News & Events

Cambridge, MA, February 3, 2005 -- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) will webcast its corporate presentation at Merrill Lynch's Global Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology & Medical Device Conference in New York. The presentation will be delivered by Joshua Boger, Ph.D., Vertex's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer on Thursday, February 10, 2005 at 1:15 p.m. EST.

The presentation will be webcast live and may be accessed by visiting the Vertex website at www.vrtx.com. A replay of the audio webcast will also be available on the Company's website until February 24, 2005. To access the audio webcast, go to Vertex's website and select 'Merrill Lynch Global Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology & Medical Device Conference.' 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. Vertex co-promotes the HIV protease inhibitor, Lexiva®, with GlaxoSmithKline.

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

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