Apellis Pharmaceuticals (APLS) counsel logs tax-related share sale

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Apellis Pharmaceuticals General Counsel David O. Watson reported a small open-market sale of company stock. On January 13, 2026, he sold 5,780 shares of common stock at a price of $22.1872 per share under transaction code "S". The footnotes explain this sale was made to cover tax withholding on restricted stock units that were released on January 12, 2026.

After the sale, Watson beneficially owned 98,838 Apellis common shares directly. He also had 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, where 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

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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)
01/13/2026

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	01/13/2026		S(1)		5,780	D	$22.1872	98,838	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)

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 12, 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.

	David Watson	01/14/2026
	** 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).
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FAQ

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

Apellis reported that General Counsel David O. Watson sold 5,780 shares of common stock on January 13, 2026 at $22.1872 per share, coded as an "S" transaction.

Why did David O. Watson sell Apellis (APLS) shares in January 2026?

A footnote states the 5,780 shares were sold to cover tax withholding on restricted stock units that were released on January 12, 2026, indicating a tax-related sale rather than a discretionary reduction in holdings.

How many Apellis (APLS) shares does David O. Watson own after this Form 4?

Following the reported transaction, David O. Watson beneficially owned 98,838 Apellis common shares directly. He also had indirect interests in 10,000 shares through a custodial account for his minor children and 50,136 shares held by an irrevocable trust.

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

The Form 4 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. He disclaims beneficial ownership of the trust shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest.

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

On the Form 4, the reporting person is identified as an officer of Apellis Pharmaceuticals with the title General Counsel, and not as a director or 10% owner.

Was this Apellis (APLS) Form 4 transaction part of a 10b5-1 trading plan?

The form includes a checkbox for transactions made under a Rule 10b5-1(c) plan, but the provided excerpt does not indicate that this particular sale was designated as such.