News Release

CERUS AND BAXTER REPORT POSITIVE RESULTS IN TRIAL
OF INTERCEPT RED BLOOD CELLS

Companies Prepare for Phase III Clinical Trial

SAN ANTONIO, Tex., October 17, 2001 - Cerus Corporation (Nasdaq: CERS) and Baxter Healthcare Corporation today announced preliminary results from the Phase Ic clinical trial of their INTERCEPT Red Blood Cell System, a pathogen inactivation system being developed to protect against transmission of infectious diseases through red blood cell transfusions. The results showed that INTERCEPT red blood cells were well tolerated and demonstrated comparable recovery and survival performance to red blood cells which had not been treated with the pathogen inactivation process. The data were presented by Jorge Rios, M.D., assistant medical director, American Red Cross, New England Region at the American Association of Blood Banks Meeting being held this week in San Antonio, Texas.

"We are pleased with the preliminary results from this trial, which mark the completion of a very thorough Phase I clinical program for the INTERCEPT Red Blood Cell System," said Stephen T. Isaacs, president and chief executive officer of Cerus. "Based on these results and discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, we are moving directly to Phase III trials of this product, which we expect to begin shortly."

The two-part Phase Ic trial included 40 individuals, 29 of whom participated in a study designed to evaluate the performance of INTERCEPT red blood cells compared to untreated red blood cells. Preliminary results showed that mean survival of INTERCEPT red blood cells following infusion was 62.2 days, which did not show statistical difference to the 61.1 days of survival of untreated red blood cells. In addition, the two groups showed comparable mean recovery, with 79.4 percent of INTERCEPT red blood cells surviving 24 hours after infusion compared to 84.7 percent in the untreated group. The remaining 11 individuals participated in a study to evaluate the tolerability of full transfusions of INTERCEPT red blood cells. The data showed that INTERCEPT red blood cells were well tolerated with no serious adverse events observed.

Cerus and Baxter are collaborating on the development of the INTERCEPT Blood Systems to enhance the safety of blood transfusions. The companies are seeking U.S. and European approval of the INTERCEPT Platelet System and are conducting a Phase III clinical trial of the INTERCEPT Plasma System.

ABOUT CERUS
Cerus Corporation is developing medical systems and therapeutics based on its proprietary Helinx technology for controlling biological replication. Cerus' most advanced programs are focused on systems to enhance the safety of the blood products used for transfusion. These INTERCEPT Blood Systems, utilizing 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 Inc. (NYSE: BAX). Baxter is a global medical products and services company that, through its subsidiaries, 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 in more than 100 countries.

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 Forms 10K, 10Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(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.)

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

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