Apellis' Empaveli Poised To Give Soliris A Run In PNH

New Drug Reaches The Market With Broad Label And Competitive Pricing

 
• By Jessica Merrill
  
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The first targeted C3 therapy was approved by the US FDA for treatment-naïve patients as well as those switching from Alexion's Soliris or Ultomiris.

Big dog and little dog
Apellis is a new entrant looking to compete against an entrenched rival • Source: Alamy

Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is launching its first commercial product following the US Food and Drug Administration approval of Empaveli (pegcetacoplan) for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), but the company will face a formidable competitor in Alexion Pharmaceuticals, which sells the blockbuster drugs Soliris (eculizumab) and Ultomiris (ravulizumab) for PNH.

Empaveli is a first-in-class C3 targeted therapy, which works differently from Alexion’s complement-specific drugs Soliris and Ultomiris, which target the...

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