Press Release

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec 02, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell 11,500,000 shares of its common stock in an underwritten offering at a price to the public of $38.50 per share, which would result in aggregate gross proceeds of $442.8 million. Vertex has granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 1,500,000 shares of its common stock on the same terms and conditions.

Goldman, Sachs & Co. is acting as the sole book-running manager for the offering, with BofA Merrill Lynch, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated acting as co-managers.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. An effective shelf registration statement relating to the shares of common stock Vertex intends to sell has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any offer of shares of common stock will be made only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the automatically effective shelf registration statement. A copy of the prospectus for the offering can be obtained from Goldman, Sachs & Co.'s prospectus department, at 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004, Fax: 212-902-9316 or email at prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com.

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 focused on viral diseases, cystic fibrosis, inflammation, autoimmune diseases, cancer and pain.

Vertex co-discovered the HIV protease inhibitor, Lexiva, with GlaxoSmithKline.

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

(VRTX - GEN)

SOURCE: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Investors:
Michael Partridge, 617-767-6108
or
Lora Pike, 617-444-6755
or
Media:
Zachry Barber, 617-444-6470

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