-Vertex hiring for 150 jobs across the company to support global
growth; Company plans to add more than 500 jobs through 2015-
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced that Science
has ranked the company #1 in the magazine's annual list of top employers
in the biopharmaceutical industry. The ranking is the result of an
independent survey of nearly 4,000 people commissioned by Science
and the American Academy for the Advancement of Science that rated the
top 20 companies based on 23 characteristics. Science cited three
top characteristics for Vertex: does important, quality research; is an
innovative leader in the industry; and treats employees with respect.
This is the second consecutive year that Vertex has been included among
the top three companies. Additional information about the survey is available
online today and in the October 7 issue of Science.
"We're honored to be recognized as an organization that is driven by
science," said Peter Mueller, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Global
Research and Development, and Chief Scientific Officer for Vertex.
"People who work at Vertex know we can make a real difference for
patients by understanding the underlying cause of life-threatening
diseases and using that knowledge to develop breakthrough medicines."
Vertex has created a number of programs to support its science-focused
culture. The Science and Technology Exchange Program (STEP-OUT) provides
Vertex researchers with the opportunity to take a break from their
current role and explore a new scientific area of interest for a
three-month period. Vertex also recognizes scientific excellence with
its Outstanding Research Award, which is given each year to the Vertex
researcher who performs the most innovative scientific work. Vertex
scientists frequently work with other research collaborators, including
academic institutions, non-profit foundations and other companies.
Vertex also recently introduced two programs to help scientists learn
more about and stay connected to the commercial part of the company: a
ride-along program that enables researchers to shadow sales
representatives for a day and another that ensures scientists are
included on interview teams that select commercial employees.
Vertex was founded in Massachusetts in 1989, and since its inception,
the company has invested more than $4 billion to discover and develop
new medicines. In May 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
approved a new Vertex medicine for people with hepatitis C. Vertex is
also developing VX-770, a new approach to the treatment of cystic
fibrosis (CF) that targets the underlying cause of the disease. The
company plans to submit regulatory applications for approval of VX-770
in the United States and Europe in October. Also in development at
Vertex are other potential new medicines for hepatitis C, CF, rheumatoid
arthritis, epilepsy and influenza.
Vertex has research and development sites in the United States
(Cambridge, San Diego and Coralville, IA), Canada (Laval, Quebec) and
the United Kingdom (Oxfordshire, England). Since the start of 2010, the
company has grown by more than 30 percent — from 1,400 employees to
approximately 1,900 today. At the company's Massachusetts headquarters,
Vertex employs more than 1,300 people and plans to add an additional 500
jobs in various parts of the company and at different levels through
2015 to support its continued growth. Vertex also recently announced
plans to relocate its entire Massachusetts workforce into a new
headquarters in the Innovation District of Boston. The new campus will
consist of two buildings on Boston's Fan Pier, which are currently under
construction. The project is the nation's largest ongoing private
construction project. Vertex expects to relocate its Massachusetts
workforce to Fan Pier beginning in late 2013.
Vertex in Canada
In addition to Vertex's growth in the United States, the company is also
expanding its research and development site in Laval, Quebec, which
Vertex established after acquiring Virochem Pharma, Inc. in 2009. Vertex
is also rapidly expanding its commercial and medical teams to support
future launches in Canada.
Vertex in Europe
Vertex recently expanded its presence in Europe, including increasing
research and development capabilities in Oxfordshire, England. Vertex
has also established a commercial presence in Geneva to prepare for the
potential launch of VX-770 and to support the company's future growth.
About the Survey
The survey that generated this year's Top Employer list identified the
companies with the best reputations as employers, based on 3,784 survey
responses from readers of Science and other survey invitees.
Survey participants came from North America (80 percent), Europe (12
percent), and Asia/Pacific Rim (6 percent); 89 percent worked in private
industry. The responses were analyzed by The Brighton Consulting Group,
which assigned a unique score to rate each company's employer reputation
based on the survey results.
About Vertex
Vertex creates new possibilities in medicine. Our team discovers,
develops and commercializes innovative therapies so people with serious
diseases can lead better lives.
Vertex scientists and our collaborators are working on new medicines to
cure or significantly advance the treatment of hepatitis C, cystic
fibrosis, epilepsy and other life-threatening diseases.
Founded more than 20 years ago in Cambridge, MA, we now have ongoing
worldwide research programs and sites in the U.S., U.K. and Canada.
Special Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements
regarding (i) Vertex planning to add more than 500 jobs through 2015;
(ii) the possibility that Vertex can make a real difference for patients
by understanding the underlying cause of life-threatening diseases and
using that knowledge to develop breakthrough medicines; (iii) the plan
to submit regulatory applications for VX-770 in the United States and
Europe in October 2011; (iv) the plan to relocate Vertex's Massachusetts
workforce to Fan Pier beginning in late 2013 and (v) Vertex's plans for
growth in Massachusetts, Canada and the European Union. While Vertex
believes the forward-looking statements contained in this press release
are accurate, these statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual outcomes to vary materially from the outcomes
referenced in the forward-looking statements. These risks and
uncertainties include, among other things, the risks that efforts to
develop and obtain approval for its drug candidates may not proceed due
to technical, scientific, commercial, financial or other reasons, that
revenues may not be sufficient to support its future growth, and other
risks listed under Risk Factors in Vertex's annual report and quarterly
reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available
through the Vertex's website at www.vrtx.com.
Vertex disclaims any obligation to update the information contained in
this press release as new information becomes available.
VRTX-GEN
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Media
Dawn Kalmar,
617-444-6992
mediainfo@vrtx.com
Source: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
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