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CAMBRIDGE, Mass., SAN DIEGO, OXFORDSHIRE, U.K. & CORALVILLE, Iowa, Sep 21, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced that approximately 800 employees took part in Vertex's first companywide Day of Service, which was held on Friday, September 18, 2009. As part of the Day of Service, approximately 600 employees at Vertex's headquarters in Cambridge, MA took part in volunteer activities, in addition to 100 employees in San Diego, 6 in Iowa and 80 in the U.K. Vertex plans to hold the Day of Service event annually, allowing its employees the opportunity to spend one day a year volunteering at a variety charities and community organizations. The event, officially known as the Joshua Boger Day of Service, was held to honor Vertex's founder and long-time CEO, Joshua Boger, Ph.D., who retired earlier in 2009. Dr. Boger served at the Greater Boston Food Bank as part of the Day of Service and also spoke to 40 students taking part in science experiments at Vertex's headquarters in Cambridge.

About the Activities:

As part of the Day of Service, Vertex employees provided support to a variety of non-profit and community organizations, including several organizations focused on stimulating students' interest in science. In Cambridge, Vertex and the United Way hosted 40 local sixth grade students who created their own colored tablets and performed a variety of "backyard science experiences," including foil observations, pH tests and liver demonstrations. In San Diego, the San Diego Science Festival and the BioBridge initiative of the University of California at San Diego provided Vertex scientists the opportunity to visit 10 San Diego area schools to talk about science, give hands-on presentations on recent Vertex projects and to answer students' questions about scientific careers. In addition to these science-focused activities, Vertex employees also volunteered at the following organizations:

Massachusetts (Vertex Headquarters):

• Franklin Park Zoo: 70 employees helped in cleanup efforts throughout the zoo's facilities.
• Army National Guard Backpack Brigade: 68 employees stuffed approximately 300 student backpacks with school supplies and other materials, which are expected to supply half the program's children with needed school supplies.
• Army National Guard Soldier Care Packages: 59 employees assembled more than 60 care packages for deployed soldiers serving overseas.
• Camp Gannett Cleanup: 19 employees provided support to help clean parts of Camp Gannett and performed landscaping and other upkeep activities.
• City Sprouts: 15 employees helped to provide garden maintenance and to build a trellis for gardens at Cambridge area schools.
• Community Servings: 15 employees packaged meals for people homebound with HIV/AIDS and other acute life-threatening illnesses.
• Cradles to Crayons: 91 Vertex employees served in the "Giving Factory" to inspect books, match outfits, sort and test toys and stuff backpacks for local children.
• Greater Boston Food Bank: 89 Vertex employees, including Vertex founder Joshua Boger, Ph.D., inspected, sorted and repacked 12,000 pounds of "salvaged" food and grocery products.
• Habitat for Humanity: 20 employees, including Vertex Chairman, President and CEO Matthew Emmens, helped in the building of a home at Ashton Street in Dorchester.
• Hale Reservation: 66 employees provided weeding, mowing and rock removal support to ensure the growth of an apple orchard on the reservation.
• Parker River National Wildlife Refuge: 13 employees helped to cut down an invasive species of vine.
• Nashua Soup Kitchen, Nashua: 10 employees helped prepare foods for soup kitchen meals.
• The Farm at Boston's Long Island Shelter: 14 employees helped weed the shelter's farm, while 20 others helped paint a section of the shelter's cafeteria.
• Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program: Six employees helped to serve lunch to homeless individuals and families.
• United Way Math, Science and Technology Initiative (MSTi): 50 employees hosted local sixth grade students who performed a variety of science experiments and talked with Vertex scientists about their work.

California (Vertex Research and Development site in San Diego):

• Monarch School: 34 Vertex employees helped to fill and collect supplies for some 30 backpacks for students enrolled at the Monarch School, which provides educational services to homeless and at-risk children.
• San Diego Science Festival/BioBridge: 19 Vertex scientists gave "Day in the Life of a Scientist" presentations to middle and high school students in multiple schools across the San Diego school system.
• Habitat for Humanity: 12 employees helped in the building of a home at the Oceanside site near San Diego.
• Third Avenue Charitable Organization: 11 employees helped prepare and serve meals at the organization's soup kitchen.
• American Red Cross: 24 employees donated blood to the American Red Cross.
• Labrador Rescuers: 6 employees provided support to a local dog rescue organization.

Iowa (Vertex Research and Development site in Coralville):

• Habitat for Humanity: 6 employees helped to build a home as part of a Habitat for Humanity program near Cedar Rapids.

United Kingdom (Vertex Research and Development site in Oxfordshire, U.K.):

• Vertex-sponsored Farmer's Market: Vertex's 80 employees in the United Kingdom held a Vertex-sponsored farmer's market and charity walk in their office park. The events raised $1400 USD, which will be donated to the British Liver Trust.

Other events:

• A number of other Vertex employees, including Vertex's Medical Science Liaisons, participated in a variety of other events at locations throughout the U.S.

Multimedia Materials for Media:

Multimedia materials, including photographs, are available for use by media outlets and can be obtained by contacting Vertex at 617-444-6470.

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.

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

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6054798&lang=en

(VRTX-GEN)

SOURCE: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Zachry Barber, 617-444-6470

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