On June 30, 2021, Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: APLS) and Beam Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: BEAM), announced that they had entered into an exclusive research collaboration agreement focused on the use of Beam’s proprietary base editing technology to discover new treatments for complement-driven diseases. The companies will collaborate on six research programs focused on C3 and other complement targets in the eye, liver and brain.

Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Beam will apply its base editing technology and conduct preclinical research on up to six base editing programs that target specific genes within the complement system in various organs, including the eye, liver and brain. Apellis will have exclusive rights to license each of the six programs and will assume responsibility for subsequent development. Beam will have a right to elect to enter into a 50–50 US co-development and co-commercialization agreement with Apellis with respect to one program licensed under the collaboration.

The WilmerHale team representing Apellis was led by Partner Steven Barrett and included Partners Stuart Falber and Fred Adam, Counsel Mat Trachok and Associate Lauren Roberts.