CONCORD, Calif.
Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ: CERS) announced today that it has entered into a partnership agreement with Kawasumi Laboratories to develop an INTERCEPT platelet kit designed for use in Japan.
“We are delighted to enter into this important partnership with Kawasumi Laboratories,” said William ‘Obi’ Greenman, Cerus’ chief executive officer and president. “By leveraging Kawasumi’s global manufacturing expertise and unique position in the Japanese market, we will be able to propose to the Japanese Red Cross a version of the INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets that is optimized for Japan’s blood products specifications, with kits meeting the highest quality standards.”
The Japan Red Cross (JRC), national provider of blood components for transfusion, makes over 3.4 million whole blood collections annually. It produces more than 800,000 apheresis platelet doses and 2.3 million fresh frozen plasma (120 ml-equivalent) units for transfusion each year. The JRC previously selected a competitive pathogen inactivation technology that is under evaluation for platelets, and has yet to make a decision on the adoption of pathogen inactivation for the territory.
“We are pleased to partner with Cerus in an effort to propose a solid alternative for pathogen inactivation to the Japan Red Cross,” said Takeshi Saino, senior corporate officer and general manager of sales and marketing divison at Kawasumi Laboratories. “We understand the value of pathogen inactivation in blood safety, and we are confident in our ability to work together to develop and manufacture an INTERCEPT platelet set specifically for use in Japan.”
Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc. (Tokyo Stock Exchange Ticker Code 7703), founded in 1957, was Japan’s first manufacturer of plastic disposable blood collection and transfusion sets. Today, the company develops, produces, and supplies medical devices and pharmaceuticals globally, with consolidated annual sales of over 27 billion yen. Its businesses include hemodialysis, plasmapheresis, blood banking and transfusion, and infusion therapy.
ABOUT CERUS
Cerus Corporation is a biomedical products company focused in the field of blood safety. Cerus currently markets and sells the INTERCEPT Blood System for both platelets and plasma in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East and selected countries in other regions around the world. In the United States, Cerus is seeking regulatory approval of the INTERCEPT Blood System for plasma and platelets. The INTERCEPT red blood cell system is in clinical development. See http://www.cerus.com for more information.
INTERCEPT and the INTERCEPT Blood System are trademarks of Cerus Corporation.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements relating to the potential success of the development activities for an INTERCEPT platelet set designed for use in Japan and JRC adoption of the INTERCEPT Blood System in Japan. These forward-looking statements are based upon Cerus’ current expectations. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, without limitation, the risk that the parties may encounter unanticipated difficulties developing a platelet set for the Japanese market, or obtaining regulatory approval of such platelet sets in Japan and the risk that the JRC may not adopt the INTERCEPT Blood System in Japan, as well as other risks detailed in Cerus’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including in Cerus’ quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, filed with the SEC on August 8, 2014. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Cerus does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, changed assumptions or otherwise.
CONTACT
Cerus Corporation
Lainie Corten, 925-288-6319
Sr Director,
Global Marketing & Investor Relations
