CERUS CORP - Quarter Report: 2018 September (Form 10-Q)

..

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018

or

For the transition period from:              to             

Commission File Number 000-21937

CERUS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(925) 288-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    YES  ☒    NO  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    YES  ☒    NO  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES  ☐    NO  ☒

As of October 22, 2018, there were 135,689,199 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

CERUS CORPORATION

FORM 10-Q

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

CERUS CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

1

CERUS CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

UNAUDITED

(in thousands, except per share data)

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

2

CERUS CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

UNAUDITED

(in thousands)

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

3

CERUS CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

UNAUDITED

(in thousands)

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

4

CERUS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

UNAUDITED

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include those of Cerus Corporation and its subsidiary, Cerus Europe B.V. (together with Cerus Corporation, hereinafter “Cerus” or the “Company”) after elimination of all intercompany accounts and transactions. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or U.S. (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring entries, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been made. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2018, or for any future periods.

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2017, which were included in the Company’s 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 8, 2018. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017, has been derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of that date.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, including those related to the nature and timing of satisfaction of performance obligations, the timing when the customer obtains control of products or services, the standalone selling price (“SSP”) of performance obligations, variable consideration, accounts receivable, inventory reserves, fair values of investments, stock-based compensation, intangible assets and goodwill, useful lives of intangible assets and property and equipment, income taxes, and accrued liabilities, among others. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, future projections, and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Revenue

The Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective method. Revenue is recognized in accordance with that core principle by applying the following five steps: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

The Company’s main source of revenue is product revenue from sales of the INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets and plasma (“platelet and plasma systems” or “disposable kits”), UVA illumination devices (“illuminators”), spare parts and storage solutions, and maintenance services of illuminators. The Company sells its platelet and plasma systems directly to blood banks, hospitals, universities, government agencies, as well as to distributors in certain regions. For all sales of the Company’s INTERCEPT Blood System products, the Company uses a binding purchase order or signed sales contract as evidence of a contract and satisfaction of its policy. Generally, the Company’s contracts with its customers do not provide for open return rights, except within a reasonable time after receipt of goods in the case of defective or non-conforming product. The contracts with customers can include various combinations of products, and to a lesser extent, services. The Company must determine whether products or services are capable of being distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations, or are accounted for as a combined performance obligation. The Company must allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation on a relative SSP basis, and recognize the revenue when the performance obligation is satisfied. The Company determines the SSP by using the historical selling price of the products and services. If the amount of consideration in a contract is variable, the Company estimates the amount of variable consideration that should be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method, to the extent it is probable that a significant future reversal of cumulative revenue under the contract will not occur. Product revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of promised products or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to receive in exchange for those products or services. Product revenue from the sale of illuminators, disposable kits, spare parts and storage solutions are recognized upon the transfer of control of the products to the customer. Product revenue from maintenance services are recognized

5

ratably on a straight-line basis over the term of maintenance as customers simultaneously consume and receive benefits. Freight costs charged to customers are recorded as a component of revenue. Taxes that the Company invoices to its customers and remits to governments are recorded on a net basis, which excludes such tax from product revenue.

The Company receives reimbursement under its U.S. government contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (“BARDA”) that supports research and development of defined projects. See “Note 10. Development and License Agreements—Agreement with BARDA” below. The contract generally provides for reimbursement of approved costs incurred under the terms of the contract. Revenue related to the cost reimbursement provisions under the Company’s U.S. government contract are recognized as the qualified direct and indirect costs on the projects are incurred. The Company invoices under its U.S. government contract using the provisional rates in the government contract and thus is subject to future audits at the discretion of government. These audits could result in an adjustment to government contract revenue previously reported, which adjustments potentially could be significant. The Company believes that revenue for periods not yet audited has been recorded in amounts that are expected to be realized upon final audit and settlement. Costs incurred related to services performed under the contract are included as a component of research and development or selling, general and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Company’s use of estimates in recording accrued liabilities for government contract activities (see “Use of Estimates” above) affects the revenue recorded from development funding and under the government contract.

Disaggregation of Product Revenue

Product revenue by geographical locations of customers during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, were as follows (in thousands):

Contract Balances

The Company invoices its customers based upon the payment terms in the contracts, which is generally from 30 to 60 days. Accounts receivable are recorded when the Company’s right to the consideration are estimated to be unconditional. The Company had no contract assets at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

Contract liabilities mainly consist of deferred product revenue related to uninstalled illuminators, unshipped products, and maintenance services. Maintenance services are generally billed upfront at the beginning of each annual service period and recognized ratably over the service period. The increase in the deferred product revenue balance for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 is primarily driven by performance obligations not satisfied but invoiced as of September 30, 2018, offset by $0.3 million of revenue recognized that were included in the deferred product revenue balance as of December 31, 2017.

The Company applies an optional exemption to not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts that have an original expected duration of one year or less.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development (“R&D”) expenses are charged to expense when incurred, including cost incurred pursuant to the terms of the Company’s U.S. government contract. Research and development expenses include salaries and related expenses for scientific and regulatory personnel, payments to consultants, supplies and chemicals used in in-house laboratories, costs of R&D facilities, depreciation of equipment and external contract research expenses, including clinical trials, preclinical safety studies, other laboratory studies, process development and product manufacturing for research use.

The Company’s use of estimates in recording accrued liabilities for R&D activities (see “Use of Estimates” above) affects the amounts of R&D expenses recorded from development funding and under its U.S. government contract. Actual results may differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

6

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase to be classified as cash equivalents. These investments primarily consist of money market instruments, and are classified as available-for-sale.

Investments

Investments with original maturities of greater than three months primarily include corporate debt and U.S. government agency securities that are designated as available-for-sale and classified as short-term investments. Available-for-sale securities are carried at estimated fair value. The Company views its available-for-sale portfolio as available for use in its current operations. Unrealized gains and losses derived by changes in the estimated fair value of available-for-sale securities were recorded in “Unrealized losses on available-for-sale investments, net of taxes” on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. Realized gains (losses) from the sale of available-for-sale investments, if any, were recorded in “Other income, net” on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. The costs of securities sold are based on the specific identification method, if applicable. The Company reported the amortization of any premium and accretion of any discount resulting from the purchase of debt securities as a component of interest income.

The Company also reviews its available-for-sale securities on a regular basis to evaluate whether any security has experienced an other-than-temporary decline in fair value. Other-than-temporary declines in market value, if any, are recorded in “Other income, net” on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Restricted Cash

As of September 30, 2018, the Company’s “Restricted cash” primarily consisted of a $2.5 million of letter of credit relating to the lease of the Company’s new office building. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company also had certain non-U.S. dollar denominated deposits recorded as “Restrict cash” related to compliance with certain foreign contractual requirements.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash equivalents, available-for-sale securities and accounts receivable.

Pursuant to the Company’s investment policy, substantially all of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities are maintained at major financial institutions of high credit standing. The Company monitors the financial credit worthiness of the issuers of its investments and limits the concentration in individual securities and types of investments that exist within its investment portfolio. Generally, all of the Company’s investments carry high credit quality ratings, which is in accordance with its investment policy. At September 30, 2018, the Company does not believe there is significant financial risk from non-performance by the issuers of the Company’s cash equivalents and short-term investments.

Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables exist. On a regular basis, including at the time of sale, the Company performs credit evaluations of its significant customers that it expects to sell to on credit terms. Generally, the Company does not require collateral from its customers to secure accounts receivable. To the extent that the Company determines specific invoices or customer accounts may be uncollectible, the Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts against the accounts receivable on its unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets and records a charge on its unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses.

The Company had two and three customers that accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s outstanding trade receivables at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. These customers cumulatively represented approximately 61% and 53% of the Company’s outstanding trade receivables at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. To date, the Company has not experienced collection difficulties from these customers.

Inventories

At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, inventory consisted of work-in-process and finished goods only. Finished goods include INTERCEPT disposable kits, illuminators, and certain replacement parts for the illuminators. Platelet and plasma systems’ disposable kits generally have 18 to 24 months shelf lives from the date of manufacture. Illuminators and replacement parts do not have regulated expiration dates. Work-in-process includes certain components that are manufactured over a protracted length of time before being sold to, and ultimately incorporated and assembled by Fresenius Kabi Deutschland GmbH or Fresenius, Inc. (with their affiliates, “Fresenius”) into the finished INTERCEPT disposable kits. The Company maintains an inventory balance based on its current sales projections, and at each reporting period, the Company evaluates whether its work-in-process inventory would be sold to Fresenius for production of finished units in order to sell to existing and prospective customers within the next twelve-month period. It

7

is not customary for the Company’s production cycle for inventory to exceed twelve months. Instead, the Company uses its best judgment to factor in lead times for the production of its work-in-process and finished units to meet the Company’s forecasted demands. If actual results differ from those estimates, work-in-process inventory could potentially accumulate for periods exceeding one year. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company classified its work-in-process inventory as a current asset on its consolidated balance sheets based on its evaluation that the work-in-process inventory would be sold to Fresenius for finished disposable kit production within each respective subsequent twelve-month period.

Inventory is recorded at the lower of cost, determined on a first-in, first-out basis, or net realizable value. The Company uses significant judgment to analyze and determine if the composition of its inventory is obsolete, slow-moving or unsalable and frequently reviews such determinations. The Company writes down specifically identified unusable, obsolete, slow-moving, or known unsalable inventory that has no alternative use in the period that it is first recognized by using a number of factors including product expiration dates, open and unfulfilled orders, and sales forecasts. Any write-down of its inventory to net realizable value establishes a new cost basis and will be maintained even if certain circumstances suggest that the inventory is recoverable in subsequent periods. Costs associated with the write-down of inventory are recorded in “Cost of product revenue” on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had $0.3 million and $0.1 million, respectively, recorded for potential obsolete, expiring or unsalable product.

Property and Equipment, net

Property and equipment is comprised of furniture, equipment, leasehold improvements, construction-in-progress, information technology hardware and software and is recorded at cost. At the time the property and equipment is ready for its intended use, it is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets (generally three to five years). Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful lives of the improvements. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company capitalized construction-in-progress costs included in Property and Equipment, net, on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, of $1.5 million and zero, respectively, related to leasehold improvements, of which $0.8 million was unpaid as of September 30, 2018.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, net

Intangible assets, net, which include a license for the right to commercialize the INTERCEPT Blood System in Asia, are subject to ratable amortization over the original estimated useful life of ten years. Accumulated amortization of intangible assets as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, was $1.6 million and $1.5 million, respectively. The changes in intangible assets, net during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, were results of amortization expense. Goodwill is not amortized but instead is subject to an impairment test performed on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill may be impaired. Such impairment analysis is performed on August 31 of each fiscal year, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. The test for goodwill impairment may be assessed using qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the carrying amount. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the carrying amount, the Company must then proceed with performing the quantitative goodwill impairment test. The Company may choose not to perform the qualitative assessment to test goodwill for impairment and proceed directly to the quantitative impairment test; however, the Company may revert to the qualitative assessment to test goodwill for impairment in any subsequent period. The quantitative goodwill impairment test compares the fair value of each reporting unit with its respective carrying amount, including goodwill. The Company has determined that it operates in one reporting unit and estimates the fair value of its one reporting unit using the enterprise approach under which it considers the quoted market capitalization of the Company as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market. The Company considers quoted market prices that are available in active markets to be the best evidence of fair value. The Company also considers other factors, which include future forecasted results, the economic environment and overall market conditions. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not impaired. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess, limited to the carrying amount of goodwill in the Company’s one reporting unit.

The Company performs an impairment test on its intangible assets if certain events or changes in circumstances occur which indicate that the carrying amounts of its intangible assets may not be recoverable. If the intangible assets are not recoverable, an impairment loss would be recognized by the Company based on the excess amount of the carrying value of the intangible assets over its fair value. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, there were no impairment charges recognized related to the acquired intangible assets.

Long-lived Assets

The Company evaluates its long-lived assets for impairment by continually monitoring events and changes in circumstances that could indicate carrying amounts of its long-lived assets may not be recoverable. When such events or changes in circumstances occur, the Company assesses recoverability by determining whether the carrying value of such assets will be recovered through the undiscounted expected future cash flows. If the expected undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of these assets, the

8

Company then measures the amount of the impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the assets.

Foreign Currency Remeasurement

The functional currency of the Company’s foreign subsidiary is the U.S. dollar. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are remeasured in U.S. dollars using the exchange rates at the balance sheet date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are remeasured in U.S. dollars using historical exchange rates. Product revenues and expenses are remeasured using average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Remeasurements are recorded in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense is measured at the grant-date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period, and is adjusted for estimated forfeitures. To the extent that stock options contain performance criteria for vesting, stock-based compensation is recognized once the performance criteria are probable of being achieved.

For stock-based awards issued to non-employees, the measurement date at which the fair value of the stock-based award is measured to be the earlier of (i) the date at which a commitment for performance by the grantee to earn the equity instrument is reached or (ii) the date at which the grantee’s performance is complete. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense for the fair value of the vested portion of the non-employee stock-based awards in its consolidated statements of operations.

See Note 8 for further information regarding the Company’s stock-based compensation expense.

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is accounted for using an asset and liability approach, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Company does not recognize tax positions that do not have a greater than 50% likelihood of being recognized upon review by a taxing authority having full knowledge of all relevant information. Use of a valuation allowance is not an appropriate substitute for derecognition of a tax position. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in its income tax expense. To date, the Company has not recognized any interest and penalties in its unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations, nor has it accrued for or made payments for interest and penalties. Although the Company believes it more likely than not that a taxing authority would agree with its current tax positions, there can be no assurance that the tax positions the Company has taken will be substantiated by a taxing authority if reviewed. The Company’s U.S. federal tax returns for years 1998 through 2017 and California tax returns for years through 2017 remain subject to examination by the taxing jurisdictions due to unutilized net operating losses and research credits. The Company continues to carry a valuation allowance on substantially all of its net deferred tax assets.

Net Loss Per Share

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net loss per share gives effect to all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding for the period. The potentially dilutive securities include stock options, employee stock purchase plan rights and restricted stock units, which are calculated using the treasury stock method. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, all potentially dilutive securities outstanding have been excluded from the computation of dilutive weighted average shares outstanding because such securities have an antidilutive impact due to losses reported.

The table below presents potential shares that were excluded from the calculation of the weighted average number of shares outstanding used for the calculation of diluted net loss per share. These are excluded from the calculation due to their anti-dilutive effect for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (shares in thousands):

9

Guarantee and Indemnification Arrangements

The Company recognizes the fair value for guarantee and indemnification arrangements issued or modified by the Company. In addition, the Company monitors the conditions that are subject to the guarantees and indemnifications in order to identify if a loss has occurred. If the Company determines it is probable that a loss has occurred, then any such estimable loss would be recognized under those guarantees and indemnifications. Some of the agreements that the Company is a party to contain provisions that indemnify the counter party from damages and costs resulting from claims that the Company’s technology infringes the intellectual property rights of a third party or claims that the sale or use of the Company’s products have caused personal injury or other damage or loss. The Company has not received any such requests for indemnification under these provisions and has not been required to make material payments pursuant to these provisions.

The Company generally provides for a one-year warranty on certain of its INTERCEPT blood-safety products covering defects in materials and workmanship. The Company accrues costs associated with warranty obligations when claims become known and are estimable. The Company has not experienced significant or systemic warranty claims nor is it aware of any existing current warranty claims. Accordingly, the Company had not accrued for any future warranty costs for its products at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company applies the provisions of fair value relating to its financial assets and liabilities. The carrying amounts of accounts receivables, accounts payable, and other accrued liabilities approximate their fair value due to the relative short-term maturities. Based on the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for loans with similar terms, the Company believes the fair value of its debt approximates their carrying amounts. The Company measures and records certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis, including its available-for-sale securities. The Company classifies instruments within Level 1 if quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets, which include the Company’s cash accounts and money market funds. The Company classifies instruments in Level 2 if the instruments are valued using observable inputs to quoted market prices, benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. These instruments include the Company’s corporate debt and U.S. government agency securities holdings. The available-for-sale securities are held by a custodian who obtains investment prices from a third party pricing provider that uses standard inputs (observable in the market) to models which vary by asset class. The Company classifies instruments in Level 3 if one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. The Company assesses any transfers among fair value measurement levels at the end of each reporting period.

See Note 2 for further information regarding the Company’s valuation of financial instruments.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which provides a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance. This ASU is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. The Company adopted the new accounting standard on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective method, and the adoption had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10), which requires all equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through net income (other than those accounted for under equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee). The amendments also require an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments. In addition, this ASU eliminates the requirement to disclose the fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost for entities that are not public business entities and the requirement to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet for public business entities. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2018, and the adoption had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplifies the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees by aligning it with the accounting for share-based payments to employees, with certain exceptions. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning

10

after December 15, 2018, and interim periods thereafter, with early application permitted. The Company early adopted this new accounting standard on July 1, 2018, and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, which, for operating leases, requires a lessee to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments, in its balance sheet. The standard also requires a lessee to recognize a single lease cost, calculated so that the cost of the lease is allocated over the lease term, on a generally straight-line basis. This ASU will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods thereafter, with early application permitted. Entities are required to adopt this ASU using a modified retrospective approach for all leases that exist at or commence after the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, which provides for certain practical expedient when implementing the new leases standard. Companies may apply the practical expedient either retrospectively or prospectively. The Company will adopt these ASUs on January 1, 2019, using the modified retrospective approach and will apply the practical expedient prospectively. The Company is currently assessing the future impact of these ASUs on its consolidated financial statements. To date the Company has completed a high level review of its lease model, determined the scope of work, and is in the process of performing an analysis of lease contracts. The Company anticipates that the Company’s operating lease commitments will be subject to the new standard. The Company will recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets upon the adoption of these ASUs, which will increase the Company’s total assets and total liabilities. The Company will continue to monitor industry activities and any additional guidance provided by regulators, standards setters, or the accounting profession as an ongoing component of its assessment and implementation plans.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods thereafter, with early application permitted. The Company plans to adopt this ASU on January 1, 2020, using the modified retrospective transition method. The Company is currently assessing the future impact of this ASU on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting, which provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2018, and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Note 2. Available-for-sale Securities and Fair Value on Financial Instruments

Available-for-sale Securities

The following is a summary of available-for-sale securities at September 30, 2018 (in thousands):

The following is a summary of available-for-sale securities at December 31, 2017 (in thousands):

Available-for-sale securities at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, consisted of the following by contractual maturity (in thousands):

11

The following tables show all available-for-sale marketable securities in an unrealized loss position for which an other-than-temporary impairment has not been recognized and the related gross unrealized losses and fair value, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position (in thousands):

As of September 30, 2018, the Company considered the declines in market value of its marketable securities investment portfolio to be temporary in nature and did not consider any of its investments other-than-temporarily impaired. The Company typically invests in highly-rated securities, and its investment policy limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. The policy generally requires investments to be investment grade, with the primary objective of minimizing the potential risk of principal loss. Fair values were determined for each individual security in the investment portfolio. When evaluating an investment for other-than-temporary impairment, the Company reviews factors such as the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below its cost basis, the financial condition of the issuer and any changes thereto, changes in market interest rates, and the Company’s intent to sell, or whether it is more likely than not it will be required to sell, the investment before recovery of the investment’s cost basis. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company did not recognize any other-than-temporary impairment loss. The Company has no current requirement or intent to sell the securities in an unrealized loss position. The Company expects to recover up to (or beyond) the initial cost of investment for securities held.

The Company recognized zero gross realized gains and less than five thousand dollars of gross realized losses from the sale of available-for-sale investments during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. The Company recognized zero and $3.5 million of gross realized gains from the sale of available-for-sale investments during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, which were reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income into “Other income, net” on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Company did not record any gross realized losses from the sale or maturity of available-for-sale investments during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Fair Value Disclosures

The Company uses certain assumptions that market participants would use to determine the fair value of an asset or liability in pricing the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The identification of market participant assumptions provides a basis for determining what inputs are to be used for pricing each asset or liability. A fair value hierarchy has been established which gives precedence to fair value measurements calculated using observable inputs over those using unobservable inputs. This hierarchy prioritized the inputs into three broad levels as follows:

Money market funds are highly liquid investments and are actively traded. The pricing information on these investment instruments are readily available and can be independently validated as of the measurement date. This approach results in the classification of these securities as Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

12

To estimate the fair value of Level 2 debt securities as of September 30, 2018, the Company’s primary pricing service relies on inputs from multiple industry-recognized pricing sources to determine the price for each investment. Corporate debt and U.S. government agency securities are systematically priced by this service as of the close of business each business day. If the primary pricing service does not price a specific asset a secondary pricing service is utilized.

The fair values of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities were determined using the following inputs at September 30, 2018 (in thousands):

The fair values of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities were determined using the following inputs at December 31, 2017 (in thousands):

The Company did not have any transfers among fair value measurement levels during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Note 3. Inventories

Inventories at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, consisted of the following (in thousands):

Note 4. Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, consisted of the following (in thousands):

13

Note 5. Debt

Debt at September 30, 2018, consisted of the following (in thousands):

Debt at December 31, 2017, consisted of the following (in thousands):

Principal and interest payments on debt at September 30, 2018, are expected to be as follows (in thousands):

Loan and Security Agreement

Prior to December 31, 2016, the Company maintained a five year loan and security agreement (the “Term Loan Agreement”) with Oxford Finance LLC (“Oxford”), under which the Company borrowed $20.0 million. The Company received $10.0 million from the first tranche (“Term Loan A”) in June 2014. The second tranche of $10.0 million (“Term Loan B”) was drawn in June 2015. Term Loan A bore an interest rate of 6.95%. Term Loan B bore an interest rate of 7.01%. Term Loans A and B were set to mature on June 1, 2019, with various interest only periods.

On April 27, 2017, the Term Loan Agreement was amended to include an additional interest-only period for all advances under the Term Loan Agreement. As amended, the Company was required to make interest only payments from May 2017 through December 2017, followed by eighteen months of equal principal and interest payments thereafter. The Company determined that each of these amendments to the Term Loan Agreement resulted in a debt modification. As a result, the accounting treatment for the Term Loan continued under the interest method, with a new effective interest rate based on revised cash flows calculated on a prospective basis upon the execution of each of these amendments to the Term Loan Agreement. The Company was also required to make a final payment equal to 7% of the principal amounts of the Term Loans drawn payable on the earlier to occur of maturity or prepayment. 

On July 31, 2017 (the “Closing Date”), the Company entered into an amended and restated loan and security agreement (the “Amended Credit Agreement”) with Oxford, which amends and restates the Term Loan Agreement in its entirety. The Amended Credit Agreement provided for secured growth capital term loans of up to $40.0 million (the “2017 Term Loans”). All of the Company’s current and future assets, excluding its intellectual property and 35% of the Company’s investment in Cerus Europe B.V., are secured for its borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement. The 2017 Term Loans were available in two tranches. The first tranche of $30.0 million (“2017 Term Loan A”) was drawn by the Company on July 31, 2017, with the proceeds used in part to repay in full all of the outstanding term loans under the Term Loan Agreement of $17.6 million and the final payment of the Term Loan Agreement of $1.4 million. The availability of the second tranche of $10.0 million (“2017 Term Loan B”) expired on May 14, 2018, and the Company did not elect to draw the 2017 Term Loan B. The 2017 Term Loan A requires interest-only payments through February 1, 2019, followed by 42 monthly payments of equal principal plus declining interest payments. The 2017 Term Loan A bears interest at a rate equal to the greater of (i) 8.01% and (ii) the three-month U.S. LIBOR rate plus 6.72%. The interest rate on the 2017 Term Loan A at September 30, 2018, was approximately 9.12%. The Company will also be required to make a final payment fee of 8.00% of the principal amount of the 2017 Term Loan A. The Amended Credit Agreement contains certain nonfinancial covenants, with which the Company was in compliance at September 30, 2018.

14

Note 6. Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Leases

The Company leases its office facilities, located in Concord, California and Amersfoort, the Netherlands, and certain equipment and automobiles under non-cancelable operating leases with initial terms in excess of one year that require the Company to pay operating costs, property taxes, insurance and maintenance. The leases expire at various dates through 2029, with certain of the leases providing for renewal options, provisions for adjusting future lease payments based on the consumer price index, and the right to terminate the lease early. The Company’s leased facilities qualify as operating leases and as such, are not included on its consolidated balance sheets.

Future minimum non-cancelable payments under leases as of September 30, 2018, are as follows (in thousands):

Financed Leasehold Improvements

In 2010, the Company financed $1.1 million of leasehold improvements. The Company pays for the financed leasehold improvements as a component of rent and is required to reimburse its landlord over the remaining life of the respective leases. At September 30, 2018, the Company had an outstanding liability of $0.2 million related to these leasehold improvements, of which $0.1 million was reflected in “Accrued liabilities” and $0.1 million was reflected in “Other non-current liabilities” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Purchase Commitments

The Company is party to agreements with certain suppliers for certain components of the INTERCEPT Blood System. Certain of these agreements require minimum purchase commitments from the Company.

Note 7. Stockholders’ Equity

Public Offering of Common Stock

In January 2018, the Company issued and sold 14,030,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, at $4.10 per share in an underwritten public offering. The proceeds to the Company from this offering were approximately $57.2 million, net of the underwriting discount and other issuance costs.

Sales Agreement

On May 5, 2016, the Company entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Controlled Equity Offering^SM Sales Agreement (as amended on May 5, 2016, the “Prior Cantor Agreement”) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“Cantor”) that provided for the issuance and sale of shares of the Company’s common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $132.2 million through Cantor. As a result of Amendment No. 2, at May 5, 2016, the Company had $70 million of common stock available to be sold under the Prior Cantor Agreement.

On August 4, 2017, the Company entered into Amendment No. 3 to the Cantor Agreement (as amended on August 4, 2017, the “Amended Cantor Agreement”). The Amended Cantor Agreement became effective on January 8, 2018, and provides for the issuance and sale of shares of the Company’s common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $70.0 million through Cantor, which amount included the $31.4 million of unsold shares of common stock available for sale under the Prior Cantor Agreement immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Amended Cantor Agreement. Under the Amended Cantor Agreement, Cantor also acts as the Company’s sales agent and receives compensation based on an aggregate of 2% of the gross proceeds on the sale price per share of its common stock. The issuance and sale of these shares by the Company pursuant to the Amended Cantor Agreement are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, 3.2 million shares of the Company’s common stock were sold under the Amended Cantor Agreement for net proceeds of $22.3 million. At September 30, 2018, the Company had approximately $47.3 million of common stock available to be sold under the Amended Cantor Agreement.

15

Note 8. Stock-Based Compensation

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Company maintains an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Purchase Plan”), which is intended to qualify as an employee stock purchase plan within the meaning of Section 423(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under the Purchase Plan, the Company’s Board of Directors may authorize participation by eligible employees, including officers, in periodic offerings. Under the Purchase Plan eligible employee participants may purchase shares of common stock of the Company at a purchase price equal to 85% of the lower of the fair market value per share on the start date of the offering period or the fair market value per share on the purchase date. The Purchase Plan consists of a fixed offering period of 12 months with two purchase periods within each offering period. At September 30, 2018, the Company had 0.8 million shares available for future issuance.

2008 Equity Incentive Plan and Inducement Plan

The Company also maintains an equity compensation plan to provide long-term incentives for employees, contractors, and members of its Board of Directors. The Company currently grants equity awards from one plan, the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2008 Plan”). The 2008 Plan allows for the issuance of non-statutory and incentive stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), stock appreciation rights, other stock-related awards, and performance awards which may be settled in cash, stock, or other property. On June 6, 2012 and June 12, 2013, the stockholders approved amendments to the 2008 Plan (collectively the “Amended 2008 Plan”) such that the Amended 2008 Plan had reserved for issuance an amount not to exceed 19.5 million shares. On June 10, 2015, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment and restatement of the 2008 Plan that increased the aggregate number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2008 Plan by 5,000,000 shares. On June 7, 2017, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment and restatement of the 2008 Plan that increased the aggregate number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2008 Plan by 6,000,000 shares. Awards under the Amended 2008 Plan generally have a maximum term of 10 years from the date of the award. The Amended 2008 Plan generally requires options to be granted at 100% of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock subject to the option on the date of grant. Options granted by the Company to employees generally vest over four years. RSUs are measured based on the fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant and will generally vest over three years. Performance-based stock or cash awards granted under the Amended 2008 Plan are limited to either 500,000 shares of common stock or $1.0 million per recipient per calendar year. The attainment of any performance-based awards granted shall be conclusively determined by a committee designated by the Company’s Board of Directors. At September 30, 2018, 25,000 performance-based stock awards were outstanding. On August 31, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the Cerus Corporation Inducement Plan (the “Inducement Plan”), and reserved 1,250,000 shares of its common stock under the Inducement Plan to be used for the issuance of non-statutory stock options and restricted stock units to individuals who were not previously employees or directors of the Company, as an inducement material to the individual’s entry into employment with the Company. The terms and conditions of the Inducement Plan are substantially similar to the Amended 2008 Plan. Effective June 7, 2017, the Company no longer issues shares from the Inducement Plan.

At September 30, 2018, the Company had an aggregate of approximately 23.2 million shares of its common stock subject to outstanding options or unvested RSUs, or remaining available for future issuance under the Amended 2008 Plan and the Inducement Plan, of which approximately 17.6 million shares and 2.0 million shares were subject to outstanding options and unvested RSUs, respectively, and approximately 3.6 million shares were available for future issuance under the Amended 2008 Plan. The Company’s policy is to issue new shares of common stock upon the exercise of options or vesting of RSUs.

Activity under the Company’s equity incentive plans related to stock options is set forth below (in thousands except per share amounts):

Activity under the Company’s equity incentive plans related to RSUs is set forth below (in thousands except per share amounts):

16

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the grant-date fair value of stock options and employee stock purchase plan rights. The Black-Scholes option pricing model is affected by the Company’s stock price, as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables, which include the expected term of the grants, actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors, including forfeitures, the Company’s expected stock price volatility, the risk-free interest rate and expected dividends. The Company recognizes the grant-date fair value of the stock award as stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period, and is adjusted for estimated forfeitures.

Note 9. Income Taxes

The Company recorded income tax expense of $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, primarily related to the operating income of the Company’s Cerus Europe B.V. subsidiary. The Company recorded income tax expense of $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, primarily for the earnings of its European subsidiary. The Company recorded income tax expense of $4.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, primarily due to the sale of the Company’s shares of the common stock of Aduro Biotech, Inc.

During the three months ended September 30, 2018, the Company completed its review of the amounts provisionally recorded as of December 31, 2017 related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). As a result of this review, there were no adjustments to the provisionally recorded amounts.

Note 10. Development and License Agreements

Agreements with Fresenius

Fresenius manufactures and supplies the platelet and plasma systems to the Company under a supply agreement (the “Supply Agreement”). Fresenius is obligated to sell, and the Company is obligated to purchase, finished disposable kits for the Company’s platelet and plasma systems and the Company’s red blood cell system product candidate (the “RBC Sets”). The Supply Agreement permits the Company to purchase platelet and plasma systems and RBC Sets from third parties to the extent necessary to maintain supply qualifications with such third parties or where local or regional manufacturing is needed to obtain product registrations or sales. Pricing terms per unit are initially fixed and decline at specified annual production levels, and are subject to certain adjustments after the initial pricing term. Under the Supply Agreement, the Company maintains the amounts due from the components sold to Fresenius as a current asset on its accompanying consolidated balance sheets until such time as the Company purchases finished disposable kits using those components.

The Supply Agreement requires us to make certain payments totaling €8.6 million, or the Manufacturing and Development Payments, to Fresenius. In 2016, we paid €3.1 million to Fresenius. In August 2018, we entered an amendment to the Supply Agreement modifying the remaining €5.5 million to be paid in August 2019. The Manufacturing and Development Payments liability is accreted through interest expense based on the estimated timing of its ultimate settlement. As of September 30, 2018, the Company accrued $5.9 million (€5.0 million) related to the Manufacturing and Development Payments. As of December 31, 2017, the Company accrued $5.8 million (€4.8 million) related to the Manufacturing and Development Payments.

The Supply Agreement also requires the Company to make payments to support certain projects Fresenius has and will perform on behalf of the Company related to certain R&D activities and manufacturing efficiency activities for which certain assets have been established in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. The manufacturing efficiency asset is expensed on a straight line basis over the life of the Supply Agreement. The prepaid asset related to amounts paid up front for the R&D activities to be conducted by Fresenius on behalf of the Company is expensed over the period which such activities occur. The following table summarizes the amounts of prepaid R&D asset and manufacturing efficiency asset at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands).

17

The initial term of the Supply Agreement extends through July 1, 2025 (the “Initial Term”) and is automatically renewed thereafter for additional two year terms (each, a “Renewal Term”), subject to termination by either party upon (i) two years written notice prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or (ii) one year written notice prior to the expiration of any Renewal Term. Under the Supply Agreement, the Company has the right, but not the obligation, to purchase certain assets and assume certain liabilities from Fresenius.

The Company made payments to Fresenius of $5.6 million and $3.0 million relating to the manufacturing of the Company’s products during the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $15.7 million and $9.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The following table summarizes the amounts of the Company’s payables to and receivables from Fresenius at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands).

Agreement with BARDA

In June 2016, the Company entered into an agreement with BARDA to support the Company’s development and implementation of pathogen reduction technology for platelet, plasma, and red blood cells.

The five-year agreement with BARDA and its subsequent modifications include a base period (the “Base Period”) and options (each, an “Option Period”) with committed funding of up to $103.2 million for clinical development of the INTERCEPT Blood System for red blood cells (the “red blood cell system”), and the potential for the exercise by BARDA of subsequent Option Periods that, if exercised by BARDA and completed, would bring the total funding opportunity to $201.2 million over the five-year contract period. If exercised by BARDA, subsequent Option Periods would fund activities related to broader implementation of the platelet and plasma system or the red blood cell system in areas of Zika virus risk, clinical and regulatory development programs in support of the potential licensure of the red blood cell system in the U.S., and development, manufacturing and scale-up activities for the red blood cell system. The Company is responsible for co-investment of $5.0 million and would be responsible for an additional $9.6 million, if certain Option Periods are exercised. BARDA will make periodic assessments of the Company’s progress and the continuation of the agreement is based on the Company’s success in completing the required tasks under the Base Period and each exercised Option Period. BARDA has rights under certain contract clauses to terminate the agreement, including the ability to terminate the agreement for convenience at any time.

As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, $4.0 million and $1.4 million, respectively, of billed and unbilled amounts were included in accounts receivable on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets related to BARDA.

Note 11. Segment, Customer and Geographic Information

The Company continues to operate in only one segment, blood safety. The Company’s chief executive officer is the chief operating decision maker who evaluates performance based on the net revenues and operating loss of the blood safety segment. The Company considers the sale of all of its INTERCEPT Blood System products to be similar in nature and function, and any revenue earned from services is minimal.

The Company’s operations outside of the U.S. include a wholly-owned subsidiary headquartered in Europe. The Company’s operations in the U.S. are responsible for the R&D and global and domestic commercialization of the INTERCEPT Blood System, while operations in Europe are responsible for the commercialization efforts of the platelet and plasma systems in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Middle East. Product revenues are attributed to each region based on the location of the customer, and in the case of non-product revenues, on the location of the collaboration partner.

18

The Company had the following significant customers that accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s total product revenue, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:

19

This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of results that may occur in future periods.

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are contained principally in this Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and in Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” These statements relate to future events or to our future operating or financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about:

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipate,” “will,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “predict,” “potential,” and similar expressions intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, are based on assumptions, and are subject to risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that any of the events anticipated by forward-looking statements will occur or, if any of them do occur, what impact they will have on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Certain important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in such statements, including the rate of customer adoption in the U.S. and our ability to achieve market acceptance of our products in the U.S. and international markets, whether our preclinical and clinical data or data from commercial use will be considered sufficient by regulatory authorities to grant marketing approvals for our products or for product extensions or additional claims for our products, our ability to obtain reimbursement approvals for our products, our ability to complete the development and testing of additional configurations or redesigns of our products, our need for additional financing and our ability to access funding under our agreement

20

with BARDA, the impacts of regulation of our products by domestic and foreign regulatory authorities, our limited experience in sales, marketing and regulatory support for the INTERCEPT Blood System, our reliance on Fresenius and third parties to manufacture certain components of the INTERCEPT Blood System, incompatibility of our platelet system with some commercial platelet collection methods, our need to complete our red blood cell system’s commercial design, more effective product offerings by, or clinical setbacks of, our competitors, product liability, our use of hazardous materials in the development of our products, business interruption due to earthquake, our expectation of continuing losses, protection of our intellectual property rights, volatility in our stock price, on-going compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and other factors discussed below and under the caption “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We discuss many of these risks in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q in greater detail in the section entitled “Risk Factors” under Part II, Item 1A below. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Also, forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. You should read this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the documents that we incorporate by reference in and have filed as exhibits to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q completely. Our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events, even if new information becomes available in the future. You should not assume that our silence over time means that actual events are bearing out as expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.

Overview

Since our inception in 1991, we have devoted substantially all of our efforts and resources to the research, development, clinical testing and commercialization of the INTERCEPT Blood System. The INTERCEPT Blood System is designed for three blood components: platelets, plasma and red blood cells. The INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets, or platelet system, and the INTERCEPT Blood System for plasma, or plasma system, have received CE Marks and U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, approval and are being marketed and sold in a number of countries around the world. We sell both the platelet and plasma systems using our direct sales force and through distributors.

The platelet system is approved in the U.S. for ex vivo preparation of pathogen-reduced apheresis platelet components collected and stored in 100% plasma or InterSol in order to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted infection, or TTI, including sepsis, and to potentially reduce the risk of transfusion-associated graft versus host disease or TA-GVHD. As part of the FDA’s approval of the platelet system, we are required to successfully conduct and complete two post-approval studies - a haemovigilance study to evaluate the incidence of acute lung injury following transfusion of INTERCEPT treated platelets; and a recovery study of platelets treated with the platelet system that is currently being discussed with FDA. The plasma system is approved in the U.S. for ex vivo preparation of plasma in order to reduce the risk of TTI when treating patients requiring therapeutic plasma transfusion.

The INTERCEPT Blood System for red blood cells, or the red blood cell system, is currently in development and has not been commercialized anywhere in the world. We announced the successful completion of our European Phase 3 clinical trial of our red blood cell system for acute anemia patients in January 2015, and in January 2018, we reported that the primary efficacy and safety endpoints were successfully achieved in our European Phase 3 clinical trial for chronic anemia patients. Based on the results of those trials, we plan to submit for CE Mark approval in the European Union in the fourth quarter of 2018. In the U.S., we successfully completed a Phase 2 recovery and lifespan study in 2014. In 2017, we initiated a Phase 3 clinical, double-blind study, known as the RedeS study, to assess the safety and efficacy of INTERCEPT treated red blood cells when compared to conventional, un-treated, red blood cells in regions impacted by the Zika virus epidemic. Also in 2017, we received investigational device exemption, or IDE, approval from the FDA to initiate a Phase 3 clinical trial, known as the ReCePI study that is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of INTERCEPT treated red blood cells in patients requiring transfusion for acute blood loss during surgery. In addition to successfully conducting and completing the RedeS and ReCePI studies, we will need to successfully conduct and complete an additional Phase 3 clinical trial for chronic anemia patients, including sickle-cell anemia patients, in the U.S. before the FDA will consider our red blood cell system for approval. We also understand that one or more additional in vitro studies will be required to be successfully completed and submitted to the FDA, prior to any initiation of a potential additional Phase 3 clinical trial. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully complete any such in vitro studies, nor can there be any assurance that we and the FDA will agree to any trial protocol we propose or that we will otherwise obtain FDA clearance to initiate a potential additional Phase 3 clinical trial. In addition, given the need to phenotypically match donations and patients and the existing burden of managing the production and supply to sickle-cell anemia patients, donor recruitment in a potential additional Phase 3 clinical trial may be difficult or impractical, which could significantly delay or preclude our ability to obtain any FDA approval of our red blood cell system. Although we plan to complete additional development activities to support an anticipated CE Mark submission for the red blood cell system, such activities could prolong the development of our red blood cell system, and we do not expect to receive any regulatory approvals of our red blood cell system prior to 2020, if ever. We must demonstrate an ability to define, test and meet acceptable specifications for our current Good Manufacturing Practice, manufactured compounds used to prepare INTERCEPT treated red blood cells before we can submit and seek regulatory approval of our red blood cell system. We understand that while the data generated from our European Phase 3 clinical trials may be sufficient to receive CE Mark approval, we may need to generate additional safety data from commercial use in order to achieve broad market acceptance. In addition, these trials may need to be supplemented by additional, successful Phase 3 clinical trials for approval in certain countries. If such additional Phase 3 clinical trials are required,

21

they would likely need to demonstrate equivalency of INTERCEPT treated red blood cells compared to conventional, un-treated red blood cells and the significantly lower lifespan for INTERCEPT treated red blood cells compared to conventional, un-treated red blood cells may limit our ability to obtain any regulatory approvals in certain countries for the red blood cell system. As part of our development activities, we will need to successfully complete a number of in vitro studies prior to receiving any regulatory approvals in Europe and certain additional activities, including successfully completing the RedeS and ReCePI studies and an additional Phase 3 clinical trial for chronic anemia patients, including sickle-cell anemia patients, in the U.S., prior to receiving any regulatory approvals in the U.S. Successful completion of these activities may require capital beyond that which we currently have or that may be available to us under our agreement with the BARDA, and we may be required to obtain additional capital in order to complete the development of and obtain any regulatory approvals for the red blood cell system. In addition, if we are unable to develop sufficient quantities of the active compounds for our products meeting defined quality and regulatory specifications or if our suppliers are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we may experience delays in testing, conducting trials or obtaining approvals, and our product development costs would likely increase.

In 2016, we entered into a five-year agreement with BARDA, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, to receive funding from BARDA to support the development of our red blood cell system, including clinical and regulatory development programs in support of potential licensure, and development, manufacturing and scale-up activities, as well as activities related to broader implementation of all three INTERCEPT systems in areas of Zika virus risk. The RedeS and ReCePI studies are being funded as part of our agreement with BARDA. Under the contract, BARDA reimburses us as allowable direct contract costs are incurred plus allowable indirect costs. See the discussion under “BARDA” below for more information.

Our near-term capital requirements are dependent on various factors, including operating costs and working capital investments associated with commercializing the INTERCEPT Blood System, including in connection with the continuing U.S. commercial launch of our platelet and plasma systems, costs to develop different configurations of existing products and new products, including our illuminator, costs associated with planning, enrolling and completing ongoing studies, and the post-approval studies we are required to conduct in connection with the FDA approval of the platelet system, costs associated with pursuing potential regulatory approvals in other geographies where we do not currently sell our platelet and plasma systems, costs associated with conducting in vitro studies and clinical development of our red blood cell system in Europe and the U.S., costs associated with performing the agreed-upon activities under our BARDA agreement, and costs related to creating, maintaining and defending our intellectual property. Our long-term capital requirements will also be dependent on the success of our sales efforts, competitive developments, the timing, costs and magnitude of our longer-term clinical trials and other development activities related to our platelet, plasma and red blood cell systems, including required post-approval studies for the platelet system, market preparedness and product launch activities for any of our products in geographies where we do not currently sell our products, and regulatory factors. Until we are able to generate a sufficient amount of product revenue and generate positive net cash flows from operations, which we may never do, meeting our long-term capital requirements is in large part reliant on continued access to funds under our BARDA agreement and the public and private equity and debt capital markets, as well as on collaborative arrangements with partners, augmented by cash generated from operations and interest income earned on the investment of our cash balances. While we believe that our available cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments, as well as cash received from product sales and under our agreement with BARDA, will be sufficient to meet our capital requirements for at least the next twelve months, if we are unable to generate sufficient product revenue, or access sufficient funds under our BARDA agreement or the public and private equity and debt capital markets, we may be unable to execute successfully on our operating plan. We have based our cash sufficiency estimate on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect. If our assumptions prove to be incorrect, we could consume our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect or in excess of amounts than we currently expect, which could adversely affect our commercialization and clinical development activities.

We have borrowed and in the future may borrow additional capital from institutional and commercial banking sources to fund future growth, including pursuant to our amended and restated loan and security agreement, or the Amended Credit Agreement, with Oxford Finance, as described below, or potentially pursuant to new arrangements with different lenders. We may borrow funds on terms that may include restrictive covenants, including covenants that restrict the operation of our business, liens on assets, high effective interest rates, financial performance covenants and repayment provisions that reduce cash resources and limit future access to capital markets. In addition, we expect to continue to opportunistically seek access to the equity capital markets to support our development efforts and operations. To the extent that we raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, our stockholders may experience substantial dilution. To the extent that we raise additional funds through collaboration or partnering arrangements, we may be required to relinquish some of our rights to our technologies or rights to market and sell our products in certain geographies, grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us, or issue equity that may be substantially dilutive to our stockholders.

As a result of economic conditions, general global economic uncertainty, political change, and other factors, we do not know whether additional capital will be available when needed, or that, if available, we will be able to obtain additional capital on reasonable terms. If we are unable to raise additional capital due to the volatile global financial markets, general economic uncertainty or other factors, we may need to curtail planned development or commercialization activities. In addition, we may need to obtain additional funds to complete development activities for the red blood cell system necessary for potential regulatory approval in Europe, if costs are higher than anticipated or we encounter delays. We may need to obtain additional funding to conduct additional randomized controlled clinical trials for existing or new products, particularly if we are unable to access any additional portions of the funding contemplated

22

by our BARDA agreement, and we may choose to defer such activities until we can obtain sufficient additional funding or, at such time our existing operations provide sufficient cash flow to conduct these trials.

Although we received FDA approval of our platelet and plasma systems in December 2014, our U.S. commercial efforts for the remainder of 2018 and into 2019 will continue to be largely focused on implementing INTERCEPT at customers with whom we have previously signed agreements and continuing to develop awareness of INTERCEPT’s product profile relative to other platelet and plasma products, including conventional, un-treated components. Significant product revenue from customers in the U.S. may not occur, if at all, until we have been able to successfully implement the platelet and plasma systems and demonstrate that they are economical, safe and efficacious for potential customers. In addition, to address the entire market in the U.S., we will need to develop, test and obtain FDA approval of additional configurations of the platelet system. We also plan to perform in vitro studies and seek a premarket approval, or PMA, supplement to use our plasma system to produce extended-storage cryoprecipitate and possibly other plasma derived biological products. We currently have agreements with two blood center manufacturing partners and are actively working to identify additional partners to manufacture the extended-storage cryoprecipitate. We are also working on implementing the infrastructure we believe will be necessary to market an approved extended-storage cryoprecipitate product directly to hospitals subsequent to potential regulatory approval of any PMA supplement that we may propose to submit to the FDA.

Outside of the U.S., we recognize product revenues from the sale of our platelet and plasma systems in a number of countries around the world including those in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, or CIS, and the Middle East. In July 2017, we entered into new agreements with Établissement Français du Sang, or EFS to supply illuminators and platelet and plasma disposable kits. We understand that the EFS has adopted the platelet system across France, but cannot provide any assurance that national usage is sustainable, since no purchase volume commitments have been made by EFS, in our current contract or otherwise. In addition, significant product revenue from the French market may not occur or may not consistently occur quarter-over-quarter. We cannot assure that the EFS will use the INTERCEPT Blood System for plasma at historical levels or at all. We also cannot provide any assurance that we will be able to secure any subsequent contracts with EFS or that the terms, including the pricing or committed volumes, if any, of any future contract will be equivalent or superior to the terms under our current contract.

If we are unable to gain widespread commercial adoption in markets where our blood safety products are approved for commercialization, including the U.S., we will have difficulties achieving profitability. In order to commercialize all of our products and product candidates, we will be required to conduct significant research, development, preclinical and clinical evaluation, commercialization and regulatory compliance activities for our products and product candidates, which, together with anticipated selling, general and administrative expenses, are expected to result in substantial losses. Accordingly, we may never achieve a profitable level of operations in the future.

In addition to the product revenues from sales of our platelet and plasma systems, we anticipate that we will continue to recognize revenue from our BARDA agreement. We recognize revenue associated with the BARDA agreement as qualified costs are incurred for reimbursement over the performance period.

Fresenius

Fresenius Kabi AG, or Fresenius, manufactures and supplies the platelet and plasma systems to us under a supply agreement, or the Supply Agreement. Fresenius is obligated to sell, and we are obligated to purchase, finished disposable kits for our platelet, plasma and red blood cell systems. The Supply Agreement permits us to purchase platelet, plasma and red blood cell systems from third parties to the extent necessary to maintain supply qualifications with such third parties or where local or regional manufacturing is needed to obtain product registrations or sales. Pricing terms are initially fixed and decline at specified annual production levels, and are subject to certain adjustments after the initial pricing term.

The Supply Agreement requires us to make certain payments totaling €8.6 million, or the Manufacturing and Development Payments, to Fresenius. In 2016, we paid €3.1 million to Fresenius. In August 2018, we entered an amendment to the Supply Agreement modifying the remaining €5.5 million to be paid in August 2019. Because these payments represent unconditional payment obligations, we recognized our liability for these payments at their net present value using a discount rate of 9.72% based on our effective borrowing rate at that time.

The initial term of the Supply Agreement extends through July 1, 2025, or the Initial Term, and is automatically renewed thereafter for additional two year terms, or Renewal Terms, subject to termination by either party upon (i) two years written notice prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or (ii) one year written notice prior to the expiration of any Renewal Term. Under the Supply Agreement, we have the right, but not the obligation, to purchase certain assets and assume certain liabilities from Fresenius. In the event that Fresenius refuses or is unable to continue operating under the Supply Agreement, we may be unable to maintain inventory levels or otherwise meet customer demand, and our business and operating results would be materially and adversely affected.

23

Likewise, if we conclude that supply of the INTERCEPT Blood System or components from Fresenius and others is uncertain, we may choose to build and maintain inventories of raw materials, work-in-process components, or finished goods, which would consume capital resources faster than we anticipate and may cause our supply chain to be less efficient. Like most regulated manufacturing processes, our ability to produce our products is dependent on our or our suppliers’ ability to source components and raw materials which may at times be in short demand or obsolete. In such cases, we and/or Fresenius or other suppliers may need to source, qualify and obtain approval for replacement materials or components which would likely prove to be disruptive and consume capital resources sooner than we anticipate.

BARDA

In June 2016, we entered into an agreement with BARDA to support our development and implementation of pathogen reduction technology for platelet, plasma, and red blood cells, including access to funding that could potentially support various activities, including funding studies necessary to support a potential premarket approval application, submission to the FDA for the red blood cell system, and acceleration of commercial scale up activities to facilitate potential adoption of the red blood cell system by U.S. blood centers.

The five-year agreement with BARDA and its subsequent modifications provide for the reimbursement of certain amounts incurred by us in connection with our satisfaction of certain contractual milestones. Under the agreement, we are reimbursed and recognize revenue as qualified direct contract costs are incurred plus allowable indirect costs, based on approved provisional indirect billing rates, which permit recovery of fringe benefits, overhead and general and administrative expenses. BARDA has committed to reimburse certain of our expenses related to the clinical development of the red blood cell system during a base period, or the Base Period, and under exercised options, or Option Periods, in an aggregate amount of up to $103.2 million. If we satisfy subsequent milestones and BARDA were to exercise additional Option Periods, the total funding opportunity under the BARDA agreement could reach up to $201.2 million over the five-year agreement period. If exercised by BARDA in its sole discretion, each subsequent Option Period would fund activities related to broader implementation of the platelet and plasma system or the red blood cell system in areas of Zika virus risk, clinical and regulatory development programs in support of the potential licensure of the red blood cell system in the U.S., and development, manufacturing and scale-up activities for the red blood cell system. We are currently responsible for co-investment of approximately $5.0 million, and would be responsible for an additional $9.6 million, if certain additional Option Periods are exercised by BARDA. BARDA will make periodic assessments of our progress and the continuation of the agreement is based on our success in completing the required tasks under the Base Period and each exercised Option Period. BARDA has rights under certain contract clauses to terminate the agreement, including the ability to terminate for convenience at any time.

Although BARDA has committed to reimburse us for up to $103.2 million in expenses to date, we may not receive all of these funds if BARDA were to terminate the agreement. Amounts invoiced and currently payable under the BARDA agreement are subject to future audits at the discretion of the government. These audits could result in an adjustment to revenue previously reported, which potentially could be significant.

Equity and Debt Agreements

Public Offering of Common Stock

In January 2018, we issued and sold 14,030,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, at $4.10 per share in an underwritten public offering. The proceeds to us from this offering were approximately $57.2 million, net of the underwriting discount and other issuance costs.

Cantor

On May 5, 2016, we entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Controlled Equity Offering^SM Sales Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., or Cantor, that provided for the issuance and sale of shares of our common stock over the term of the Controlled Equity Offering^SM Sales Agreement, or the Cantor Agreement, having an aggregate offering price of up to $132.2 million, $70.0 million of which was available at May 5, 2016, through Cantor.

On August 4, 2017, we entered into Amendment No. 3 to the Cantor Agreement, or the Amended Cantor Agreement. The Amended Cantor Agreement became effective on January 8, 2018, and provides for the issuance and sale of shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $70.0 million through Cantor, which amount includes the $31.4 million of unsold shares of common stock available for sale under the Cantor Agreement immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Amended Cantor Agreement. Under the Amended Cantor Agreement, Cantor also acts as our sales agent and receives compensation based on an aggregate of 2% of the gross proceeds on the sale price per share of its common stock. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, 3.2 million shares of our common stock were sold under the Amended Cantor Agreement for net proceeds of $22.3 million. At September 30, 2018, we had approximately $47.3 million of common stock available to be sold under the Amended Cantor Agreement. The issuance and sale of these shares by us pursuant to the Amended Cantor Agreement are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

24

Debt Agreement

Prior to December 31, 2016, we maintained a five year loan and security agreement with Oxford Finance, or the Term Loan Agreement, under which we borrowed $20.0 million. We received $10.0 million from the first tranche, or Term Loan A, in June 2014. In June 2015, we received $10.0 million from the second tranche, or Term Loan B. Term Loan A bore an interest rate of 6.95%, and Term Loan B bore an interest rate of 7.01%. Term Loans A and B were set to mature on June 1, 2019, with various interest only periods.

On April 27, 2017, the Term Loan Agreement was amended to include an additional interest-only period for all advances under the Term Loan Agreement. As amended, we were required to make interest only payments from May 2017 through December 2017 followed by eighteen months of equal principal and interest payments thereafter. We were also required to make a final payment equal to 7% of the principal amounts of the Term Loans drawn payable on the earlier to occur of maturity or prepayment.

On July 31, 2017, we entered into an amended and restated loan and security agreement, or the Amended Credit Agreement, which amended and restated the Term Loan Agreement in its entirety. The Amended Credit Agreement provided for secured growth capital term loans, or 2017 Term Loans, of up to $40.0 million. All of our current and future assets, excluding our intellectual property and 35% of our investment in Cerus Europe B.V., are secured for the borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement. The 2017 Term Loans were available in two tranches. The first tranche of $30.0 million, or 2017 Term Loan A, was drawn by us on July 31, 2017, with the proceeds in part to repay in full all of the outstanding the Term Loans under the Term Loan Agreement of $17.6 million and the final payment of the Term Loan Agreement of $1.4 million. The availability of the second tranche of $10.0 million, or 2017 Term Loan B, expired on May 14, 2018, and we did not elect to draw the 2017 Term Loan B. The 2017 Term Loan A bears interest at a rate equal to the greater of (i) 8.01% and (ii) the three-month U.S. LIBOR rate plus 6.72%. The interest rate on the 2017 Term Loan A at September 30, 2018, was approximately 9.12%. We will also be required to make a final payment fee of 8.00% of the principal amounts of the 2017 Term Loan A. As of September 30, 2018, our indebtedness under the 2017 Term Loan A was approximately $29.9 million. The Amended Credit Agreement contains certain nonfinancial covenants, with which we were in compliance at September 30, 2018.

Critical Accounting Policies and Management Estimates

Critical accounting policies are those that require significant judgment and/or estimates by management at the time that the financial statements are prepared such that materially different results might have been reported if other assumptions had been made. We consider certain accounting policies related to revenue recognition, inventory, accrued expenses, goodwill and intangible assets, stock-based compensation and income taxes to be critical policies. We adopted the new accounting standard for revenue recognition effective January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective method, and the new standard had no impact on our consolidated financial statements. See Note 1 in Part I of this Form 10-Q for further discussion. 

Results of Operations

Three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017

Revenue

Product revenue increased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, primarily due to year-over-year sales volume growth in disposable kit sales in Europe, the majority of which resulted from the nationwide adoption of the platelet system in France, and increased disposable kit sales for the platelet system in the U.S. and, to a lesser extent, improved foreign exchange rates for the Euro during the current nine months ended September 30, 2018. These increases were partially offset by decreased average selling prices to our largest customers for both periods. The increase in the three months ended September 30, 2018, was also partially offset by a decline in illuminator sales when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017, driven primarily as a result of the initial shipments to support the nationwide adoption of the platelet system in France in the prior year period.

We anticipate product revenue for INTERCEPT disposable kits will increase in future periods as the INTERCEPT Blood System gains market acceptance in geographies where commercialization efforts are underway, as well as from the expected expansion of U.S. sales and newly accessible geographies. However, a deterioration of the Euro relative to the U.S. dollar has in the past and could in the future have a material impact on our product revenues, as the majority of our product revenue is expected to come from Euro

25

denominated markets over the near term. As a result of these and other factors, the historical results may not be indicative of INTERCEPT Blood System product revenue in the future.

We recognized $3.9 million and $11.4 million of revenue from our BARDA agreement during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, and recognized $2.3 million and $5.4 million of revenue during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, as a result of the direct and indirect contract costs incurred under the BARDA agreement. As our RedeS study continues to enroll patients, as we anticipate enrolling patients in our ReCePI study and as we plan for a potential additional Phase 3 study for chronic anemia, and as the other qualified clinical and development activities potentially increase under the exercised Option Periods, we anticipate that reported BARDA revenue will increase.

Cost of Product Revenue

Our cost of product revenue consists of the cost of the INTERCEPT Blood System sold, provisions for obsolete, slow-moving and unsaleable product, certain order fulfillment costs, to the extent applicable and costs for idle facilities. Inventory is accounted for on a first-in, first-out basis.

Cost of product revenue increased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. The increases in both periods were primarily due to the increase in the volume of INTERCEPT platelet kits sold in the current period compared to the same period of the prior year. Cost of product revenue was also impacted by less favorable foreign currency exchange rates related to inventory production compared to the same period of the prior year.

Our gross margin on product sales was 47% during the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to 50% during the three months ended September 30, 2017. Our gross margin on product sales was 48% during the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to 51% during the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The decreases in gross margins on product sales in both periods were primarily due to decreased average selling prices of INTERCEPT disposable kits to our largest customers. The decreases in gross margins during the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017, was also, to a lesser extent, impacted by unfavorable foreign exchange rates.

Changes in our gross margin on product sales are affected by various factors, including the volume of product manufactured and the relative per unit pricing in our agreement with Fresenius, exchange rate of the Euro relative to the U.S. dollar, manufacturing and supply chain costs, the mix of product sold, and the mix of customers to which products are sold. We may encounter unforeseen manufacturing difficulties which, at a minimum, may lead to higher than anticipated costs, scrap rates, or delays in manufacturing products. In addition, we may face competition which may limit our ability to maintain existing selling prices for our products which in turn would negatively affect our reported gross margins on product sales. Our gross margins on product sales may be impacted in the future based on all of these and other criteria.

We expect to build inventory levels that will be sufficient to meet forecasted demand and plan to continue to manufacture at levels above those produced in 2017.

Research and Development Expenses

Our research and development expenses include salaries and related expenses for our scientific personnel, non-cash stock based compensation, payments to consultants, costs to prepare and conduct preclinical and clinical trials, third-party costs for development activities, certain regulatory costs, costs associated with our facility related infrastructure, and laboratory chemicals and supplies.

Research and development expenses increased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, primarily due to the increased headcount costs and costs associated with clinical development of our INTERCEPT red blood cell system, our pursuit of supplemental approvals for the platelet and plasma systems, and activities related to the BARDA agreement.

26

We expect to incur additional research and development costs associated with planning, enrolling and completing our required post-approval studies for the platelet system, pursuing potential regulatory approvals in other geographies where we do not currently sell our platelet and plasma systems, planning and conducting in vitro studies and clinical development of our red blood cell system in Europe and the U.S., completing activities to support a potential CE Mark submission for our red blood cell system in Europe, new product development and product enhancements, including potential new label claims, and costs associated with performing the activities under our BARDA agreement. Due to the inherent uncertainties and risks associated with developing biomedical products, including, but not limited to, intense and changing government regulation, uncertainty of future preclinical studies and clinical trial results and uncertainty associated with manufacturing, it is not possible to reasonably estimate the costs to complete these research and development projects. We face numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the successful completion of our research and development projects, which risks and uncertainties are discussed in further detail under “Item 1A—Risk Factors” in Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general, and administrative expenses include salaries and related expenses for administrative personnel, non-cash stock based compensation, expenses for our commercialization efforts in a number of countries around the world including those in U.S., Europe, the CIS and the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and expenses for accounting, tax, internal control, legal and facility and infrastructure related expenses, and insurance premiums.

Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, primarily due to increased commercial activity in the U.S. We anticipate our selling, general, and administrative expenses to remain relatively consistent over the remainder of 2018.

Non-Operating (Expense) Income, Net

Non-operating (expense) income, net consists of foreign exchange gains and losses, interest charges incurred on our debt, and other non-operating gains and losses, including interest earned from our short-term investment portfolio.