<PAGE> 1
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
File Number 333-11341
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Dated January 30, 1997)
2,000,000 Shares
CERUS
COMMON STOCK
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The purpose of this Prospectus Supplement is to provide supplemental
information regarding Cerus Corporation (the "Company") in connection with the
Company's offering of Shares of its Common Stock as described in the Company's
Prospectus dated January 30, 1997 pursuant to which such offering is being made.
Capitalized terms defined in the Prospectus are used in this Prospectus
Supplement as defined in the Prospectus. The information included in this
Prospectus Supplement should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus.
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As a result of a February 13, 1997 meeting with FDA staff, the Company has
elected to conduct a pilot study before the U.S. commencement of its Phase 3
clinical trial of its proprietary platelet pathogen inactivation system. The
purpose of this additional study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of
platelets treated with the Company's pathogen inactivation system in a small
group of patients before conducting the larger Phase 3 patient study. To date,
the Company's clinical trials have been conducted only in healthy subjects.
As a result of this additional small-scale trial, the Company believes that
the U.S. Phase 3 clinical trial will not begin before late 1997. The Company had
previously anticipated beginning the Phase 3 trial in mid-1997. The Company is
currently working with its development and marketing collaborator, Baxter, to
design and submit to the FDA a protocol for the proposed pilot study. The
Company expects to make a further announcement when such protocol is finalized.
The Company's current estimate of the scope of the proposed pilot study and
the timing of the commencement of the U.S. Phase 3 clinical trial are
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The actual
scope and timing could differ materially from the above forward-looking
statements as a result of certain factors, including the Company's ability to
begin and successfully complete the proposed pilot study in a timely fashion and
the response of the FDA to the design of the pilot and Phase 3 studies, as well
as other factors discussed in the Company's Prospectus dated January 30, 1997.
See "Risk Factors," "Business -- Products Under Development" and "-- Government
Regulation."
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February 19, 1997
