Singapore, Aug 25, 2010: US-based biomedical products company, Cerus, has signed an agreement to acquire BioOne's commercialization rights for the intercept blood system for platelets and plasma. BioOne is a Japanese company founded to commercialize intercept blood system. The acquisition is subject to approval of the transaction by BioOne’s shareholders.

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.

Under terms of the agreement, BioOne will receive approximately 1,170,000 shares of Cerus’ common stock valued at approximately $3.08 per share, and Cerus will relinquish its equity interest in BioOne.

In 2004 and 2005, Cerus and its partner at the time, Baxter International, licensed the commercialization rights for intercept platelets and plasma to BioOne for in China, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. Cerus holds the commercialization rights for the intercept blood cell system for this region.

“We believe there is great market potential for intercept in Asia and that regaining the platelet and plasma rights from BioOne will allow us to pursue a different business strategy and potential partnerships for all three programs,” said Mr Claes Glassell, Cerus' president.

According to the company, the nucleic acid targeting mechanism of action allows intercept treatment to inactivate both established transfusion threats, such as hepatitis, HIV, West Nile virus and bacteria, as well as emerging pathogens such as influenza, malaria and dengue.