Core Insights - Apellis Pharmaceuticals (APLS) shares increased by 3.2% following a capped royalty agreement with Sobi, allowing Apellis to receive up to $300 million for 90% of its future ex-U.S. royalties from Aspaveli [1][5] - The deal significantly enhances Apellis' financial position, providing operational flexibility with cash and marketable securities totaling $358.4 million as of the end of Q1 2025 [2] - The agreement includes a $275 million upfront payment and potential milestone payments of up to $25 million upon EU approval for Aspaveli in two severe kidney diseases [3][5] Financial Impact - The capped royalty deal will allow Sobi to receive 90% of ex-U.S. royalties until performance-based caps are met, after which all royalties will revert to Apellis [4] - Year-to-date, APLS shares have decreased by 44%, contrasting with a 3.4% decline in the industry [4] Regulatory Developments - Apellis and Sobi are seeking label expansion for Empaveli, with FDA and EU reviews currently underway for C3 glomerulopathy and primary immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis [7] - A decision from the FDA is anticipated on July 28, 2025, while the EU decision is expected by year-end [7] Clinical Study Results - The phase III VALIANT study demonstrated a statistically significant 68% reduction in proteinuria for patients treated with Empaveli compared to placebo, indicating its effectiveness in C3G and IC-MPGN [9] - The study also showed that patients experienced stabilized kidney function, with 71% achieving complete clearance of C3c staining intensity [10][12]