SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  December 30, 2005

 

CERUS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

0-21937

 

68-0262011

(State of jurisdiction)

 

(Commission File No.)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

2411 Stanwell Drive

Concord, California 94520

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (925) 288-6000

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 



 

Item 8.01.                                          Other Events.

 

On December 30, 2005, Cerus Corporation (the “Company”) announced that it has submitted a CE Mark application for approval to market its INTERCEPT Blood System for plasma in Europe.  A copy of the Company’s press release, entitled “Cerus Submits CE Mark Application for European Approval of the INTERCEPT Blood System for Plasma,” is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

 

In addition, on December 30, 2005, the Company announced that it has submitted an investigational new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to initiate a Phase 1 safety trial for CRS-100, a Listeria-based immunotherapeutic designed to treat patients with cancer that has metastisized to the liver.  A copy of the Company’s press release, entitled “Cerus Submits IND Application for CRS-100 to FDA,” is furnished as Exhibit 99.2 hereto.

 

Item 9.01.              Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)           Exhibits

 

99.1                           Press Release, dated December 30, 2005, entitled “Cerus Submits CE Mark Application for European Approval of the INTERCEPT Blood System for Plasma.”

 

99.2                           Press Release, dated December 30, 2005, entitled “Cerus Submits IND Application for CRS-100 to FDA.”

 

2



 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

CERUS CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:   January 3, 2006

By:

 /s/ Howard G. Ervin

 

 

 

Howard G. Ervin

 

 

Vice President, Legal Affairs

 

3



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release, dated December 30, 2005, entitled “Cerus Submits CE Mark Application for European Approval of the INTERCEPT Blood System for Plasma.”

 

 

 

99.2

 

Press Release, dated December 30, 2005, entitled “Cerus Submits IND Application for CRS-100 to FDA.”

 

4