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CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jul 07, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: VRTX) today announced that Jeffrey Leiden, M.D., Ph.D. and Dennis Winger joined its board of directors.

"Jeff and Dennis add tremendous medical and biomedical business perspective to our board. The board welcomes the addition of their experience and guidance at this pivotal time in our history," said Matthew Emmens, Vertex's chairman, chief executive officer and president.

Dr. Leiden, 53, is a managing director at Clarus Ventures, a life sciences venture capital firm with more than $1.2 billion under management. He has more than 20 years of experience in the biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors. Dr. Leiden was president and chief operating officer of Abbott Laboratories, Pharmaceuticals Products Group, and a member of the Abbott board of directors and the TAP board of directors from 2000 to 2006. From 1987 to 2000, Dr. Leiden held several academic appointments including the Rawson Professor and chief of cardiology and director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the University of Chicago, the Elkan R. Blout Professor of Biological Sciences at the Harvard School of Public Health, and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. During his academic career, Dr. Leiden was involved in starting several biotechnology companies including Vical and Cardiogene. He is an elected member of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Leiden is the chairman of the board of directors of both TyRx Pharma and Variation Biotechnologies Inc., and a member of the board of directors of Biolex Therapeutics and Lycera Corp. Dr. Leiden is also a director and non-executive vice chairman of the board of Shire plc, a member of the executive committee of the board of trustees of the Ravinia Festival and a trustee of the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine. Dr. Leiden received both his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Chicago.

Mr. Winger, 61, was elected chairman of the audit committee. He retired in 2008 from Applera Corporation, a life sciences company, where he was senior vice president and chief financial officer responsible for developing financial and business strategies. Hewas previously senior vice president of finance, administration and chief financial officer at Chiron Corporation. Before joining Chiron, Mr. Winger held various financial executive leadership roles with divisions of The Cooper Companies. Mr. Winger has played a significant role in multiple stock and debt security offerings, in major merger and acquisition and divestiture transactions and in managing process and systems growth within accounting, finance and treasury functions. He holds an MBA from Columbia University Graduate School of Business and he earned his undergraduate degree from Siena College. He is a director of Cell Genesys Inc. and Cephalon Inc.

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.

(VRTX-GEN)

SOURCE: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
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