Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ: CERS) announced today that Gualtiero G. Garlasco has been appointed as Interim General Manager for Cerus Europe, transitioning from Caspar Hogeboom, who will be assuming a consulting role effective April 1, 2016, after 10 years of service.

“Caspar’s leadership over the past decade was a critical component in building our commercial organization and customer base in the EMEA region. As Caspar transitions to a consulting role, Gualtiero will now lead our next phase for INTERCEPT platelets and plasma and further develop the required competencies for the proposed European red blood cell launch anticipated in 2017,” said William ‘Obi’ Greenman, Cerus’ president and chief executive officer. “Gualtiero’s considerable global commercial leadership experience at major corporations like ThermoFisher Scientific, Novartis and bioMerieux will be a significant asset as we evolve our commercial organization. Fortunately, he has a strong background in the transfusion medicine field as well.”

Mr. Garlasco brings over 30 years of sales and marketing experience to Cerus, most recently serving as Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing for ThermoFisher’s Clinical Diagnostics Division where he was responsible for its global commercial activities representing annual sales of approximately $700 million. Prior to his role at ThermoFisher, Mr. Garlasco was Vice President and General Manager, Europe, Middle East, Africa Commercial Operations for Novartis’ blood testing business. He has also held sales and marketing leadership roles previously with Ventana Medical Systems, bioMerieux, and API Systems.

“My previous experience has given me an in depth understanding of the importance of improving the safety of transfusion medicine,” commented Gualtiero. “I look forward to working with the Cerus European team to make INTERCEPT platelets and plasma the standard of care and prepare for the potential launch of INTERCEPT red cells.”

ABOUT CERUS

Cerus Corporation is a biomedical products company focused in the field of blood transfusion safety. The INTERCEPT Blood System is designed to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections by inactivating a broad range of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and parasites that may be present in donated blood. The nucleic acid targeting mechanism of action of the INTERCEPT treatment is designed to inactivate established transfusion threats, such as Hepatitis B and C, HIV, West Nile Virus and bacteria, as well as emerging pathogens such as chikungunya, malaria and dengue. Cerus currently markets and sells the INTERCEPT Blood System for both platelets and plasma in the United States, Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East and selected countries in other regions around the world. The INTERCEPT red blood cell system is in clinical development. See www.cerus.com for more information about Cerus.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements relating concerning Cerus’ expectations regarding its future growth prospects and the potential launch of INTERCEPT red cell system, including the timing thereof. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, without limitation: risks associated with the commercialization and market acceptance of, and customer demand for, the INTERCEPT Blood System, including the risk that Cerus may otherwise not experience revenue growth in future periods; risks related to adverse market and economic conditions, including continued or more severe adverse fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and/or weakening economic conditions in the CIS and other markets where Cerus sells its products; Cerus’ reliance on third parties to market, sell, distribute and maintain its products; the uncertain and time-consuming development and regulatory process, including the risk that Cerus may be unable to complete the additional development and other activities necessary to support the potential CE mark submission for the INTERCEPT red cell system in a timely manner or at all, and may otherwise be unable to obtain any regulatory approvals for the INTERCEPT red cell system, as well as other risks detailed in Cerus’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Cerus‘ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, filed with the SEC on November 6, 2015. Cerus disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

INTERCEPT and INTERCEPT Blood System are trademarks of Cerus Corporation.