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CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: VRTX) today announced two changes to its executive leadership team. Following a comprehensive search, Vertex has appointed Kenneth Horton to the role of Chief Legal Officer, where he will take on the additional title of Executive Vice President reporting to Vertex's Chair, President and CEO Jeffrey Leiden, M.D., Ph.D. The company's current Chief Legal Officer and Senior Vice President, Ty Howton, will work closely with Ken over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition. The company also announced today that its Chief Commercial Officer Nancy Wysenski has decided to retire after joining Vertex in 2009 and building the company's first commercial team to support the approval and launch of Vertex's first medicines. A search for a new Chief Commercial Officer is currently ongoing.

"Ken brings to Vertex more than 20 years of broad experience, with a focus on managing legal and compliance functions for large global health care companies, most recently as General Counsel at MDS Inc.," said Dr. Leiden. "I am pleased to welcome him to our team and would also like to thank both Nancy and Ty for their commitment to Vertex over the past several years.

"Nancy was critical in establishing a talented commercial team that led the successful launch of Vertex's first two medicines and in preparing the company for continued growth in the coming years. After more than 30 years in health care, she has chosen to move on to the next chapter of her life, and we wish her all the best in retirement.

"I also thank Ty for his work to advance the capabilities of our Legal and Compliance teams as we prepared to become a commercial company for the first time in our history. His leadership was instrumental during a time of rapid growth for our company, and I look forward to his close collaboration with Ken in the coming months."

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, rheumatoid arthritis, 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. Today, Vertex has more than 2,000 employees around the world, and Science magazine named Vertex number one on its 2011 list of Top Employers in the life sciences.

Vertex's press releases are available at www.vrtx.com.

(VRTX - GEN)

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
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Source: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

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