<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001193125-09-122582
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20090526
<ITEMS>5.02
<ITEMS>9.01
<FILING-DATE>20090601
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20090601
<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>09865898
</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>
</HEAD>
 <BODY BGCOLOR="WHITE">
 <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;26, 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>
<TR>
<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</B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1px" ALIGN="center"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>jurisdiction of incorporation)</B></FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(Commission File No.)</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(IRS Employer Identification No.)</B></FONT></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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<TR>
<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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<TR>
<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>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<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>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<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:3px;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) Approval of Severance Benefits Agreement </I></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">On
May&nbsp;26, 2009, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Cerus Corporation (the &#147;Company&#148;) approved and authorized the Company to enter into a form of Severance Benefit Agreement (the &#147;Severance Agreement&#148;) with
each of the Company&#146;s employees, including those of the Company&#146;s &#147;named executive officers,&#148; as such term is defined by Regulation SK Item&nbsp;402(a)(3), 17 C.F.R. &#167;229.10, et. seq., not already entitled to severance
benefits under their existing employment agreement. Currently, the Company&#146;s Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Laurence M. Corash, and the Company&#146;s Senior Vice President, Business Development and Marketing, William M.
Greenman, are the only named executive officers eligible to enter into and receive benefits under the Severance Agreement. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Under the terms of the
Severance Agreement, in the event an individual&#146;s employment is terminated without cause on or within six (6)&nbsp;months of June&nbsp;1, 2009, the employee will receive severance benefits equal to three (3)&nbsp;months of their final base
salary and the Company will pay the COBRA premiums necessary to maintain employee&#146;s level of health insurance coverage in effect as of the termination date for up to three (3)&nbsp;months. </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">A copy of the above referenced Severance Agreement is filed hereto as Exhibit 10.43 and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description is
subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the text of the Severance Agreement. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:18px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01.</B></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Financial Statements and Exhibits. </B></FONT></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="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>(d)</B></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B></B>Exhibits </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">10.43</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Form of Severance Benefits Agreement.</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <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
STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</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: June&nbsp;1, 2009</FONT></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">By:</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">/s/ Howard G. Ervin</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Howard G. Ervin</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Vice President, Legal
Affairs</FONT></P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <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">2. </FONT></P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:28pt" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>Exhibit<BR>Number</B></FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="border-bottom:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>Description</B></FONT></P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">10.43</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Form of Severance Benefits Agreement.</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <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">3. </FONT></P>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.43
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>dex1043.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM OF SEVERANCE BENEFITS AGREEMENT
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>Form of Severance Benefits Agreement</TITLE>
</HEAD>
 <BODY BGCOLOR="WHITE">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>EXHIBIT 10.43 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>CERUS CORPORATION </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>FORM OF SEVERANCE BENEFITS AGREEMENT </B></FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Effective on June&nbsp;1, 2009 (the &#147;<B>Effective Date</B>&#148;), [&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;]
(&#147;<B>Employee</B>&#148;) and Cerus Corporation (&#147;<B>Cerus</B>&#148; or the &#147;<B>Company</B>&#148;) hereby enter into the following Severance Benefits Agreement (the &#147;<B>Agreement</B>&#148;) which contains the terms and conditions
for Employee&#146;s receipt of severance benefits in the event of a termination of employment without Cause (as defined below) by the Company (excluding termination of employment due to Employee&#146;s death or disability) at any time on or within
six (6)&nbsp;months after the Effective Date. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;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">1.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Employee shall be entitled to receive the Severance Benefits (as defined below), as his or her sole severance benefits, if: (a)&nbsp;Employee&#146;s employment is terminated by
Cerus for any reason other than for &#147;Cause,&#148; as defined below (excluding termination of employment due to Employee&#146;s death or disability), on or within six (6)&nbsp;months after the Effective Date; (b)&nbsp;Employee&#146;s termination
constitutes a &#147;separation from service&#148; (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section&nbsp;1.409A-1(h)); (c)&nbsp;Employee signs, dates and returns a general release of all known and unknown claims in the form as the Company may require
(the &#147;<B>Release</B>&#148;) within the time period set forth in the Release, but in no event later than forty-five (45)&nbsp;days after Employee&#146;s termination, and Employee permits the Release to become effective in accordance with its
terms; and (d)&nbsp;Employee timely returns, to the satisfaction of Cerus, all Company documents (and all copies thereof) and other property of the Company in Employee&#146;s possession or control (including, but not limited to, any electronically
recorded information) without retaining any reproductions. </FONT></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="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">2.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">For purposes of this Agreement, the &#147;<B>Severance Benefits</B>&#148; are defined as follows: </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P
STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%;padding-bottom:3px;line-height:95%; vertical-align:top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(a) Cerus will provide severance pay to Employee in the total amount equivalent to three
(3)&nbsp;months of Employee&#146;s final base salary (the &#147;<B>Severance</B>&#148;). The Severance will be subject to required payroll deductions and withholdings, and will be paid in a lump sum on the sixtieth (60</FONT><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><SUP>th</SUP></FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">)&nbsp;day following Employee&#146;s termination date; and </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
SIZE="2">(b) To the extent provided by the federal COBRA law or, if applicable, state insurance laws (collectively, &#147;<B>COBRA</B>&#148;), and by the Company&#146;s current group health insurance policies, Employee will be eligible to continue
his or her group health insurance benefits at Employee&#146;s own expense after the termination of employment. If Employee timely elects continued group health insurance coverage through COBRA, Cerus will pay the COBRA premiums necessary to maintain
Employee&#146;s level of health insurance coverage in effect as of the termination date (including the cost of dependent coverage, if applicable) for the earliest of: (i)&nbsp;three (3)&nbsp;months following the termination date (the &#147;<B>COBRA
Payment Period</B>&#148;); (ii)&nbsp;the date that Employee becomes eligible for group health insurance benefits through a new employer; or (iii)&nbsp;the date that Employee ceases to be eligible for COBRA coverage. Thereafter, Employee will be
solely responsible for all COBRA premiums and other health insurance costs. As part of this Agreement, Employee must promptly notify the Company, in writing, if he or she becomes eligible for group health insurance benefits through a new employer
prior to the end of the COBRA Payment Period. </FONT></P>

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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">3.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">For purposes of this Agreement, &#147;<B>Cause</B>&#148; shall mean the Company&#146;s termination of Employee&#146;s employment for any of the following reasons: (a)&nbsp;Employee
is convicted (including a no contest or guilty plea) of any felony, or of any crime involving moral turpitude or involving the workplace (even if not a felony); (b)&nbsp;Employee participates in, or attempts to engage in, any fraud or act of
dishonesty against the Company; (c)&nbsp;Employee willfully breaches his or her duties to the Company, including insubordination, misconduct, violation of Company policy, excessive absenteeism, or unsatisfactory performance of job duties;
(d)&nbsp;Employee intentionally damages or misappropriates any property of the Company; (e)&nbsp;Employee materially breaches any written agreement with the Company (including, but not limited to, Employee&#146;s Proprietary Information and
Inventions Agreement); or (f)&nbsp;Employee engages in conduct that demonstrates unfitness to serve as determined within the sole discretion of Cerus. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;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">4.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">It is intended that each installment of the Severance Benefits is a separate &#147;payment&#148; for purposes of Section&nbsp;1.409A-2(b)(2)(i) of the Treasury Regulations. For the
avoidance of doubt, it is intended that payments of the Severance Benefits satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Section&nbsp;409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Treasury
Regulations and other guidance thereunder and any state law of similar effect (collectively &#147;<B>Section 409A</B>&#148;) provided under Sections 1.409A-1(b)(4), 1.409A-1(b)(5) and 1.409A-1(b)(9) of the Treasury Regulations. However, if the
Company determines that the Severance Benefits (or any portion thereof) constitute &#147;deferred compensation&#148; under Section&nbsp;409A and Employee is, on his or her separation from service, a &#147;specified employee&#148; of the Company (as
such term is defined in Section&nbsp;409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code) then, solely to the extent necessary to avoid the incurrence of the adverse personal tax consequences under Section&nbsp;409A, the timing of the payment of the Severance Benefits
shall be delayed so that on the earlier to occur of: (a)&nbsp;the date that is six months and one day after Employee&#146;s separation from service, and (b)&nbsp;the date of Employee&#146;s death (such applicable date, the &#147;<B>Specified
Employee Initial Payment Date</B>&#148;), the Company shall pay to Employee a lump sum amount equal to the sum of the Severance Benefits that Employee would otherwise have received through the Specified Employee Initial Payment Date if the
commencement of the payment of the Severance Benefits had not been so delayed pursuant to this paragraph. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;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">5.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The Company shall reduce the Severance Benefits by any pay and benefits provided during a period following written notice of a plant closing or mass layoff, pay and
benefits in lieu of such notice, or other similar benefits payable to Employee by the Company or an affiliate of the Company, that become payable in connection with Employee&#146;s termination of employment pursuant to any applicable legal
requirement, including, without limitation, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (the &#147;<B>WARN Act</B>&#148;), the California Plant Closing Act, or any other similar state law. Any such reductions shall be made such that any
Severance Benefit provided under this Agreement shall be reduced solely by any similar type of benefit under such legal requirement (<I>i.e</I>., the Severance shall be reduced solely by any cash payments or </FONT>
</P></TD></TR></TABLE>

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<FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">severance benefits under such legal requirement, and any Company-paid COBRA premiums under the Agreement shall be reduced solely by any continued insurance
benefits under such legal requirement). Such reductions shall be applied on a retroactive basis, with Severance Benefits previously paid being recharacterized as payments or benefits pursuant to the Company&#146;s statutory obligation.
</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%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">6.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The Severance Benefits will not be provided if: (a)&nbsp;at any time, Employee&#146;s employment is terminated for Cause or due to Employee&#146;s death or disability; (b)&nbsp;at
any time, Employee terminates his or her employment for any reason; or (c)&nbsp;Employee&#146;s employment is terminated by Cerus for any reason more than six (6)&nbsp;months after the Effective Date, regardless of whether such termination qualifies
as a termination without Cause. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;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">7.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Employee acknowledges and agrees that other than the benefits set forth in this Agreement and any vested rights that Employee may have under the terms of a written ERISA-qualified
benefit plan (<I>e.g.</I>, 401(k) account), following the termination of Employee&#146;s employment Cerus only shall be obligated to provide Employee with accrued salary and accrued and unused vacation time earned through the termination date,
unless otherwise required by law. </FONT></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="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">8.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Employee acknowledges and agrees that nothing in this Agreement alters Employee&#146;s at-will employment relationship or assures Employee of a continuing position with the Company.
Both Employee and the Company can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without Cause, and with or without advance notice. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;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">9.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>[</B>Employee understands and agrees that the Severance Benefits are the sole severance benefits that he or she may become entitled to receive, and that Employee will not receive
any other or additional severance benefits, whether under a severance benefit plan, or provided on a Company-wide or individual basis.<B>]</B> </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;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">10.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">This Agreement constitutes the complete, final and exclusive embodiment of the entire agreement between Employee and the Company with regard to severance benefits <B>[</B>with the
exception of the following agreements or severance plan(s) under which Employee may be eligible for additional severance benefits:
<B><U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</U>]</B>. It is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation, written or oral, other than those expressly contained herein, and it supersedes any other such agreements, promises, warranties or representations. This Agreement may
not be modified or amended except in writing signed by Employee and a duly authorized officer of the Company. Any ambiguity in this Agreement shall not be construed against either party as the drafter. Any waiver of a breach of this Agreement, or
rights hereunder, shall be in writing and shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any successive breach or rights hereunder. This Agreement will be deemed to have been entered into and will be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the
State of California without regard to conflicts of law principles. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be part of one original, and facsimile signatures shall be equivalent to original signatures. This
Agreement must be signed and dated by both parties to be effective and binding on the parties. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

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<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>[Employee Name]</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Date</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>C<SMALL>ERUS</SMALL> C<SMALL>ORPORATION</SMALL></B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE="">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Lori L. Roll</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Vice President,
Administration</FONT></P></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Date</FONT></TD></TR>
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