A
Apellis Pharmaceuticals
Platform of novel therapeutic compounds for the treatment of autoimmune diseases
About Apellis Pharmaceuticals
Apellis Pharmaceuticals was founded in 2009 by Cedric Francois and Pascal Deschatelets, two visionaries with a deep commitment to advancing medical science. Their mission was to develop innovative therapies targeting the complement system, a part of the immune system that plays a crucial role in inflammation and disease.
Read full description
The company quickly gained attention for its pioneering work in complement inhibition, focusing on diseases with significant unmet medical needs. Apellis's approach was to develop therapies that could precisely target and modulate the complement cascade, offering new hope for patients with rare and debilitating conditions.
A significant milestone in Apellis's journey was its Initial Public Offering (IPO) in November 2017. This event marked a new chapter for the company, providing the financial resources needed to accelerate its research and development efforts. The IPO was a testament to the confidence investors had in Apellis's innovative approach and potential for growth.
In 2025, Apellis made headlines again with a strategic partnership with Sobi, a Swedish biopharmaceutical company. This deal, valued at up to $300 million, involved the sale of ex-US royalties for Apellis's drug Aspaveli. The partnership not only provided Apellis with substantial capital but also expanded its reach in the global market.
Today, Apellis Pharmaceuticals continues to push the boundaries of medical science, driven by a commitment to improve the lives of patients worldwide. Its journey from a small startup to a leader in complement therapies is a testament to the power of innovation and strategic partnerships in the biopharmaceutical industry.
At a glance
- Founded
- 2008
- Headquarters
- Waltham, United States
- Listing
- IPO 2017
- Sector
- Biotech & Life Sciences
- Power Law
- Unicorn$1–10B valuation tierThoroughbred$100M+ revenue
Latest news
Press, funding announcements and product moves mentioning Apellis Pharmaceuticals.
Investors
From Dealroom's funding and investor records, grouped by the round each investor first entered.
Series A2 investors entered at this stage
Morningside
Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation
Series B and later16 investors entered at this stage
Morningside Private Investors
Aju IB Investment
Epidarex Capital
Cormorant Asset Management
Hillhouse Capital
venBio Partners
Sectoral Asset Management
F-Prime
Avoro Capital Advisors
Sofinnova Partners
Sofinnova Investments
Vivo Capital
Solasta Ventures
Sixth Street
Swedish Orphan Biovitrum
RTW Investments
Source: Dealroom Talent Intelligence.
Global footprint
team presence
across markets
Patents
29 active patent families included in this estimate.
A patent family groups patent filings for the same invention. Source: Dealroom · PatSnap.
Market sentiment
An AI-synthesised read of the highest-engagement posts about Apellis Pharmaceuticals on X, ranked by likes and reposts, corporate channels excluded.
Reading the room on X — pulling top posts and synthesizing themes…
Source: X recent search ranked by engagement (likes + retweets) · Synthesis by Claude · Cached for 1 hour
See Apellis Pharmaceuticals on the full Dealroom platform
Live deal flow, founder pedigree, hiring signals, revenue trajectory, and the full cap table.
