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Vertex to acquire ViaCyte for $320M growing diabetes cell therapy pipeline with complementary stem cell differentiation technologies
Vertex presents positive zimislecel (formerly VX-880) data at ADA 85th Scientific Sessions, June 2025: 12 patients >=1yr all hit ADA HbA1c<7% & TIR>70%,…
Zimislecel (formerly VX-880): 12 patients followed >=1yr, all in ADA glucose range, 10/12 insulin-free; open-label Phase 1/2/3, ~50-patient enrollment,…
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Vertex acquired ViaCyte for $320 million in cash (announced July 11, 2022; closed September 30, 2022) to accelerate its potentially curative stem cell-derived islet cell program for type 1 diabetes (T1D), gaining additional human stem cell lines, differentiation IP, and GMP cell-therapy manufacturing capacity. Post-close the lead asset VX-880 was renamed zimislecel and advanced from Phase 1/2 proof-of-concept into the Phase 3 portion of an open-label Phase 1/2/3 pivotal study. At the ADA 85th Scientific Sessions (June 2025), 12 patients followed at least one year all achieved ADA-recommended HbA1c <7.0% and time-in-range >70%, with 10 of 12 free of exogenous insulin; participants remained on immunosuppression. Zimislecel holds FDA RMAT and Fast Track, EMA PRIME, and UK MHRA ILAP Innovation Passport designations, with global regulatory submissions on track for 2026 — validating the deal's curative-cell-therapy thesis.
| Deal | Year | Value | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated / ViaCyte Inc. (this deal) | 2022 | $320M | 60 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated / Aurora Biosciences Corporation | 2001 | $592M | 95 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated / Semma Therapeutics Inc. | 2019 | $950M | 86 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated / Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 2017 | $250M | 85 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated / CRISPR Therapeutics AG | 2015 | $2.6B | 85 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated / Alpine Immune Sciences | 2024 | $4.9B | 78 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated / Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 2026 | $10.0B | 68 |
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