SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
(Rule 13d-102)
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
TO RULES 13d-1(b)(c), AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED
PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(b)
(Amendment No.____________)
Cerus Corporation
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock
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(Title of Class of Securities)
157085101
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(CUSIP Number)
August 13, 2002
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(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule is filed:
[_] Rule 13d-1(b)
[X] Rule 13d-1(c)
[_] Rule 13d-1(d)
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(1) The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which
would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
CUSIP No. 157085101
---------------------
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Deerfield Capital, L.P.
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [_]
(b) [X]
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
577,136
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
577,136
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
577,136
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
[_]
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
3.66%
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
PN
CUSIP No. 157085101
---------------------
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Deerfield Partners, L.P.
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [_]
(b) [X]
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
New York
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
577,136
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
577,136
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
577,136
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
[_]
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
3.66%
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
PN
CUSIP No. 157085101
---------------------
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Deerfield Management Company
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [_]
(b) [X]
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
New York
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
453,464
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
453,464
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
453,464
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
[_]
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
2.87%
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
PN
CUSIP No. 157085101
---------------------
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Deerfield International Limited
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [_]
(b) [X]
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
British Virgin Islands
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
453,464
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
453,464
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
453,464
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
[-]
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
2.87%
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
CO
CUSIP No. 157085101
---------------------
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Arnold H. Snider
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [_]
(b) [X]
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
United States
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
1,030,600
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,030,600
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,030,600
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
[-]
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
6.53%
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IN
CUSIP No. 157085101
---------------------
Item 1(a). Name of Issuer:
Cerus Corporation
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Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
2411 Stanwell Drive
Concord, California 94520
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Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing:
Arnold H. Snider, Deerfield Capital, L.P., Deerfield Management
Company, Deerfield International Limited
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Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office, or if None, Residence:
Arnold H. Snider, Deerfield Capital, L.P., Deerfield Management
Company, 780 Third Avenue, 37th Floor, New York, NY 10017
Deerfield International Limited, c/o Hemisphere Management (B.V.I.)
Limited, Bison Court, Columbus Centre, P.O. Box 3460, Road Town,
Tortola, British Virgin Islands
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Item 2(c). Citizenship:
Mr. Snider - United States citizen
Deerfield Capital, L.P. and Deerfield Partners,
L.P. - Delaware limited partnerships
Deerfield Management Company - New York limited
partnership
Deerfield International Limited - British Virgin
Islands corporation
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Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities:
Common Stock
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Item 2(e). CUSIP Number:
157085101
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Item 3. If This Statement is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b)
or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a:
(a) [_] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act.
(b) [_] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act.
(c) [_] Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange
Act.
(d) [_] Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment
Company Act.
(e) [_] An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
(f) [_] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g) [_] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
(h) [_] A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act;
(i) [_] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
Company Act;
(j) [_] Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
Item 4. Ownership.
Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and
percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.
(a) Amount beneficially owned:
Deerfield Capital, L.P. and Deerfield Partners, L.P. - 577,136 shares;
Deerfield Management Company and Deerfield International Limited -
453,464 shares; Arnold H. Snider - 1,030,600 shares.
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(b) Percent of class:
Deerfield Capital, L.P. and Deerfield Partners, L.P. -3.66%;
Deerfield Management Company and Deerfield International Limited -
2.87%; Arnold H. Snider - 6.53%
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(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote 0
-----------------------,
(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote Deerfield Capital,
L.P. and Deerfield
Partners, L.P. -
577,136; Deerfield
Management Company
and Deerfield
International
Limited - 453,464;
Arnold H. Snider -
1,030,600.
---------------------,
(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the 0
disposition of
---------------------,
(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of
Deerfield Capital,
L.P. and Deerfield
Partners, L.P. -
577,136; Deerfield
Management Company
and Deerfield
International
Limited -
453,464; Arnold H.
Snider - 1,030,600.
.. ---------------------.
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date
hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than
five percent of the class of securities check the following [ ].
N/A
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Item 6. Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
If any other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to
direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such
securities, a statement to that effect should be included in response to this
item and, if such interest relates to more than five percent of the class,
such person should be identified. A listing of the shareholders of an
investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the
beneficiaries of employee benefit plan, pension fund or endowment fund is not
required.
N/A
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Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the
Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or
Control Person.
If a parent holding company or Control person has filed this schedule,
pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G), so indicate under Item 3(g) and attach an
exhibit stating the identity and the Item 3 classification of the relevant
subsidiary. If a parent holding company or control person has filed this
schedule pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c) or Rule 13d-1(d), attach an exhibit stating
the identification of the relevant subsidiary.
N/A
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Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
If a group has filed this schedule pursuant to ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J),
so indicate under Item 3(j) and attach an exhibit stating the identity and
Item 3 classification of each member of the group. If a group has filed this
schedule pursuant to ss.240.13d-1(c) or ss.240.13d-1(d), attach an exhibit
stating the identity of each member of the group.
N/A
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Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.
Notice of dissolution of a group may be furnished as an exhibit stating
the date of the dissolution and that all further filings with respect to
transactions in the security reported on will be filed, if required, by
members of the group, in their individual capacity. See Item 5.
N/A
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Item 10. Certifications.
"By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are
not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or
influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not
acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in
any transaction having such purpose or effect."
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this
statement is true, complete and correct.
DEERFIELD CAPITAL, L.P.
By: Snider Capital Corp.,
General Partner
By: /s/ Arnold H. Snider
---------------------------
Arnold H. Snider, President
DEERFIELD PARTNERS, L.P.
By: Deerfield Capital, L.P.
By: Snider Capital Corp.,
General Partner
By: /s/ Arnold H. Snider
---------------------------
Arnold H. Snider, President
DEERFIELD MANAGEMENT COMPANY
By: Snider Management Company,
General Partner
By: /s/ Arnold H. Snider
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Arnold H. Snider, President
DEERFIELD INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
By: Deerfield Management Company
By: Snider Management Company,
General Partner
By: /s/ Arnold H. Snider
----------------------------
Arnold H. Snider, President
ARNOLD H. SNIDER
/s/ Arnold H. Snider
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Date: August 16, 2002
Exhibit A
Agreement
The undersigned agree that this Schedule 13G dated August 16, 2002
relating to the Common Stock of Versicor Inc. shall be filed on behalf of the
undersigned.
DEERFIELD CAPITAL, L.P.
By: Snider Capital Corp.,
General Partner
By: /s/ Arnold H. Snider
---------------------------
Arnold H. Snider, President
DEERFIELD PARTNERS, L.P.
By: Deerfield Capital, L.P.
By: Snider Capital Corp.,
General Partner
By: /s/ Arnold H. Snider
---------------------------
Arnold H. Snider, President
DEERFIELD MANAGEMENT COMPANY
By: Snider Management Company
General Partner
By: /s/ Arnold H. Snider
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Arnold H. Snider, President
DEERFIELD INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
By: Deerfield Management Company
By: Snider Management Company,
General Partner
By: /s/ Arnold H. Snider
---------------------------
Arnold H. Snider, President
ARNOLD H. SNIDER
/s/ Arnold H. Snider
00871.0001 #343889