Grifols And Cerus Agree To Commercialize INTERCEPT Blood System In Spain And Portugal

Barcelona, Spain & Concord, CA - Grifols S.A. and Cerus Corporation recently announced that the two companies have entered into an agreement to commercialize Cerus' INTERCEPT Blood System in Spain and Portugal. The INTERCEPT Blood System is designed to provide increased protection from a broad range of transfusion-transmitted pathogens. More than 200,000 platelet units and 300,000 plasma units for transfusion are collected annually in Spain and Portugal.

Under terms of the agreement, Grifols and Cerus will sell, deploy and support the INTERCEPT Blood System in Spanish and Portuguese blood centers. In addition, Grifols will be responsible for servicing the INTERCEPT system illuminators and will manage the supply chain for the INTERCEPT system through its distribution sites in Spain and Portugal.

"We are pleased to partner with Grifols, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in Spain and the largest European plasma fractionator," said Claes Glassell, president and chief executive officer of Cerus Corporation. "The two companies are committed to enhancing the safety of the blood supply in Spain and Portugal by using the most advanced technology to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted diseases."

The INTERCEPT Blood System
The INTERCEPT Blood System is designed to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted diseases by inactivating a broad range of pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites that may be present in donated blood intended for transfusion. The system inactivates pathogens in platelets and plasma using the same illumination device, process and active compound. The INTERCEPT Blood System has received CE mark approvals in Europe for both the platelet and plasma systems. A Phase I clinical trial of the INTERCEPT Blood System for red cells has been completed in the United States.

SOURCE: Grifols S.A. and Cerus Corporation