8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 29, 2008

CERUS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	0-21937	68-0262011
(State of jurisdiction)	(Commission File No.)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

2411 Stanwell Drive

Concord, California 94520

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (925) 288-6000

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On February 29, 2008, Cerus Corporation (the “Company”) promoted Laurence M. Corash, M.D., one of its Named Executive Officers (as defined in Item 402(a)(3) of Regulation S-K, C.F.R. § 229.10, et. seq.), to Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. A copy of the Company’s press release, entitled “Cerus Promotes Laurence M. Corash, M.D. to Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer,” is furnished pursuant to Item 8.01 as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

99.1 Press Release, dated March 3, 2008, entitled “Cerus Promotes Laurence M. Corash, M.D. to Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer.”

2

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	CERUS CORPORATION
Dated: March 3, 2008	By:	/s/ William J. Dawson
		William J. Dawson Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer

3

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press Release, dated March 3, 2008, entitled “Cerus Promotes Laurence M. Corash, M.D. to Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer.”

4

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Contact:

William J. Dawson

Vice President, Finance & CFO

Cerus Corporation

(925) 288-6053

CERUS PROMOTES LAURENCE M. CORASH, M.D. TO SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND

CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

March 3, 2008—Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ: CERS) announced today that Laurence M. Corash, M.D. has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Corash is a co-founder of Cerus, a board member and has been a member of the senior management team at Cerus since 1994. He has been a Professor of Laboratory Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco since July 1985 and was Chief of the Hematology Laboratory for the Medical Center at the University of California, San Francisco from 1982 to 1997. From February 1990 to July 1994, Dr. Corash served as a consultant to the FDA Advisory Panel for Hematology Devices.

“I am pleased to announce this well-deserved promotion of Larry Corash,” said Claes Glassell, president and CEO of Cerus Corporation. “It acknowledges the many significant contributions Larry has made to Cerus over the years and the expectation that he will play a central role in our future.”

ABOUT CERUS

Cerus Corporation is a biomedical products company focused on commercializing the INTERCEPT Blood System to enhance blood safety. The INTERCEPT Blood System is designed to inactivate blood-borne pathogens in donated blood components intended for transfusion. Cerus currently markets the INTERCEPT Blood System for both platelets and plasma in Europe and the Middle East. The Company is also pursuing regulatory approvals in the United States and other countries. The INTERCEPT red blood cell system is currently in clinical development.