UPDATE: Cerus, Terumo land $48m in BARDA grants for anti-Zika push

Updated with comments from Terumo. Cerus (NSDQ: CERS) and Terumo Corp. (TYO:4543) won grants from a U.S. Health & Human Services Dept. agency worth a collective $48 million to study their respective devices for eliminating blood pathogens like the Zika virus. Zika, which the World Health Organization declared a global emergency in February, has been linked to microcephaly, a birth defect characterized by an unusually small head and potential developmental problems. Last week U.S. officials said 3 babies were born here with defects that were most likely caused when their mothers contracted the mosquito-borne virus during pregnancy. More than 1,400 Zika-related microcephaly cases have been confirmed in Brazil, which is preparing to host the Olympic games in August. The WHO said last week that the risk of Zika infection for athletes and attendees is very low. The 5-year, $180.5 million pact with Cerus calls for the Concord, Calif.-based company to test its Intercept device in Puerto Rican Zika patients. HHS’s Biomedical Advanced Research & Development Authority will put up $30.8 million initially, including $10.7 million for the trial on La Isla del Encanto. “The funding for this program shows how important blood safety and availability are for agencies like Barda that are charged with providing support to technologies that have major health care impact and importance for the United States constituency. Terumo BCT’s selection as a partner for t...
Source: Mass Device - Category: Medical Equipment Authors: Tags: Blood Management Clinical Trials Funding Roundup Cerus Corp. Terumo Zika virus Source Type: news