Wedbush Securities Expects In-Line Financials for Cerus Corporation

In a report published Friday, Wedbush Securities analyst Zarak Khurshid reiterated an Outperform rating and $7.50 price target on

. In the report, Wedbush Securities noted, "CERS' INTERCEPT pathogen inactivation technology, which is used to neutralize pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites) in donated blood products is quietly becoming a standard of care in Europe and is steadily growing globally. We are encouraged by the ex-US growth story and particularly excited about the US opportunity for INTERCEPT platelets where the company obtained FDA approval following submission of its final module in 2Q14. The US platelet market represents a highly concentrated >$200 MM annual addressable opportunity. The company announced its first two US contracts in early February 2015 which is encouraging to us. Additionally, the company appears to be making some progress with investigational device exemptions for use of INTERCEPT in Caribbean viral outbreaks and with Ebola." Cerus Corporation closed on Thursday at $5.43.