Cerus Corporation announced that the German Red Cross in the Baden-Württemberg - Hessen region (DRK BWH), including Frankfurt, has been granted authorization by the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) to market platelet components treated with the Intercept Blood System. The marketing authorization covers platelets collected from single donors by apheresis. A broader marketing authorization covering pooled platelets using the buffy coat method of collection is pending. The DRK BWH is one of the large Red Cross Donor Services in Germany, collecting and processing approximately 25 per cent of the blood supply in Germany.
"Cerus is pleased that the largest region of the German Red Cross can now implement the Intercept platelet system," said Claes Glassell, president and CEO of Cerus Corporation. "By employing the Intercept Blood System to inactivate pathogens found in donated platelet components, the DRK BWH can reduce the risk of transfusion transmitted infections from bacteria, viruses and parasites that may not be detected by diagnostic tests. This is a key regulatory development in the commercialization of the Intercept Blood System in Germany."
As a leading reference centre for transfusion medicine globally, the DRK BWH actively collaborates with transfusion medicine professionals from within Germany and around the world to share with them data on best practices in blood banking. Blood banks within the DRK BWH region process approximately 100,000 platelet units annually. Cerus announced on June 11, 2008, that a commercial supply agreement had been signed with the DRK BWH. Blood centres within the DRK BWH region have already received manufacturing approval from local Länder organizations. As contemplated in the supply agreement, the marketing authorization enables the DRK BWH to conduct a hemovigilance study prior to initiating commercial adoption of the Intercept Blood System.
Cerus Corporation is a biomedical products company focused on commercializing the Intercept Blood System to enhance blood safety.