Press Release

Cambridge, MA, November 9, 2005 - Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) will host a conference call and webcast on Friday, November 11, 2005 at 9:00 a.m. EST. During the call, the Company will review results from the Phase Ib study of its investigational oral hepatitis C protease inhibitor, VX-950, that will be presented while attending the 56th American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Annual Meeting. The meeting is being held in San Francisco, CA from November 11-15, 2005.

The webcast will be available to all interested parties through Vertex's website, www.vrtx.com, and will be archived on the Company's website until November 25, 2005. To access the webcast, go to the investor center and select 'conference calls.' To ensure a timely connection, it is recommended that users register at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled webcast. Vertex is also providing a podcast MP3 file available for download on the Vertex website, www.vrtx.com , until November 25, 2005.

About Vertex

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is a global biotechnology company committed to the discovery and development of breakthrough small molecule drugs for serious diseases. The Company's strategy is to commercialize its products both independently and in collaboration with major pharmaceutical companies. Vertex's product pipeline is principally focused on viral diseases, inflammation, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Vertex co-promotes the HIV protease inhibitor, Lexiva, with GlaxoSmithKline.

Lexiva is a registered trademark of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.

Vertex Contact:
Lora Pike, Manager, Investor Relations, (617) 444-6755