GTC Biotherapeutics (fka GTCB)

[DewDiligence]

Re: Cerus pathogen inactivation

>I am first of all intrigued by the name, “Blood System for Plasma.” That’s a little like saying a Milk System for Cream, or a Tree System for Leaves.<

The reason for the odd-sounding name is that Cerus has distinct products for plasma, platelets, and red blood cells. The subject of the PR today was the plasma product, specifically.

>My guess it would use some UV illumination system to eliminate the little critters… What does it mean "it inactivates platelets and plasma"? That doesn't seem to be a good idea. Do they add a "compound" to increase the effect of the UV?<

The CERS system uses UVA light for plasma and platelets, but the light does not kill the pathogens outright; rather, it renders the pathogens harmless by cross-linking a proprietary intercalator in the pathogens’ DNA/RNA (see diagram in the next post). RBC’s are inactivated using pH modification rather than UVA light, but the concept is essentially the same. Plasma, platelets and RBC’s are not adversely affected by the Cerus inactivation system because the only DNA/RNA they contain is in the nucleus of unwanted contaminants.

>…the most important statement is the system is designed to lower the risk. Its got to be nigh on to impossible to eliminate all the viral types without turning the blood into gravy. Alot of them do pretty well intracellular.<

In theory, the Cerus inactivation works on anything containing DNA/RNA, which includes just about anything dangerous that might be present. In practice, a system like this can never be completely safe because there is the ever-present opportunity for human error at various steps in the process.

>Maybe someone can remember the US company who claimed they had a system similar to this back in the nineties.<

Baxter, which used to be Cerus’ partner until they pulled out because of mishaps with the clinical program for the RBC product.