SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 27, 2001

                                CERUS CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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

                               2411 Stanwell Drive
                            Concord, California 94520
              (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

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




ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

Cerus Corporation has development and commercialization agreements with
Baxter Healthcare Corporation for the joint development of the INTERCEPT
Platelet, Red Blood Cell and Plasma Systems. These agreements and their
applicable amendments have been filed with the SEC as exhibits to prior
filings. Cerus is filing certain of these agreements as exhibits to this
report in accordance with requests for continued confidential treatment of
certain terms.


ITEM 7.             EXHIBITS




EXHIBIT
NUMBER              DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT
-------             ----------------------
                 
10.17*              Development, Manufacturing and Marketing Agreement, dated December 10,
                    1993, by and between Cerus and Baxter Healthcare Corporation.

10.18*              Development, Manufacturing and Marketing Agreement, dated April 1, 1996,
                    by and between Cerus and Baxter Healthcare Corporation.

10.32*              Second Amendment to Development, Manufacturing and Marketing Agreement,
                    dated June 30, 1998, by and between Cerus and Baxter Healthcare Corporation.


--------------------
*        The Company has requested continued confidential treatment with respect
         to certain portions of this exhibit.


                                      1






                                    SIGNATURE

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

                                    CERUS CORPORATION


Dated:    August 27, 2001           By: /s/ HOWARD G. ERVIN
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Howard G. Ervin
                                        Vice President, Legal Affairs















                                       2






                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS




EXHIBIT
NUMBER              DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT
-------             ----------------------
                 
10.17*              Development, Manufacturing and Marketing Agreement, dated December 10,
                    1993, by and between Cerus and Baxter Healthcare Corporation.

10.18*              Development, Manufacturing and Marketing Agreement, dated April 1, 1996,
                    by and between Cerus and Baxter Healthcare Corporation.

10.32*              Second Amendment to Development, Manufacturing and Marketing Agreement,
                    dated June 30, 1998, by and between Cerus and Baxter Healthcare Corporation.


--------------------
*        The Company has requested continued confidential treatment with respect
         to certain portions of this exhibit.