Apellis Pharmaceuticals (APLS) General Counsel sells 7,832 shares

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Apellis Pharmaceuticals General Counsel David O. Watson reported a sale of company common stock in an insider filing. On January 22, 2026, he sold 7,832 shares of Apellis common stock at $21.7654 per share, and the filing explains this sale was made to cover tax withholding on Restricted Stock Units that were released on January 21, 2026. After this transaction, he directly holds 88,531 common shares.

The filing also lists indirect holdings. A custodial account held by him for the sole benefit of his minor children holds 10,000 common shares50,136 common shares are held by The David O. Watson Irrevocable Trust of 2023, for which he disclaims beneficial ownership except to the extent of his pecuniary interest. The Watson Education Trust is shown with 0 shares, and he likewise disclaims beneficial ownership in that trust except for any pecuniary interest.

01/23/2026 - 04:05 PM

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Watson David O.

(Last) (First) (Middle)

C/O APELLIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC

100 FIFTH AVENUE, 3RD FLOOR

(Street)

WALTHAM MA 02451

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. [ APLS ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	General Counsel

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/22/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	01/22/2026		S(1)		7,832	D	$21.7654	88,531	D
Common Stock								10,000	I(2)	Indirect Owner (Custodial Account for minor children)
Common Stock								50,136	I(3)	Indirect Owner (The David O. Watson Irrevocable Trust of 2023)
Common Stock								0	I(4)	Indirect Owner (The Watson Education Trust)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:

1. This represents shares sold to cover tax withholding on the Restricted Stock Units released on January 21, 2026.

2. This represents a custodial account held by the reporting person for the sole benefit of his minor children.

3. The securities are held by The David O. Watson Irrevocable Trust of 2023. William Zorn is the trustee of The David O. Watson Irrevocable Trust of 2023. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership over the shares held by The David O. Watson Irrevocable Trust of 2023 except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

4. The securities are held by The Watson Education Trust (the "Trust"), for which the reporting person serves as trustee. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership over the shares held by the Trust except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

	David Watson	01/23/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.

FAQ

What insider transaction did Apellis Pharmaceuticals (APLS) report for David O. Watson?

The filing reports that General Counsel David O. Watson sold 7,832 shares of Apellis common stock on January 22, 2026 at a price of $21.7654 per share.

Why did Apellis executive David O. Watson sell 7,832 shares?

According to the filing’s explanation, the 7,832 shares sold represent shares sold to cover tax withholding on Restricted Stock Units that were released on January 21, 2026.

How many Apellis shares does David O. Watson hold directly after this Form 4 transaction?

Following the reported sale, David O. Watson directly owns 88,531 shares of Apellis Pharmaceuticals common stock.

What indirect holdings of Apellis (APLS) stock are associated with David O. Watson?

The filing shows 10,000 shares in a custodial account for his minor children and 50,136 shares held by The David O. Watson Irrevocable Trust of 2023, plus a 0-share position in The Watson Education Trust.

Does David O. Watson claim full beneficial ownership of Apellis shares held in the trusts?

No. For both The David O. Watson Irrevocable Trust of 2023 and The Watson Education Trust, he disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest.

What role does David O. Watson hold at Apellis Pharmaceuticals (APLS)?

The filing identifies David O. Watson as an officer of Apellis Pharmaceuticals, serving as General Counsel.