Apellis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:APLS) is a clinical‐stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutic compounds that target the complement system. Since its founding in 2009, Apellis has built a proprietary platform centered on compstatin‐based C3 inhibitors, aiming to address serious and rare diseases driven by dysregulation of the complement cascade. The company completed its initial public offering on the NASDAQ in 2014 and has since advanced multiple candidates through regulatory review and clinical trials.
Apellis’s lead product, pegcetacoplan—commercialized under the trade name Empaveli in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and Syfovre for geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration—represents the first systemic C3 inhibitor approved for clinical use. The company’s pipeline also includes investigational assets such as APL-9, APL-2 and other next‐generation molecules targeting additional complement‐mediated conditions, including cold agglutinin disease, C3 glomerulopathies and chronic inflammatory disorders. Apellis conducts multinational clinical studies and has secured regulatory authorizations in major markets across North America, Europe and Asia.
Beyond its clinical programs, Apellis collaborates with strategic partners to enhance its global reach and accelerate development timelines. Collaborations with leading ophthalmology and hematology organizations have enabled joint research initiatives, manufacturing scale-up and commercialization efforts. The company’s research and development operations leverage an integrated approach, combining translational science, biomarker analysis and patient‐focused trial designs to optimize safety and efficacy outcomes.
Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Cedric François, Apellis has expanded its executive team to include experienced professionals in regulatory affairs, clinical development and commercial operations. The board of directors comprises industry veterans and medical experts who guide corporate strategy and governance. Apellis remains committed to advancing therapies for underserved patient populations, with a mission to transform the treatment landscape for complement‐driven diseases worldwide.
