Biogen Suspends Phase II Empaveli Trials, Cuts Apellis R&D After $5.6bn Deal
BIIB•Three months after its $5.6bn acquisition of Apellis, Biogen will end investment in most of Apellis' legacy R&D programmes and cut research staff. The company has suspended Phase II Empaveli trials in DGF and FSGS and left preclinical RNA, complement inhibitor and gene-editing therapies under review.
1. Acquisition and Strategic Review
Three months after completing its $5.6bn acquisition of Apellis, Biogen initiated a strategic review of the biotech's product pipeline and research operations to prioritize assets with near- and mid-term commercial potential.
2. Pipeline Suspension and Staff Reductions
Biogen has suspended two Phase II studies of Empaveli, one for delayed graft function and another for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, citing strategic evaluation and recruitment challenges, and will reduce a portion of the former Apellis R&D team. The fate of Apellis' preclinical RNA-based therapies, oral complement inhibitors and gene-editing candidates remains under assessment.
3. Focus on Pegcetacoplan Franchise
Despite the cuts, Biogen is advancing a Phase II geographic atrophy trial combining approved eye treatment Syfovre (pegcetacoplan) with RNAi candidate APL-3007, and expects pegcetacoplan franchise revenues to reach $785m by 2032.
