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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-K/A
(Amendment No. 1)

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 24, 2004

VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

MASSACHUSETTS
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  000-19319
(Commission File Number)
  04-3039129
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)


130 Waverly Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(617) 444-6100
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K/A filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





Section 8—Other Events

Item 8.01. Other Events

On July 2, 2004, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (the "Company") filed a current report on Form 8-K to disclose that it had entered into (i) a Research, Development and Commercialization Agreement dated May 24, 2004 with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Incorporated (the "CFF Agreement"); and (ii) an Exclusive Research Collaboration, License and Commercialization Agreement dated June 21, 2004 with Merck & Co., Inc., (the "Merck Agreement"), which were subject to a pending confidential treatment request filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and attached with redactions as Exhibits 99.2 and 99.4, respectively, of the current report.

As a result of the SEC's review of the Company's confidential treatment request, the Company hereby attaches the CFF Agreement and the Merck Agreement with revised redactions as Exhibits 99.2 and 99.4 of this current report.


Section 9—Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

    VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS
INCORPORATED

(Registrant)

Date: September 9, 2004

 

By:

/s/  
KENNETH S. BOGER      
Kenneth S. Boger
Senior Vice President and General Counsel


EXHIBIT INDEX

        The following exhibits are filed as part of this current report on Form 8-K/A:

Exhibit No.

  Description
99.2   Research, Development and Commercialization Agreement dated May 24, 2004 between Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Incorporated (with certain confidential information redacted).†

99.4

 

Exclusive Research Collaboration, License and Commercialization Agreement dated June 21, 2004 by and between Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated and Merck & Co., Inc. (with certain confidential information redacted).†
Confidential portions of this document have been filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.



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SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX

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Exhibit 99.2

Confidential Treatment Requested
Confidential portions of this document have been redacted and
have been separately filed with the Commission


RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION AGREEMENT

between

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

and

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Incorporated


Research, Development and Commercialization Agreement


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   
  Page
ARTICLE I—DEFINITIONS    

ARTICLE II—RESEARCH PROGRAM

 

5
2.1   Commencement; Objective.   5
2.2   Term.   6
2.3   Research Diligence.   6
2.4   Research Plan.   6
2.5   CFFT Special Rights at Program Selection Point.   6
2.6   Joint Research Committee.   7
2.7   Joint Steering Committee.   8
2.8   Exchange of Information.   9
2.9   Extension of Research Termination Date.   9
2.10   Third Party Testing.   9

ARTICLE III—DEVELOPMENT

 

10
3.1   Commencement of Development Program.   10
3.2   Joint Development Committee.   10
3.3   Development Responsibility and Costs.   11
3.4   Regulatory Approvals.   11

ARTICLE IV—PAYMENTS

 

12
4.1   Staffing and Research Support Payments.   12
4.2   Budget.   12
4.3   Payments.   12
4.4   Clinical Trial Commencement Milestone.   12
4.5   Records.   13
4.6   Payments Due Under the Original Agreement.   13

ARTICLE V—COMMERCIALIZATION; ROYALTIES

 

13
5.1   Marketing and Promotion.   13
5.2   Due Diligence.   13
5.3   Royalties.   13
5.4   Sales Reports.   14
5.5   Vertex First Negotiation Right re: CFF Royalty Disposition.   15

ARTICLE VI—CONFIDENTIALITY

 

15
6.1   Undertaking.   15
6.2   Exceptions.   16
6.3   Publicity.   16
6.4   Survival.   17

ARTICLE VII—PUBLICATION

 

17

ARTICLE VIII—INDEMNIFICATION

 

18
8.1   Indemnification by Vertex.   18
8.2   Indemnification by CFFT.   18
8.3   Claims Procedures.   18
         

i



ARTICLE IX—PATENTABLE INVENTIONS

 

19
9.1   Ownership.   19
9.2   Preparation.   19
9.3   Costs.   19

ARTICLE X—TERM AND TERMINATION

 

19
10.1   Term.   19
10.2   Termination of the Research Program by CFFT for Cause.   20
10.3   Termination of the Research Program by Vertex for Cause.   20
10.4   General Effect of Termination.   20
10.5   CFFT Special Termination Rights.   20
10.6   Consequences of an Interruption.   21
10.7   Refused Program Extension.   22

ARTICLE XI—REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

23
11.1   Representations and Warranties of Vertex.   23
11.2   Representations and Warranties of CFFT.   23

ARTICLE XII—DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

23
12.1   Governing Law, and Jurisdiction.   23
12.2   Dispute Resolution Process.   23

ARTICLE XIII—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

24
13.1   Waiver.   24
13.2   Force Majeure.   24
13.3   Severability.   24
13.4   Government Acts.   24
13.5   Assignment.   24
13.6   Counterparts.   25
13.7   No Agency.   25
13.8   Notice.   25
13.9   Headings.   25
13.10   Authority.   25
13.11   Entire Agreement.   26
13.12   Notice of Pharmaceutical Side-Effects.   26
13.13   Invoice Requirement.   26

Exhibit 2.4—Research Plan

Exhibit 4.2—Initial Budget for Research Program

ii



RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND COMMECIALIZATION AGREEMENT

        Agreement made this 24th day of May, 2004, (the "Agreement"), between Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated ("Vertex"), a Massachusetts corporation with principal offices at 130 Waverly Street, Cambridge, MA 02139-4242, and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Incorporated, a Delaware corporation with principal offices at 6931 Arlington Road, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 ("CFFT").

        This Agreement is a modification and continuation of a relationship originally set forth in an earlier Cystic Fibrosis Research Alliance and Commercialization Agreement dated as of May 19, 2000 (the "Original Agreement"), between the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which is an Affiliate of CFFT, and Aurora Biosciences Corporation, which was acquired by Vertex in 2001. Except as specifically provided herein, this Agreement supercedes in its entirety the Original Agreement which shall be of no further force and effect.

        WHEREAS, Vertex has expertise in the discovery and development of small molecule compounds addressing a variety of diseases for which there are limited treatment options, including extensive expertise in the study of disease mechanisms and the design of novel chemical compounds which modulate biological targets with therapeutic effect; and

        WHEREAS, Vertex has developed significant scientific expertise and capacity in the area of CFTR protein modulation; and

        WHEREAS, CFFT is significantly focused on the discovery and development of methods of treatment for cystic fibrosis, to which CFFT and its Affiliates bring significant scientific and human resources and financial support; and

        WHEREAS, CFFT wishes to continue support for, and expand, the CFTR project underway at Vertex.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants set forth in this Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:


ARTICLE I—DEFINITIONS

        For purposes of this Agreement, the terms defined in this Article 1 shall have the following meanings whether used in their singular or plural forms. Use of the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, unless the context requires otherwise:

        1.1   "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person who directly or indirectly, by itself or through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under direct or indirect common control with, such Person. The term "control" means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. Control will be presumed if one Person owns, either of record or beneficially, more than 50% of the voting stock of any other Person. For the avoidance of any doubt, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and CFFT are considered to be Affiliates.

        1.2   "Agreement" means this agreement, together with all appendices, exhibits and schedules hereto, and as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time hereafter by a written agreement duly executed by authorized representatives of each party hereto.

        1.3   "Back-up Compound" shall mean, with reference to any particular Development Candidate or Drug Product Candidate, a Compound which (a) has the same principal mode of action (i.e., Potentiator or Corrector) as that Development Candidate or Drug Product Candidate; and (b) was among the group of Compounds, identified by VERTEX as potential additional lead molecules having the same principal mode of action, from which the Development Candidate was selected.

        1.4   "Bulk Drug Substance" shall mean a Drug Product Candidate in bulk crystal, powder or other form suitable for incorporation in a Drug Product.

[***] Information redacted pursuant to a confidential treatment request. An unredacted version of this exhibit has been separately filed with the Commission


        1.5   "CF" means the disease known as Cystic Fibrosis.

        1.6   "CF Field" means the treatment of humans diagnosed with CF.

        1.7   "CFTR" shall mean a CF transmembrane conductance regulator protein which has the biological effect of transporting molecules across human cellular membranes.

        1.8   "Compound" shall mean a chemical compound, including salts and prodrugs thereof, which is synthesized and/or tested by or under the direction of VERTEX or its Affiliates during the term of the Research Program under this Agreement, or which was synthesized and/or tested by and/or under the direction of Aurora or its Affiliates under the Original Agreement; which is either a Potentiator or a Corrector, or both; and which [***]

        1.9   "Controlled" (except in the context of Section 1.1) shall mean the legal authority or right of a party hereto to grant a license or sublicense of intellectual property rights to another party hereto, or to otherwise disclose proprietary or trade secret information to such other party, without breaching the terms of any agreement with a Third Party, infringing upon the intellectual property rights of a Third Party, or misappropriating the proprietary or trade secret information of a Third Party.

        1.10 "Corrector" shall mean a Compound which, as its principal mode of therapeutic action, modulates the biological effect of CFTR by increasing [***]

        1.11 "Development Candidate" shall mean a Compound that meets the Development Candidate Criteria for the initiation of a Development Program for the treatment of CF, and which is the subject of a notice from Vertex to CFFT that Vertex intends to commence formal pre-clinical development of the Compound in the Field pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.1 hereof.

        1.12 "Development Candidate Criteria" shall mean the criteria set forth in Schedule 1.14 hereto which shall be applicable to any Compound selected by Vertex as a Development Candidate hereunder.

        1.13 "Development Candidate Information" will mean a full summary of all material information known to VERTEX about a Development Candidate, which CFFT reasonably needs in order to assess the potential of that Development Candidate as a treatment for CF and to pursue CFFT's Special Rights under Sections 10.5 and 10.6, if they are applicable. Development Candidate Information will also include comparable information known to VERTEX concerning Compounds which are Back-up Compounds, as defined herein, to the Development Candidate which is the subject of the Development Candidate Information.

        1.14 "Development Candidate Milestone" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.4 hereof.

        1.15 "Development Plan" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.2.2 hereof.

        1.16 "Development Program" shall mean activities associated with development of a Drug Product Candidate which are conducted by or at the direction of Vertex, its Affiliates, licensees or sublicensees, including but not limited to (a) manufacture and formulation of Drug Product Candidates for use in pre-clinical, non-clinical and clinical studies; (b) pre-clinical and non-clinical animal studies; (c) planning, implementation, evaluation and administration of human clinical trials; (d) manufacturing process development, scale-up and manufacture/analysis/QC/QA of Drug Product for clinical trials; (e) preparation and submission of applications for Regulatory Approval; and (f) post-market surveillance of approved drug indications, as required or agreed as part of a marketing approval by any governmental regulatory authority.

        1.17 "Drug Product" shall mean a finished dosage form which is prepared from Bulk Drug Substance and is ready for administration to the ultimate consumer as a pharmaceutical.

        1.18 "Drug Product Candidate" shall mean any Development Candidate for which a Development Program has commenced under Section 3.1 hereunder.

2



        1.19 "Effective Date" shall mean April 1, 2004.

        1.20 "Field" shall mean the treatment of conditions or diseases in the CF Field and the Pulmonary Field.

        1.21 "First Commercial Sale" shall mean the first sale of a Drug Product by Vertex or an Affiliate, licensee or sublicensee of Vertex in a country in the Territory following Regulatory Approval of the Drug Product in that country or, if no such Regulatory Approval or similar marketing approval is required, the date upon which the Drug Product is first commercially launched in that country.

        1.22 "FTE" shall mean the equivalent of the work of one Vertex scientist or other project managerial professional, full time for one year, on or directly related to the Research Program. Work in the Research Program can include, but is not limited to the following activities that relate solely to the Research Program: (i) experimental laboratory work, (ii) project and research management, (iii) intellectual property creation, (iv) management activities directed toward evaluation of the commercial potential of a possible Drug Candidate, (v) recording and writing up results, (vi) reviewing literature and references, (vii) holding scientific discussions, (viii) traveling to and attending appropriate seminars and symposia, (ix) and carrying out Joint Research Committee duties. Activities included in calculating FTE's shall not include negotiation of this Agreement or modifications or extensions thereof or administration activities such as accounting, invoicing, personnel related activities or the like. Moreover, activities specified in (iv) through (ix) above shall be taken into account only when performed by individuals substantially all of the activities of whom are otherwise dedicated to the Research Program. FTE's shall include equivalent scientific work in the Research Program delegated to and carried out by contractors, under the general direction of Vertex scientists; provided, that not more than half of the total Research Program FTEs shall be delegated to Third Parties. FTE's which result from work delegated to and carried out by contractors, if not separately accounted for by the contractor, will be computed by dividing the total amount of the contractor's invoice by [***], and the resulting FTE calculation will be separately identified by Vertex on its reports provided to CFFT under Section 4.3 hereof.

        1.23 "Joint Research Committee" or "JRC" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.6 of Agreement.

        1.24 "Joint Steering Committee" or "JSC" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.7 of Agreement.

        1.25 "Net Sales" with respect to any Drug Product shall mean the gross amount invoiced by Vertex and any Vertex Affiliate, licensee or sublicensee for that Drug Product sold in bona fide, arms-length transactions to Third Parties for use in the Field, less (i) quantity and/or cash discounts from the gross invoice price which are actually allowed or taken; (ii) freight, postage and insurance included in the invoice price; (iii) amounts repaid or credited by reasons of rejections or return of goods or because of retroactive price reductions specifically identifiable to the Drug Product; (iv) amounts payable resulting from government (or agency thereof) mandated rebate programs; (v) third-party rebates to the extent actually allowed; (vi) invoiced customs duties and sales taxes (excluding income, value-added and similar taxes), if any, actually paid and directly related to the sale that are not reimbursed by the buyer; and (vii) any other specifically identifiable amounts included in the Drug Product's gross invoice price that should be credited for reasons substantially equivalent to those listed above; all as determined in accordance with Vertex's usual and customary accounting methods, which are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

3


        1.26 "Patents" means all existing patents and patent applications and all patent applications hereafter filed, including any continuation, continuation-in-part, division, provisional or any substitute applications, any patent issued with respect to any such patent applications, any reissue, reexamination, renewal or extension (including any supplementary protection certificate) of any such patent, and any confirmation patent or registration patent or patent of addition based on any such patent, and all foreign counterparts of any of the foregoing.

        1.27 "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or political subdivision thereof.

        1.28 "Positive Control" shall mean with respect to a Corrector, the Compound known as [***], and with respect to a Potentiator, the Compound known as [***], except as otherwise agreed by the Parties.

        1.29 "Potentiator" shall mean a Compound which, as its principal mode of therapeutic action, modulates the biological effect of CFTR by enhancing the gating activity of DF508 CFTR present in the apical cell membrane.

        1.30 "Prime Rate" shall mean the average prime rate published in the Wall Street Journal during the relevant period.

        1.31 This section has been intentionally left blank.

        1.32 "Pulmonary Field" shall mean the treatment of diseases of the human pulmonary tract or lungs, other than CF.

        1.33 "Regulatory Approval" shall mean, with respect to any country, all authorizations by the appropriate governmental entity or entities necessary for commercial sale of a Drug Product in that country including, without limitation and where applicable, approval of labeling, price, reimbursement and manufacturing. "Regulatory Approval" in the United States shall mean final approval of a new drug application pursuant to 21 CFR § 314, permitting marketing of the applicable Drug Product in interstate commerce in the United States. "Regulatory Approval" in the European Union shall mean final approval of a Marketing Authorization Application, or equivalent.

        1.34 "Research Plan" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4 hereof.

        1.35 "Research Program" shall mean all research activities undertaken under this Agreement associated with the identification and design of Compounds and Development Candidates as provided herein; including but not limited to the identification and initial testing of Compounds; the conduct of those activities referenced in the Development Candidate Criteria with respect to Compounds; selection of Development Candidates and the presentation of those Development Candidates and related Development Candidate Information to CFFT.

4



        1.36 "Research Termination Date" shall mean the earlier of December 31, 2005 or the date upon which the Research Program is terminated under Article X.

        1.37 "Termination Know-How Package" shall mean, for the Research Program generally or for a particular Program (Primary or Alternate) within the Research Program, as the context may require, (a) all data and study results (including formulae for calculating EC50 and efficacy) from in vitro and in vivo efficacy testing and experimentation conducted with respect to Compounds under that Program, pursuant to the applicable Research Plan or Subplan, all as recorded in electronic form in Vertex's electronic database known as VERDI (Vertex Research Data Interface), and including Compound structure information; (b) standard operating procedures for the following assays: [***] all as conducted with commercially available instruments and equipment, and any other assay the creation of which was substantially paid for by CFFT under the Research Program or the Original Agreement and supported by medicinal chemistry during the Research Program or the Original Agreement; and (c) any physical stocks of Compounds from the Program which are on hand on the date of Interruption, and information on chemical routes Controlled by Vertex for synthesis of additional stocks of Compounds.

        1.38 "Territory" shall mean worldwide.

        1.39 "Third Party" shall mean any person or entity which is not a party or an Affiliate of any party to this Agreement.

        1.40 "Third Party Referral" shall mean the procedure for resolution of certain disputes hereunder which is set forth in Section 12.2(b) hereof.

        1.41 "Vertex CF Technology" shall mean all data, technical information, know-how, inventions (whether or not patented) trade secrets, processes and methods discovered or developed, and Controlled by Vertex or its Affiliates, in the course of its performance of the Research Program under this Agreement, or in the course of activities undertaken by Vertex or Aurora under the Original Agreement, and related to CFTR modulation; provided, however, that the term "Vertex CF Technology" shall not apply to Vertex's general drug design technology whether in hardware or software form, tangible or intangible.

        1.42 "Vertex Patents" shall mean any Patents Controlled by Vertex or its Affiliates claiming Vertex CF Technology.


ARTICLE II—RESEARCH PROGRAM

        2.1 Commencement; Objective.

        Research under the Original Agreement commenced on May 19, 2000 and is being continued under this Agreement pursuant to the Research Program described below. Vertex will be principally responsible for the conduct of the Research Program and CFFT will provide financial support, consultation and advice as provided herein and through its participation on the JRC and the JSC as provided below. The Research Program will be directed toward the identification of Development Candidates which are suitable for development and commercialization as human therapeutics for the treatment of CF.

        2.2 Term.

        The Research Program will be deemed to have commenced on the Effective Date, and will conclude on December 31, 2005, unless extended by agreement of the parties (including any such extension, the "Research Termination Date"), or unless earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions of Article X hereof. The parties may discuss at any time whether, and upon what basis, the Research Program might be extended beyond the initial Research Termination Date, and those discussions may include proposed extensions under Section 2.9 hereof.

5


        2.3 Research Diligence.

        The common objective of the parties is to identify Development Candidates as soon as practicable for worldwide development and marketing under the terms of this Agreement. Vertex will work diligently and use all reasonable efforts, consistent with prudent business judgment, to identify Development Candidates and to commence the development of those Development Candidates as Drug Product Candidates. Vertex will dedicate to the Research Program at least that level of staffing referenced in Section 4.1 hereof, and expects to employ an optimal combination of experience and training in the CF Field.

        2.4 Research Plan.

        2.5 CFFT Special Rights at Program Selection Point.

        If CFFT shall disagree with Vertex's choice in designating the Primary Program, it may refer the matter to the JSC for review under Section 2.7.1(iii) hereof, and may in any event:

6


        2.6 Joint Research Committee.

7


        2.7 Joint Steering Committee.

8


        2.8 Exchange of Information.

        2.9 Extension of Research Termination Date.

        Vertex and CFFT may extend the term of the Research Program, or the term of either the Primary Program or the Alternate Program, by mutual agreement. Any party desiring such an extension shall notify the other party in writing of that fact not less than sixty (60) days prior to the initial Research Termination Date. That notice shall include a summary of the material terms upon which the extension is proposed. The general expectation of the parties is that any such extension would be undertaken on terms substantially identical to those which appear in this Agreement, except that CFFT would bear only [***] of Vertex's on-going research costs. Any such proposal that relates to an extension of the Research Program, generally, shall be called a "Research Extension Proposal," and proposals that relate to extensions of the Primary Program or the Alternate Program, respectively, shall be called a "Primary Extension Proposal" or an "Alternate Extension Proposal."

        2.10 Third Party Testing.

        At CFFT's written request (a "Testing Request") delivered as provided below, Vertex will supply to an "Agreed Lab" reasonably adequate quantities of its "Lead Compounds" as necessary to enable the Agreed Lab to conduct in vitro testing of the efficacy and potency of the Lead Compounds in agreed CF assay models. All such testing will be undertaken at the expense of CFFT in addition to any funding otherwise provided hereunder.

        An "Agreed Lab" is a commercial testing laboratory unaffiliated with either CFFT or Vertex and reasonably acceptable to both, which (a) specializes in rendering services to the pharmaceutical industry and has nationally recognized expertise in the testing of pharmaceutical compounds; (b) has a superior reputation for integrity in dealing with the proprietary information of others and would be free of any real or apparent conflict of interest in performing the services which are the subject of this Section 2.10; and (c) is bound by the terms of a confidentiality agreement with Vertex which is customary in form and content, which covers the testing contemplated by this Section 2.10, and which permits the Lab to report to CFFT, directly, the results which it obtains with respect to efficacy and potency of the Lead Compounds, but only those results.

        A "Testing Request" is a written request relating to the testing of Lead Compounds from either or both of the Primary and the Alternate Programs, which is delivered by CFFT to Vertex during any of the following periods: (i) the ninety day period beginning on the Primary Program Designation Date; (ii) the ninety day period prior to the due date for delivery to Vertex of any Early Termination Notice under Section 10.5.2 hereof; and (iii) the sixty day period beginning with the delivery by either party to the other of a Research Extension Proposal as provided in Section 2.9 hereof.

9


        "Lead Compounds" shall mean not more than two Compounds from each Program—Primary or Alternate—for which a Testing Request is delivered, none of which are a Development Candidate, which meet the following criteria: (i) the Compound(s) have been selected by Vertex from the Primary Program and/or the Alternate Program, as relevant to the Testing Request (assuming CFFT has not terminated the Alternate Program under the provisions of Section 10.5.3 hereof); (ii) each Compound will be representative of those Compounds in each Program which Vertex believes to be the most promising as potential Drug Products; and (iii) each Compound shall have been previously tested by Vertex, in vitro, as to potential efficacy and potency in CF, and the results of that testing shall have been provided to CFFT.

        Vertex and CFFT acknowledge that commercially available assays for the testing of Lead Compounds may yield results which are less robust than the results obtained by Vertex in its own proprietary assays. The parties also acknowledge that the transfer of Vertex's proprietary assays to an Agreed Lab may be difficult, and the results less than satisfactory, without a commitment of substantial time and effort by Vertex which, if undertaken, may adversely impact the progress of the Research Program. Therefore, the parties agree that Vertex's responsibility for the testing provided under this Section 2.10 shall be limited as follows: (a) Vertex will cooperate with CFFT in the selection of an Agreed Lab as soon as practicable following the Effective Date, as may be requested by CFFT, and thereafter will assist in the determination whether commercially available assays conducted by the Lab are likely to provide satisfactory results; (b) Vertex will provide the Lab with requisite amounts of each Lead Compound, in connection with formal Testing Requests from CFFT as provided above, and up to three additional Compounds from each of the Primary or Alternate Programs, out of any supplies which Vertex may have on hand, the chemical structures of which have been published by Vertex in peer-reviewed journals or through posters or presentations at scientific conferences, which the Agreed Lab may use for control purposes; (c) Vertex will provide telephone consulting to appropriate representatives of the Agreed Lab concerning applicable assay methodology; (d) if the parties conclude that conventional testing will not yield adequate results, and upon the formal written request of CFFT rendered with due regard to [***] to establish an assay based on proprietary protocols from Vertex, Vertex will provide its proprietary assay protocol to the Agreed Lab sufficiently in advance of any testing provided for in this Section 2.10 to accommodate such testing, under provisions of confidentiality, restricted access and non-use (for other than testing hereunder), and will ensure that appropriate Vertex representatives are available by telephone from time to time to answer questions and otherwise assist the Agreed Lab representatives in their efforts to establish Vertex's proprietary assay. Vertex shall in no event be responsible for any failure by the Agreed Lab to establish an effective assay using Vertex's protocols, nor shall any time periods provided herein for action by CFFT be extended by reason of any such failure.


ARTICLE III—DEVELOPMENT

        3.1 Commencement of Development Program.

        As soon as Vertex has identified a Development Candidate which it believes meets the Development Candidate Criteria, it will so notify CFFT and the JRC and will include with that notice the Development Candidate Information with respect to that Development Candidate and its Back-up Compounds. Vertex will promptly commence and pursue a Development Program with respect to that Development Candidate, at its expense, applying diligent, commercially reasonable efforts to develop Drug Product Candidates into Drug Products, consistent with those used by Vertex for its own compounds of similar potential.

        3.2 Joint Development Committee.

10


        3.3 Development Responsibility and Costs.

        Vertex will have sole responsibility for, and bear the cost of conducting, the Development Program with respect to each Drug Product Candidate.

        3.4 Regulatory Approvals.

        Vertex shall be solely responsible for preparing and submitting registration dossiers for Regulatory Approval of Drug Product Candidates in the Territory.

11



ARTICLE IV—PAYMENTS

        4.1 Staffing and Research Support Payments.

        CFFT will make the payments to Vertex specified below during 2004 and 2005 in support of the Research Program under this Agreement.

[***]   [***]
[***]   [***]
[***]   [***]
Total   $21.281

        Vertex will dedicate a minimum average [***] during its term, [***] Unless otherwise agreed in writing by CFFT, from and after the earlier of the date upon which Vertex notifies CFFT of its selection of a Primary and an Alternate Program, Vertex will devote [***] to the Alternate Program, and will apply [***]. Subject to the foregoing requirements, the research support specified above can be allocated as Vertex may determine in good faith between in-house and outside resources, between the Primary Program and the Alternative Program, and between and among individual budget line items.

        4.2 Budget.

        The initial budget for the Research Program is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.2 (the "Initial Budget"). Any material revisions to the Initial Budget which would result in an increase in total funding for the Research Program, or which are specified in Section 2.4.1, will require the prior approval of CFFT. Any other adjustments to the Research Program budget may be undertaken by Vertex with prior notice to, but without prior approval from, CFFT. The Initial Budget as revised or adjusted pursuant to the foregoing and in effect at any given time, shall be called the "Current Budget." Vertex will provide CFFT with quarterly reports, within thirty (30) days after the end of each quarter, showing expenses incurred under the Research Program during the quarter just ended against budgeted expenses for that quarter.

        4.3 Payments.

        Payments due under the Current Budget on account of internal FTEs shall be made by CFFT [***]. Payments due under the Current Budget on account of external costs shall be made by CFFT [***] All payments shall be made without deduction for withholding or other similar taxes, in United States dollars to the credit of such bank account as may be designated by Vertex in writing to CFFT. Any payments which fall due on a date which is a legal holiday in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts may be made on the next following day which is not a legal holiday in the Commonwealth. On or before each of March 1, 2005 and March 1, 2006, Vertex will provide CFFT with an accounting of all internal FTE costs and outsourcing costs incurred under the Research Program during the most recently concluded calendar year. Internal FTE costs will be calculated [***]. Costs incurred will be compared with funds provided by CFFT on account of that year, and [***].

        4.4 Clinical Trial Commencement Milestone.

        CFFT will pay to Vertex [***] with respect to the first Drug Product Candidate under the Research Program to commence human clinical trials of that Drug Product Candidate in any country with a generally accepted system of Regulatory Approvals. The first human clinical trial of a Drug Product Candidate will be deemed to have commenced when that Candidate is first dosed in a human under a clinical trial protocol which has been approved by the relevant oversight authority in the country in which the trial is being conducted. Payment with respect to a Drug Product Candidate will

12



be made within thirty (30) days after receipt by CFFT of notice from Vertex that human clinical trials of that Drug Product Candidate have commenced.

        4.5 Records.

        Vertex shall keep accurate records and books of accounts containing all data reasonably required for the calculation and verification of FTE's employed, and outsourcing costs incurred, by Vertex in the Research Program. CFFT, through an independent accounting firm unaffiliated with either CFFT or Vertex, shall have the right at its expense to audit Vertex's relevant records to verify compliance with FTE and other research funding allocation requirements hereunder.

        At CFFT's request, VERTEX shall make those records available, no more than once a year, during reasonable working hours, for review by a recognized independent accounting firm acceptable to both parties, at CFFT's expense, for the sole purpose of verifying the accuracy of those records in the calculation of Research Program FTEs and outsourcing costs. Vertex shall not, however, be required to retain or make available to CFFT or its accountants, any such records or books of account for either 2004 or 2005, beyond thirty-six (36) months from the termination of the Research Program. CFFT shall cause the accounting firm to retain all such information in confidence.

        In the event that the aggregate costs actually chargeable to the Research Program during any year are less than the amount previously advanced to Vertex by CFFT and properly attributable to that year (a "Negative Difference"), in addition to reimbursing CFFT for the Negative Difference plus interest calculated at [***] if the Negative Difference is more than [***] then Vertex shall also pay the reasonable costs of the independent accountant employed by CFFT in the review.

        4.6 Payments Due Under the Original Agreement.

        Vertex acknowledges that no further milestone payments, beyond those made to Vertex prior to the Effective Date of this Agreement under the Original Agreement. Outsource costs incurred by Vertex under the Original Agreement prior to the Effective Date will be reimbursed by CFFT under the terms of the Original Agreement from available funds provided under the Original Agreement. Except as specified in the preceding sentence, neither Vertex nor CFFT shall have any remaining obligations under the Original Agreement after the Effective Date.


ARTICLE V—COMMERCIALIZATION; ROYALTIES

        5.1 Marketing and Promotion.

        Vertex and/or its licensees and sublicensees shall have exclusive rights to market, sell and distribute all Drug Products in the Territory, subject to the Special CFFT Rights provided in Sections 10.5 and 10.6 below.

        5.2 Due Diligence.

        Vertex shall use diligent and commercially reasonable efforts consistent with the requirements of the Development Program and sound and reasonable business practices and judgment to effect introduction of Drug Products into major markets in North America and Europe as soon as reasonably practicable, devoting the same degree of attention and diligence to those efforts that it devotes to similar activities for its other products of comparable market potential.

        5.3 Royalties.

13


        5.4 Sales Reports.

14


        5.5 Vertex First Negotiation Right re: CFF Royalty Disposition.

        If CFFT should wish to assign, sell or otherwise transfer rights in or to any of the royalty payments due or to become due from Vertex, its Affiliates, successors, assignees, licensees or sublicensees under any of the provisions of this Agreement, or to undertake any transaction which would have the same or a similar effect as any such assignment, sale or transfer, it will provide Vertex with sixty (60) days prior written notice (a "Transfer Notice"), and during that sixty day period will at Vertex's request negotiate with Vertex in good faith, with the objective of reaching an agreement under which those CFFT rights which were the subject of the Transfer Notice would be assigned, sold or transferred to Vertex, its successors or assigns in lieu of an assignment, sale, transfer or other transaction to or with a Third Party. If at the end of the sixty day period referenced above Vertex and CFFT have been unsuccessful in negotiating mutually agreeable terms of assignment, sale or transfer, then CFFT shall be under no further obligation to Vertex under this Section 5.5, unless it shall not conclude a transaction with a Third Party covering the rights which were the subject of the initial Transfer Notice within twelve (12) months after the date of delivery of that Transfer Notice, in which event any subsequent effort to assign, sell or transfer any of those rights shall be once again subject to the terms of this Section 5.5.


ARTICLE VI—CONFIDENTIALITY

        6.1 Undertaking.

        During the term of this Agreement, each party shall keep confidential, and other than as provided herein shall not use or disclose, directly or indirectly, any trade secrets, confidential or proprietary information, or any other knowledge, information, documents or materials, owned, developed or possessed by the other party, whether in tangible or intangible form, the confidentiality of which such other party takes reasonable measures to protect ("Confidential Information"). Neither CFFT nor

15



Vertex will use the other party's Confidential Information except as expressly permitted in this Agreement

        6.2 Exceptions.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of Section 6.1 hereof shall not apply to Confidential Information which the receiving party can conclusively establish:

        Either Vertex or CFFT may at any time, by notice in writing to the other party, waive any or all of the confidentiality obligations to which the other party is subject hereunder, for any length or time or with respect to any specific information.

        6.3 Publicity.

        The parties will agree upon the timing and content of any initial press release or other public communications relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.

16


        6.4 Survival.

        The provisions of this Article VI shall survive the termination of this Agreement and shall extend [***].


ARTICLE VII—PUBLICATION

        Each of Vertex and CFFT reserves the right to publish or publicly present the results (the "Results") of the Research Program, subject to the following terms and conditions. The party proposing to publish or publicly present the Results (the "publishing party") will submit a draft of any proposed manuscript or speech to the other party (the "non-publishing party") for comments at least [***] prior to submission for publication or oral presentation. The non-publishing party shall notify the publishing party in writing [***] of receipt of such draft whether such draft contains (i) information of the non-publishing party which it considers to be confidential under the provisions of Article VI hereof, (ii) information that if published would have an adverse effect on a patent application covering the subject matter of this Agreement which the non-publishing party intends to file, or (iii) information which the non-publishing party reasonably believes would be likely to have a material adverse impact on the development or commercialization of a Drug Product Candidate. In any such notification, the non-publishing party shall indicate with specificity its suggestions regarding the manner and degree to which the publishing party may disclose such information. In the case of item (ii) above, the non-publishing party may request a delay and the publishing party shall delay such publication, for a period not exceeding [***], to permit the timely preparation and filing of a patent application or an application for a certificate of invention on the information involved. In the case of item (i) above, no party may publish Confidential Information of the other party without its consent in violation of Article V of this Agreement. In the case of item (iii) above, if the publishing party shall disagree with the non-publishing party's assessment of the impact of the publication, then the issue shall be referred to the JSC for resolution. If the JSC is unable to reach agreement on the matter within thirty (30) days after such referral, the matter shall be referred by the JSC to the Chief Executive Officer of CFFT and the Chief Executive Officer of Vertex who shall attempt in good faith to reach a fair and equitable resolution of this disagreement. If the disagreement is not resolved in this manner within two (2) weeks of referral by the JSC as aforesaid, then the decision of the publishing party as to publication of any information generated by it, subject always to the confidentiality provisions of Article V hereof, shall be final, provided that such decision shall be exercised with reasonable regard for the interests of the non-publishing party. The parties agree that authorship of any publication will be determined based on the customary standards then being applied in the relevant scientific journal, and that appropriate credit will be acknowledged when the subject matter of a publication is derived in whole or in significant part from Vertex CF Technology or inventions licensed by CFFT pursuant to Section 9.1 of this Agreement. The parties will use their best efforts to gain the right to review proposed publications relating to the subject matter of the Research Program by consultants or contractors.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, Vertex intends to advance the body of general scientific knowledge of CF and its potential therapies, and to contribute to the identification of chemical tools as optimal scientific benchmarks, all in a manner consistent with its general scientific and commercial objectives in entering into the collaboration with CFFT to which this Agreement relates. In furtherance of that objective, Vertex would expect, after giving due consideration to the appropriate protection of

17



intellectual property, to publish information in peer-reviewed scientific journals concerning its efforts under the Research Program, including chemical structural information about at least two Compounds. Vertex will include as co-authors of any such publication contributing CFFT personnel and consultants and other persons who would customarily be considered in that regard, including members of the JRC as appropriate. CFFT's financial contribution to the Research Program also will be acknowledged.

        This Article VII shall survive the termination of this Agreement for five (5) years from the date of such termination.


ARTICLE VIII—INDEMNIFICATION

        8.1 Indemnification by Vertex.

        Vertex will indemnify and hold CFFT and its Affiliates, and their employees, officers and directors harmless against any loss, damages, action, suit, claim, demand, liability, expense, bodily injury, death or property damage (a "Loss"), that may be brought, instituted or arise against or be incurred by such persons to the extent such Loss is based on or arises out of:

        8.2 Indemnification by CFFT.

        CFFT will indemnify and hold Vertex, and its Affiliates, and their employees, officers and directors harmless against any Loss that may be brought, instituted or arise against or be incurred by such persons to the extent such Loss is based on or arises out of:

        8.3 Claims Procedures.

        Each Party entitled to be indemnified by the other Party (an "Indemnified Party") pursuant to Section 8.1 or 8.2 hereof shall give notice to the other Party (an "Indemnifying Party") promptly after such Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of any threatened or asserted claim as to which indemnity may be sought, and shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of any such claim or any litigation resulting therefrom; provided:

18



ARTICLE IX—PATENTABLE INVENTIONS

        9.1 Ownership.

        All inventions made and all Know-How generated exclusively by either party or its Affiliates (directly or through others acting on its behalf) prior to and during the term of this Agreement relating to the Research Program shall be owned by the party making the invention or generating the Know-How claimed, or if such invention is made jointly (a "Joint Invention"), shall be owned jointly, all as determined in accordance with United States laws of inventorship; provided that, CFFT hereby grants to Vertex an exclusive (even as to CFFT worldwide) license to its rights in any Joint Invention and any CFFT invention resulting from the Research Program for the purposes specified in this Agreement.

        9.2 Preparation.

        Vertex shall take responsibility for the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of all Vertex Patents, and any patents and patent applications claiming Joint Inventions, and CFFT shall take responsibility for the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of all CFFT Patents. Vertex shall provide the JRC with periodic reports listing, by name, Patents filed by Vertex in the United States and other jurisdictions, along with a general summary of the claims made and the jurisdictions of filing.

        9.3 Costs.

        [***]


ARTICLE X—TERM AND TERMINATION

        10.1 Term.

        This Agreement will extend until the Research Termination Date as defined herein, unless earlier terminated by either party hereto in accordance with this Agreement, or unless extended by mutual agreement of the parties.

19


        10.2 Termination of the Research Program by CFFT for Cause.

        Upon written notice to Vertex, CFFT may at its sole discretion unilaterally terminate the Research Program and this Agreement upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

        In the event of any valid termination under this Section 10.2, CFFT shall not be required to make any payments under Section 3.2 hereof which have not accrued prior to receipt by Vertex of the notice of breach referenced under Section 10.2(a) or receipt by Vertex of the notice of termination pursuant to Section 10.2(b), as the case may be.

        10.3 Termination of the Research Program by Vertex for Cause.

        Vertex may at its sole discretion terminate this Agreement upon written notice to CFFT upon the occurrence of the following event:

        CFFT shall materially breach any of its material obligations under this Agreement and such material breach shall not have been remedied or material steps initiated to remedy the same to Vertex's reasonable satisfaction, within thirty (30) days after Vertex sends written notice of breach to CFFT.

        10.4 General Effect of Termination.

        10.5 CFFT Special Termination Rights.

        CFFT at its sole discretion may exercise the following Special Termination Rights at or within the time period stated, before the Research Termination Date.

20


        10.6 Consequences of an Interruption.

21


        10.7 Refused Program Extension.

        If (a) Vertex proposes a Research Program Extension under Section 2.9 hereof which is a "Qualifying Extension Proposal" as defined below: and

        For purposes of this Section 10.7, a "Qualifying Extension Proposal" shall mean, with respect to any Program, a proposed extension of that Program beyond the Research Termination Date (i) at an average annualized cost not greater than the level provided under the Current Budget in effect for the six month period immediately preceding the Research Termination Date with respect to that Program;

22


(ii) on relevant terms substantially similar to those set forth in this Agreement; but (iii) with the aggregate funding commitment divided equally between Vertex and CFFT.


ARTICLE XI—REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

        11.1 Representations and Warranties of Vertex.

        Vertex represents and warrants to CFFT that this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Vertex and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Vertex, enforceable against Vertex in accordance with its terms except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance, insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and by general equitable principles. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of VERTEX, its officers and directors.:

        11.2 Representations and Warranties of CFFT.

        CFFT represents and warrants to Vertex that this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by CFFT and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of CFFT, enforceable against CFFT in accordance with its terms except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance, insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and by general equitable principles. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of CFFT, its officers and directors.


ARTICLE XII—DISPUTE RESOLUTION

        12.1 Governing Law, and Jurisdiction.

        This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the internal laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

        12.2 Dispute Resolution Process.

23



ARTICLE XIII—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

        13.1 Waiver.

        No provision of this Agreement may be waived except in writing by both parties hereto. No failure or delay by either party hereto in exercising any right or remedy hereunder or under applicable law will operate as a waiver thereof, or a waiver of any right or remedy on any subsequent occasion.

        13.2 Force Majeure.

        Neither party will be in breach hereof by reason of its delay in the performance of or failure to perform any of its obligations hereunder, if that delay or failure is caused by strikes, acts of God or the public enemy, riots, incendiaries, interference by civil or military authorities, compliance with governmental priorities for materials, or any fault beyond its control or without its fault or negligence.

        13.3 Severability.

        Should one or more provisions of this Agreement be or become invalid, then the parties hereto shall attempt to agree upon valid provisions in substitution for the invalid provisions, which in their economic effect come so close to the invalid provisions that it can be reasonably assumed that the parties would have accepted this Agreement with those new provisions. If the parties are unable to agree on such valid provisions, the invalidity of such one or more provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless not affect the validity of the Agreement as a whole, unless the invalid provisions are of such essential importance for this Agreement that it may be reasonably presumed that the parties would not have entered into this Agreement without the invalid provisions.

        13.4 Government Acts.

        In the event that any act, regulation, directive, or law of a country or its government, including its departments, agencies or courts, should make impossible or prohibit, restrain, modify or limit any material act or obligation of CFFT or Vertex under this Agreement, the party, if any, not so affected, shall have the right, at its option, to suspend or terminate this Agreement as to such country, if good faith negotiations between the parties to make such modifications therein as may be necessary to fairly address the impact thereof, are not successful after a reasonable period of time in producing mutually acceptable modifications to this Agreement.

        13.5 Assignment.

        This Agreement may not be assigned or otherwise transferred by either party without the prior written consent of the other party; provided, however, that either party may assign this Agreement, without the consent of the other party, (i) to any of its Affiliates, if the assigning party guarantees the full performance of its Affiliates' obligations hereunder, or (ii) in connection with the transfer or sale of all or substantially all of its assets or business or in the event of its merger or consolidation with another company. Any purported assignment in contravention of this Section 13.5 shall, at the option of the non-assigning party, be null and void and of no effect. No assignment shall release either party from responsibility for the performance of any accrued obligation of such party hereunder. This

24



Agreement shall be binding upon and enforceable against the successor to or any permitted assignees from either of the parties hereto.

        13.6 Counterparts.

        This Agreement may be executed in duplicate, each of which shall be deemed to be original and both of which shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

        13.7 No Agency.

        Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to create an agency, joint venture, amalgamation, partnership or similar relationship between CFFT and Vertex. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement, neither party to this Agreement shall at any time enter into, incur, or hold itself out to third parties as having authority to enter into or incur, on behalf of the other party, any commitment, expense, or liability whatsoever, and all contracts, expenses and liabilities in connection with or relating to the obligations of each party under this Agreement shall be made, paid, and undertaken exclusively by such party on its own behalf and not as an agent or representative of the other.

        13.8 Notice.

        All communications between the parties with respect to any of the provisions of this Agreement will be sent to the addresses set out below, or to such other addresses as may be designated by one party to the other by notice pursuant hereto, by prepaid, certified air mail (which shall be deemed received by the other party on the seventh business day following deposit in the mails), or by facsimile transmission, or other electronic means of communication (which shall be deemed received when transmitted), with confirmation by first class letter, postage pre-paid, given by the close of business on or before the next following business day:

        if to CFFT, at:

        with a copy to: Kenneth I. Schaner, Esq.

        if to Vertex, at:

        with a copy to: Legal Department

        13.9 Headings.

        The paragraph headings are for convenience only and will not be deemed to affect in any way the language of the provisions to which they refer.

        13.10 Authority.

        The undersigned represent that they are authorized to sign this Agreement on behalf of the parties hereto. The parties each represent that no provision of this Agreement will violate any other agreement

25



that such party may have with any other person or company. Each party has relied on that representation in entering into this Agreement.

        13.11 Entire Agreement.

        This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties relating to the matters referred to herein, and may only be amended by a written document, duly executed on behalf of the respective parties.

        13.12 Notice of Pharmaceutical Side-Effects.

        During the term of this Agreement, the parties shall keep each other promptly and fully informed and will promptly notify appropriate authorities in accordance with applicable law, after receipt of information with respect to any serious adverse event (as defined by the ICH Harmonized Tripartite Guideline on Clinical Safety Data Management), directly or indirectly attributable to the use or application of Compounds, a Development Candidate, Bulk Drug Substance, a Drug Product Candidate, a Drug Product, and any other product for which royalties are payable under this Agreement.

        13.13 Invoice Requirement.

        Any amounts payable to Vertex hereunder shall be made within thirty days after receipt by CFFT, or its nominee designated for that purpose in advance by CFFT in writing to Vertex, of an invoice covering such payment.

26


  VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED

 

By:

/s/  
KENNETH S. BOGER      
Kenneth S. Boger
  Title: Senior Vice President and General Counsel

 

 

 
  CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION
THERAPEUTICS INCORORATED

 

 

 
  By: /s/  ROBERT BEALL      
Robert Beall
  Title: President and CEO

27



EXHIBIT 2.4


RESEARCH PLAN

GRAPHIC

Research Plan
for the
CFFT—Vertex Pharmaceuticals Collaboration
May 10, 2004

[***]


        [***]

        [***]

        [***]

    [***]   [***]
[***]   [***]   [***]
[***]   [***]   [***]
[***]   [***]   [***]
[***]   [***]   [***]
[***]   [***]   [***]
[***]   [***]   [***]

        [***]

[***]   [***]
  / / [***]   [***]
[***]   [***]
[***]   [***]

        [***]



EXHIBIT 4.2


INITIAL BUDGET FOR RESEARCH PROGRAM


Vertex/CFFT—CFTR Drug Discovery Budget

2004-2005

[***]




QuickLinks

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION AGREEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND COMMECIALIZATION AGREEMENT
ARTICLE I—DEFINITIONS
ARTICLE II—RESEARCH PROGRAM
ARTICLE III—DEVELOPMENT
ARTICLE IV—PAYMENTS
ARTICLE V—COMMERCIALIZATION; ROYALTIES
ARTICLE VI—CONFIDENTIALITY
ARTICLE VII—PUBLICATION
ARTICLE VIII—INDEMNIFICATION
ARTICLE IX—PATENTABLE INVENTIONS
ARTICLE X—TERM AND TERMINATION
ARTICLE XI—REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
ARTICLE XII—DISPUTE RESOLUTION
ARTICLE XIII—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
RESEARCH PLAN
INITIAL BUDGET FOR RESEARCH PROGRAM
Vertex/CFFT—CFTR Drug Discovery Budget 2004-2005

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document


Exhibit 99.4

         Confidential Treatment Requested. Confidential portions of this document have been redacted
and have been separately filed with the Commission


EXCLUSIVE RESEARCH COLLABORATION,
LICENSE AND COMMERCIALIZATION AGREEMENT

between

MERCK & CO., INC.

and

VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED



EXCLUSIVE RESEARCH COLLABORATION, LICENSE AND
COMMERCIALIZATION AGREEMENT

        This EXCLUSIVE RESEARCH COLLABORATION, LICENSE AND COMMERCIALIZATION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is effective as of June 21, 2004, (the "Effective Date") and is entered into by and between Merck & Co., Inc., a New Jersey corporation ("Merck"), and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, a Massachusetts corporation ("Vertex").

Background:

A.
Vertex has undertaken a broad drug discovery program relating to Aurora kinases.

B.
Merck is interested in developing and commercializing drugs targeting such Aurora kinases.

C.
Vertex and Merck each believe that the other brings significant and complementary strengths to a potentially effective collaboration targeting human Aurora kinase inhibitors, and desire to enter into a collaboration on the terms set out in this Agreement.

D.
Vertex has exclusive rights to VX-680, Existing Compounds, Compounds, Vertex Know-How and Patent Rights (as hereinafter defined), and Merck desires to obtain a license to the same on the terms set out in this Agreement and Vertex desires to grant such a license.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the receipt and sufficiency which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1: DEFINITIONS

        Unless specifically set forth to the contrary herein, the following terms, whether used in the singular or plural, shall have the respective meanings set forth below.

1.1
"Affiliate" shall mean (i) any corporation or business entity of which fifty percent (50%) or more of the securities or other ownership interests representing the equity, the voting stock or general partnership interest are owned, controlled or held, directly or indirectly, by Merck or Vertex; or (ii) any corporation or business entity which, directly or indirectly, owns, controls or holds fifty percent (50%) (or the maximum ownership interest permitted by law) or more of the securities or other ownership interests representing the equity, the voting stock or, if applicable, the general partnership interest, of Merck or Vertex; or (iii) any corporation or business entity of which fifty percent (50%) or more of the securities or other ownership interests representing the equity, the voting stock or general partnership interest are owned, controlled or held, directly or indirectly, by a corporation or business entity described in (i) or (ii).

1.2
"Aurora kinases" means members of the human Aurora kinase family, including Aurora A, B, or C enzymes involved in chromosome segregation and cytokinesis during mitosis.

1.3
"Calendar Quarter" means the respective periods of three (3) consecutive calendar months ending on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31.

1.4
"Calendar Year" means each successive period of twelve (12) months commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31.

1.5
"Change of Control" means a transaction which results in (a) the voting securities of Vertex immediately prior to such transaction ceasing to represent at least [***] of the combined voting power of the surviving entity immediately after such transaction; (b) any Third Party (other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan) becoming the

[***] Information redacted pursuant to a confidential treatment request. An unredacted version of this exhibit has been separately filed with the Commission


1.6
"Clinical Trial" means a Phase I Clinical Trial, Phase II Clinical Trial, and Pivotal Registration Study.

1.7
"Collaboration Patent Rights" means all patents and patent applications, certificates of invention and applications for certificates of invention, including divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, renewals, extensions, supplementary protection certificates or the like or any of the foregoing and all foreign equivalents thereof that disclose and/or claim Joint Information and Inventions.

1.8
"Combination Product" means a Product which includes one or more therapeutically active ingredients (other than Product Candidate) in combination with Product Candidate. All references to Product in this Agreement shall be deemed to include Combination Product.

1.9
"Compound" means (1) VX-680, (2) Existing Compounds, (3) Merck AK Compounds, and (4) any small molecule chemical compound that is owned or Controlled by Vertex, or jointly by Vertex and Merck, including salts thereof, (i) whose [***] activity is the inhibition of one or more Aurora kinases [***], and (ii) is synthesized or tested for Aurora kinase activity [***] (including by screening) by Vertex (whether solely by Vertex or in collaboration with Merck) during the Research Program Term or during the [***] period immediately following the expiration of the Research Program Term. For the avoidance of doubt, "Compounds" shall not include any compound that has greater activity against a non-Aurora kinase target than its activity against an Aurora kinase, or any compound that has greater activity against a non- kinase target than its activity against an Aurora kinase.

1.10
"Control," or "Controlled by" means the legal authority or right of a Party to grant a license or sublicense of intellectual property to another Party without breaching the terms of any agreement with a Third Party, infringing the intellectual property rights of a Third Party, or misappropriating the proprietary or trade secret information of a Third Party.

1.11
"Co-Promotion Territory" means Canada, the United States of America, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom.

1.12
"Deferred Candidate" is described in Section 3.7.

1.13
"Demonstration of Biologic Activity" means the demonstration to the reasonable satisfaction of the JRC that a Product Candidate can be administered to a human at a concentration and for a duration that results in observed changes in the activity of a biomarker at the level that is predicted to be efficacious in humans, based on preclinical models. The biomarker activity will be compared with baseline and derived through skin biopsy, blood, bone marrow or other appropriate sampling methods.

1.14
"Development Candidate" means (1) a Compound that meets the Development Candidate Criteria and is proposed by the JRC for formal preclinical development during the Research Program Term or during the Washout Period; (2) a Deferred Candidate that is selected by Merck for development during the Research Program Term or the Washout Period; or (3) a Compound that has not been proposed to the JRC but is selected by Merck for development.

1.15
"Development Candidate Criteria" are the criteria set out in Schedule 1.15, and as such criteria may be subsequently revised by the JRC.

1.16
"Development Election" means the decision by Merck to select a Development Candidate for formal development as a Product Candidate, pursuant to Section 3.6.

2


1.17
"Development Information" means all material information known to Vertex about a Development Candidate, including analytical results and raw data, which Merck should reasonably require in order to decide whether to make the Development Election with respect to that Development Candidate. An example of information that would constitute Development Information is listed in Schedule 1.17.

1.18
"Development Plan" is described in Section 3.5.

1.19
"Existing Compounds" means those compounds Controlled by Vertex (other than VX-680) that have been synthesized by Vertex prior to the Effective Date and whose primary activity is the inhibition of one or more Aurora kinases, [***] including those compounds specifically identified in Schedule 1.19.

1.20
"Field" means the use of Compounds (including, without limitation, Lead Compounds, Development Candidates and Product Candidates) and Products for any and all purposes.

1.21
"Filing" of an NDA shall mean the acceptance by a Regulatory Authority of an NDA for filing.

1.22
"First Commercial Sale" means, with respect to any Product, the first sale for end use or consumption of such Product in a country, excluding, however, any sale or other distribution for use in a Clinical Trial.

1.23
"Follow-on Compound" means all Product Candidates other than a Lead Compound.

1.24
"Full Time Equivalent" or "FTE" means the equivalent of a full-time scientist's work time over a twelve-month period (including normal vacations, sick days and holidays) which equates to a total of [***] weeks or [***] hours per year of work, on or directly related to the Research Program.

1.25
"Improvement" means any enhancement, whether or not patentable, in the formulation, ingredients, preparation, presentation, means of delivery, or dosage of Compound, or Product discovered or developed during the Research Program Term or Wash-Out Period.

1.26
"Indication" means a separate and distinct disease or medical condition in humans that a Product which is in Clinical Trial(s) is intended to treat, prevent and/or diagnose, or for which a Product has received Marketing Authorization, meaning that such Indication is contained in the Product's labeling approved by a Regulatory Authority in a Major Market as part of the Marketing Authorization for such Product. For the purposes of this Agreement, the following medical conditions and/or diseases in humans are "Indications":

(a)
the following solid tumor cancers: non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer and colo-rectal cancer (each, a "Major Tumor Indication");

(b)
any cancer type in humans other than as set out in 1.26(a) (such other cancer Indications are collectively referred to as "Other Oncology Indications");

(c)
any non-oncology diseases or medical conditions in humans ("Non-Oncology Indications").
1.27
"Information" means any and all information and data, including without limitation all Merck Know-How, all Vertex Know-How, and all other scientific, pre-clinical, clinical, regulatory, manufacturing, marketing, financial and commercial information or data, whether communicated in writing or orally or by any other method, which is provided by one Party to the other Party in connection with this Agreement.

1.28
"Initiates" means, with respect to a Clinical Trial, the administration of the first dose to a human in such Clinical Trial.

3


1.29
"Invention" means any process, method, composition of matter, article of manufacture, discovery or finding that is conceived and/or reduced to practice in the course of the Research Program.

1.30
"Joint Information and Inventions" means all discoveries, Improvements, processes, methods, protocols, formulas, data, Inventions, know-how and trade secrets, patentable or otherwise, arising from the Research Program developed or invented jointly by employees of Merck and Vertex or others acting on behalf of Merck and Vertex.

1.31
"Joint Research Committee" and "JRC" is defined in Section 2.4.

1.32
"Lead Compound" means that Product Candidate which is in the most advanced stage of development. VX-680 shall be the Lead Compound on the Effective Date. If there is at any time no Product Candidate in development, then the Lead Compound shall mean the next Product Candidate selected for development.

1.33
"Major Market" shall mean any one of the following countries: [***].

1.34
"Marketing Authorization" means all approvals from the relevant Regulatory Authority necessary to market and sell a Product in any country (including without limitation, all applicable pricing and governmental reimbursement approvals even if not legally required to sell Product in a country).

1.35
"Merck AK Compounds" means any small molecule chemical compound that is owned or Controlled by Merck, including salts thereof: (i) whose primary and selective activity is the inhibition of one or more Aurora kinases [***]; (ii) is synthesized or tested for Aurora kinase activity in an in vitro biochemical binding assay (including by screening) by Merck (whether solely by Merck or in collaboration with Vertex) during the Research Program Term [***] immediately following the expiration of the Research Program Term; and (iii) is developed by Merck as a kinase inhibitor. For the avoidance of doubt, "Merck AK Compounds" shall not include any compound that has greater activity against a non-Aurora kinase target than its activity against an Aurora kinase, or any compound that has greater activity against a non-kinase target than its activity against an Aurora kinase.

1.36
"Merck AK Compound Patent Rights" means any and all patents and patent applications in the Territory (which for the purposes of this Agreement shall be deemed to include certificates of invention and applications for certificates of invention) which during the term of this Agreement are owned or Controlled by Merck, which: (i) claim or cover Merck AK Compounds, and/or Product and Improvements; or (ii) are divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, renewals, extensions, supplementary protection certificates, and the like of any such patents and patent applications and foreign equivalents thereof.

1.37
"Merck Information and Inventions" means all protocols, formulas, data, Inventions, know-how and trade secrets, patentable or otherwise, developed or invented solely by employees of Merck, or other persons not employed by Vertex acting on behalf of Merck, in the course of its performance of the Research Program or the Invention of any Merck AK Compound.

1.38
"Merck Know-How" means any information and materials, including but not limited to, discoveries, Improvements, processes, methods, protocols, formulas, data, inventions (including without limitation Merck Information and Inventions and Merck's rights in Joint Information and Inventions), know-how and trade secrets, patentable or otherwise, which are (i) identified or conceived by Merck or its Affiliates in the course of its performance of the Research Program under this Agreement, (ii) in Merck's Control, (iii) not generally known and (iv) necessary or useful to Vertex in the performance of Vertex's obligations under the Research Program.

1.39
"Milestone" is defined in Section 5.3.

1.40
"Milestone Payment" is defined in Section 5.3.

4


1.41
"NDA" means a New Drug Application, Worldwide Marketing Application, Marketing Application Authorization, or similar application or submission for Marketing Authorization of a Product filed with a Regulatory Authority to obtain marketing approval for a pharmaceutical product in that country or in that group of countries.

1.42
"Net Sales" means the gross invoice price of Product sold by Merck or its Related Parties to the first Third Party after deducting, if not previously deducted, from the amount invoiced or received:

(a)
trade and quantity discounts other than early pay cash discounts;

(b)
returns, rebates, chargebacks and other allowances;

(c)
retroactive price reductions that are actually allowed or granted;

(d)
the standard inventory cost of devices or delivery systems used for dispensing or administering Product; and

(e)
a fixed amount equal to [***] of the amount invoiced to cover bad debt, sales or excise taxes, early payment cash discounts, transportation and insurance, custom duties, and other governmental charges.

1.43
"Patent Rights" means any and all patents and patent applications in the Territory (which for the purposes of this Agreement shall be deemed to include certificates of invention and applications for certificates of invention) which during the term of this Agreement are owned or Controlled by Vertex, including, but not limited to, those listed on Schedule 1.43, which: (i) claim or cover Compounds, and/or Product (including without limitation (and for the avoidance of doubt) Development Candidates, Lead Compounds, Follow-On Compounds, Deferred Candidates and Product Candidates) and Improvements; (ii) claim or cover Vertex Information and Inventions; or (iii) are divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, renewals, extensions, supplementary protection certificates, and the like of any such patents and patent applications and foreign equivalents thereof.

1.44
"Party" means Merck or Vertex, and "Parties" shall mean Merck and Vertex.

1.45
"Phase I Clinical Trial" means a human clinical trial in any country that would satisfy the requirements of 21 CFR 312.21(a).

1.46
"Phase II Clinical Trial" means a human clinical trial in any country that would satisfy the requirements of 21 CFR 312.21(b).

1.47
"Pivotal Registration Study" means a human clinical trial conducted for inclusion in (i) that portion of the FDA submission and approval process which provides for the continued trials of a Product Candidate on sufficient numbers of human patients to generate safety and efficacy data to support Marketing Authorization in the proposed therapeutic Indication, as more fully defined in 21 CFR 312.21(c), or (ii) equivalent Regulatory Agency submissions with similar requirements in a Major Market other than the United States.

1.48
"Product(s)" means any pharmaceutical or biological preparation in final form containing a Product Candidate (i) for sale by prescription, over-the-counter or any other method, or (ii) for administration to human patients in a Clinical Trial, for any and all uses in the Field, including without limitation, any Combination Product.

1.49
"Product Candidate" means a Development Candidate that has been selected by Merck for formal development, pursuant to exercise of its Development Election or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, VX-680 is a "Product Candidate."

5


1.50
"Product Development Team" and "PDT" is described in Section 3.5.

1.51
"Regulatory Authority" shall mean any applicable government regulatory authority involved in granting approvals for the manufacturing, marketing, reimbursement and/or pricing of a Product in the Territory, including, in the United States, the United States Food and Drug Administration, and any successor governmental authority having substantially the same function.

1.52
"Related Party" shall mean Merck, its Affiliates, and permitted sublicensees (which term does not include distributors).

1.53
"Research Plan" is described in Section 2.1

1.54
"Research Program" means the research activities undertaken by the Parties as set forth in Article 2 and Schedule 2.1.

1.55
"Research Program Term" means the two (2) year period starting on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date. The Parties may mutually agree to extend the Research Program Term for an additional period, and the initial two-year term plus any agreed extension shall be referred to in this Agreement as the "Research Program Term."

1.56
"Subsequent MT" means a Major Tumor Indication being pursued with respect to a Product Candidate that was initially developed (and for which a Milestone Payment was made) for an Other Oncology Indication.

1.57
"Territory" means all of the countries in the world, and their territories and possessions.

1.58
"Third Party" means an entity other than Merck and its Related Parties, and Vertex and its Affiliates.

1.59
"Third Party License" is defined in Section 5.17.

1.60
"Valid Patent Claim" means a claim of an issued and unexpired patent included within the Patent Rights, Merck AK Compound Patent Rights, or Collaboration Patent Rights which claims any Product Candidate or Product as a composition of matter, which claim has not been revoked or held unenforceable or invalid by a decision of a court or other governmental agency of competent jurisdiction (which decision is not appealable or has not been appealed within the time allowed for appeal), and which claim has not been disclaimed, denied or admitted to be invalid or unenforceable through reissue, re-examination or disclaimer or otherwise.

1.61
"Vertex Information and Inventions" shall mean all discoveries, Improvements, processes, methods, protocols, formulas, data, Inventions, know-how and trade secrets, patentable or otherwise, discovered or developed, and Controlled by Vertex or its Affiliates, in the course of its performance of the Research Program under this Agreement, and related to the inhibition by a small molecule of one or more Aurora kinases, solely by employees of Vertex or other persons not employed by Merck acting on behalf of Vertex, provided, however, that the term "Vertex Information and Inventions" shall not apply to Vertex's general drug design technology whether in hardware or software form, tangible or intangible.

1.62
"Vertex Know-How" shall mean all information and materials, including but not limited to, discoveries, Improvements, processes, methods, protocols, formulas, data, inventions (including without limitation Vertex Information and Inventions and Vertex's rights in Joint Information and Inventions), know-how and trade secrets, patentable or otherwise, which are (i) discovered, developed, conceived, used or applied, and (ii) Controlled by Vertex or its Affiliates, either (x) in connection with the performance by Vertex of the Research Program, or (y) in connection with the conduct of a development program for a Product Candidate, prior to the end of the Wash-Out Period, and that are necessary or useful to Merck in connection with Merck's obligations under this Agreement, including the research, development, utilization, manufacture or use of

6


1.63
"VX-680" is described in Schedule 1.63.

1.64
"Washout Period" means the [***] period immediately following the end of the Research Program Term.

ARTICLE 2: RESEARCH PROGRAM

2.1
Research Program—General. Vertex and Merck shall engage in the Research Program upon the terms set out in this Agreement. The Research Plan shown in Schedule 2.1 sets out a detailed description of specific activities to be undertaken during the first twenty-four months of the Research Program. The Research Plan may be amended from time to time upon the mutual written agreement by authorized representatives of the Parties. The JRC will review and update the Research Plan annually. Subject to review and adjustment by the JRC, the Research Plan will set forth expectations with respect to the relative contributions of each Party to the Research Program.

2.2
Conduct of Research. Vertex and Merck each shall conduct the Research Program in good scientific manner, and in compliance in all material respects with all requirements of applicable laws, rules and regulations and all applicable good laboratory practices to attempt to achieve their objectives efficiently and expeditiously. Vertex and Merck each shall proceed diligently with the work set out in the Research Program by using their respective good faith efforts to allocate sufficient time, effort, equipment and facilities to the Research Program and to use personnel with sufficient skills and experience as are required to accomplish the Research Program in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and Schedule 2.1.
2.3
Personnel Resources. Vertex shall devote to the Research Program [***] during the period from the Effective Date through December 31, 2004. Thereafter until the end of the Research Program Term, Vertex will commit [***] on an annualized basis. Merck will devote resources to the Research Program as provided in the Research Plan, and as that Research Plan may be periodically updated.

2.4
Joint Research Committee. The Parties will establish a Joint Research Committee (the "JRC") with equal representation from Vertex and Merck to oversee the Research Program during the Research Program Term. The JRC will be formed as soon as practicable after the Effective Date and, thereafter, will meet formally at least quarterly to:

(a)
coordinate and review Research Program activities and interactions between Merck and Vertex;

(b)
receive and review reports by Vertex and Merck concerning research being conducted under the Research Plan, including, but not limited to the status of Compounds meeting Development Candidate Criteria;

7


2.5
Exchange of Information. Upon execution of this Agreement, and on an ongoing basis during the Research Program Term, (a) Vertex shall disclose to Merck all Vertex Know-How not previously disclosed; and (b) Merck shall disclose to Vertex all Merck Know-How not previously disclosed.

2.6
Records and Reports

2.6.1
Records. Each Party shall maintain records, in sufficient detail and in good scientific manner appropriate for patent and regulatory purposes, which shall fully and properly reflect all work done and results achieved in the performance of the Research Program.

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2.7
Research Program Information and Inventions. The entire right, title and interest in:

2.7.1
Vertex Information and Inventions and Patent Rights shall be owned solely by Vertex;

2.7.2
Merck Information and Inventions and Merck AK Compound Patent Rights shall be owned solely by Merck; and

2.7.3
Joint Information and Inventions and Collaboration Patent Rights shall be owned jointly by Vertex and Merck.
2.8
Exclusive Efforts. During the [***], neither Vertex nor Merck or any of their Affiliates will [***], other than pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, of [***]. Nothing in this Agreement prohibits either Party from counter-screening other compounds directed at other targets against Aurora kinase. If Merck begins development or commercialization of a Merck AK Compound at any time prior to the [***] of the expiration of the Washout Period, Merck shall be obligated to pay Vertex any and all applicable Milestone Payments and royalties (and any other amounts, such as interest penalties) due under Article 5 of this Agreement for such Merck AK Compound (subject to the exception set forth in Section 5.9).

ARTICLE 3: LICENSE; EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION; DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION

3.1
License Grant

3.1.1
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including Section 8.5), Vertex hereby grants to Merck a perpetual, exclusive license (even as to Vertex) in the Territory in the Field under Patent Rights and Vertex's rights under Collaboration Patent Rights, with a right to sublicense, to VX-680, Compounds and Products (including without limitation (and for the avoidance of doubt), Development Candidates, Lead Compounds, Follow-On Compounds, Deferred Candidates and Product Candidates), for any and all uses, including but not limited to: (i) to discharge its obligations and exercise its rights under the Research Program and Development Plan; and (ii) to develop, make, have made, use, offer to sell, sell or import VX-680, Compounds, and Products (including without limitation (and for the avoidance of doubt), Development Candidates, Lead Compounds, Follow-On Compounds, Deferred Candidates and Product Candidates).

3.1.2
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including Section 8.5), Vertex hereby grants to Merck (a) a perpetual, non-exclusive license under all Vertex Know-How (excluding Vertex Information and Inventions and Vertex's rights in Joint Information and Inventions);

9


3.2
Non-Exclusive License Grant. If the making, having made, use, offer for sale, sale or import by Merck, or Merck's Related Parties of Compound(s), Product Candidates or Product(s) otherwise permitted under this Agreement would infringe during the term of this Agreement a claim of issued letters patent which Vertex Controls and which patents are not covered by the grant in Section 3.1, Vertex hereby grants to Merck, to the extent Vertex is legally able to do so, a non-exclusive, sublicensable, royalty-free license in the Territory under such issued letters patent solely for Merck to develop, make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale or import Compound(s) and Product(s) in the Territory.

3.3
Development and Commercialization. As soon as practicable after the Effective Date, Merck will commence a Development Plan with respect to VX-680. With respect to each Product Candidate, Merck shall use reasonable efforts, consistent with the usual practice followed by Merck in pursuing the development, commercialization and marketing of its other pharmaceutical products of a similar commercial value, to develop, commercialize and market such Product Candidate in such countries in the Territory where in Merck's reasonable opinion it is commercially viable to do so. In the event that Merck elects not to commercialize any Product Candidate in the United States and at least four of the other Major Markets (i.e., [***]) as a result of the Product Candidate's projected commercial returns, Merck agrees to promptly inform Vertex of such election. Vertex is entitled to propose to Merck, and Merck shall discuss in good faith with Vertex, commercial terms for a buyout of such Product Candidate by Vertex for development by Vertex, provided, however, that Merck shall have no obligation to agree to grant Vertex rights to any Product Candidate, if such grant would in Merck's sole discretion, negatively impact any product being developed or commercialized by Merck.

3.4
Excused Performance. The obligations of Merck with respect to any Product under Section 3.3 are expressly conditioned upon the continuing absence of any material adverse condition or event relating to the safety or efficacy of the Product, and the obligation of Merck to develop or market any such Product shall be delayed or suspended so long as in Merck's opinion any such condition or event exists. Merck shall be obligated to take commercially reasonable and appropriate steps to investigate and attempt to resolve any such adverse condition or event. If, in Merck's opinion, such material adverse condition or event arises, Merck shall promptly inform Vertex, and will provide Vertex with an explanation for any decision to delay or to suspend the development or marketing

10


3.5
Product Development Teams. As soon as practicable following the Effective Date, Merck will establish a Product Development Team ("PDT"), which shall include, at Vertex's option, [***] representatives designated by Vertex, provided that [***]. Additional Product Development Teams, which shall also include [***]Vertex representatives, at Vertex's option, may be established from time to time in connection with the development of additional Product Candidates. The PDT will be the principal organization through which the development of a Product Candidate is planned, administered, evaluated and completed, subject to appropriate review and approval at senior management levels as required by Merck from time to time. In addition to the Vertex representatives, the PDT will typically have members from the various Merck functional groups (e.g., research, preclinical, safety, clinical, regulatory, and marketing) which are or which will be expected to be involved in developing and obtaining regulatory approval for the Product Candidate and Product. Merck will appoint each PDT Chair. The PDT will be responsible for the preparation, implementation of the Development Plan (described below) with respect to each Product Candidate.

3.5.1
Development Plan. The PDT shall prepare and oversee the implementation of the overall Development Plan for each Product Candidate. The Development Plan shall, among other things, detail, schedule and fully describe the proposed toxicology studies, Clinical Trials, clinical material requirements for each Product Candidate, and will outline the key elements involved in obtaining Regulatory Approval in each Major Market. Vertex's representatives on the PDT (or Vertex, if Vertex has no representative on the PDT) will receive all documents and information distributed or communicated to members to the PDT generally (or to any one or more members of the PDT in connection with the discharge of his or her duties on the PDT).

3.5.2
Development Responsibility and Costs. Merck shall have sole responsibility for, and bear the cost of implementing, the Development Plan with respect to each Product Candidate.

3.5.3
Regulatory Approvals. Merck shall be solely responsible for preparing and submitting registration dossiers for Regulatory Approval of Products in the Territory. All Regulatory Approvals shall be held by and in the name of Merck, and Merck shall own all submissions in connection therewith. Merck shall have sole discretion as to the regulatory strategy and decision making for any Product Candidate or Product; provided, however, that Merck shall provide Vertex with an opportunity to review Merck's general regulatory strategy and decision-making either by participating in the PDT or other approach mutually agreed-upon by the Parties.

3.6
Development Election. During the Research Program Term and the Washout Period, Merck shall have the exclusive right to select Compounds for further development and commercialization. The JRC will notify Merck each time a Compound meets the Development Candidate Criteria. The notice will be accompanied by the Development Information with respect to that Development Candidate. Merck may exercise its Development Election and accept the Development Candidate as a Product Candidate by delivery to Vertex, within [***] after receipt by Merck of the Development Information, of an exercise notice specifying the Development Candidate as to which the Development Election is being exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Merck shall at any time commence a Phase I Clinical Trial on a Compound without having formally exercised its Development Election, Merck shall be deemed to have exercised its Development Election with respect to such Compound.

3.7
Deferred Candidates. Any Development Candidate with respect to which Merck (1) elects not to accept as a Product Candidate; or (2) fails to exercise its Development Election within the [***]

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3.8
No Implied Licenses. Except as specifically set forth in this Agreement, neither Party shall acquire any license or other intellectual property interest, by implication or otherwise, in any Information disclosed to it under this Agreement or under any patents or patent applications owned or Controlled by the other Party or its Affiliates. In addition, Vertex shall not acquire any right, title or intellectual property interest to any Merck AK Compounds or Merck AK Patent Rights, except for such rights to financial compensation, if any, with respect to Merck AK Compounds in accordance with Section 2.8 and Article 5 of this Agreement.

3.8.1
To the extent it is contractually able to do so, Vertex agrees to review with Merck during the Research Program Term the potential for further collaboration directed to kinases studied by Vertex which are believed to have a potential role in oncology therapeutics.

3.9
Use of Vertex Logo. Where not prohibited by law or regulation, and subject to any required Regulatory Approval, which Merck shall use reasonable efforts to obtain, Vertex's name and logo will be carried on all Product packaging, packaging inserts, labels, containers and printed material related thereto with a prominence substantially equivalent to that of Merck's name and logo, provided, however that such requirement shall no longer apply in the event of a Change of Control of Vertex. Any trademark for a Product will be selected by, and will be the property of, Merck.

3.10
Supply of Bulk Drug Substance For Clinical Trials. Vertex shall promptly provide Merck with its existing inventory of clinical trial material for VX-680. Vertex shall also promptly provide Merck with Information in its possession relative to the manufacturing, formulation, and packaging of VX-680. Merck will be responsible for the manufacture of all bulk drug substance and clinical drug formulations of all Product Candidates, and for all manufacturing activities relating to the production, formulation and manufacture of commercial supplies of Products.

3.11
Co-Promotion by Vertex. Not less than [***] before the projected market introduction of any Product in a country within the Co-Promotion Territory, Vertex is entitled to give notice and propose to Merck, and Merck shall discuss in good faith with Vertex the feasibility of a co-promotion plan for Products on a fee-for-detail basis within the Co-Promotion Territory (including minimum co-promotion sales force size) and in accordance with the conditions set out in Schedule 3.11. If the Parties jointly decide to implement such a plan, Vertex and Merck shall initiate good faith negotiations and seek to enter into a mutually acceptable definitive written agreement ("Co-Promotion Agreement") regarding Specialist Detailing (as described in Schedule 3.11) on a country-by-country basis no later than [***] before the projected market introduction of a Product in a country within the Co-Promotion Territory. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Merck determines at the time of completion of [***] that earlier notice from Vertex of its intention to enter into a Co-Promotion Agreement would be desirable in order to optimally plan and execute a Product launch, the Parties will agree on a revised schedule for the negotiation and execution of the Co-Promotion Agreement consistent with the opinion of Merck's regulatory experts about the anticipated Regulatory Authority review time for the corresponding NDA. Furthermore, if the Parties enter into a Co-Promotion Agreement on this revised schedule, the

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ARTICLE 4: CONFIDENTIALITY AND PUBLICATION

4.1
Nondisclosure Obligation. All Information disclosed by one Party to the other Party shall be maintained in confidence by the receiving Party and shall not be disclosed to a non-Party or used for any purpose except as set forth herein without the prior written consent of the disclosing Party, except to the extent that such Information:

4.1.1
is known by receiving Party at the time of its receipt, and not through a prior disclosure by the disclosing Party, as documented by the receiving Party's contemporaneous business records;

4.1.2
is properly in the public domain;

4.1.3
is subsequently disclosed to the receiving Party by a Third Party who may lawfully do so and is not under an obligation of confidentiality to the disclosing Party;

4.1.4
is developed by the receiving Party independently of Information received from the disclosing Party, as documented by the receiving Party's contemporaneous business records;

4.1.5
is disclosed to governmental or other regulatory agencies to comply with applicable law or regulations, provided the receiving Party provides to the disclosing Party prompt prior written notice of its obligation to make such disclosure and take reasonable and lawful actions to avoid or minimize the degree of such disclosure;

4.1.6
is disclosed to governmental or other regulatory agencies to obtain patents or to gain or maintain approval to conduct clinical trials or to market Product, but such disclosure may be only to the extent reasonably necessary to obtain patents or authorizations; and

4.1.7
is deemed necessary by Merck in the reasonable exercise of its judgment to be disclosed to Related Parties, agents, consultants, and/or other Third Parties for any and all purposes Merck and its Affiliates deem necessary or advisable for the research and development, manufacturing and/or marketing of the Product (or for such entities to determine their interest in performing such activities) in accordance with this Agreement on the condition that such Third Parties agree to be bound by confidentiality and non-use obligations that are substantially no less stringent than those confidentiality and non-use provisions contained in this Agreement; provided the term of confidentiality for such Third Parties shall be no less than [***].

13


4.2
Vertex Know-How. Subject to the provisions of Section 4.3, Vertex agrees to keep all Vertex Know-How confidential subject to the exceptions set forth in Sections 4.1.2, 4.1.5, 4.1.6 and 4.1.7 (substituting Vertex's judgment and disclosure for Merck's) and to Vertex's contractual obligations arising prior to the Effective Date.

4.3
Publication.

(a)
Merck and Vertex each acknowledge the other Party's interest in publishing the results of its research in order to obtain recognition within the scientific community and to advance the state of scientific knowledge. Authorship of any publication shall be determined based on the accepted standards used in peer-reviewed, academic journals at the time of the proposed publication. Each Party also recognizes the mutual interest in obtaining valid patent protection and in protecting business interests and trade secret information. Consequently, except for disclosures permitted pursuant to Section 4.1, if either Party, its employees or consultants wishes to publish or publicly present, during the Research Program Term and/or the Washout Period, results of the Research Program or any information about a Compound, Product Candidate, Product, or the results of any program to discover or develop any of the above, it shall deliver to the other Party a copy of the proposed written publication or an outline of an oral disclosure at least [***] prior to submission for publication or presentation. The reviewing Party shall notify the other Party within [***] of receipt of such proposed publication whether such draft publication contains (i) Information that is confidential to the reviewing Party, or (ii) information that if published would have an adverse effect on a patent application covering the subject matter of this Agreement. The reviewing Party shall have the right to (a) propose modifications to the publication or presentation for patent reasons, trade secret reasons, confidentiality reasons or business reasons or (b) request a reasonable delay in publication or presentation in order to protect patentable information. If the reviewing Party requests a delay to protect patentable information, the publishing Party shall delay submission or presentation for a period not to exceed [***] to enable patent applications protecting each Party's rights in such information to be filed in accordance with Article 7. Upon expiration of such [***] the publishing Party shall be free to proceed with the publication or presentation. If the reviewing Party reasonably requests modifications to the publication or presentation to prevent disclosure of trade secret or proprietary business information, the publishing Party shall edit such publication to prevent the disclosure of such information prior to submission of the publication or presentation. For the avoidance of doubt, neither Party shall be entitled publish Information of the other in violation of Section 4.1.

(b)
After the expiration of the Research Program and the Washout Period, the Parties shall continue to be obligated to adhere to the guidelines set out in Section 4.3(a), but solely with respect to publications or public presentations containing information about a Development Candidate, Product Candidate, and/or a Product, except that if Merck, its employees or consultants wishes to publish or publicly present clinical data or clinical information about a Development Candidate, Product Candidate, or Product being developed by Merck pursuant to this Agreement, it shall be obligated deliver to Vertex a copy of the proposed written publication or an outline of an oral disclosure at least [***] prior to submission for publication or presentation. Vertex shall notify Merck within [***] of receipt of such proposed publication whether such draft publication contains (i) Information that is confidential to Vertex, or

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4.4
Publicity/Use of Names. Merck and Vertex shall agree upon the timing and content of an initial press release relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein. Except to the extent already disclosed in that initial press release, no disclosure of the existence of this Agreement, its subject matter or its terms may be made by either Party, and no Party shall use the name, trademark, trade name or logo of the other Party or its employees in any publicity, news release or disclosure relating to this Agreement or its subject matter, without the prior express written permission of the other Party, except as may be required by applicable laws, regulations, or judicial order. The Party desiring to make any such public announcement shall provide the other Party with a written copy of the proposed announcement in sufficient time prior to public release to allow such other Party to comment upon such announcement, prior to public release.

ARTICLE 5: PAYMENTS; ROYALTIES AND REPORTS

5.1
Research Program Funding. In consideration for Vertex's performance of its obligations under the Research Program (including its FTE staffing obligations pursuant to Section 2.3), upon the terms and conditions contained herein, Merck shall pay Vertex:

(a)
[***] for the period from the Effective Date through December 31, 2004, such payment to be made by Merck in two equal installments of [***], the first of which will be paid within [***] and the second of which will be paid [***]; and

(b)
additional research support thereafter at an annual rate of [***] for the balance of the Research Program Term (the "Annual Research Fees"), such payments to be made in equal payments of US [***] per Calendar Quarter, payable in advance, with the first such quarterly payment due on or before [***].

15


5.2
Consideration for License. In consideration for the licenses granted pursuant to Article 3 and the research obligations set forth herein, upon the terms and conditions contained herein, Merck shall pay to Vertex a one-time payment of twenty million dollars (US $20,000,000) within five (5) business days of the Effective Date.

5.3
Milestone Payments. In addition to the payments set out in Sections 5.1 and 5.2, the following amounts (each, a "Milestone Payment") shall be payable only once if (and only if) the corresponding milestones with regard to a Product are satisfied (each a "Milestone"):

5.4
Lead Compound Milestones for First Cancer Indication

(a) [***]   $[***]
(b) [***]   $[***]
(c) [***]   $[***]

(d) [***]

 

$[***]
(e) [***]   $[***]
(f) [***]   $[***]
5.5
[***]

(a) [***]   $[***]

(b) [***]

 

$[***]
(c) [***]   $[***]
5.6
[***]

(a) [***]   $[***]

(b) [***]

 

$[***]
(c) [***]   $[***]
5.7
[***]

(a) [***]   $[***]

(b) [***]

 

$[***]
(c) [***]   $[***]

16


5.8
[***]

5.8A
[***]

(a) [***]   $[***]
(b) [***]   $[***]
(c) [***]   $[***]
(d) [***]   $[***]

(a) [***]   $[***]
(b) [***]   $[***]
(c) [***]   $[***]
(d) [***]   $[***]
5.9
[***]

(a) [***]   $[***]
(b) [***]   $[***]
(c) [***]   $[***]

        [***]

        [***]

5.10
Milestones for Follow-On Compounds

5.10A
[***]

(a) [***]   $[***]
(b) [***]   $[***]
(c) [***]   $[***]
(d) [***]   $[***]
(e) [***]   $[***]

(a) [***]   $[***]
(b) [***]   $[***]
(c) [***]   $[***]

(a) [***]   $[***]
(b) [***]   $[***]
(c) [***]   $[***]

(a) [***]   $[***]
(b) [***]   $[***]
(c) [***]   $[***]
5.11
[***]

17



(a) [***]   $[***]
(b) [***]   $[***]
(c) [***]   $[***]
(d) [***]   $[***]

(a) [***]   $[***]
(b) [***]   $[***]
(c) [***]   $[***]
(d) [***]   $[***]
5.12
Milestone Payments—General. (a) [***] Merck shall notify Vertex in writing within thirty (30) days upon the achievement (or deemed achievement) of each Milestone, and shall make the appropriate Milestone Payment within [***] of the achievement (or deemed achievement) of such Milestone.

(b)
Once a Product achieves a Milestone for a particular Indication, it will be deemed to have achieved all earlier Milestones for such Indication, and any Milestone Payment for such earlier Milestone shall become due and payable to the extent it has not already been previously paid.

(c)
[***]

(d)
Each Milestone Payment shall be payable upon achievement of such Milestone by action of any of Merck or a Related Party.

5.13
Royalties

5.13.1
Royalties Payable By Merck. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Merck shall pay to Vertex royalties on a country-by-country basis as set out in this Section 5.13.

5.13.2
Patent Royalties

        Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, including Section 5.13.3, Merck shall pay Vertex royalties in an amount equal to the following percentages of Net Sales of Products by Merck or its Related Parties, provided that the sale of Product would infringe a Valid Patent Claim in the country of sale:


5.13.3
Know-How Royalty.

(a)
If the sale of Product would infringe a Valid Patent Claim in the United States and at least [***] of the other Major Markets (i.e., [***]) ("Major Markets Condition"), in any countries

18


5.14
Change in Sales Practices. The Parties acknowledge that during the term of this Agreement, Merck's sales practices for the marketing and distribution of Product may change to the extent that the calculation of the payment for royalties on Net Sales may become impractical or even impossible. In such event, the Parties agree to meet and discuss in good faith new ways of compensating Vertex to the extent currently contemplated under Section 5.13.

5.15
Royalties for Bulk Compound. In those cases where Merck sells bulk Compound rather than Product in packaged form to an independent Third Party, such sale shall be made in an arm's length transaction and the royalty obligations of Section 5.13 shall be applicable to the bulk Compound.

5.16
Compulsory Licenses. If a compulsory license required under applicable law is granted to a Third Party with respect to Product in any country in the Territory with a royalty rate lower than the royalty rate provided by Section 5.13, then the royalty rate to be paid by Merck on Net Sales in that country under Section 5.13 shall be reduced to the rate paid by the compulsory licensee.

5.17
Third Party Licenses. If one or more patent licenses from other Third Parties are required by Merck or its Related Parties in order to make, have made, use, offer to sell, sell or import Product

19


5.18
Reports; Payment of Royalty. During the term of this Agreement following the First Commercial Sale of a Product, Merck shall furnish to Vertex a quarterly written report for the Calendar Quarter showing (i) the Net Sales of all Products subject to royalty payments sold by Merck and its Related Parties in the Territory during the reporting period; and (ii) the royalties payable under this Agreement. Reports shall be due on the [***] day following the close of each Calendar Quarter, although Merck shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to also provide Vertex with a "flash" report of estimated Net Sales, only, within [***] days after the end of each calendar month. Royalties shown to have accrued by each royalty report shall be due and payable on the date such royalty report is due. Merck shall keep complete and accurate records in sufficient detail to enable the royalties payable hereunder to be determined and to be verified by Vertex's accounting firm pursuant to Section 5.19.

5.19
Audits. Upon the written request of Vertex and not more than once in each Calendar Year, Merck shall permit an independent certified public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing selected by Vertex and reasonably acceptable to Merck, at Vertex's expense, to have access during normal business hours to such of the records of Merck as may be reasonably necessary to verify the accuracy of the royalty reports hereunder for any year ending not more than [***] prior to the date of such request. The accounting firm shall disclose to Vertex only whether the royalty reports are correct or incorrect and the specific details concerning any discrepancies. No other information shall be provided to Vertex.

20


5.20
Payment Exchange Rate. All payments to be made by Merck to Vertex under this Agreement shall be made in United States dollars and may be paid by check made to the order of Vertex or bank wire transfer in immediately available funds to such bank account in the United States designated in writing by Vertex from time to time. In the case of sales outside the United States, the rate of exchange to be used in computing the amount of currency equivalent in United States dollars due Vertex shall be made at the rate of exchange utilized by Merck in its worldwide accounting system, prevailing on the third to the last business day of the month prior to the month in which such sales are recorded by Merck.

5.21
Income Tax Withholding. If laws, rules or regulations require withholding of income taxes or other taxes imposed upon payments set forth in this Article 5, Merck shall make such withholding payments as required and subtract such withholding payments from the payments set forth in this Article 5. Merck shall submit appropriate proof of payment of the withholding taxes to Vertex within a reasonable period of time.

5.22
Interest Penalty. In case of any delay in payment by Merck to Vertex not occasioned by Force Majeure (as described in Section 9.3), interest at the monthly rate of [***], assessed from the thirty-first day after the due date of the payment, shall be due from Merck.

ARTICLE 6: REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

6.1
Vertex Representation and Warranty. Vertex represents and warrants to Merck that as of the Effective Date:

6.1.1
to Vertex's knowledge, the Patent Rights and Vertex Know-How exist and are not invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part;

6.1.2
it has the full corporate right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, to perform the Research Program and to grant the licenses granted hereunder;

6.1.3
this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Vertex and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Vertex, enforceable against Vertex in accordance with its terms. The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Vertex, its officers and directors;

6.1.4
it has not previously assigned, transferred, conveyed or otherwise encumbered its right, title and interest in VX-680, the Existing Compounds, Patent Rights or Vertex Know-How;

6.1.5
to Vertex's knowledge, it is the sole and exclusive owner of VX-680, the Existing Compounds, the Patent Rights and Vertex Know-How, all of which are (and shall be, in the case of Vertex Information and Inventions) free and clear of any liens, charges and encumbrances, and no other person, corporate or other private entity, or governmental entity or subdivision thereof, has or shall have any claim of ownership whatsoever with respect to the VX-680, Existing Compounds, Patent Rights and Vertex Know-How;

6.1.6
to Vertex's knowledge, the exercise of the license granted to Merck under the Patent Rights and Vertex Know-How, including without limitation the development, manufacture, use, sale and import of Compounds, Product Candidates and Products do not interfere with or infringe any intellectual property rights owned or possessed by any Third Party;

6.1.7
there are no claims known to Vertex, and no judgments or settlements against or owed by Vertex or pending or threatened claims or litigation relating to the Patent Rights and Vertex Know-How;

6.1.8
to Vertex's knowledge, Schedules 1.19 and 1.63 together set forth all small molecule compounds Controlled by Vertex [***]; and

21


6.2
Merck Representation and Warranty. Merck represents and warrants to Vertex that as of the Effective Date:

6.2.1
it has the full corporate right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, and perform its obligations hereunder; and

6.2.2
this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Merck and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Merck, enforceable against Merck in accordance with its terms. The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Merck, its officers and directors.

ARTICLE 7: PATENT PROVISIONS

7.1
Filing, Prosecution and Maintenance of Patents. Vertex agrees to file, prosecute and maintain in the Territory, upon appropriate consultation with Merck, the Patent Rights licensed to Merck under this Agreement. Merck shall have the first right to file, prosecute and maintain in the Territory Collaboration Patent Rights. With respect to Vertex Information and Inventions, Vertex may elect not to file, prosecute and maintain patent applications directly thereto and if so, Merck shall have the right to file, prosecute and maintain such patent applications. In such event, Vertex shall execute such documents and perform such acts at Vertex's expense as may be reasonably necessary to effect an assignment of such Patent Rights to Merck in a timely manner to allow Merck to continue such preparation and prosecution or maintenance. In each case, the filing Party shall give the non-filing Party an opportunity to review the text of the application before filing, shall consult with the non-filing Party with respect thereto, and shall supply the non-filing Party with a copy of the application as filed, together with notice of its filing date and serial number. Vertex shall keep Merck advised of the status of the actual and prospective patent filings and upon the request of Merck, provide advance copies of any papers related to the filing, prosecution and maintenance of such patent filings. Vertex shall promptly give notice to Merck of the grant, lapse, revocation, surrender, invalidation or abandonment of any Patent Rights licensed to Merck for which Vertex is responsible for the filing, prosecution and maintenance. With respect to all filings hereunder, the filing Party shall be responsible for payment of all costs and expenses related to such filings.

7.2
Option to Prosecute and Maintain Patents.

(a)
Merck Option. Vertex shall give notice to Merck of any desire to cease prosecution and/or maintenance of Patent Rights on a country by country basis in the Territory and, in such case, shall permit Merck, at its sole discretion, to continue prosecution or maintenance of such Patent Rights at its own expense. If Merck elects to continue prosecution or maintenance or to file based on Vertex's election not to file pursuant to Section 7.1, Vertex shall execute such documents and perform such acts at Vertex's expense as may be reasonably necessary to effect an assignment of such Patent Rights to Merck in a timely manner to allow Merck to continue such prosecution or maintenance. Any patents or patent applications so assigned shall not be considered Patent Rights.

(b)
Vertex Option. Merck shall give notice to Vertex of any desire to cease prosecution and/or maintenance of Collaboration Patent Rights on a country by country basis in the Territory and, in such case, shall permit Vertex, at its sole discretion, to continue prosecution or maintenance of such Collaboration Patent Rights at its own expense. If Vertex elects to continue prosecution or maintenance or to file based on Merck's election not to file pursuant to Section 7.1, Merck shall execute such documents and perform such acts at Merck's expense as may be reasonably necessary to effect an assignment of such Collaboration Patent Rights to

22


7.3
Interference, Opposition, Reexamination and Reissue

7.3.1
Vertex shall, within ten (10) days of learning of such event, inform Merck of any request for, or filing or declaration of, any interference, opposition, or reexamination relating to Patent Rights. Merck and Vertex shall thereafter consult and cooperate fully to determine a course of action with respect to any such proceeding. Merck shall have the right to review and approve any submission to be made in connection with such proceeding.

7.3.2
Vertex shall not initiate any reexamination, interference or reissue proceeding relating to Patent Rights without the prior written consent of Merck, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

7.3.3
In connection with any interference, opposition, reissue, or reexamination proceeding relating to Patent Rights and Collaboration Patent Rights, Merck and Vertex will cooperate fully and will provide each other with any information or assistance that either may reasonably request. Vertex shall keep Merck informed of developments in any such action or proceeding, including, to the extent permissible by law, consultation and approval of any settlement, the status of any settlement negotiations and the terms of any offer related thereto.

7.3.4
Vertex shall bear the expense of any interference, opposition, reexamination, or reissue proceeding relating to Patent Rights. The Parties shall share equally the expense of any interference, opposition, reexamination or re-issue proceeding relating to the Collaboration Patent Rights.

7.4
Enforcement and Defense

7.4.1
Vertex shall give Merck notice of either (i) any infringement of Patent Rights, or (ii) any misappropriation or misuse of Vertex Know-How, that may come to Vertex's attention. Merck and Vertex shall thereafter consult and cooperate fully to determine a course of action, including but not limited to the commencement of legal action by either or both Merck and Vertex, to terminate any infringement of Patent Rights or any misappropriation or misuse of Vertex Know-How. However, Vertex, upon notice to Merck, shall have the first right to initiate and prosecute such legal action at its own expense and in the name of Vertex and Merck, or to control the defense of any declaratory judgment action relating to Patent Rights or Vertex Know-How. Vertex shall promptly inform Merck if it elects not to exercise such first right and Merck shall thereafter have the right to either initiate and prosecute such action or to control the defense of such declaratory judgment action in the name of Merck and, if necessary, Vertex. Each Party shall have the right to be represented by counsel of its own choice.

7.4.2
If Vertex elects not to initiate and prosecute an action as provided in Section 7.4.1, and Merck elects to do so, the costs of any agreed-upon course of action to terminate infringement of Patent Rights or misappropriation or misuse of Vertex Know-How, including without limitation the costs of any legal action commenced or the defense of any declaratory judgment, shall be shared equally by Vertex and Merck.

23


ARTICLE 8: TERM AND TERMINATION

8.1
Term and Expiration. This Agreement shall be effective as of the Effective Date and unless terminated earlier pursuant to Sections 8.2 or 8.3, this Agreement shall continue in effect until expiration of all royalty obligations under Article 5. Upon expiration of this Agreement, Merck's licenses pursuant to Section 3.1 and 3.2 shall become fully paid-up, perpetual licenses.

8.2
Termination by Merck. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, after June 30, 2005, Merck shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time in its sole discretion by giving ninety (90) days' advance written notice to Vertex; provided, however (a) during the second (2nd) year of the Research Program Term, Merck shall provide [***] advance written notice to Vertex; and (b) if a Product has received a Marketing Authorization in a Major Market and such termination is for a reason other than a Valid Safety Issue, [***] advance written notice shall be

24


8.3
Cause for Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time during the term of this Agreement:

8.3.1.
upon written notice by either Party if the other Party is in breach of its material obligations hereunder by causes and reasons within its control and has not cured such breach within ninety (90) days after notice requesting cure of the breach; provided, however, in the event of a good faith dispute with respect to the existence of a material breach, the ninety (90) day cure period shall be tolled until such time as the dispute is resolved pursuant to Section 9.8;

8.3.2.
by either Party upon the filing or institution of bankruptcy, reorganization, liquidation or receivership proceedings, or upon an assignment of a substantial portion of the assets for the benefit of creditors by the other Party; provided, however, in the case of any involuntary bankruptcy proceeding such right to terminate shall only become effective if the Party consents to the involuntary bankruptcy or such proceeding is not dismissed within ninety (90) days after the filing thereof.

8.4
Effect of Termination for Cause on License

8.4.1
If Merck terminates this Agreement under Section 8.3.1, then (i) Merck's licenses pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2 shall become fully paid-up (except that the financial provisions of Sections 5.3 through 5.20 of this Agreement shall continue), exclusive, perpetual licenses; (ii) Merck shall have the right to offset against any monies owed to Vertex (pursuant to Sections 5.3 through 5.20 of this Agreement) all of its costs, losses and expenses incurred as a result of Vertex's breach as set forth in Section 8.3.1 of this Agreement; and (iii) Vertex shall, within thirty (30) days after such termination return or cause to be returned to Merck all Merck Information in tangible form, and all substances or compositions delivered or provided by Merck, as well as any other material provided by Merck in any medium. If Vertex terminates this Agreement under Section 8.3, Merck's licenses pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2 shall terminate as of such termination date and Merck shall, within thirty (30) days after such termination, return or cause to be returned to Vertex all Vertex Information in tangible form, and all substances or compositions delivered or provided by Vertex, as well as any other material provided by Vertex in any medium.

8.4.2
If this Agreement is terminated by Merck pursuant to subsection 8.3.2 due to the rejection of this Agreement by or on behalf of Vertex under Section 365 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the "Code"), all licenses and rights to licenses granted under or pursuant to this Agreement by Vertex to Merck are, and shall otherwise be deemed to be, for purposes of Section 365(n) of the Code, licenses of rights to "intellectual property" as defined under Section 101(35A) of the Code. The Parties agree that Merck, as a licensee of such rights under this Agreement, shall retain and may fully exercise all of its rights and elections under the Code, and that upon commencement of a bankruptcy proceeding by or against Vertex under the Code, Merck shall be entitled to a complete duplicate of or complete access to (as Merck deems appropriate), any such intellectual property and all embodiments of such intellectual property. Such intellectual property and all embodiments thereof shall be promptly delivered to Merck (i) upon any such commencement of a bankruptcy proceeding upon

25


8.5
Rights Upon Expiration of Research Program Term and Washout Period
8.6
Effect of Expiration or Termination; Survival
8.7
Effect of Vertex Change of Control

26


ARTICLE 9: MISCELLANEOUS

9.1
Indemnification

(a)
Except to the extent due to the negligence or willful misconduct of Merck, Vertex shall indemnify, defend and hold Merck and its Affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, harmless from and against any claims of damages (except to the extent arising from any claim of intellectual property infringement), bodily injury, death, or property damage made by a Third Party (a "Third Party Claim") to the extent arising from: (i) the

27


9.2
Merck agrees that during the Standstill Term (defined below), neither Merck nor any of its Affiliates will, without the prior written consent of Vertex (i) acquire, or participate as part of a group which in the aggregate acquires, securities representing more than [***] of the voting power of the outstanding voting securities of Vertex, or (ii) make, or in any way participate in, directly or indirectly, any "solicitation" of "proxies" (as such terms are used in the rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission).

9.2.1
"Standstill Term" shall mean the [***].

9.2.2
The foregoing provisions of this Section 9.2 shall no longer apply (i) if Vertex announces publicly that (a) it is seeking, or considering seeking, purchasers for Vertex or (b) is otherwise exploring, or considering exploring, strategic options in this regard; (ii) upon the commencement by a Third Party of a tender or exchange offer for more than [***] of voting power of the outstanding voting securities of Vertex; (iii) if a Third Party acquires beneficial ownership of [***] or more of the outstanding common stock of Vertex; (iv) if Vertex publicly announces a transaction, or an intention to effect any transaction, which would result in (a) the sale by Vertex or one or more of its subsidiaries or assets representing [***]or more of the consolidated earning power or assets of Vertex; (b) the common shareholders of Vertex immediately prior to such transaction owning less than [***]of the outstanding common stock of the acquiring entity or, in the case of a merger transaction, the surviving corporation (or, if the surviving corporation is a subsidiary of a parent company, the parent company); or (c) a

28


9.3
Force Majeure. Neither Party shall be held liable to the other Party nor be deemed to have defaulted under or breached this Agreement for failure or delay in performing any obligation under this Agreement when such failure or delay is caused by or results from causes beyond the reasonable control of the affected Party including, but not limited to, embargoes, war, acts of war (whether war be declared or not), insurrections, riots, civil commotions, strikes, lockouts or other labor disturbances, fire, floods, or other acts of God, or acts, omissions or delays in acting by any governmental authority or the other Party. The affected Party shall notify the other Party of such force majeure circumstances as soon as reasonably practical, and shall promptly undertake all reasonable efforts necessary to cure such force majeure circumstances.

9.4
Assignment. Except as provided in this Section 9.4, this Agreement may not be assigned or otherwise transferred, nor may any right or obligation hereunder be assigned or transferred, by either Party without the consent of the other Party. Merck may, without Vertex's consent, assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations hereunder in whole or in part to a Merck Affiliate, if Merck guarantees the full performance of its Affiliate's obligations hereunder. Any permitted assignee shall assume all obligations of its assignor under this Agreement and shall be subject to all of the provisions of this Agreement. Any attempted assignment not in accordance with this Section shall be void. Notwithstanding the above, Vertex may, without Merck's consent, assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations hereunder in the event of a Change of Control of Vertex to the Change of Control party, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, including Section 8.7.

9.5
Severability. If any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, unless the absence of the invalidated provision(s) adversely affects the substantive rights of the Parties. The Parties shall in such an instance use their best efforts to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision(s) with valid, legal and enforceable provision(s) which, insofar as practical, implement the purposes of this Agreement.

9.6
Notices. All notices which are required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and sufficient if delivered personally, sent by facsimile (and promptly confirmed by personal delivery, registered or certified mail or overnight courier), sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier or sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:

if to Vertex, to:   Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
130 Waverly Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
Attn: Office of Business Development
Facsimile No: (617) 444-6632

and:

 

Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile No.: (617) 444-7117

if to Merck, to:

 

Merck & Co., Inc.
One Merck Drive
P.O. Box 100 (WS 3A-65)
Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889-0100

 

 

Attn: Office of Secretary
Facsimile No.: (908) 735-1246
     

29



And

 

Merck & Co., Inc.
One Merck Drive (WS 2A-30)
P.O. Box 100
Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889-0100

 

 

Attn: Chief Licensing Officer
Facsimile: (908)735-1214
9.7
Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and the patent laws of the United States without reference to any rules of conflict of laws or renvoi. The United Nations Convention on the Sale of Goods shall not apply.

9.8
Dispute Resolution

9.8.1
The Parties shall negotiate in good faith and use reasonable efforts to settle any dispute, controversy or claim arising from or related to this Agreement or the breach thereof. If the Parties do not fully settle, and a Party wishes to pursue the matter, each such dispute, controversy or claim that is not an "Excluded Claim" shall be finally resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules and Supplementary Procedures for Large Complex Disputes of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"), and judgment on the arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

9.8.2
The arbitration shall be conducted by a panel of three persons experienced in the pharmaceutical business. Within 30 days after initiation of arbitration, each Party shall select one person to act as arbitrator and the two Party-selected arbitrators shall select a third arbitrator within 30 days of their appointment. If the arbitrators selected by the Parties are unable or fail to agree upon the third arbitrator, the third arbitrator shall be appointed by the AAA. The place of arbitration shall be New York, New York, and all proceedings and communications shall be in English.

9.8.3
Either Party may apply to the arbitrators for interim injunctive relief until the arbitration award is rendered or the controversy is otherwise resolved. Either Party also may, without waiving any remedy under this Agreement, seek from any court having jurisdiction any injunctive or provisional relief necessary to protect the rights or property of that Party pending the arbitration award. The arbitrators shall have no authority to award punitive or any other type of damages not measured by a Party's compensatory damages. Each Party shall bear its own costs and expenses and attorneys' fees and an equal share of the arbitrators' and any administrative fees of arbitration.

9.8.4
Except to the extent necessary to confirm an award or as may be required by law, neither a Party nor an arbitrator may disclose the existence, content, or results of an arbitration without the prior written consent of both Parties. In no event shall an arbitration be initiated after the date when commencement of a legal or equitable proceeding based on the dispute, controversy or claim would be barred by the applicable New York statute of limitations.

9.8.5
The Parties agree that, in the event of a dispute over the nature or quality of performance under this Agreement, neither Party may terminate this Agreement until final resolution of the dispute through arbitration or other judicial determination. The Parties further agree that

30


9.9
Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement, together with the Schedules hereto, contains the entire understanding of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supercedes and cancels all previous express or implied agreements and understandings, negotiations, writings and commitments, either oral or written, in respect to the subject matter hereof. The Schedules to this Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and shall be deemed a part of this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended, or any term hereof modified, only by a written instrument duly executed by authorized representatives of both Parties.

9.10
Headings. The captions to the several Articles, Sections and subsections hereof are not a part of this Agreement, but are merely for convenience to assist in locating and reading the several Articles and Sections hereof.

9.11
Independent Contractors. It is expressly agreed that Vertex and Merck shall be independent contractors and that the relationship between the two Parties shall not constitute a partnership, joint venture or agency. Neither Vertex nor Merck shall have the authority to make any statements, representations or commitments of any kind, or to take any action, which shall be binding on the other Party, without the prior written consent of the other Party.

9.12
Waiver. The waiver by either Party hereto of any right hereunder, or the failure of the other Party to perform, or a breach by the other Party, shall not be deemed a waiver of any other right hereunder or of any other breach or failure by such other Party whether of a similar nature or otherwise.

9.13
Cumulative Remedies. No remedy referred to in this Agreement is intended to be exclusive, but each shall be cumulative and in addition to any other remedy referred to in this Agreement or otherwise available under law.

9.14
Waiver of Rule of Construction. Each Party has had the opportunity to consult with counsel in connection with the review, drafting and negotiation of this Agreement. Accordingly, the rule of construction that any ambiguity in this Agreement shall be construed against the drafting Party shall not apply.

9.15
Certain Conventions. Any reference in this Agreement to an Article, Section, subsection, paragraph, clause, Schedule or Exhibit shall be deemed to be a reference to an Article, Section, subsection, paragraph, clause, Schedule or Exhibit, of or to, as the case may be, this Agreement, unless otherwise indicated. Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (a) words of any gender include each other gender, (b) words such as "herein", "hereof", and "hereunder" refer to this Agreement as a whole and not merely to the particular provision in which such words appear, (c) words using the singular shall include the plural, and vice versa, and (d) the words "include," "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "but not limited to", "without limitation", "inter alia" or words of similar import.

9.16
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signature Page Follows]

31


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.


 

 

 

 

 
MERCK & CO., INC.   VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED

By:

/s/  
PETER S. KIM      
Name: Peter Kim
Title: President, MRL

 

By:

/s/  
VICKI L. SATO      
Name: Vicki L. Sato
Title: President

 

June 21, 2004

Date

 

 

June 21, 2004

Date

32



SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1.15   Development Criteria

SCHEDULE 1.17

 

Development Information

SCHEDULE 1.19

 

Existing Compounds

SCHEDULE 1.43

 

Patent Rights

SCHEDULE 1.63

 

Description of VX-680

SCHEDULE 2.1

 

Research Program

SCHEDULE 3.11

 

Co-Promotion Rights

SCHEDULE 5.17

 

Certain Third Party Patent Applications

33



Schedule 1.15

Development Criteria

        [***]

49



Schedule 1.17

Development Information

        [***]

50



Schedule 1.19

Existing Compounds

        [***]

51



Schedule 1.43

Patent Rights

        [***]

VP1/00 -130- 3 US UNITED STATES 10/0 25,164 12/19/2001 US 6,664,247 ISSUED 12/16/03

        [***]

52



Schedule 1.63

Description of VX-680

Compound name: Cyclopropane carboxylic acid {4-[4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-6-(5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-ylamino)- pyrimidin-2-ylsulphanyl]-phenyl}-amide

Structure:

VX-680 is a kinase inhibitor based on a pyrimidine scaffold, appended with a 4-aminopyrazole, a 2-thiophenyl and a 6-methyl-piperazine unit.

LOGO

Laboratory Code:

VX-680

[***]

 

Empirical formula:

C23H28N8OS

Molecular Weight:

464.6

Physical Appearance:

Colorless solid

[***]

 

[***]

 

[***]

 

[***]

 

53



Schedule 2.1

Research Program

        [***]

54



SCHEDULE 3.11

CO-PROMOTION

        [***]

55



SCHEDULE 5.17

Certain Third Party Patent Applications

        [***]

56




QuickLinks

EXCLUSIVE RESEARCH COLLABORATION, LICENSE AND COMMERCIALIZATION AGREEMENT between MERCK & CO., INC. and VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
EXCLUSIVE RESEARCH COLLABORATION, LICENSE AND COMMERCIALIZATION AGREEMENT
SCHEDULES
Schedule 1.15 Development Criteria
Schedule 1.17 Development Information
Schedule 1.19 Existing Compounds
Schedule 1.43 Patent Rights
Schedule 1.63 Description of VX-680
Schedule 2.1 Research Program
SCHEDULE 3.11 CO-PROMOTION
SCHEDULE 5.17 Certain Third Party Patent Applications