Podcast appearances and mentions of cedric francois

We discuss the latest information on Safety & Efficacy in Clinic and Clinical Trials with Cedric Francois, MD, PhD.

In the latest episode of New Insight, Veeral Sheth, MD sat down with Cedric Francois, MD, PhD, co-founder and chief executive officer/president of Apellis Pharmaceuticals. The two experts discussed the company's landmark therapy, pegcetacoplan (SYFOVRE™), for geographic atrophy and the decades-long journey toward FDA approval. Sheth also asked about Francois' evolving role in the company and the interplay between being a scientist, clinician, and corporate executive. The experts also touched on how the GA treatment landscape might evolve over the next few years and what will shape the future of retina.  Please direct any podcast-related inquiries to ciapoce@mjhlifesciences.com. 

Cedric Francois, MD, PhD, is the cofounder, CEO, and president of Apellis, the company behind Syfovre, the first FDA-approved treatment for geographic atrophy.Like many, his path to the top of a successful publicly traded pharmaceutical company did not come fast or easy. He learned the hard way not to rely on “soft commitments” when funding a new venture. He also learned that good instincts and a better bottle of wine can go a long way toward persuading angel investors to open their checkbooks.In this conversation with Firas Rahal, MD, Dr. Francois details the long and winding path that led him from curious physician-scientist to pharmaceutical industry leader. He shares the story of how Syfovre came to be, as well as the hits and misses through 17 years of fundraising.Hits include turning around his first angel investor during an impromptu follow-up meeting. Misses include needing to raise money turning the Great Recession in 2009—a time when there wasn't money to raise. He avoided bankruptcy by selling his company to Alcon later that year.He also shares how Eyetech/Pfizer's Macugen—a trailblazer in anti-VEGF therapies—inspired the science behind what would later become Apellis. Listen to the podcast today to discover:More about Dr. Francois's professional background, which took him from Belgium to Louisville, Kentucky, and from studying hand transplant surgery to developing retinal therapeutics.How Eyetech/Pfizer's Macugen inspired Dr. Francois's research into macrophages and complement inhibitors, which led him to develop products that target C3, the central protein of the complement cascade.What prompted a restart of the Phase III trial for Syfovre, the first FDA-approved treatment for geographic atrophy.The data behind how the drug's efficacy amplifies between 12 and 24 months.For physicians: what it's like to use Syfovre.How Apellis got its IPO done in November 2017, a process that included preparing S2 documents in two weeks and going on a four-day road show.How Dr. Francois secured his first angel investor, including the unconventional move that sealed the deal.His take on the potential diagnostics and other technology that could move retinal treatments forward.[Press Play]ResourcesCedric Francois, MD, PhD       https://apellis.com/people/cedric-francois-mdFiras Rahal, MD                       https://ois.net/firas-m-rahhal-mdApellis pipeline                       https://apellis.com/our-science/our-pipeline/

Earlier the month the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Apellis Pharmaceuticals Empaveli to treat paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare and life-threatening condition in which the body's immune system destroys the oxygen carrying red blood cells. Like existing treatments Soliris and Ultomiris, Empaveli works to inhibit the complement system, but it is the first therapy to target the portion of this immune cascade known as C3. We spoke to Cedric Francois, co-founder and CEO of Apellis, about Empaveli, what advantages it may provide over existing therapies for PNH, and other indications the company will pursue for this medicine.

Cedric Francois, MD, PhD, Co-Founder & CEO of Apellis Pharmaceuticals, discusses the results of the PEGASUS study evaluating the efficacy and safety of pegcetacoplan in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).

Cedric Francois, MD, PhD, Co-Founder & CEO of Apellis Pharmaceuticals, gives an overview of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).

Dr. Francois discusses the epidemiology of geographic atrophy, the pathophysiology of complement inhibition in the treatment of GA, and the latest information on Apellis' Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials.

Apellis’ CEO and co-founder, Dr. Cedric Francois talks with editors about his unusual pharma journey, which has included research, clinical work, and the launch of two startups. Today, he’s here to share what he’s learned along the way and how he’s using that experience to improve lives.

The complement system, part of the immune system, has long been used as a target for interventions in certain rare disease. Apellis Pharmaceuticals is developing therapies to treat rare blood and kidney diseases, but by targeting a different part of the complement system than available therapies do today. We spoke to Cedric Francois, co-founder, president and CEO of Apellis, about the complement system, Apellis’ approach, and why he thinks this will lead to better therapies for these rare diseases.

Cedric Francois, president and CEO, discusses his debut performance at JP Morgan in which he laid out the company’s plans for a Phase III trial of APL-2, the promising treatment for geographic atrophy. Francois shared the details of the trial, talked about going public, and shared one of the least recognized – but most important – challenges facing biopharma companies.

Cedric Francois, co-founder, CEO, and president of Apellis delivers an update on his start-up’s promising complement therapies. He also shares why he joined other Biotech CEOs and VCs in speaking against the proposed immigration restrictions.