Three months after completing its $5.6bn acquisition of Apellis, Biogen has suspended two Phase II trials of pegcetacoplan in delayed graft function and FSGS and cut select research roles. The company will cease investment in most of Apellis’ legacy pipeline while continuing a Syfovre–APL-3007 eye disease trial that remains recruiting.
Three months after finalizing its $5.6bn purchase of Apellis, Biogen initiated a strategic review of the acquired pipeline. The review led to the decision to halt investment in the majority of Apellis’ legacy research programmes, reflecting a shift toward assets with immediate commercial potential.
Biogen has marked the Phase II studies of Empaveli (pegcetacoplan) in delayed graft function and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis as suspended, citing strategic evaluation and recruitment challenges. Concurrently, the company will eliminate a small number of roles from the Apellis research team as part of the pipeline cull.
Despite the cutbacks, Biogen continues to recruit for a Phase II study combining Syfovre (pegcetacoplan) with APL-3007 for geographic atrophy. Industry forecasts project the pegcetacoplan franchise to generate approximately $785m in revenue by 2032, underpinning Biogen’s focus on late-stage assets.
