Paul Fonteyne Joins Apellis Board of Directors

Fonteyne Brings Decades of Management and Commercial Expertise including Executive Positions at Global Pharmaceutical Companies

WALTHAM, Mass., April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: APLS), a global biopharmaceutical company pioneering targeted C3 therapies, today appointed Paul Fonteyne to its Board of Directors. Mr. Fonteyne’s appointment expands the Board to six directors, five of whom are independent. 

Mr. Fonteyne brings more than three decades of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including leadership roles in the United States and globally with Boehringer-Ingelheim, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies. Mr. Fonteyne was named President and CEO of Boehringer-Ingelheim USA in November 2011 and subsequently served as its Chairman until he retired in January 2019.

“Paul brings a wealth of leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and a track record of successfully commercializing novel medicines for patients around the world,” said Cedric Francois, M.D., Ph.D., Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Apellis. “We are thrilled to welcome Paul to our Board of Directors. His insights will be critical as we continue to prepare for commercialization of pegcetacoplan, the only targeted C3 inhibitor in late-stage clinical trials.”

“Paul is an experienced executive who has successfully run a large organization in the pharmaceutical industry,” said Gerald Chan, Sc.D., Chairman of the Board of Apellis. “His commercial experience will bolster the expertise represented on Apellis’ Board. We are extremely fortunate to be able to attract someone of Paul’s caliber to help guide the future growth of Apellis.”

During his 15 years in leadership roles at Boehringer-Ingelheim, Mr. Fonteyne led teams that grew earnings several fold in the United States. He also participated in acquisitions and divestitures that led to a significantly greater focus of Boehringer Ingelheim’s portfolio of companies in the United States in the two main segments of Human Pharmaceuticals and Animal Health. Mr. Fonteyne oversaw several product launches and partnerships in the United States, including an alliance with Eli Lilly & Company to develop treatments for diabetes, and the launch of nintedanib, which received FDA fast-track designation and treats idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Mr. Fonteyne also held commercial leadership roles at Merck & Co., Inc. for nine years and at Abbott Laboratories for eight years.