7 July 2020 - - US-based Cerus Corp. (NASDAQ: CERS) is touting study results demonstrating that the INTERCEPT Blood System inactivates SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent for COVID-19, in plasma components intended for transfusion, the company said.

These data are consistent with prior INTERCEPT studies showing complete inactivation, to below the limit of detection, of other coronaviruses associated with severe pulmonary disease: MERS-CoV1,2 (2018, 2019) and SARS-CoV-13 (2005).

The in vitro study evaluated inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in plasma components using both infection and molecular assays, as well as cell culture passaging experiments, allowing the confirmation of complete inactivation over time.

Under the Principal Investigators Prof. Esam Ibraheem Azhar (Special Infectious Agents Unit - BSL3, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) and Prof. Salwa Hindawi (Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine), the study was conducted at the Special Infectious Agents Unit - BSL3, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with a local clinical SARS-CoV-2 isolate. This center is known for its expertise in coronavirus research.

A manuscript for publication is currently in preparation, the company said. The investigators are currently conducting a subsequent study to assess the ability of the INTERCEPT Blood System to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in platelet components.

These studies are funded by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health and supported by Cerus.

Separately, Cerus is conducting a set of in vitro studies in the United States to assess the INTERCEPT Blood System's ability to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in red blood cells, as well as platelets and plasma.

These studies are funded by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) as part of Cerus' recent contract amendment and associated funding increase.

BARDA is part of the Office of the Assistant secretary for Preparedness and Response within the US Department of Health and Human Services.

The development of the INTERCEPT red blood cell programme has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services; Office of the Assistant secretary for Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, under Contract No. HHSO100201600009C.

The INTERCEPT Blood Systems for platelets, plasma, and red cells plasma are proactive interventions designed to inactivate a broad spectrum of viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and contaminating donor leukocytes in plasma components to reduce the risk of transfusion transmitted infections especially in pandemics of emerging pathogens before donor testing is available.