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Vertex Pharmaceuticals Announces Exercise of Underwritera?s Option to Purchase Additional Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes

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^{Published in Health and Fitness on Friday, September 24th 2010 at 5:15 GMT by Market Wire}  

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced that the underwriter for its offering of 3.35% convertible senior subordinated notes due 2015 has exercised in full its option to purchase an additional $25 million aggregate principal amount of notes. The exercise of the option brings the total aggregate principal amount of notes sold in the offering to $400 million.

BofA Merrill Lynch is acting as the sole underwriter in the offering.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. An automatically effective shelf registration statement relating to the notes Vertex intends to sell has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any offer of notes will be made only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the automatically effective shelf registration statement. A copy of the prospectus for the offering can be obtained from BofA Merrill Lynch, 4 World Financial Center, New York, NY 10080, Attn: Prospectus Department or email [ dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com ].

About Vertex

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is a global biotechnology company committed to the discovery and development of breakthrough small molecule drugs for serious diseases. The Company's strategy is to commercialize its products both independently and in collaboration with major pharmaceutical companies. Vertex's product pipeline is focused on viral diseases, cystic fibrosis, inflammation, autoimmune diseases, cancer and pain.

Vertex co-discovered the HIV protease inhibitor, Lexiva, with GlaxoSmithKline.

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

(VRTX - GEN)