As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 18, 2018

Registration No. 333-                

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

APELLIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

6400 Westwind Way, Suite A

Crestwood, KY 40014

(502) 241-4114

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Cedric Francois, M.D., Ph.D.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

6400 Westwind Way, Suite A

Crestwood, KY 40014

(502) 241-4114

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:

As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.  ☐

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☒ 333-224303

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☒

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

EXPLANATORY NOTE AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This registration statement is being filed with respect to the registration of additional shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation, pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The contents of the earlier registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-224303), which was declared effective by the Commission on April 18, 2018, are incorporated in this registration statement by reference.

The required opinions and consents are listed on an Exhibit Index attached hereto and filed herewith.

EXHIBIT INDEX

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Crestwood, Commonwealth of Kentucky, on this 18^th day of April, 2018.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.