Apellis takes the complement fight to Astrazeneca

Apellis, as a challenger in the complement-related disease space, already had a hard task ahead as it sought to go up against Alexion. But that task has just got even tougher, with Alexion soon set to become part of Astrazeneca.

However, Apellis is up for the fight, buoyed by the belief that in the C3 inhibitor pegcetacoplan it has an asset that goes to the root of the complement cascade. The company hopes that this will give it the edge over C5 inhibitors like Alexion’s Soliris and Ultomiris in paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH).