Cerus Corporation Announces the Inclusion of Pathogen Reduction Technology in the ISBT Working Party Recommendations for the Preparation of COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma

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[{"type":"text","content":" CONCORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nCerus Corporation (Nasdaq: CERS) announced today that the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) Working Party on Global Blood Safety issued a new document titled “Points to consider in the preparation and transfusion of COVID-19 convalescent plasma.” The document was authored by Dr. Jay Epstein and Dr. Thierry Burnouf, two key opinion leaders in the field of transfusion medicine.\n\n\n“Convalescent plasma has emerged as a promising potential therapeutic to treat acutely ill COVID-19 patients,” said Dr. Laurence Corash, Cerus’ chief scientific officer. “These just issued recommendations by the ISBT Working Party on Global Blood Safety provide a framework for institutions involved in collecting, manufacturing, and transfusing COVID-19 convalescent plasma. We applaud the issuance of these recommendations which should help assist blood centers and hospitals in delivering this new treatment to patients and the inclusion of pathogen reduction as an important step in ensuring the safety and availability of this important therapy for patients.”\n\n\nThe document indicates that following the donation of the convalescent plasma, the use of a licensed pathogen inactivation technology is “highly desirable” to reduce the risk of transfusion transmitted infections and alleviate concerns about “possible superinfections with SARS-CoV-2”. Importantly, with the use of INTERCEPT, blood centers and hospitals may have the ability to access convalescent donors earlier post the resolution of their disease, which could increase the overall availability of donor convalescent plasma during the coming weeks.\n\n\n“Given ISBT’s recommendation to transfuse convalescent plasma from at least two donors, to potentially achieve a more effective immune protection due to the diversity of antibodies, we believe pathogen reduction can play an important role in minimizing the risk of transfusion transmitted infections,” continued Dr. Corash.\n\n\nThe complete document can be referenced on the ISBT website at the following URL. http://isbtweb.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Points_to_consider_in_the_preparation_of_COVID_convalescent_plasma_-_200331_ISBT_WP_GBS_Final.pdf\n\n\nABOUT CONVALESCENT PLASMA: \n\n\nPassive immunity has been demonstrated effective for treatment of infections caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV), hepatitis...

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