News Release

CERUS AND BAXTER REPORT PHASE IIIa RESULTS
FOR THE INTERCEPT PLASMA SYSTEM

PARIS, France, July 16, 2001 -Cerus Corporation (Nasdaq: CERS) and Baxter Healthcare Corporation today presented results from the Phase IIIa clinical trial of the INTERCEPT Plasma System. These clinical trial results further support the safety and efficacy of the system and showed that clinical responses to INTERCEPT treated plasma are consistent with historical responses to non-pathogen inactivated plasma. The INTERCEPT Plasma System is being developed to protect against transmission of infectious diseases that may result from plasma transfusions. The results were presented at the VIIth European Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion meeting in Paris.

The open-label Phase IIIa trial, which was conducted in collaboration with the National Hemophilia Foundation's Hemophilia Research Society, included 34 patients with a variety of hereditary blood clotting factor deficiencies. Patients with these deficiencies are susceptible to bleeding or increased blood clotting and may require plasma transfusions to prevent or stop bleeding. The Phase IIIa results, although not statistically powered, showed that infusions of plasma treated with the INTERCEPT Plasma System were well-tolerated and resulted in an increase in blood clotting factor levels consistent with historical controls of non-pathogen inactivated plasma. In addition, INTERCEPT plasma effectively stopped or prevented bleeding in patients requiring invasive procedures, including surgery, and performed comparably to historical controls using non-pathogen inactivated plasma.

Approximately seven million plasma transfusions are performed annually in Western Europe, North America and Japan to overcome blood-clotting deficiencies and to facilitate healing. While donated plasma is generally tested for a limited number of specific pathogens, testing does not eliminate the risk of viral contamination, and there are no routine tests to screen for bacteria. The INTERCEPT Plasma System is being developed to enhance the safety of plasma transfusions by targeting the nucleic acid of a broad spectrum of viruses, bacteria, other pathogens and white blood cells.

Cerus and Baxter also are conducting a Phase III trial for the INTERCEPT Platelet System and are preparing to begin a Phase III trial for the INTERCEPT Red Blood Cell System.

ABOUT CERUS
Cerus Corporation is building on its leading position in the biopharmaceutical industry by developing medical systems and therapeutics to provide safer and more effective options to patients. The company is developing products based on its proprietary Helinxä technology for controlling biological replication. Cerus' most advanced programs are focused on systems to enhance the safety of the world's blood supply. These INTERCEPT Blood Systems, based on the company's Helinx technology, are designed to inactivate viruses, bacteria, other pathogens and white blood cells. The Concord, California-based company also is pursuing therapeutic applications of Helinx technology to treat and prevent serious diseases.

ABOUT BAXTER
Baxter Healthcare Corporation is the principal domestic operating subsidiary of Baxter International (NYSE: BAX). Baxter International, through its subsidiaries, is a global medical products and services company that provides critical therapies for people with life-threatening conditions. The company's products and services in bioscience (biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, biosurgery and transfusion therapies), medication delivery and renal therapy are used by health-care providers and their patients more than 100 countries.

Helinx is a trademark of Cerus Corporation
INTERCEPT Blood System, INTERCEPT Platelet System, INTERCEPT Plasma System and INTERCEPT Red Blood Cell System are trademarks of Baxter International, Inc.

Statements in this news release regarding product development and product potential are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from the above forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks and uncertainty of the timing and results of clinical trials and other development activities, actions by regulatory authorities at any stage of the development process, additional financing activities, market acceptance of any products, competitive conditions and other factors discussed in the companies' most recent reports on Form 10Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

	Media Contacts: Margaret Stanford Shubny, (847) 948-3951 Director, Corporate Communications Baxter Healthcare Corporation Media Contacts: Sylvia Wheeler, (925) 288-6061 Director, Corporate Communications Cerus Corporation