<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001193125-09-101254
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20090501
<ITEMS>5.02
<FILING-DATE>20090506
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20090506
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CERUS CORP
<CIK>0001020214
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3841
<IRS-NUMBER>680262011
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-21937
<FILM-NUMBER>09800659
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2411 STANWELL DR
<CITY>CONCORD
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94520
<PHONE>9252886000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2525 STANWELL DRIVE
<STREET2>STE 300
<CITY>CONCORD
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94520
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>CERUS TECHNOLOGIES INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19960731
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>d8k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 8-K
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>Form 8-K</TITLE>
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 <P STYLE="line-height:0px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P
STYLE="line-height:3px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="4"><B>UNITED STATES </B></FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="4"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
SIZE="3"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5"><B>FORM 8-K </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3"><B>CURRENT REPORT </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3"><B>Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the </B></FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3"><B>Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May&nbsp;1, 2009 </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="6"><B>CERUS CORPORATION </B></FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Delaware</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>0-21937</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>68-0262011</B></FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(State or other jurisdiction</B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1px" ALIGN="center"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>of incorporation)</B></FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(Commission</B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
SIZE="1"><B>File No.)</B></FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(IRS Employer</B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
SIZE="1"><B>Identification No.)</B></FONT></P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>2411 Stanwell Drive </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"
ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Concord, California 94520 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(Address of principal executive offices and zip
code) </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: (925)&nbsp;288-6000 </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below): </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P
STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P
STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P
STYLE="font-size:24px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:0px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P
STYLE="line-height:3px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Item&nbsp;5.02.</B></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. </B></FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><I>(e) Employment Agreement with Kevin D. Green </I></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
SIZE="2">Pursuant to the terms of Mr.&nbsp;Green&#146;s employment letter, dated May&nbsp;1, 2009, with Cerus Corporation (the &#147;Company&#148;), Kevin D. Green is eligible to receive in connection with his promotion to serve as the
Company&#146;s Vice President, Finance and Chief Accounting Officer: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">an annual base salary of $220,000; </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">eligibility to participate in the Company&#146;s Bonus Plan for Senior Management of Cerus Corporation, in accordance with the terms, conditions and limitations of
the plan, a copy of which was filed as Exhibit 10.53 to the Company&#146;s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (No. 000-21937) on May&nbsp;2, 2006; </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"> <P STYLE="line-height:95%; vertical-align:top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></P></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="line-height:95%; vertical-align:top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">subject to approval of the Board of Directors, an option to purchase 50,000 shares of the Company&#146;s common stock at
an exercise price equal to the fair market value of such shares at the time of grant, which shares shall vest according to the following schedule: one-eighth (1/8</FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><SUP>th</SUP></FONT><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">)&nbsp;of the shares to vest six (6)&nbsp;months after the vesting commencement date and one-forty-eighth (1/48</FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><SUP>th</SUP></FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
SIZE="2">)&nbsp;of the shares to vest on the first day of each month thereafter; </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">certain severance payments and benefits in the event that his employment is terminated without &#147;cause&#148; (as defined in Mr.&nbsp;Green&#146;s employment
letter) and such termination constitutes a &#147;separation from service&#148; (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section&nbsp;1.409A-1(h)), including: six (6)&nbsp;months salary continuation of his then current base salary; payment of COBRA
medical insurance coverage premiums, consistent with his then current coverage, for up to six (6)&nbsp;months; and accelerated vesting of any unvested shares subject to outstanding stock option grants; and </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P
STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">eligibility to participate in the Company&#146;s Change of Control Severance Benefit Plan approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors on
September&nbsp;15, 2005 and amended as of December&nbsp;11, 2008, a copy of which was filed as Exhibit 10.31 to the Company&#146;s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (No. 000-21937) on April&nbsp;30, 2009. </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P
STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The foregoing description is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to Mr.&nbsp;Green&#146;s employment letter. </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">1. </FONT></P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>SIGNATURE </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. </FONT></P> <P
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<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>CERUS CORPORATION</B></FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Dated: May&nbsp;6, 2009</FONT></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">By:</FONT></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">/s/ Howard G. Ervin</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Howard G. Ervin,</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Vice President, Legal Affairs</FONT></TD></TR>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">2. </FONT></P>

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