Summary
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapeutic compounds through the inhibition of the complement system for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The company's lead product candidate is pegcetacoplan that is in Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA) in age-related macular degeneration and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) diseases. It also develops EMPAVELI (systemic pegcetacoplan) for the treatment of cold agglutinin disease (CAD), and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA) in hematology; C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), and immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN) in nephrology; and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in neurology. In addition, the company develops APL-2006, a bispecific C3 and VEGF inhibitor for treating complement-mediated disorders; APL-1030, a C3 inhibitor for the treatment of multiple neurodegenerative diseases; and the combination of EMPAVELI and a small interfering RNA, or siRNA for reducing the production of C3 proteins by the liver. It has a collaboration and license agreement with Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ) to co-develop pegcetacoplan; and a research collaboration with Beam Therapeutics Inc. focused on the use of Beam's base editing technology to discover new treatments for complement-driven diseases. Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is based in Waltham, Massachusetts.
History
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: APLS) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative therapies to address an unmet need in places where the greatest opportunity for meaningful outcomes for patients exists. The Company’s differentiated, Complement-Based platform has the potential to treat a variety of diseases with a wide range of therapeutic indications, including ophthalmic, rare diseases, and other immunologic and chronic conditions. In June 2015, Apellis Pharmaceuticals was founded by Dr. Ciro de Quadros and Dr. Cedric Francois, who have extensive and highly successful histories in drug development and commercialization. Both founders were also instrumental in driving the science and development behind a number of blockbuster drugs.
Mission
Apellis Pharmaceuticals is committed to providing novel and effective therapies to dramatically improve the health and quality of life of patients with devastating diseases.
Vision
Apellis Pharmaceuticals’s vision is to become the global leader for innovation in the development of life-changing therapies for serious diseases.
Key Team
Mr. Alec Machiels J.D., MBA (Co-Founder & Director)
Mr. Timothy E. Sullivan (CFO & Treasurer)
Mr. Adam J. Townsend (Chief Commercial Officer)
Ms. Nur Nicholson (Chief Technical Operations Officer)
Mr. James G. Chopas CPA (VP, Corp. Controller & Chief Accounting Officer)
Ms. Meredith Kaya (Sr. VP, Investor Relations & Strategic Fin.)
Mr. David O. Watson Esq., J.D. (Gen. Counsel)
Recognition and Awards
Apellis Pharmaceuticals has been recognized with a 2017 National Institutes of Health grant for its innovative work in developing treatments for ophthalmic diseases and has been awarded Best Place to Work in biotechnology . The company also received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2017 to support its work in developing therapies to treat neglected tropical diseases.
References
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