<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:ns2="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
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        <filerInfo>
            <filer>
                <filerCredentials>
                    <cik>0001296322</cik>
                    <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
                </filerCredentials>
            </filer>
            <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



        </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
        <issuerInfo>
            <issuerCik>0001020214</issuerCik>
            <issuerName>CERUS CORPORATION</issuerName>
            <secFileNumber>000-21937</secFileNumber>
            <issuerAddress>
                <ns2:street1>1220 Concord Avenue</ns2:street1>
                <ns2:street2>Suite 600</ns2:street2>
                <ns2:city>CONCORD</ns2:city>
                <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                <ns2:zipCode>94520</ns2:zipCode>
            </issuerAddress>
            <issuerContactPhone>(925) 288-6000</issuerContactPhone>
            <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>RICHARD J BENJAMIN</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
            <relationshipsToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
            </relationshipsToIssuer>
        </issuerInfo>
        <securitiesInformation>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
                <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1 New York Plaza</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:street2>8th Floor</ns2:street2>
                    <ns2:city>New York</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>NY</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>10004</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
            <noOfUnitsSold>29378</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>70454.32</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>181282725</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>03/08/2024</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>03/12/2021</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>14781</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>03/12/2021</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Not Applicable</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>03/12/2022</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>14597</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>03/12/2022</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Not Applicable</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>03/08/2024</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates>
                <planAdoptionDate>11/20/2023</planAdoptionDate>
            </planAdoptionDates>
            <signature>/s/ Richard John Benjamin</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
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144
0001296322
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0001020214
CERUS CORPORATION
000-21937
1220 Concord Avenue
Suite 600
CONCORD
CA
94520
(925) 288-6000
RICHARD J BENJAMIN
Officer
Common
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services
1 New York Plaza
8th Floor
New York
NY
10004
29378
70454.32
181282725
03/08/2024
NASDAQ
COMMON
03/12/2021
Restricted Stock
ISSUER
N
14781
03/12/2021
Not Applicable
COMMON
03/12/2022
Restricted Stock
ISSUER
N
14597
03/12/2022
Not Applicable
Y
03/08/2024
11/20/2023
/s/ Richard John Benjamin