CERUS CORP

Previous wording

This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, are not necessarily indicative of results that may occur in future periods.

Current wording

This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, are not necessarily indicative of results that may occur in future periods.

Previous wording

the timing or likelihood of regulatory submissions and approvals and other regulatory actions or interactions, including whether existing clinical data will be sufficient in order to obtain a CE Certificate of Conformity and affix a CE Mark to the red blood cell system and whether our planned modular premarket approval, or PMA, application for the red blood cell system will be submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, on the timeline we anticipate or at all;

Current wording

the timing or likelihood of regulatory submissions and approvals and other regulatory actions or interactions, including whether we will submit a new application for conformity assessment to obtain a CE Certificate of Conformity to affix the CE Mark to the red blood cell system, whether existing clinical data would be sufficient to either submit or potentially obtain approval of any such new application, and whether our planned modular premarket approval, or PMA, application for the red blood cell system will be submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, on the timeline we anticipate or at all;

Previous wording

The INTERCEPT Blood System for red blood cells, or the red blood cell system, is currently in development and has not been commercialized anywhere in the world. We filed our application for conformity assessment to obtain a CE Certificate of Conformity to affix the CE Mark to the red blood cell system in December 2018 under the Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC, or MDD, and in June 2021, we completed the resubmission of our application under the MDR. We cannot predict with certainty when, if ever, a decision concerning certification will actually occur. See also the risk factor entitled “The red blood cell system is currently in development and may never receive any marketing approvals or CE Certificates of Conformity” under “Item 1A—Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional information with respect timing of the ultimate decision on our CE Certificate of Conformity application. In 2017, we initiated a Phase 3 clinical, double-blind study in the U.S., known as the RedeS study, to assess the safety and efficacy of INTERCEPT-treated red blood cells when compared to conventional, red blood cells. We also recently announced positive topline results from a Phase 3 clinical trial in the U.S., known as the ReCePI study, that was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of INTERCEPT-treated red blood cells in patients requiring transfusion for acute blood loss during surgery. We announced that the ReCePI study met its primary efficacy endpoint, demonstrating non-inferiority for INTERCEPT RBCs compared to conventional RBCs as measured by the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) following transfusion of study RBCs. We continue to believe that we will need to generate acceptable Phase 3 clinical data from chronic anemia patients in the U.S. before the FDA will consider our red blood cell system for approval. We anticipate initiating a modular PMA application to the FDA in the second half of 2025, with the final PMA module submission planned for the second half of 2026, upon the anticipated completion of the RedeS clinical trial. In part, we will seek to introduce supplemental clinical data we obtained from European clinical trials, though we cannot assure you that we will be able to demonstrate comparability or that the FDA will allow supplemental clinical European data. In addition, if we are unable to enroll a sufficient number of patients for the RedeS study to generate the data needed for licensure, we will need to reach agreement with the FDA on a new pathway to generate sufficient data for the red blood cell system, including the potential for additional Phase 3 clinical trials beyond what we are currently contemplating. We must also demonstrate to the FDA an ability to define, test and meet acceptable specifications for our current manufactured compounds used to prepare INTERCEPT-treated red blood cells before we can initiate our planned modular PMA application submission to and seek regulatory approval of the red bloo…

Excerpt shortened here; the source contains the full paragraph.

Current wording

Body for the red blood cell system, in consultation with the Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board, or CBG, the Competent Authority for the red blood cell system, reviewed information regarding the medicinal product or active pharmaceutical ingredient of our MDR application and concluded that the data provided were insufficient to support the proposed classification of the impurity profile of the final product, necessitating the closure of our MDR application without an approval. In collaboration with TÜV-SÜD, we are assessing strategies for a potential new MDR application. We cannot predict with certainty when, if ever, we will be able to satisfactorily address CBGs conclusions and as such cannot predict if or when we will submit a new MDR application for the red blood cell system and, if submitted, when a decision concerning certification would occur. In addition, as a result of the failure to obtain approval of our MDR application, our product development costs will be ongoing. See also the risk factor entitled “The red blood cell system is currently in development and may never receive any marketing approvals or CE Certificates of Conformity” under “Item 1A—Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. In 2017, we initiated a Phase 3 clinical, double-blind study in the U.S., known as the RedeS study, to assess the safety and efficacy of INTERCEPT-treated red blood cells when compared to conventional, red blood cells. We also recently announced positive topline results from a Phase 3 clinical trial in the U.S., known as the ReCePI study, that was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of INTERCEPT-treated red blood cells in patients requiring transfusion for acute blood loss during surgery. We announced that the ReCePI study met its primary efficacy endpoint, demonstrating non-inferiority for INTERCEPT RBCs compared to conventional RBCs as measured by the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) following transfusion of study RBCs. We continue to believe that we will need to generate acceptable Phase 3 clinical data from chronic anemia patients in the U.S. before the FDA will consider our red blood cell system for approval. We anticipate initiating a modular PMA application to the FDA upon the anticipated completion of the RedeS clinical trial. While we previously anticipated that the completion of the RedeS clinical trial and the planned final PMA module submission would occur in the second half of 2026, clinical trial enrollment at two additional RedeS clinical trial sites recently commenced later than previously anticipated and we are continuing to assess the potential impact of that delay on the anticipated timing for completion of the RedeS clinical trial and the planned final PMA module submission. In any event, for our planned modular PMA application, we will seek to introduce supplemental clinical data we obtained from European clinical trials, though we cannot assure you that we will be able to demonstrate comparability or that …

Excerpt shortened here; the source contains the full paragraph.

Previous wording

We have an agreement with Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, under which we receive funding from BARDA to support the development of our red blood cell system, including clinical and regulatory development programs in support of potential licensure, and development, manufacturing and scale-up activities, as well as activities related to broader implementation of all three INTERCEPT systems in areas of emerging pathogens. The agreement currently expires in September 2026. The RedeS and ReCePI and other studies are being funded as part of our agreement and BARDA reimburses us for allowable direct contract costs, as such costs are incurred, and for allowable indirect costs. At the current funding commitment levels, we will either need to obtain an additional BARDA contract or fund the remaining initiatives ourselves in order to satisfy the requirements for PMA licensure in the U.S. See the discussion under “Government contracts” below for more information. If we cannot obtain an additional BARDA contract or are unable to self-fund the remaining initiatives, successful completion of the development of the red blood cell system may require us to obtain additional capital in order to obtain any regulatory approvals for and commercialize this product. In addition, if we are unable to obtain from our suppliers sufficient clinical quantities of the active compounds for our red blood cell system meeting defined quality and regulatory specifications, if our suppliers are not able to maintain regulatory compliance or if we experience additional delays in enrollment or completion of the RedeS study, our product development costs would likely increase.

Current wording

We have agreements with Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, under which we receive funding from BARDA to support the development of our red blood cell system, including clinical and regulatory development programs in support of potential licensure, and development, manufacturing and scale-up activities, as well as activities related to broader implementation of all three INTERCEPT systems in areas of emerging pathogens. The initial agreement currently expires in September 2026 and the new agreement currently expires in September 2030. The RedeS and ReCePI and other studies are being funded as part of our initial BARDA agreement and BARDA reimburses us for allowable direct contract costs, as such costs are incurred, and for allowable indirect costs under both agreements. If we are unable to access all of the activities and associated reimbursement amounts for the remaining options available under our new BARDA agreement, we will need to fund the activities required to satisfy the requirements for PMA licensure in the U.S. See the discussion under “Government contracts” below for more information. Should those amounts be inaccessible and should we be unable to self-fund the remaining initiatives, successful completion of the development of the red blood cell system may require us to obtain additional capital in order to obtain any regulatory approvals for and commercialize this product. In addition, if we are unable to obtain from our suppliers sufficient clinical quantities of the active compounds for our red blood cell system meeting defined quality and regulatory specifications, if our suppliers are not able to maintain regulatory compliance or if we experience additional delays in enrollment or completion of the RedeS study, our product development costs would likely increase.

Previous wording

In November 2020, we received FDA approval for the INTERCEPT Blood System for Cryoprecipitation. We commercialize and sell finished IFC made by our manufacturing blood center partners directly to hospitals and indirectly through certain blood centers. Similar to our platelet and plasma products, any blood center manufacturing IFC will need to complete its process validations and obtain site-specific licenses from the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, or CBER, before we or they can sell finished IFC in interstate commerce. While four of our manufacturing partners received their Biologics License Application, or BLAs, from CBER, we plan to continue working with our other U.S.-based blood centers manufacturing partners to support their licensure applications and any further delay in obtaining these licenses would adversely impact the nationwide availability of IFC in the U.S. In addition, we have also entered into certain agreements with blood centers who will purchase the finished IFC from us to sell to their hospital customers, and with blood center and blood center affiliate organizations to sell INTERCEPT Blood System for Cryoprecipitation kits to produce finished IFC for their own sales efforts to hospitals. However, until we sell sufficient INTERCEPT Blood System for Cryoprecipitation kits to blood center affiliate organizations, expand the number of manufacturing partners producing IFC for us, or more of our manufacturing partners for IFC receive approval of their BLAs, our IFC sales will be limited.

Current wording

In November 2020, we received FDA approval for the INTERCEPT Blood System for Cryoprecipitation. We commercialize and sell finished IFC made by our manufacturing blood center partners directly to hospitals and indirectly through certain blood centers. Similar to our platelet and plasma products, any blood center manufacturing IFC will need to complete its process validations and obtain site-specific licenses from the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, or CBER, before we or they can sell finished IFC in interstate commerce. While all of our manufacturing partners have now received their Biologics License Application, or BLAs, from CBER, we plan to continue working with any other U.S.-based blood centers producing IFC to support their licensure applications. Delays in obtaining these licenses have adversely impacted and additional delays will adversely impact the nationwide availability of IFC in the U.S. In addition, we have also entered into certain agreements with blood centers who will purchase the finished IFC from us to sell to their hospital customers, and with blood center and blood center affiliate organizations to sell INTERCEPT Blood System for Cryoprecipitation kits to produce finished IFC for their own sales efforts to hospitals. However, until we sell sufficient INTERCEPT Blood System for Cryoprecipitation kits to blood center affiliate organizations, expand the number of manufacturing partners producing IFC for us, or more of our manufacturing partners for IFC receive approval of their BLAs, our IFC sales will be limited.

Previous wording

As a result of economic conditions, general global economic uncertainty, political change, war, the effects of inflationary pressures, and other factors including recent and potential U.S. bank failures, we do not know whether additional capital will be available when needed, or that, if available, whether we will be able to obtain additional capital on reasonable terms. Specifically, monetary policies of many countries, as well as recent bank failures, have significantly disrupted global financial markets, and may limit our ability to access capital, which could in the future negatively affect our liquidity. As a result of stimulus programs and global events over the past few years, the U.S. and many countries are currently experiencing an inflationary environment. In addition, the U.S. Federal Reserve has raised, and may again raise, interest rates in response to concerns about inflation. Moreover, the U.S. Federal Reserve may not lower interest rates as quickly as markets expect, if at all, which in turn could negatively impact equity values, including the value of our common stock. Furthermore, our vendors and suppliers may raise prices in an inflationary environment, costs to transport our products may increase and access to timely shipping may be limited. If we are unable to raise additional capital due to the volatile global financial markets, general economic uncertainty or other factors, we may need to curtail planned development or commercialization activities. In addition, we may need to obtain additional funds to complete development activities for the red blood cell system necessary for CE Certificates of Conformity in the EU, if costs are higher than anticipated or we encounter delays. We may need to obtain additional funding to conduct additional randomized controlled clinical trials for existing or new products, particularly if we are unable to access any additional portions of the funding contemplated by our government contracts, and we may choose to defer such activities until we can obtain sufficient additional funding or, at such time our existing operations provide sufficient cash flow to conduct these trials.

Current wording

As a result of economic conditions, general global economic uncertainty, political change, war, the effects of inflationary pressures, and other factors including recent and potential U.S. bank failures, we do not know whether additional capital will be available when needed, or that, if available, whether we will be able to obtain additional capital on reasonable terms. Specifically, monetary policies of many countries, as well as recent bank failures, have significantly disrupted global financial markets, and may limit our ability to access capital, which could in the future negatively affect our liquidity. As a result of stimulus programs and global events over the past few years, the U.S. and many countries are currently experiencing an inflationary environment. In addition, the U.S. Federal Reserve in the past has raised, and may again raise, interest rates in response to concerns about inflation. Moreover, the U.S. Federal Reserve may not lower interest rates as quickly as markets expect, if at all, which in turn could negatively impact equity values, including the value of our common stock. Furthermore, our vendors and suppliers may raise prices in an inflationary environment, costs to transport our products may increase and access to timely shipping may be limited. If we are unable to raise additional capital due to the volatile global financial markets, general economic uncertainty or other factors, we may need to curtail planned development or commercialization activities. In addition, we may need to obtain additional funds to complete development activities for the red blood cell system necessary for CE Certificates of Conformity in the EU, if costs are higher than anticipated or we encounter further delays. In this regard, our product development costs will be ongoing in connection with our failure to obtain approval of our MDR application and the potential submission of a new MDR application and would also increase if existing clinical data is insufficient for us to either submit or potentially obtain approval of any such new application. We may need to obtain additional funding to conduct additional randomized controlled clinical trials for existing or new products, particularly if we are unable to access any additional portions of the funding contemplated by our government contracts, and we may choose to defer such activities until we can obtain sufficient additional funding or, at such time our existing operations provide sufficient cash flow to conduct these trials.

Previous wording

Agreement, until December 31, 2031. Fresenius is obligated to sell, and we are obligated to purchase, finished disposable kits for the platelet and plasma systems. The 2022 Agreement permits us to purchase sets for the platelet and plasma systems from third parties to the extent necessary to maintain supply qualifications with such third parties or where local or regional manufacturing is needed to obtain product registrations or sales. The term of the 2022 Agreement will automatically renew for successive two-year periods unless terminated by either party upon two years’ prior written notice, in the case of the initial term, or one year prior written notice, in the case of any successive renewal term. Each party has normal and customary termination rights, including termination for material breach. Pricing under the 2022 Agreement for the initial term is based on volume purchases by us and subject to an annual adjustment based on variation in a price index. For a discussion of the risks presented to our supply chain, see “Part II, Item 1A—Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Current wording

Fresenius Kabi AG, Fenwal France SAS, and Fenwal International, Inc., or collectively, Fresenius, manufactures and supplies the platelet and plasma systems to us under our Second Amended and Restated Supply and Manufacturing Agreement, or the 2022 Agreement, until December 31, 2031. Fresenius is obligated to sell, and we are obligated to purchase, finished disposable kits for the platelet and plasma systems. The 2022 Agreement permits us to purchase sets for the platelet and plasma systems from third parties to the extent necessary to maintain supply qualifications with such third parties or where local or regional manufacturing is needed to obtain product registrations or sales. The term of the 2022 Agreement will automatically renew for successive two-year periods unless terminated by either party upon two years’ prior written notice, in the case of the initial term, or one year prior written notice, in the case of any successive renewal term. Each party has normal and customary termination rights, including termination for material breach. Pricing under the 2022 Agreement for the initial term is based on volume purchases by us and subject to an annual adjustment based on variation in a price index. For a discussion of the risks presented to our supply chain, see “Part II, Item 1A—Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Previous wording

In June 2016, we entered into an agreement with BARDA to support our development and implementation of pathogen reduction technology for platelet, plasma, and red blood cells, including access to funding that could potentially support various activities, including conducting studies necessary to support a potential premarket approval application submission to the FDA for the red blood cell system, and accelerating commercial scale up activities to facilitate potential adoption of the red blood cell system by U.S. blood centers.

Current wording

In June 2016, we entered into an agreement with BARDA, or the 2016 BARDA Agreement, to support our development and implementation of pathogen reduction technology for platelet, plasma, and red blood cells, including access to funding that could potentially support various activities, including conducting studies necessary to support a potential premarket approval application submission to the FDA for the red blood cell system, and accelerating commercial scale up activities to facilitate potential adoption of the red blood cell system by U.S. blood centers.

Previous wording

This agreement with BARDA provides for the reimbursement of certain amounts incurred by us in connection with our satisfaction of certain contractual milestones. Under the agreement, we are reimbursed and recognize revenue as qualified direct contract costs are incurred plus allowable indirect costs, based on approved provisional indirect billing rates, which permit recovery of fringe benefits, overhead and general and administrative expenses. As of June 30, 2024, BARDA has committed to reimburse certain of our expenses related to the clinical development of the red blood cell system during a base period, or the Base Period, and under exercised option periods, or Option Periods, in an aggregate amount of up to $185.5 million. If we satisfy subsequent milestones and BARDA were to exercise additional Option Periods, the total funding opportunity under the BARDA agreement (inclusive of the committed funding amounts as of June 30, 2024) could reach up to $270.2 million through September 2026. If exercised by BARDA in its sole discretion, each subsequent Option Period would fund activities related to broader implementation of the platelet and plasma system or the red blood cell system in areas of emerging pathogens, clinical and regulatory development programs in support of the potential licensure of the red blood cell system in the U.S., and development, manufacturing and scale-up activities for the red blood cell system. If certain additional Option Periods are exercised by BARDA, we will be responsible for up to $1.4 million of co-investment. See Note 11, Development and License Agreements, in Part I, Item 1—Financial Statementsof this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further information regarding the agreement with BARDA.

Current wording

The 2016 BARDA Agreement provides for the reimbursement of certain amounts incurred by us in connection with our satisfaction of certain contractual milestones. Under the agreement, we are reimbursed and recognize revenue as qualified direct contract costs are incurred plus allowable indirect costs, based on approved provisional indirect billing rates, which permit recovery of fringe benefits, overhead and general and administrative expenses. As of September 30, 2024, BARDA has committed to reimburse certain of our expenses related to the clinical development of the red blood cell system during a base period, or the 2016 Base Period, and under exercised option periods, or 2016 Option Periods, in an aggregate amount of up to $185.5 million. BARDA will no longer exercise any unexercised options under the 2016 BARDA Agreement. See Note 11, Development and License Agreements, in Part I, Item 1—Financial Statementsof this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further information regarding our agreements with BARDA.

Previous wording

Product revenue increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, primarily due to year-over-year sales volume growth in disposable platelet kit sales to U.S. customers. We expect product revenue for INTERCEPT disposable kits to increase in future periods driven by growth in our global platelet business due in part to increased market acceptance of the INTERCEPT Blood System and adoption of the INTERCEPT Blood System in geographies where commercialization efforts are underway.

Current wording

Product revenue increased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily due to year-over-year sales volume growth in disposable platelet kit sales to U.S. customers. We expect product revenue for INTERCEPT disposable kits to increase in future periods driven by growth in our global platelet business due in part to increased market acceptance of the INTERCEPT Blood System and adoption of the INTERCEPT Blood System in geographies where commercialization efforts are underway.

Previous wording

Government contract revenue decreased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, primarily due to a decrease in revenue from BARDA in 2024 relative to the same period in the prior year. The decrease in revenue from BARDA is primarily due to the completion of the ReCePI study in the first quarter of 2024. We do not anticipate that government contracts revenue will materially increase in future periods.

Current wording

Government contract revenue decreased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily due to a decrease in revenue from BARDA in 2024 relative to the same period in the prior year. The decrease in revenue from BARDA is primarily due to the completion of the ReCePI study in the first quarter of 2024. We anticipate that for some finite period of time, government contracts revenue will increase in future periods as multiple contracts are active and as activities supporting those contracts ramp up.

Previous wording

Cost of product revenue increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, consistent with the increase in product revenue for the same comparative periods.

Current wording

Cost of product revenue increased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, consistent with the increase in product revenue for the same comparative periods.

Previous wording

Our gross margin on product sales was 55% during both the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. Margins were impacted by the mix of geographies into which products were sold, with higher U.S. kit sales over sales in other regions and, to a lesser extent product mix, with platelet kit sales representing a larger proportion of overall sales during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. Changes in our gross margin on product sales are affected by various factors, including prices of products sold, the volume of product manufactured, pricing with suppliers, the timing of inventory purchases related to the underlying exchange rate of the Euro relative to the U.S. dollar, manufacturing and supply chain costs, including transportation costs, the mix of product sold, the mix of customers to which products are sold, and the reserves for excess and obsolete inventory. Furthermore, we may experience cost pressure due to the inflationary environment, increased transportation costs and an adverse impact on the efficiency of our supply chain. Additionally, we may encounter unforeseen manufacturing difficulties, which, at a minimum, may lead to higher than anticipated costs, scrap rates, delays in manufacturing products, or lower production levels of manufacturing than would be needed to meet demand. We may also decide to make investments with our manufacturing partners to identify longer-term efficiencies, but result in near-term increased costs. In addition, we may face competition which may limit our ability to maintain existing selling prices for our products which in turn would negatively affect our reported gross margins on product sales. Our gross margins on product sales may be impacted in the future based on all of these and other criteria.

Current wording

Our gross margin on product sales was 57% during the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to 55% during the three months ended September 30, 2023. Our gross margin on product sales was 56% during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to 55% during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Margins were impacted by the mix of geographies into which products were sold, with higher U.S. kit sales over sales in other regions and, to a lesser extent product mix, with platelet kit sales representing a larger proportion of overall sales during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023. Changes in our gross margin on product sales are affected by various factors, including prices of products sold, the volume of product manufactured, pricing with suppliers, the timing of inventory purchases related to the underlying exchange rate of the Euro relative to the U.S. dollar, manufacturing and supply chain costs, including transportation costs, the mix of product sold, the mix of customers to which products are sold, and the reserves for excess and obsolete inventory. Furthermore, we may experience cost pressure due to the inflationary environment, increased transportation costs and an adverse impact on the efficiency of our supply chain. Additionally, we may encounter unforeseen manufacturing difficulties, which, at a minimum, may lead to higher than anticipated costs, scrap rates, delays in manufacturing products, or lower production levels of manufacturing than would be needed to meet demand. We may also decide to make investments with our manufacturing partners to identify longer-term efficiencies, but result in near-term increased costs. In addition, we may face competition which may limit our ability to maintain existing selling prices for our products which in turn would negatively affect our reported gross margins on product sales. Our gross margins on product sales may be impacted in the future based on all of these and other criteria.

Previous wording

Research and development expenses decreased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, primarily driven by the decreased headcount due to the reduction in force implemented in the second quarter of 2023 and the completion of the ReCePI study in the first quarter of 2024.

Current wording

Research and development expenses decreased during the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023, primarily driven by the completion of the ReCePI study in the first quarter of 2024. Research and development expenses decreased during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023 primarily driven by decreased headcount due to the reduction in force implemented in the second quarter of 2023 and the completion of the ReCePI study in the first quarter of 2024.

Previous wording

We expect to incur additional research and development costs associated with inflationary pressures on labor and study costs, pursuing potential regulatory approvals in other geographies where we do not currently sell our platelet and plasma systems, planning and conductingin vitro studies and clinical development of our red blood cell system in Europe and the U.S., completing activities in support of our completed application for a CE Certificate of Conformity for our red blood cell system in the EU, new product development and product enhancements, including potential new label claims, design efforts on our new illuminator, and costs associated with performing the activities under our government contracts. Due to the inherent uncertainties and risks associated with developing biomedical products, including, but not limited to, intense and changing government regulation, the impact of macroeconomic developments, including the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia and the state of war between Israel and Hamas and the risk of a global conflict, the uncertainty of future preclinical studies and clinical trial results and the uncertainty associated with manufacturing, it is not possible to reasonably estimate the costs to complete these research and development projects. We face numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the successful completion of our research and development projects, which risks and uncertainties are discussed in further detail under “Item 1A—Risk Factors” in Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Current wording

We expect to incur additional research and development costs associated with inflationary pressures on labor and study costs, pursuing potential regulatory approvals in other geographies where we do not currently sell our platelet and plasma systems, planning and conductingin vitro studies and clinical development of our red blood cell system in Europe and the U.S., any activities in support of any potential new MDR application for our red blood cell system in the EU, new product development and product enhancements, including potential new label claims, design efforts on our new illuminator, and costs associated with performing the activities under our government contracts. Due to the inherent uncertainties and risks associated with developing biomedical products, including, but not limited to, intense and changing government regulation, the impact of macroeconomic developments, including the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia and the state of war between Israel and Hamas and the risk of a global conflict, the uncertainty of future preclinical studies and clinical trial results and the uncertainty associated with manufacturing, it is not possible to reasonably estimate the costs to complete these research and development projects. We face numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the successful completion of our research and development projects, which risks and uncertainties are discussed in further detail under “Item 1A—Risk Factors” in Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Previous wording

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, primarily driven by the decreased headcount due to the reduction in force implemented in the second quarter of 2023.

Current wording

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased during the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023, primarily driven by costs associated with non-cash stock-based compensation. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily driven by the decreased headcount due to the reduction in force implemented in the second quarter of 2023.

Previous wording

In June 2023, we began implementing a restructuring plan to pursue greater efficiency and to realign our business and strategic priorities, which included a reduction in force of our employee base. A summary of our restructuring charges for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 is as follows (in thousands):

Current wording

In June 2023, we began implementing a restructuring plan to pursue greater efficiency and to realign our business and strategic priorities, which included a reduction in force of our employee base. A summary of our restructuring charges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:

Previous wording

We had foreign exchange loss during the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023. We had foreign exchange gain during the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the foreign exchange gain during the six months ended June 30, 2023. These are primarily due to foreign exchange variations between the Euro and the U.S. dollar.

Current wording

We had foreign exchange loss during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to foreign exchange gain during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023. These are primarily due to foreign exchange variations between the Euro and the U.S. dollar.

Previous wording

Interest expense increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, primarily because we drew down $5.0 million under Tranche 3 of our Term Loan Credit Agreement in March 2024, and due to the increase in interest rates on our Term Loan. Should interest rates continue to increase, the rates that we are obligated to pay under our credit agreements would likely increase, potentially leading to higher interest expense.

Current wording

Interest expense decreased during the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023, primarily due to capitalized interest related to manufacturing agreements. Interest expense increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily because we drew down $5.0 million under Tranche 3 of our Term Loan Credit Agreement in March 2024, and due to the increase in interest rates on our Term Loan. Should interest rates increase, the rates that we are obligated to pay under our credit agreements would likely increase, potentially leading to higher interest expense.

Previous wording

The tax benefit and expenses were primarily a result of our Cerus Europe B.V. subsidiary’s activities.

Current wording

The tax expenses were primarily a result of our Cerus Europe B.V. subsidiary’s activities.

Previous wording

We had net cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to net cash used in operating activities during the same period in 2023. The change was primarily related to the increase in product sales, the decrease in inventory related purchases, and the timing of cash collections and payments, during the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.

Current wording

We had net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to net cash used in operating activities during the same period in 2023. The change was primarily related to the increase in product sales, the decrease in inventory related purchases, and the timing of cash collections and payments, during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.

Previous wording

We had net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to net cash provided by investing activities during the same period in 2023. The change was primarily due to higher purchases of investments during the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.

Current wording

We had net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to net cash provided by investing activities during the same period in 2023. The change was primarily due to lower net proceeds from investments during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.

Previous wording

The increase in net cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024, was primarily due to proceeds from the Term Loan Credit Agreement during the first quarter of 2024 offset by payments related to the Revolving Loan Credit Agreement during the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to a draw under the Revolving Loan Credit Agreement during the six months ended June 30, 2023.

Current wording

The decrease in net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was primarily due to payments related to the Revolving Loan Credit Agreement during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to proceeds from the Revolving Loan Credit Agreement during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

Previous wording

Working capital increased as of June 30, 2024, compared to December 31, 2023, primarily due to proceeds from increased product sales and collections and net decreases in the combined total of our accounts payable and accrued liabilities as a result of the timing of payments to our vendors. Contract liabilities related to DoD of $1.5 million as of December 31, 2023 are excluded from working capital.

Current wording

Working capital increased as of September 30, 2024, compared to December 31, 2023, primarily due to proceeds from increased product sales and collections and net decreases in the combined total of our accounts payable and accrued liabilities as a result of the timing of payments to our vendors. Contract liabilities related to DoD of $0.7 million and $1.5 million as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, are excluded from working capital.

Previous wording

We have borrowed and in the future may borrow additional capital from institutional and commercial banking sources to fund future growth, including pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Agreement and Revolving Loan Credit Agreement, or potentially pursuant to new arrangements with different lenders. We have borrowed and in the future may borrow funds on terms that may include restrictive covenants, including covenants that restrict the operation of our business, liens on assets, high effective interest rates, financial performance covenants and repayment provisions that reduce cash resources and limit future access to capital markets. In addition, unless we restructure our credit agreements prior to April 1, 2026, the principal amounts outstanding under our Term Loan Credit Agreement will begin amortizing and will require us to pay amounts as they come due in cash, which would negatively impact our available working capital beyond the next 12 months. Should interest rates continue to increase, the rates that we are obligated to pay under our credit agreements would likely increase, potentially leading to higher interest expense. See Note 5, Debt, in Part I, Item 1—Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for more information on the debt under our Term Loan Credit Agreement and the Revolving Loan Credit Agreement.

Current wording

We have borrowed and in the future may borrow additional capital from institutional and commercial banking sources to fund future growth, including pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Agreement and Revolving Loan Credit Agreement, or potentially pursuant to new arrangements with different lenders. We have borrowed and in the future may borrow funds on terms that may include restrictive covenants, including covenants that restrict the operation of our business, liens on assets, high effective interest rates, financial performance covenants and repayment provisions that reduce cash resources and limit future access to capital markets. In addition, unless we restructure our credit agreements prior to April 1, 2026, the principal amounts outstanding under our Term Loan Credit Agreement will begin amortizing and will require us to pay amounts as they come due in cash, which would negatively impact our available working capital beyond the next 12 months. Should interest rates increase again, the rates that we are obligated to pay under our credit agreements would likely increase, potentially leading to higher interest expense. See Note 5, Debt, in Part I, Item 1—Financial

Previous wording

In March 2023, we entered into an amendment to our Sales Agreement under which we may issue and sell up to $96.8 million of our common stock through or to Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. or Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, as sales agent or principal. During the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2024, we did not sell shares of our common stock under the Amended Sales Agreement.

Current wording

In March 2023, we entered into an amendment to our Sales Agreement under which we may issue and sell up to $96.8 million of our common stock through or to Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. or Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, as sales agent or principal. During the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, we did not sell shares of our common stock under the Amended Sales Agreement.

Previous wording

While we expect to receive significant funding under our agreement with BARDA, our ability to obtain the funding we expect to receive under this agreement is subject to various risks and uncertainties, including with respect to BARDA’s ability to terminate the agreement for convenience at any time and our ability to achieve the required milestones under this agreement, including the completion of the RedeS study. In addition, access to federal contracts is subject to the authorization of funds and approval of our research plans by various organizations within the federal government, including the U.S. Congress. The general economic environment, coupled with tight federal budgets, has led to a general decline in the amount available for government funding. If BARDA were to eliminate, reduce or delay funding under our agreement, this would have a significant negative impact on the programs associated with such funding and could have a significant negative impact on our revenues and cash flows. Furthermore, should we be unable to deploy personnel or derive a benefit from fixed study costs or generate data from clinical sites and studies reimbursed by BARDA, our cash flows would be negatively impacted or we may have to initiate furloughs and layoffs which would likely prove disruptive to our management and operations. In addition, if we are unable to generate sufficient prerequisite Phase 3 clinical data, our agreement with BARDA will be severely limited in scope or could be terminated altogether, and our ability to complete the development activities required for licensure in the U.S. may require additional capital beyond which we currently have. The availability and focus for any BARDA funding will likely be finite and may require us to compete with other technologies, both similar and disparate. If alternative sources of funding are not available, or if we determine that the cost of alternative available capital is too high, we may be forced to suspend or terminate development activities related to the red blood cell system in the U.S.

Current wording

While we expect to receive significant funding under our agreements with BARDA, our ability to obtain the funding we expect to receive under both agreements is subject to various risks and uncertainties, including with respect to BARDA’s ability to terminate the agreements for convenience at any time and our ability to achieve the required milestones under the agreements, including the completion of the RedeS study. In addition, access to federal contracts is subject to the authorization of funds and approval of our research plans by various organizations within the federal government, including the U.S. Congress. The general economic environment, coupled with tight federal budgets, has led to a general decline in the amount available for government funding. If BARDA were to eliminate, reduce or delay funding under our agreements, this would have a significant negative impact on the programs associated with such funding and could have a significant negative impact on our revenues and cash flows. Furthermore, should we be unable to deploy personnel or derive a benefit from fixed study costs or generate data from clinical sites and studies reimbursed by BARDA, our cash flows would be negatively impacted or we may have to initiate furloughs and layoffs which would likely prove disruptive to our management and operations. In addition, if we are unable to meet the requisite milestones in our agreements, including generating sufficient prerequisite Phase 3 clinical data, our agreements with BARDA will be severely limited in scope or could be terminated altogether, and our ability to complete the development activities required for licensure in the U.S. may require additional capital beyond which we currently have. The availability and focus for any BARDA funding will likely be finite and may require us to compete with other technologies, both similar and disparate. If alternative sources of funding are not available, or if we determine that the cost of alternative available capital is too high, we may be forced to suspend or terminate development activities related to the red blood cell system in the U.S.

Previous wording

In addition, we may need to obtain additional funds to complete development activities for the red blood cell system necessary for CE Certificates of Conformity in the EU, if costs are higher than anticipated or we encounter delays. We may need to obtain additional funding to conduct additional randomized controlled clinical trials for existing or new products, particularly if we are unable to access any additional portions of the funding contemplated by our government contracts, and we may choose to defer such activities until we can obtain sufficient additional funding or, at such time, our existing operations provide sufficient cash flow to conduct these trials.

Current wording

In addition, we may need to obtain additional funds to complete development activities for the red blood cell system necessary for CE Certificates of Conformity in the EU, if costs are higher than anticipated or we encounter further delays. In this regard, our product development costs will be ongoing in connection with our failure to obtain approval of our MDR application and the potential submission of a new MDR application and would also increase if existing clinical data is insufficient for us to either submit or potentially obtain approval of any such new application. We may need to obtain additional funding to conduct additional randomized controlled clinical trials for existing or new products, particularly if we are unable to access any additional portions of the funding contemplated by our government contracts, and we may choose to defer such activities until we can obtain sufficient additional funding or, at such time, our existing operations provide sufficient cash flow to conduct these trials.

Previous wording

Our investment policy is to manage our marketable securities portfolio to preserve principal and liquidity while maximizing the return on the investment portfolio to assist us in funding our operations. We currently invest our cash and cash equivalents in money market funds and interest-bearing accounts with financial institutions. Our money market funds are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy, in which quoted prices are available in active markets, as the maturity of money market funds are relatively short and the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value. Our available-for-sale securities related to corporate debt and U.S. government agency securities are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy, which uses observable inputs to quoted market prices, benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. We maintain portfolio liquidity by ensuring that the securities have active secondary or resale markets. We did not record any credit losses during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Adverse global economic conditions have had, and may continue to have, a negative impact on the market values of potential investments.

Current wording

Our investment policy is to manage our marketable securities portfolio to preserve principal and liquidity while maximizing the return on the investment portfolio to assist us in funding our operations. We currently invest our cash and cash equivalents in money market funds and interest-bearing accounts with financial institutions. Our money market funds are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy, in which quoted prices are available in active markets, as the maturity of money market funds are relatively short and the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value. Our available-for-sale securities related to corporate debt and U.S. government agency securities are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy, which uses observable inputs to quoted market prices, benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. We maintain portfolio liquidity by ensuring that the securities have active secondary or resale markets. We did not record any credit losses during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Adverse global economic conditions have had, and may continue to have, a negative impact on the market values of potential investments.