Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a global biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing transformative medicines for serious diseases. Through strategic partnerships and investments, Vertex has been a pioneer in gene editing therapeutics, including their landmark collaboration with CRISPR Therapeutics that led to the first FDA-approved CRISPR-based therapy.
Website
https://www.vrtx.comLocation
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Founded
1989
AUM
N/A (strategic investments)
Investment Range
$50M - $500M (partnerships)
Portfolio Companies
1
Focus
cvc
Fund Stages
series-a, series-b, series-c, growth
Investment Thesis
Vertex pursues strategic investments and partnerships that complement and expand their pipeline across gene editing, cell therapy, and novel therapeutic modalities. They focus on cutting-edge science that can transform treatment paradigms for serious diseases, particularly in areas where they have deep expertise like genetic diseases and cystic fibrosis.
Team
Executive Leadership
- Reshma Kewalramani, MD - CEO & President
- Stuart Arbuckle - EVP & Chief Commercial Officer
- David Altshuler, MD, PhD - EVP, Global Research & Chief Scientific Officer
Business Development
- Jeffrey Leiden, MD, PhD - Executive Chairman (former CEO)
- Corporate development team handles strategic investments
Focus Areas
- Gene Editing (CRISPR/Cas9)
- Gene Therapy
- Cell Therapy
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Sickle Cell Disease & Beta-Thalassemia
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Pain
- Kidney Disease
Strategic Partnerships & Investments
- CRISPR Therapeutics - Strategic partner and investor, co-developed Casgevy (first FDA-approved CRISPR therapy, December 2023)
- Arbor Biotechnologies - Gene editing partnership
- Mammoth Biosciences - Next-gen gene editing
- Entrada Therapeutics - Intracellular biologics
- ViaCyte - Cell therapy for diabetes (acquired 2022)
Notable Exits/Milestones
- Casgevy - First FDA-approved CRISPR gene-editing therapy (December 2023)
- Trikafta - Transformative cystic fibrosis treatment ($8B+ annual revenue)
- Multiple strategic acquisitions including Semma Therapeutics, Exonics Therapeutics
Sources
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals website: https://www.vrtx.com
- https://www.vrtx.com/about/leadership
- SEC filings (NASDAQ: VRTX)
- Company press releases and investor presentations
Portfolio Companies
| Name | Location | Founded | Categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRISPR Therapeutics | Zug, Switzerland & Boston, Massachusetts, USA | 2013 | therapeuticsbiotech+4 |