A Proactive Approach to Blood Safety

Targeting DNA and RNA to Prevent Pathogen Proliferation

The INTERCEPT® System uses amotosalen – a well characterized photoactive compound that specifically targets DNA and RNA – and UVA illumination to irreversibly cross-link nucleic acids. In doing so, the INTERCEPT treatment blocks replication of viruses, bacteria, and parasites, rendering them inactive.1

INTERCEPT
Mechanism of Action

  1. Amotosalen targets nucleic acids, and intercalates or “docks” between nucleic acid base pairs.
  2. UVA illumination activates amotosalen, causing permanent cross-links between the helical strands.
  3. Cross-linking prevents further replication and inactivates the pathogen and/or leukocyte.

Mechanism of action

INTERCEPT Reduces a Broad Spectrum of Pathogens1

Bacteria
Gram-negative
Gram-positive
spirochetes

Klebsiella pneumoniae †◊
Escherichia coli †◊
Serratia marcescens †◊
Yersenia enterocolitica †◊
Staphylococcus epidermidis †◊
Staphylococcus aureus †◊
Streptococcus pyogenes †◊
Bacillus cereus (vegetative) †◊
Clostridium perfringens (vegetative)
Propionibacterium acnes †◊
Treponema pallidum (Syphilis) 
Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) 

Virus
Enveloped
Non-enveloped

HIV-1, cell associated †◊
DHBV (model virus for HBV) †◊
BVDV (model virus for HCV) †◊
HTLV-I 
HTLV-II 
West Nile virus (WNV) †◊
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) †◊
Dengue virus (DENV) †◊
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) 
Pseudorabies virus (model for CMV) 
Influenza A virus 
Bluetongue virus (model non-enveloped virus) 

Protozoan
Parasite

Plasmodium falciparum 
Babesia microti 
Trypanosoma cruzi †◊

Leukocyte

Human T-Cells †◊

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For a full list of pathogens, see Package Insert.
† Pathogen reduced Amicus apheresis platelets in PAS-3.   ◊ Pathogen reduced Trima apheresis platelets in 100% plasma.
1. The INTERCEPT Blood System for Platelets Package Insert, Cerus Corporation; May 28, 2019.
*Certain non-enveloped viruses (e.g., HAV, HEV, B19, and poliovirus) and Bacillus cereus spores have demonstrated resistance to the INTERCEPT process.