News & Events

Cambridge, MA, May 5, 2005 -- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq:VRTX) will webcast its 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Wednesday, May 11, 2005. Joshua Boger, Ph.D., Vertex's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will host the webcast which will begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT.

The live webcast may be accessed by visiting the Vertex website at www.vrtx.com. A replay of the webcast will also be available on the Company's website until May 25, 2005. To access the webcast, go to Vertex's website and select '2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.' To ensure a timely connection to the webcast, it is recommended that users register at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled webcast.

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 principally focused on viral diseases, inflammation, autoimmune diseases and cancer. In collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline, Vertex co-promotes the HIV protease inhibitor, Lexiva®.

Lexiva® is a registered trademark of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.

Vertex Contact:
Lora Pike, Manager, Investor Relations,
(617) 444-6755