Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

BOSTON, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saudi Arabia officially opened its national pavilion today at the BIO International Convention 2025, marking a milestone moment in its journey to become a global biotechnology hub. The opening reflects the Kingdom’s bold commitment to scientific advancement, international collaboration, and innovation-driven healthcare transformation. The inauguration, which was attended by senior Saudi officials and invited guests, featured the launch of a broad set of partnership agreements with global biotech and healthcare leaders. These agreements reflect a unified message: Saudi Arabia is building a globally connected, innovation-ready ecosystem — and is ready to partner across the international biotech value chain. With more than 25 participating Saudi healthcare institutions and over 160 delegates, the Kingdom’s presence at BIO 2025 is one of the event’s largest. The Saudi Pavilion will host a curated program of high-level engagements, including a flagship Super Session, spotlight discussions on upcoming projects and partnership opportunities, and a series of strategic MoU signings. In remarks delivered during the opening, His Excellency Eng. Abdulaziz Alrumaih , Vice Minister of Health for Planning & Development – and Head of the Saudi Delegation, stated: “Today is more than an opening — it is a statement of intent. Saudi Arabia is here not just to observe but to lead. We are investing in our future, partnering with the world’s best, and creating a biotech ecosystem where collaboration turns into innovation, and innovation into impact.” Saudi Arabia’s National Biotechnology Strategy — driven under the leadership of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister — is transforming the Kingdom into a destination for discovery, development, and delivery. From regulation to research, infrastructure to investment, Saudi Arabia is ready to help shape the future of life sciences. About the MoUs: Advancing Collaboration Across the Biotech Value Chain As part of its opening activities at BIO 2025, Saudi Arabia signed over a dozen high-impact Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between its leading health institutions and international biotechnology and healthcare organizations. These partnerships span the full spectrum of the global life sciences landscape: from early-stage startups to multinational leaders, and across domains including therapeutics, diagnostics, clinical research, and digital health. Together, they reflect a shared commitment to accelerate scientific discovery, enable clinical trials, strengthen technology transfer, and localize advanced biotech solutions within the Kingdom. MoUs signed by the Health Holding Company include collaborations with Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Amgen, and Illumina, focused on precision medicine, genetic diagnostics, and cutting-edge therapeutic development. The MoUs solidify these companies’ presence in the Kingdom, bringing innovation and therapies to the region – and leveraging the Kingdom’s infrastructure and investments in healthcare to provide a platform for future growth. King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) signed a partnership with Cellenkos to advance cell therapy initiatives, while King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC) formalized a collaboration with Illumina in genomics research. Further strengthening the Kingdom’s digital healthcare infrastructure, Lean partnered with Nucleus Genomics to co-develop evidence-based methods for communicating personal genomic findings, including digital reports and clinical decision tools. Saudi biotech startup Novo Genomics signed two major agreements: one with Tracer Biotechnologies to localize ctDNA monitoring technologies, and another with Avigena Biosciences to adapt polygenic risk scoring models for diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, cancer, and diabetes using local genomic data. KaRama Bio, another Saudi-founded startup, inked MoUs with DigiBiomics Co. and BioAro Inc. to advance exposomics-driven diagnostics and support clinical trial infrastructure. Additional signings include a partnership between United Medical Group and Bioskills of the North East to establish a joint venture in training and medical simulation, and a strategic collaboration between SmartHealth and MPR to expand clinical research services in the Kingdom. Collectively, these MoUs are a powerful signal of Saudi Arabia’s readiness to collaborate with global leaders in advancing science, accelerating innovation, and shaping the future of biotech together. About Saudi Biotech The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is proud to debut its first-ever national pavilion at BIO International, being held in Boston June 16-19, 2025. Rooted in Vision 2030, this initiative showcases a fully integrated life sciences ecosystem - combining a future-ready lifestyle, world-class research institutions, streamlined regulation, and digital infrastructure built for speed, scale, and scientific impact. The Kingdom offers a seamless environment for biotech innovation with fast-track clinical trial approvals, robust regulatory alignment via its ML4-designated Food and Drug Authority, and nationwide digital platforms like nphies and the world’s largest Virtual Hospital. Saudi Biotech brings together the Kingdom’s leading health and science entities, including the Ministry of Health, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Saudi National Institute of Health, Public Health Authority, and the Saudi Health Council, all of whom play vital roles in enabling a regulatory environment that supports clinical innovation. It also features institutions powering translational research and IP protection, such as the Research, Development and Innovation Authority, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center. Funding and investment facilitators are also present, including the Ministry of Investment, Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, and the Saudi Business Center, alongside localization powerhouses like Lifera, Lean, and the Public Investment Fund. Visitors can explore how talent and livability are central to the Kingdom’s strategy through participation from the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and the Premium Residency Center. Finally, NEOM showcases the Kingdom’s most ambitious vision - a purpose-built frontier for biotech, precision medicine, and future health. The Saudi Pavilion will be located at Booth #3265 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. To explore the full Pavilion experience and meet the partners driving this transformation, visit https://www.saudi-biotech.com/ . An image accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fc29cd17-b3ff-4f16-b0ef-0dd97809f07c Contact: Saudi Biotech redbiotech@moh.gov.sa Media inquiries: MC Services AG saudi-biotech@mc-services.eu Saudi Arabia at BIO 2025 - Welcome to the Future of Biotech Saudi Arabia showcases biotech innovation at BIO 2025, at Booth 3265. 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Beam Therapeutics continues to report encouraging progress with BEAM-101, its experimental sickle cell disease (SCD) gene therapy, unveiling updated clinical results that show consistent benefits across more patients and over a longer period, with no new safety issues emerging. The findings were unveiled Friday at the European Hematology Association (EHA) conference.The Phase I/II BEACON trial is evaluating BEAM-101 in patients with SCD marked by severe vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs). The one-time therapy consists of patients' own CD34+ stem cells base-edited to increase production of foetal haemoglobin (HbF), mimicking naturally occurring genetic variants that provide protection against sickling.The expanded dataset builds on December results from seven patients shared at last year's American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting.Similar to what had been presented at ASH, Beam said all 17 treated patients in the new analysis achieved endogenous HbF levels rise above 60%, while harmful sickle haemoglobin dropped below 40%, with responses durable for up to 15 months. The therapy also resolved anaemia in all patients and eliminated VOCs post-engraftment.Patients required a median of one mobilisation cycle for cell collection, with neutrophil engraftment occurring at a median of 16.5 days and platelet engraftment at 19.5 days. Additionally, the treatment normalised key markers of haemolysis and decreased erythropoietin levels to normal or near normal, according to the company."We continue to see growing evidence of differentiated outcomes for BEAM-101 and base editing in severe SCD, now observed across 17 patients with the longest follow-up of over one year," said CEO John Evans.Meanwhile, the safety profile remained consistent with busulfan conditioning and autologous stem cell transplantation, with common adverse events including stomatitis (70.6%), febrile neutropenia (64.9%) and anaemia (23.5%). The company previously disclosed that one patient died four months after treatment due to respiratory failure deemed likely related to the busulfan conditioning regimen rather than the gene therapy itself. Beam is developing an alternative conditioning approach called ESCAPE that uses an anti-CD117 antibody to avoid chemotherapy-based conditioning.Beam says it has completed enrollment in both adult and adolescent cohorts of the BEACON trial, with 26 patients dosed as of Friday and plans to treat 30 patients by mid-2025. The company expects to share additional data from the trial by year-end as it works toward potential regulatory submissions for the therapy, which would compete with approved gene therapies from Vertex Pharmaceuticals and bluebird bio.

- Data from longer-term follow-up of patients in clinical trials further demonstrate durability of the transformative benefits of CASGEVY® - - Multiple reimbursement agreements secured, expanding access to CASGEVY to more patients around the world - LONDON - June 12, 2025 - Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced positive longer-term data for CASGEVY® (exagamglogene autotemcel) from global clinical trials in people with severe sickle cell disease (SCD) or transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT). The results, presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress, continue to demonstrate the transformative, durable clinical benefits of CASGEVY. The longest follow up in SCD patients now extends more than 5.5 years and in TDT patients more than 6 years, with a mean of 39.4 months and 43.5 months, respectively. CASGEVY is the first and only approved CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited therapy. “These longer-term data further confirm that CASGEVY can provide significant and durable clinical benefits to eligible people living with sickle cell disease or transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia,” said Franco Locatelli, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Rome, Director of the Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Chair of Vertex’s TDT Program Steering Committee, and Presenting Author of the CASGEVY TDT clinical data at EHA. “Given the urgent and unmet need for new transformative treatments for these diseases, I am delighted by the strong progress that has been made to bring CASGEVY to eligible patients in the real world.” New longer-term follow-up data presented from the CASGEVY trials In SCD, 43/45 (95.6%) evaluable patients (those with at least 16 months of follow-up) were free from vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) for at least 12 consecutive months (VF12) in CLIMB-121 and CLIMB-131 combined (95% CI: 84.9%, 99.5%). The mean duration of VOC-free was 35.0 months (range 14.4 to 66.2 months). All evaluable patients (45/45 [100%]) achieved freedom from in-patient hospitalization for severe VOCs for at least 12 consecutive months (HF12) in CLIMB-121 and CLIMB-131 combined (95% CI: 92.1%, 100%), with a mean hospitalization-free of 36.1 months (range 14.5 to 66.2 months). In TDT, 54/55 (98.2%) evaluable patients (those with at least 16 months of follow-up) achieved transfusion-independence for at least 12 consecutive months with a weighted average hemoglobin (Hb) of at least 9 g/dL (TI12) in CLIMB-111 and CLIMB-131 combined (95% CI: 90.3%, 100%). The mean duration of transfusion independence was 40.5 months (range 13.6 to 70.8 months). The one evaluable patient who did not achieve TI12 has been transfusion free for 14.8 months. Iron removal therapy has been stopped for more than 6 months in 39/56 (69.6%) treated patients following infusion with CASGEVY, with sustained improvement in ferritin and liver iron content, suggesting that CASGEVY has the potential to correct ineffective erythropoiesis. Patients continue to demonstrate stable levels of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and allelic editing. The safety profile of CASGEVY continues to be generally consistent with myeloablative conditioning with busulfan and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant. All evaluable patients (45/45 [100%]) achieved freedom from in-patient hospitalization for severe VOCs for at least 12 consecutive months (HF12) in CLIMB-121 and CLIMB-131 combined (95% CI: 92.1%, 100%), with a mean hospitalization-free of 36.1 months (range 14.5 to 66.2 months). The one evaluable patient who did not achieve TI12 has been transfusion free for 14.8 months. Iron removal therapy has been stopped for more than 6 months in 39/56 (69.6%) treated patients following infusion with CASGEVY, with sustained improvement in ferritin and liver iron content, suggesting that CASGEVY has the potential to correct ineffective erythropoiesis. Progress in bringing CASGEVY to patients Through reimbursement agreements, Vertex has secured access for eligible SCD or TDT patients in multiple countries including Austria, Bahrain, England, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the United Arab Emirates, the United States and Wales. Vertex is continuing to work with government and reimbursement authorities globally to secure sustainable access for additional eligible patients. About Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) SCD is a debilitating, progressive, life-shortening genetic disease. SCD patients report health-related quality of life scores well below the general population and significant health care resource utilization. SCD affects the red blood cells, which are essential for carrying oxygen to all organs and tissues of the body. SCD causes severe pain, organ damage and shortened life span due to misshapen or “sickled” red blood cells. The clinical hallmark of SCD is vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), which are caused by blockages of blood vessels by sickled red blood cells and result in severe and debilitating pain that can happen anywhere in the body at any time. SCD requires lifelong treatment and significant use of health care resources, and ultimately results in reduced life expectancy, decreased quality of life and reduced lifetime earnings and productivity. In Europe, the mean age of death for patients living with SCD is around 40 years. About Transfusion-Dependent Beta Thalassemia (TDT) TDT is a serious, life-threatening genetic disease. TDT patients report health-related quality of life scores below the general population and significant health care resource utilization. TDT requires frequent blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy throughout a person’s life. Due to anemia, patients living with TDT may experience fatigue and shortness of breath, and infants may develop failure to thrive, jaundice and feeding problems. Complications of TDT can also include an enlarged spleen, liver and/or heart, misshapen bones and delayed puberty. TDT requires lifelong treatment and significant use of health care resources, and ultimately results in reduced life expectancy, decreased quality of life and reduced lifetime earnings and productivity. In Europe, the mean age of death for patients living with TDT is 50-55 years. About CASGEVY® (exagamglogene autotemcel) CASGEVY® is a non-viral, ex vivo CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited cell therapy for eligible patients with SCD or TDT, in which a patient’s own hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells are edited at the erythroid specific enhancer region of the BCL11A gene through a precise double-strand break. This edit results in the production of high levels of fetal hemoglobin (HbF; hemoglobin F) in red blood cells. HbF is the form of the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin that is naturally present during fetal development, which then switches to the adult form of hemoglobin after birth. CASGEVY has been shown to reduce or eliminate VOCs for patients with SCD and transfusion requirements for patients with TDT. CASGEVY is approved for eligible SCD and TDT patients 12 years and older by multiple regulatory bodies around the world. About the CLIMB Trials The ongoing Phase 1/2/3 open-label trials, CLIMB-111 and CLIMB-121, are designed to assess the safety and efficacy of a single dose of CASGEVY in patients ages 12 to 35 years with TDT or with SCD and recurrent VOCs. The trials are closed for enrollment. Patients will be followed for approximately two years after CASGEVY infusion in these trials. Each patient will be asked to participate in the ongoing long-term, open-label trial, CLIMB-131. CLIMB-131 is designed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of CASGEVY in patients who received CASGEVY, including those in other CLIMB trials. The trial is designed to follow patients for up to 15 years after CASGEVY infusion. About Vertex Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious diseases and conditions. The company has approved therapies for cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia and acute pain, and it continues to advance clinical and research programs in these areas. Vertex also has a robust clinical pipeline of investigational therapies across a range of modalities in other serious diseases where it has deep insight into causal human biology, including neuropathic pain, APOL1-mediated kidney disease, IgA nephropathy, primary membranous nephropathy, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, type 1 diabetes and myotonic dystrophy type 1. Vertex was founded in 1989 and has its global headquarters in Boston, with international headquarters in London. Additionally, the company has research and development sites and commercial offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East. Vertex is consistently recognized as one of the industry's top places to work, including 15 consecutive years on Science magazine's Top Employers list and one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. For company updates and to learn more about Vertex’s history of innovation, visit www.vrtx.com/en-global. Vertex Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, the statements by Franco Locatelli, M.D., Ph.D., in this press release, and statements regarding expectations for the anticipated transformative, durable clinical benefits of CASGEVY, plans to continue working with government and reimbursement authorities globally to secure sustainable access for patients, and our plans for and design of the CLIMB studies. While we believe the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are accurate, these forward-looking statements represent the company's beliefs only as of the date of this press release and there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Those risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that eligible patient access to CASGEVY may not be achieved on the anticipated timeline, or at all, that data from the company's development programs may not support registration or further development of its compounds due to safety, efficacy, and other reasons, and other risks listed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Vertex's most recent annual report and subsequent quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and available through the company's website at www.vrtx.com. You should not place undue reliance on these statements, or the scientific data presented. Vertex disclaims any obligation to update the information contained in this press release as new information becomes available. Vertex Pharmaceuticals IncorporatedInvestors:InvestorInfo@vrtx.com Media:mediainfo@vrtx.comorInternational: +44 20 3204 5275orU.S.: 617-341-6992