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CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jul 13, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced that Wayne J. Riley, M.D., M.B.A., joined its board of directors as an independent director. The addition of Dr. Riley brings the number of Vertex board members to 10. Dr. Riley was appointed to the class of directors whose term expires in 2011 and who are subject to re-election by the company's shareholders in May 2011.

"Throughout his career, Dr. Riley has been a leader in public health administration and patient care and will provide a unique perspective to our board as we seek to bring breakthrough medicines to people with serious diseases," said Matthew Emmens, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vertex Pharmaceuticals. "In addition, Dr. Riley's clinical and operational experience in the public health systems of major urban centers and at large academic medical institutions will be invaluable in our efforts to address the needs of people with hepatitis C and those involved with treatment of this disease."

Dr. Riley, 51, is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, the nation's largest private, independent academic health center dedicated to educating minority and other health professionals. In addition, he holds the academic rank of Professor of Internal Medicine at both Meharry and Vanderbilt University Schools of Medicine. Throughout his career, Dr. Riley has held various leadership roles at academic medical institutions and has broad experience in public health administration, health policy and patient care. Prior to his role at Meharry Medical College, which began in January 2007, Dr. Riley served as a corporate officer as Vice President and Vice Dean for Health Affairs and Governmental Relations at the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) from 2004 to 2006 and as Assistant Dean for Education at BCM from 2000 to 2004. In his senior role at Baylor, Dr. Riley was one of three physicians on the institution's seven-member senior management team. Dr. Riley began his career in medicine in 1986 and has practiced at Houston's Ben Taub General Hospital, Michael. E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Methodist Hospital and St. Luke's Episcopal Hospitals.

Dr. Riley currently serves as a member of the board of directors for Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc., where he serves as a member of the Audit and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees, and also sits on the boards of several non-profit and community service organizations, including the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, Nashville Health Care Council, the Nashville Symphony Association, the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville, the American Cancer Society and the Middle Tennessee Council for the Boy Scouts of America, among others. He also serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's Labor, Education and Healthcare Advisory Council and the Advisory Council for the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Riley earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, a Master of Public Health degree from the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana, a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Rice University Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business. Dr. Riley is a Regent and Master of the American College of Physicians, a member of the Society of Medical Administrators, a Diplomate of both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the National Board of Medical Examiners, Chair of the Board of the Association of Minority Heath Professions Schools, and a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

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, epilepsy, cancer, and pain.

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

(VRTX-GEN)

SOURCE: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
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