Vertex goes on a spending spree, with DMD and DM1 acquisitions

8 June 2019

Hot on the heels of an up to $1 billion deal with Kymera Therapeutics, US drugmaker Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: VTRX) is enhancing its gene editing capabilities to develop novel therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and myotonic dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) by expanding its collaboration with CRISPR Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CRSP) and acquiring Exonics Therapeutics.

Vertex and Switzerland-headquartered CRISPR Therapeutics have expanded their collaboration and entered into an exclusive licensing agreement to discover and develop gene editing therapies for the treatment of DMD and DM1.

Vertex shares closed up 3.43% at $173.51 on Friday, while CRISPR rose as much as 18.7% and closed up 14.11% at $42.88.

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