<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-21-017459.txt : 20210303
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-21-017459.hdr.sgml : 20210303
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210303200830
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-21-017459
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210301
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210303
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210303

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Greenman William Mariner
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001377258

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21937
		FILM NUMBER:		21711902

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CERUS CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		2411 STANWELL DRIVE
		CITY:			CONCORD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94520

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CERUS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001020214
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841]
		IRS NUMBER:				680262011
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1220 CONCORD AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			CONCORD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94520
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9252886000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1220 CONCORD AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			CONCORD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94520

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CERUS TECHNOLOGIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960731
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001020214</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CERUS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CERS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001377258</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Greenman William Mariner</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CERUS CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1220 CONCORD AVE SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CONCORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94520</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.52</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>380000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2031-02-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>380000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>380000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>194000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>194000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>194000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">One fourth (1/4th) of the shares subject to the Option shall vest on the first anniversary of the date of grant, and one forty-eighth (1/48th) of the shares subject to the Option vest monthly thereafter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Not applicable.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one (1) share of Cerus Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The restricted stock unit vests in three equal annual installments beginning on March 12, 2022.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William M. Greenman by Chrystal Menard, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
