Amid push to diversify beyond CF, Vertex’s pain readout sets up pivotal program

Days after Vertex started its first pivotal study of a wholly-owned program outside of its core cystic fibrosis business, a new Phase II readout for its sodium channel blocker has positioned the biotech for pivotal trials in pain, and driven its shares to their highest price in more than a year.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX) said Thursday that Nav1.8-blocking analgesic VX-548 met the primary endpoints in two Phase II studies to treat acute postsurgical pain. The company is aiming to start pivotal development of the molecule next half...