WALTHAM, Mass. - Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:APLS) announced the appointment of Dr. Philip Ferrone as Chief Medical Retina Advisor, effective March 18, as part of its efforts to advance treatments for retinal diseases. Dr. Ferrone, a well-regarded figure in the field, brings a wealth of experience to the role, including his tenure as a past president of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS).
Dr. Ferrone's expertise in retina research and patient care is expected to be particularly beneficial for the continued development and patient access to SYFOVRE, Apellis's treatment for geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration. SYFOVRE is noted as the first-ever approved therapy for GA and aims to provide comprehensive control of the complement cascade, a component of the immune system.
In addition to his new role at Apellis, Dr. Ferrone will maintain his position as the director of clinical research at Vitreoretinal Consultants in New York. He has an extensive background in clinical trials, having served as principal investigator in over 60 studies focused on new treatments for retinal diseases.
The safety information accompanying SYFOVRE highlights potential risks such as endophthalmitis, retinal detachments, retinal vasculitis, and/or retinal vascular occlusion, which can result in severe vision loss. The drug is also associated with increased rates of neovascular age-related macular degeneration, intraocular inflammation, and increased intraocular pressure, which require monitoring and management.
Apellis is a global biopharmaceutical company that has introduced two approved medicines targeting C3, including SYFOVRE for GA. The company continues to explore the potential of targeting C3 across various serious retinal, rare, and neurological diseases.
This announcement is based on a press release statement and provides an overview of the recent appointment and the company's product, SYFOVRE, without endorsing any claims or future prospects.
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