Biotech Investment News: Vertex’s Major Biotech Deals (2015–2025)

Strategic Review: From Cystic Fibrosis to Gene Editing and Regenerative Medicine

Vertex Pharmaceuticals has leveraged its dominance in cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment to expand into gene editing, regenerative medicine, pain management, and rare genetic disorders through strategic acquisitions and collaborations.

Major Deals and Collaborations

• 2015: CRISPR Therapeutics (gene editing collaboration)
• 2017: BioAxone BioSciences (spinal cord injury collaboration)
• 2018: SemiNex (laser therapy exploration for pain)
• 2019: Semenza Lab (hypoxia pathway targeting)
• 2019: Exonics Therapeutics (gene editing for DMD, acquisition)
• 2020: Affinia Therapeutics (AAV gene therapy collaboration)
• 2021: ViaCyte (stem cell therapy for diabetes)
• 2022: Mammoth Biosciences (next-gen CRISPR collaboration)
• 2023: Verve Therapeutics (CRISPR for liver diseases)
• 2023: Obsidian Therapeutics (checkpoint modulation partnership)
• 2024: ViaCyte (fully acquired to strengthen regenerative medicine)
• 2025: Alkermes (non-opioid pain asset acquisition)

Strategic Significance

Vertex and CRISPR Therapeutics launched Casgevy, the world’s first approved gene-editing therapy for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. The acquisition of ViaCyte deepens its focus on curative therapies for diabetes.

My Insight

While Vertex’s CF franchise remains strong, its long-term vision includes bold bets in gene editing, regenerative medicine, and non-opioid pain therapies—showing a calculated but courageous approach to biotech innovation.

References

• Vertex & CRISPR Collaboration
• ViaCyte Acquisition