The opportunity to redefine the treatment of major diseases is what drives everyone at Vertex. Our development portfolio represents the fruit of these efforts. Spend some time here and look around. Click on the pipeline chart to get information on our development programs and links to selected published articles. Go further and see how, just maybe, disease challenges may be overcome with innovation.

VX-702
(Rheumatoid Arthritis)

VX-702 is a novel, orally administered inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. P38 MAP kinase inhibitors are designed to reduce cytokine activity through a novel mechanism of action, and are being evaluated as potential oral agents for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. P38 MAP kinase regulates the production of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, interleukin-1 (IL-1) beta, and IL-6, which have been implicated in a range of inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Clinical Development of VX-702

In the third quarter of 2007, Vertex completed two clinical trials of VX-702. VX-702 was evaluated in a Phase 2 clinical study of approximately 130 patients with moderate to severe RA. The trial, which took place in Central and Eastern Europe, tested VX-702 as a once-daily medicine in combination with methotrexate for 3 months. The goals of the study were to evaluate safety, as well as the effect of the combination on clinical signs and symptoms of the disease. VX-702 was also evaluated in a Thorough QTc study. Vertex believes that results from both studies support continued development of VX-702. Vertex plans to seek a collaborator to further develop this compound.

Previously, VX-702 has been evaluated as a single agent in a 315-patient RA clinical trial, and in exploratory studies in healthy volunteers and patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Clinical Need in Rheumatoid Arthritis

More than 2 million people in the U.S. and 5 million people worldwide suffer from RA, a chronic disease that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints of hands, feet and wrists. In RA, the immune system attacks joint tissue, causing chronic inflammation and irreversible damage to cartilage, tendons and bones. The long-term prognosis for patients with RA is poor, and as a result, many patients face increased disability and premature death. Injectable anti-cyokine inhibitors have emerged as an important therapeutic option for controlling the symptoms and progression of inflammatory disease. Oral anti-cytokine therapies may represent a novel approach to treating a range of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases such as RA.