epidemic of the Chikungunya virus. Abstract #416 describes the use of the INTERCEPT Blood System to inactivate pathogens in platelets and plasma, and presents data on reductions of harmful bacteria and viruses following treatment.

The abstracts discussed above are currently available in Transfusion September 2006 - Vol. 46 Issue 9s Page 1A-267A. You may also obtain a copy by visiting www.cerus.com beginning September 21st.

ABOUT CERUS

Cerus Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes novel, proprietary products in the fields of blood safety and immunotherapy to provide safer, more effective medical options to patients in areas of substantial unmet medical needs. In the field of immunotherapy, the company is employing its proprietary attenuated Listeria vaccine platform to develop a series of novel therapies to treat cancer, and it is applying its proprietary Killed But Metabolically Active technology platform in research and development of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for infectious diseases. In the field of blood safety, the company is developing and commercializing the INTERCEPT Blood System, which is based on the company's proprietary Helinx technology and is designed to enhance the safety of donated blood components by inactivating viruses, bacteria, parasites and other pathogens, as well as potentially harmful white blood cells. INTERCEPT, INTERCEPT Blood System and Helinx are trademarks of Cerus Corporation.

Statements in this press release regarding the potential impact and applications of the INTERCEPT Blood System 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 uncertainties related to the timing and results of clinical trials and other development activities, the acceptability of any data by regulatory authorities, actions by regulatory authorities and other government authorities, including the FDA and foreign counterparts, at any stage of the development or marketing process, technological advances in the medical field, additional financing activities, manufacturing, product demand and market acceptance and adoption of any products, competitive conditions, internal and external factors that could impact commercialization, and other factors discussed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Cerus does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, changed assumptions or otherwise; all forward-looking statements speak only as of the time when made. Actual results or experience could differ materially from the forward-looking statements.

    CONTACT: Cerus Corporation
             Myesha Edwards, 925-288-6017
             Corporate Communications & Investor Relations

    SOURCE: Cerus Corporation