Lingering questions as Vertex sheds $15B after Phase II setback

With a CF franchise that is generating operating income with triple digit growth, it is difficult to square why investors slashed nearly $15 billion from Vertex’s valuation over the failure of a single Phase II program outside its core area of business.

The discontinuation of VX-814 by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX) because of safety issues in patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency still leaves the company with VX-864 in Phase II testing for the same indication, in addition to four other clinical programs outside its CF pipeline...