Pharma BD Deal Intelligence

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated / Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

2017 · Asset Purchase · $250M · Complete

CALLED IT — OFF BY 15

A $160M asset buy became the potentiator inside Vertex's next-gen CF blockbuster, Alyftrek — one of the best-aged small bolt-ons in the CF space.

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The coverage arc

Mar 06, 2017 BioPharma Dive Bullish

Vertex fine-tunes its CF portfolio with the Concert deal, paying $160M cash plus $90M in milestones to absorb the only competing CFTR potentiator in clinical…

Mar 07, 2017 Chemical & Engineering News Bullish

Vertex bought Concert's CF drug for $160M upfront; Concert shares soared 34.7% to $13.00 in pre-market trading, a validation of its deuterium chemistry…

Feb 13, 2024 Fierce Pharma Bullish

While Vertex gears up for next-generation CF treatment built on the deutivacaftor backbone, Trikafta sales reached $8.9B in 2023, validating the franchise…

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Vertex acquired worldwide development and commercialization rights to CTP-656, Concert's deuterated CFTR potentiator, for $160M upfront cash plus up to $90M in regulatory/reimbursement milestones (U.S., UK/Germany/France). The longer half-life potentiator was intended to enable once-daily dosing in CF triple-combination regimens. Closed July 2017.

Did it work? Outcome assessment

A $160M asset buy became the potentiator inside Vertex's next-gen CF blockbuster, Alyftrek — one of the best-aged small bolt-ons in the CF space.

Strategic verdict
Achieved Stated Rationale
Financial impact
Accretive
Pipeline outcome
Assets Advanced

Key facts

Related deals — scored

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Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated / Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (this deal)2017$250M85
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Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated / Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.2026$10.0B68
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