Pandemic Fears Could Be Major Catalyst For Cerus Drug, Cowen Says

• The share price of Cerus Corporation CERS has declined 16.43 percent over the past month, to a low of $5.01 on Thursday.
• Cowen’s Joshua Jennings has maintained an Outperform rating on the company, with a price target of $8.
• An article in Transfusion has highlighted the potential of INTERCEPT in inactivating the Zika virus, which Jennings believes could be a catalyst for Cerus.

According to the Cowen report, “An article published in Transfusion highlights the successful inactivation of Zika virus by amotosalen combined with UVA light as a way to prevent plasma transfusion ZIKV infections in areas such as French Polynesia where this virus could be of particular concern.”

Related Link: Promising Zika Research Fuels Cerus Stock Surge

Analyst Joshua Jennings explained that the article highlighted the success of the components of INTERCEPT in the inactivation of ZIKV in fresh frozen plasma.

Although the Zika virus was unlikely to lead to meaningful revenue generation for the company in the near term, Jennings believes that the virus is another emerging pathogen to an already growing list, and INTERCEPT could address the safety needs of global blood supply when an outbreak occurs.

With transfusion-transmitted infection diseases being an ongoing cause for concern for blood banks, Jennings believes that Cerus already has a solution that could lay fears regarding blood safety to rest.