Apellis (NASDAQ: APLS) GC gets 55,986-share RSU-style stock grant

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Apellis Pharmaceuticals reported that its General Counsel, David O. Watson, received a grant of 55,986 shares of common stock on January 28, 2026, at a price of $0, described as a restricted stock unit award vesting 25% annually over four years, subject to continued service. Following this award, he directly beneficially owns 144,517 shares of common stock. He also reports indirect holdings of 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, for which he disclaims beneficial ownership except for any pecuniary interest.

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)
01/28/2026

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	01/28/2026		A		55,986(1)	A	$0	144,517	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 a Restricted Stock Unit award granted on January 28, 2026 that vest 25% annually over four years from grant date subject to continued service.

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	01/30/2026
	** 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 (APLS) report for David O. Watson?

Apellis reported an equity award to General Counsel David O. Watson. He received 55,986 shares of common stock on January 28, 2026, at a price of $0, described as a restricted stock unit grant that vests over four years, subject to continued service.

How many Apellis (APLS) shares were granted to David O. Watson in January 2026?

David O. Watson was granted 55,986 Apellis common shares. The award was dated January 28, 2026, and is reported at a price of $0 per share as a restricted stock unit grant, vesting 25% each year over four years with continued service.

What is the vesting schedule for David O. Watson’s Apellis restricted stock unit award?

The restricted stock unit award vests over four years. The 55,986-share grant made on January 28, 2026 vests 25% annually on the anniversary of the grant date, so long as David O. Watson continues his service with Apellis Pharmaceuticals during the vesting period.

How many Apellis (APLS) shares does David O. Watson directly own after this transaction?

After the award, David O. Watson directly owns 144,517 shares. The Form 4 states that, following the January 28, 2026 equity grant, his directly held beneficial ownership in Apellis common stock totals 144,517 shares, separate from any indirectly held or trust-related positions.

What indirect Apellis shareholdings are associated with David O. Watson?

Indirect holdings include custodial and trust accounts. The filing lists 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, where he disclaims beneficial ownership except for any pecuniary interest.

What is David O. Watson’s role at Apellis Pharmaceuticals (APLS)?

David O. Watson serves as General Counsel of Apellis. The Form 4 identifies him as an officer of the company with the title General Counsel, and the reported January 28, 2026 equity grant reflects compensation tied to his ongoing service in that executive legal role.