Concord, Calif.-based Cerus announced today an agreement with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, a segment of the U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, to fund the clinical development program of Cerus' pathogen reduction technology.
The INTERCEPT Blood System reduces the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections by inhibiting a broad range of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites and leukocytes that may be present in donated blood. This technology holds the potential to improve national emergency preparedness for epidemic and endemic blood-borne pathogens such as Zika virus or Dengue fever.
BARDA will give Cerus a base amount of $30.75 million to fund a clinical trial investigating the safety and efficacy of the INTERCEPT on red blood cells in Puerto Rico, an area heavily impacted by the Zika virus. The funding will also support related in-vitro studies to encourage potential clinical trials in the U.S.
The five year contract includes total funding opportunities up to $180.5 million to finance further activities related to broader implementation of the technology in Zika-infected areas, clinical and regulatory development programs in support of licensure, and development, manufacturing and scale-up opportunities.
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