Latest news with #VRTX
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Is This Beaten-Down Stock a Buy on the Dip?
Key Points Vertex faced some setbacks with two pipeline programs in acute and neuropathic pain. However, the company still has a path forward for both of those medicines. It has several other pipeline candidates and a lineup that generates consistent results. 10 stocks we like better than Vertex Pharmaceuticals › Even well-established drugmakers can lose significant market value overnight following a setback. That's what recently happened to Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX). The company's shares fell by more than 10% after it announced not-so-great regulatory and clinical developments. Vertex's stock is down 4% year to date following this decline. Should you consider investing in the company's shares while they're down? Let's find out. Vertex's pain franchise faces another obstacle Vertex Pharmaceuticals is targeting the pain treatment market as part of its efforts to diversify its lineup of medicines. In January, the company earned approval for Journavx, the first oral non-opioid pain signal inhibitor, for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain. However, the drugmaker has encountered some headwinds in this niche. Journavx did not perform as well as expected in a phase 2 study in patients with painful lumbosacral radiculopathy. Vertex's shares plummeted in December following that data readout. And although the company initially stated it would pursue this indication for Journavx despite the unimpressive mid-stage data, it recently announced it was abandoning those plans based on feedback from regulators. That was one reason Vertex's shares fell hard. Then there's VX-993, an investigational therapy for acute pain that just failed phase 2 studies. Vertex will not pursue VX-993 as a monotherapy in this indication. This is the second development responsible for the company's shares recently plummeting. Why the stock is still attractive Despite these clinical setbacks, Vertex's shares remain a worthwhile investment for long-term investors. Let's consider four reasons why. First, the company's financial results remain strong. In the second quarter, revenue increased by 12% year over year to $2.96 billion. Vertex's cystic fibrosis (CF) business continues to perform well, and the recent addition of its next-gen CF medicine Alyftrek should help. Vertex is the only company that markets drugs for the underlying causes of CF, but many patients in the geographies it targets are still not benefiting from its therapies. So the company still has some headway in its core franchise. Second, Vertex has successfully diversified its lineup in recent years. In addition to Journavx, the biotech earned approval for Casgevy, a gene-editing therapy for two rare blood disorders, in 2023. While these products aren't contributing much to financial results yet, they eventually will. Vertex noted that Journavx's launch is going well. It has secured third-party coverage for approximately 150 million Americans, which suggests there's a reasonable demand for the medicine. Third, Vertex should still make some headway in the market for pain treatments. It's enrolling patients for phase 3 studies of Journavx in diabetic peripheral neuropathy, while VX-993 will also be tested in mid-stage clinical trials in this indication. Fourth, the company has several other exciting pipeline candidates. One of them is zimislecel, an investigational therapy for type 1 diabetes (T1D) that's posting strong results in clinical trials and could become an approved functional cure for T1D. It helps restore patients' ability to produce their own insulin, something that is normally not possible with this chronic health condition. Vertex plans on submitting regulatory applications for it next year. The late-stage pipeline also features inaxaplin, a potential treatment for APOL-1-mediated kidney disease, a condition for which there are no approved therapies that target the underlying causes. Even well-established biotech companies like Vertex Pharmaceuticals face clinical setbacks that sink their stock prices. But in this case, given Vertex's strong lineup and pipeline and its consistent financial results, this seems like an excellent opportunity to purchase its shares on the dip. Should you invest $1,000 in Vertex Pharmaceuticals right now? Before you buy stock in Vertex Pharmaceuticals, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Vertex Pharmaceuticals wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $663,630!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,115,695!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,071% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 185% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of August 13, 2025 Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is This Beaten-Down Stock a Buy on the Dip? was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
VRTX: Vertex Shares Tank After Pain Drug Flop in Key Trial
Aug 5 - Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) shares dropped nearly 17% on Tuesday after its experimental pain medication, VX-993, didn't hit the mark in a key Phase 2 trial. The drug aimed to treat acute post-surgical pain, but results showed no statistically significant improvement over placebo (p=0.119), even though the highest dose group showed a better average pain score (74.5 vs. 50.2). The company confirmed it won't move forward with VX-993 as a standalone treatment, citing no clear advantage over existing NaV1.8 inhibitors. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Signs with VRTX. Despite the clinical setback, Vertex delivered a solid Q2 performance. The company reaffirmed its full-year revenue guidance, which gave investors a bit of reassurance. However, the market reaction largely focused on the pipeline disappointment, as investors had high hopes for the non-opioid pain therapy space, an area with major unmet demand. The Pursuit of NaV1.8 The NaV1.8 target continues to be a competitive priority of a number of biotechnology companies; the failure of VX-993 highlights the possibility that Vertex may now have to reconsider its game plan regarding its pain pipeline or consider combination strategies. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Reuters
04-08-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Vertex to stop developing new painkiller as solo treatment after mid-stage study setback
Aug 4 (Reuters) - Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX.O), opens new tab said on Monday it will not continue development of its experimental non-opioid painkiller as a solo treatment after it failed to meet the main goal of a mid-stage trial. The next-generation drug, called VX-993, was found to be generally safe when tested in patients who had a bunion surgery, with most side effects being mild to moderate and no serious problems linked to the painkiller, the company said. Wall Street analysts and investors have been eagerly awaiting the results of this trial that would help Vertex expand beyond its non-opioid Journavx, bolstering its pain drug treatments.
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The 3 Things That Matter for Vertex Pharmaceuticals Now
Key Points Vertex Pharmaceuticals' leading cystic fibrosis franchise still looks promising. It also has a couple of exciting newer launches, and could land another one. Shares of the large drugmaker could still deliver market-beating returns. 10 stocks we like better than Vertex Pharmaceuticals › Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX) has been a terrific stock to own over the past decade. The stock has outperformed the market over this period, thanks to consistent financial results and excellent innovative capabilities. But how much longer can the biotech keep things up? If you're interested in owning the stock for the long term, it's important to pay close attention to several parts of the company's business. Below are three key things to watch out for now. 1. Vertex's cystic fibrosis franchise Vertex is best known for its work in developing and marketing medicines that target cystic fibrosis (CF) at its genetic roots. CF is a rare disease affecting the lungs. Although many have attempted to challenge the biotech in this area, none have yet succeeded; Vertex's therapies remain the only option for CF patients. The company continues to generate substantial revenue from its CF franchise, and several developments are worth paying attention to now. In December Vertex earned approval in the U.S. for Alyftrek, a next-generation CF therapy with a more convenient once-daily dosing. This drug may soon become Vertex's most important product. The company is also seeking to develop newer medicines for CF patients who aren't eligible for any of its current treatments. VX-522, an investigational drug, could target many of these patients. Approximately 75% of the 94,000 people with CF in North America, Europe, and Australia are currently benefiting from Vertex's products, whereas only 33% in other regions are, so there's still room to grow. Keep a watchful eye on continued clinical and commercial progress within Vertex's most important therapeutic area. 2. How will newer launches perform? Vertex's success over the past decade has been driven by its CF franchise; it's had little diversification. However, the company recently earned approval for some medicines outside of its core market. In late 2023, Casgevy, a gene-editing therapy for two blood-related diseases that Vertex developed with CRISPR Therapeutics, landed regulatory approval. And in January of this year, Vertex's treatment for acute pain, Journavx, also got the green light from regulators in the U.S. Casgevy isn't yet contributing much to the biotech's results; gene-editing therapies are complex to administer. However, this one holds considerable potential, as there's little competition to speak of. At $2.2 million per treatment course in the U.S., and with roughly 60,000 patients in the regions Vertex is targeting, Casgevy should exceed blockbuster status. Pay close attention to Vertex's comments on Casgevy's ongoing commercial progress. The same applies to Journavx. Vertex developed this therapy to fill the need for non-opioid painkillers. It became the first oral pain-signal inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Furthermore, Vertex is likely to seek label expansions for the medicine, including the treatment of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy. 3. Vertex's new gem, in type 1 diabetes Vertex's next brand-new launch could be a medicine for type 1 diabetes (T1D) called zimislecel. The therapy is undergoing a phase 1/2/3 study, where it's showing real promise. For instance, most (10 out of 12) patients treated with zimislecel were insulin-free after one year of follow-up in the phase 1/2 portion of this clinical trial. All patients were also free of severe hypoglycemic events 90 days after treatment. People with T1D typically cannot produce insulin, but this therapy helps restore their ability to do so. It could work as a functional cure for the chronic disease. Vertex plans to request approval from regulatory authorities for zimislecel next year, provided there are no significant clinical setbacks. It would be a great addition to the company's lineup -- and another product for Vertex investors to monitor closely. Is the stock a buy? Vertex shares look attractive for several reasons. First, the company's dominance in CF still affords it ample room to grow revenue and profits at a steady pace for the foreseeable future. Second, although it's possible that another biotech will eventually crack the code and launch a competing CF therapy, Vertex is well prepared. That's precisely why the company has diversified its lineup in recent years, and will hopefully continue to do so with the launch of zimislecel. Third, Vertex still has an exciting pipeline in CF and elsewhere. For instance, the company's late-stage candidate for APOL-1-mediated kidney disease, inaxaplin, looks promising. Currently, there are no approved treatments that target the underlying causes of this condition. Vertex could be the first to launch one. Even if that program doesn't pan out, though, Vertex Pharmaceuticals' lineup, pipeline, and consistent financial results make its prospects attractive. Should you invest $1,000 in Vertex Pharmaceuticals right now? Before you buy stock in Vertex Pharmaceuticals, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Vertex Pharmaceuticals wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $636,628!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,063,471!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,041% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 183% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025 Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The 3 Things That Matter for Vertex Pharmaceuticals Now was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) Launches JOURNAVX, First Non-Opioid Acute Pain Treatment
We recently compiled a list of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated stands second on our list and has recently launched the first non opioid acute pain treatment. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX), a global biotech firm based in Boston, is known for developing innovative treatments for serious diseases like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and beta thalassemia. The company is recognized for its strong pipeline targeting unmet medical needs. In July 2025, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) launched JOURNAVX (suzetrigine), a first-in-class, non-opioid treatment for moderate-to-severe acute pain. JOURNAVX, an oral NaV1.8 pain signal inhibitor, was named a 2025 Breakthroughs Innovation Celebration winner by Premier, Inc. It represents the first new class of pain medicine in decades and offers a safer alternative to opioids by directly targeting pain pathways without addiction risks. This launch marks a major advancement in pain management, aligning with public health efforts to reduce opioid use. JOURNAVX is especially relevant for acute pain scenarios such as post-surgical recovery and injury care. A closeup of pills in a pharmacy, representing the high quality medications of the company. Beyond acute pain, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) continues to expand its reach. Its next-gen cystic fibrosis therapy, ALYFTREK, received approval from the European Commission in July 2025, strengthening its global leadership in this area. The company is also advancing gene-editing therapies like CASGEVY for sickle cell and beta thalassemia, and is developing treatments for kidney disease, type 1 diabetes, and rare genetic disorders. While we acknowledge the potential of GOOGL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Sign in to access your portfolio
