News Release

BAXTER AND HAEMONETICS SIGN AGREEMENT FOR BAXTER/CERUS PATHOGEN INACTIVATION TECHNOLOGY FOR PLATELETS

Worldwide Agreement Expected to Expand Access to INTERCEPT Platelets

DEERFIELD, Ill., BRAINTREE, Mass. and CONCORD, Calif., December 10, 2001 - Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE: HAE), subsidiaries of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) and Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ: CERS) announced today that Baxter and Haemonetics have entered into worldwide agreements that will enable Haemonetics to seamlessly integrate its platelet collection devices with the INTERCEPT Platelet System. The INTERCEPT Platelet System utilizes a pathogen inactivation technology jointly being developed by Baxter and Cerus. Upon regulatory approval of this system, this agreement will allow Haemonetics to offer its worldwide platelet collection customers an easy and economical way to incorporate the INTERCEPT Platelet System into their operations, making pathogen inactivation more widely available to platelet transfusion recipients.

Pathogen safety is an emerging issue in the platelet collection market. Baxter and Cerus Corporation are jointly developing the INTERCEPT Platelet System to protect against transmission of infectious diseases through platelet transfusion. Haemonetics and Baxter are worldwide market leaders in automated platelet collection.

"We are pleased to partner with Baxter to improve the safety of platelet transfusions and look forward to offering an integrated collection and pathogen inactivation system to our platelet collection customers," stated James Peterson, Haemonetics president and CEO. "We believe that the INTERCEPT Platelet System is the most promising platelet pathogen inactivation technology in development and look forward to minimizing effort and expense on the part of our customers in using pathogen inactivation with Haemonetics' collection systems."

"We are very pleased to enter into these agreements that will make INTERCEPT platelets accessible to more patients worldwide," said Gregory P. Young, corporate vice president and president of Baxter's Fenwal business. "This relationship is consistent with Baxter's commitment to work with blood centers and hospitals to provide the highest quality blood components to transfusion recipients around the world."

According to the terms of the agreement, Baxter will grant Haemonetics access to INTERSOL solution, a proprietary platelet additive solution necessary for use with the INTERCEPT Platelet System. Baxter will also provide technical requirements and regulatory support to Haemonetics to enable seamless integration of Haemonetics' platelet collection technology with the INTERCEPT Platelet System. Haemonetics will pay Baxter $10 million, and will make additional milestone payments over the next several years totaling up to $14.5 million as regulatory approvals are received in various geographies around the world. 1

Baxter and Cerus are collaborating on the development of the INTERCEPT Blood Systems, which utilize Cerus' Helinx technology, to enhance the safety of blood transfusions. These systems are being developed to inactivate viruses, bacteria, other pathogens and white blood cells. A CE Mark application seeking European approval for the INTERCEPT Platelet System has been submitted and the regulatory filing process has begun in the United States.

More than four million platelet transfusions are performed annually in Western Europe, North America and Japan to prevent bleeding in a variety of patients, including those undergoing cancer therapy and surgical procedures. Donated platelets are generally tested for certain pathogens, but testing does not eliminate the risk of viral contamination, and there are no routine tests to screen for bacteria, which are of particular concern as bacteria can quickly multiply in platelet products.

Blood components may be collected through manual collections of whole blood or an automated system. The automated process removes a blood component, such as platelets, and returns the remaining blood components, such as red blood cells and plasma, to the donor. In the case of platelets, this process allows more of one component of the blood to be collected than could be obtained from a whole blood donation.

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.

Haemonetics is a global company engaged in the design, manufacture and worldwide marketing of automated blood processing systems. These systems address important medical markets including surgical blood salvage, blood component collections and plasma collections. To learn more about Haemonetics' products and markets, visit the company's web site at http://www.haemonetics.com.

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. The 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.

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1 Aside from the $10 million pretax special charge, Haemonetics does not expect the transaction to affect its fiscal 2002 or 2003 earnings.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including technological advances in the medical field, product demand and market acceptance, actions of regulatory bodies, the impact of competitive products and pricing, and other risks detailed in the companies' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by management of the companies and are believed to be reasonable, though are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. Actual results or experience could differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in footnote 1 are based solely on information supplied by Haemonetics and neither Baxter nor Cerus has any knowldege of the basis for such statements.

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

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Media Contacts: Margaret Shubny, Baxter, (847) 948-3951 Lisa Lopez, Haemonetics, (781) 356-9517 Helen Shik, Schwartz Communications, (781) 684-0770 Jayme Maniatis, Schwartz Communications, (781) 684-0770 Sylvia Wheeler, Cerus Corporation, (925) 288-6061 Investor Contacts: Neville Jeharajah, Baxter, (847) 948-2875 Mary Kay Ladone, Baxter, (847) 948-3371 Lisa Lopez, Haemonetics, (781) 356-9517 Sylvia Wheeler, Cerus Corporation, (925) 288-6061