Biggest changeRisks associated with operating a global biotechnology company include: • differing regulatory requirements for drug approvals and regulation of approved drugs in foreign countries; • varying reimbursement regimes and difficulties or the inability to obtain reimbursement for our products in foreign countries in a timely manner; • differing patient treatment infrastructures, particularly since our business is focused on the treatment of serious diseases that affect relatively smaller numbers of patients and are typically prescribed by specialist physicians; • collectability of accounts receivable; • changes in tariffs, trade barriers, and regulatory requirements, the risks of which appear to have increased in the current political environment; • economic weakness, including recession and inflation, or political instability in particular foreign economies and markets; • differing levels of enforcement and/or recognition of contractual and intellectual property rights; • circulation of unauthorized copy versions of our medicines that infringe our intellectual property rights; • governments seeking to override our intellectual property rights through the introduction of compulsory license or similar mechanisms; • complying with local laws and regulations, which can change significantly over time; • foreign taxes, including withholding of payroll taxes; • foreign currency fluctuations, which could result in reduced revenues or increased operating expenses, and other obligations incident to doing business or operating in another country; • workforce uncertainty in countries where labor unrest is more common than in the U.S.; • reliance on third-party vendors, distributors and suppliers; • import and export licensing requirements, tariffs, and other trade and travel restrictions; • global or regional public health emergencies that could affect our operations or business; • production shortages resulting from any events affecting raw material supply or manufacturing capabilities abroad; and • business interruptions resulting from geo-political actions, including war and terrorism.
Biggest changeIn addition to the ex-U.S. risks we face with respect to compliance with local laws and regulatory requirements, pricing and reimbursement, intellectual property, manufacturing capabilities and supply chain, foreign exchange risks, and reliance on third parties, risks associated with operating a global biotechnology company include the potential for: • economic weakness, including recession and inflation, or political instability globally or with respect to particular foreign economies and markets; • business interruptions resulting from geo-political actions, including war and terrorism; • import and export licensing requirements, tariffs, trade barriers, and other trade and travel restrictions, the risks of which appear to have increased in the current political environment; • credit risks related to our customers, which may be higher in less developed markets; and • global or regional public health emergencies. 34 If any of the above risks were to occur, our revenues, results of operations, financial condition or business could be materially harmed.
Massachusetts state law also prohibits us from engaging in specified business combinations with an interested stockholder, subject to certain exceptions, unless the combination is approved or consummated in a prescribed manner, and places restrictions on voting by any shareholder who acquires 20% or more of the aggregate shareholder voting power without approval by non-interested shareholders.
Massachusetts state law also prohibits us from engaging in specified business combinations with an interested stockholder, subject to certain exceptions, unless the combination is approved or consummated in a prescribed manner, and places 38 restrictions on voting by any shareholder who acquires 20% or more of the aggregate shareholder voting power without approval by non-interested shareholders.
In the course of providing its services, a contract manufacturer may develop process technology related to the manufacture of our products or product candidates that the manufacturer owns, either independently or jointly with us.
In addition, in the course of providing its services, a contract manufacturer may develop process technology related to the manufacture of our products or product candidates that the manufacturer owns, either independently or jointly with us.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS We did not receive any written comments from the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to the date 180 days before the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 regarding our filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that have not been resolved.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS We did not receive any written comments from the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to the date 180 days before the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 regarding our filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that have not been resolved.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk, and you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below in addition to the other information included or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
RISK FACTORS Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk, and you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below in addition to the other information included or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Most of our operations, including our research and development activities, are conducted in a limited number of facilities. If any of our major facilities were to experience a catastrophic loss, due to an earthquake, flood, severe storms, fire or similar event, our operations could be seriously harmed.
Most of our operations, including our research and development activities, are conducted in a limited number of facilities. If any of our major facilities were to experience a catastrophic loss due to an earthquake, flood, severe storms, fire or similar event, our operations would be seriously harmed.
Interim or preliminary data from a clinical trial may not be predictive of final results from the clinical trial and are subject to the risk that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment and treatment continues and more patient data become available or as patients from our clinical trials continue other treatments for their disease.
In addition, interim or preliminary data from a clinical trial may not be predictive of final results from the clinical trial and are subject to the risk that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment and treatment continues, more patient data become available, or as patients continue other treatments for their disease.
Our stock repurchases will depend upon, among other factors, market conditions, our cash balances and potential future capital requirements, results of operations, financial condition, and other factors that we may deem relevant. We can provide no assurance that we will repurchase stock at favorable prices, if at all.
Our stock repurchases will depend 37 upon, among other factors, market conditions, our cash balances and potential future capital requirements, results of operations, financial condition, and other factors that we may deem relevant. We can provide no assurance that we will repurchase stock at favorable prices, if at all. General Risk Factors Our stock price is volatile.
Any litigation, including litigation related to Abbreviated New Drug Applications (“ANDA”), litigation related to 505(b)(2) applications, interference proceedings to determine priority of inventions, derivations proceedings, inter partes review, oppositions to patents in foreign countries, litigation against our collaborators or similar actions, may be costly and time consuming and could harm our business.
Any litigation, including litigation related to Abbreviated New Drug Applications (“ANDA”), litigation related to 505(b)(2) applications, interference proceedings to determine priority of inventions, derivations proceedings, inter partes review, oppositions to patents in foreign countries, litigation against our collaborators, or similar actions, could harm our business.
Product candidates that may appear promising in research and development may fail to reach commercial success for many reasons, including: • the failure to establish safety and efficacy through clinical trials; • the failure to obtain marketing approval for the product candidate; • the inability to manufacture the product candidate on economically feasible terms; • the failure to gain and maintain market acceptance among physicians and patients or other members of the medical community; and • the failure to obtain market acceptance or adequate reimbursement levels from third-party payors or foreign governments for such product.
Product candidates may appear promising in research and development but may fail to reach commercial success for many reasons, including: • the failure to establish safety and efficacy through clinical trials; • the failure to obtain marketing approval; • the inability to manufacture on economically feasible terms; • the failure to gain and maintain market acceptance among physicians and patients or other members of the medical community; • the failure to obtain adequate pricing or reimbursement levels from third-party payors or foreign governments; and • competition based on, among other factors, safety, efficacy, patient convenience, pricing and reimbursement.
Failure to advance product candidates through clinical development could impair our ability to ultimately commercialize products, which could materially harm our business and long-term prospects.
Failure to advance product candidates through clinical development would impair our ability to commercialize products, which could materially harm our business, financial condition and long-term prospects.
We cannot predict what actions may ultimately be taken with respect to trade relations between the United States and China or other countries, what products and services may be subject to such actions or what actions may be taken by the other countries in retaliation.
We cannot predict what actions may ultimately be taken with respect to trade relations between the United States and China or other countries, what products and services may be subject to such actions, the effective date or duration of such actions, or what actions may be taken by the other countries in response to actions by the United States.
General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) went into effect in 2018 and has imposed new obligations on us with respect to our processing of personal data and the cross-border transfer of such data, including higher standards of obtaining consent, more robust transparency requirements, data breach notification requirements, requirements for contractual language with our data processors, and stronger individual data rights.
General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) imposes obligations on us with respect to our processing of personal data and the cross-border transfer of such data, including higher standards of obtaining consent, more robust transparency requirements, data breach notification requirements, requirements for contractual language with our data processors, and stronger individual data rights.
Such statements may relate to: • our expectations regarding the amount of, timing of, and trends with respect to our financial performance, including revenues, costs and expenses, and other gains and losses; • our expectations regarding clinical trials, including expectations for patient enrollment, development timelines, the expected timing of data from our ongoing and planned clinical trials, and regulatory authority filings and other submissions for our therapies; • our beliefs, expectations, and plans with respect to the commercial launches of CASGEVY for the treatment of SCD and TDT, ALYFTREK for the treatment of CF, and JOURNAVX for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain; • our ability to maintain and obtain adequate reimbursement for our products and product candidates, our ability to launch, commercialize and market our products or any of our other therapies for which we obtain regulatory approval, and our ability to obtain label expansions for existing therapies; • our expectations regarding our ability to continue to grow our CF business by increasing the number of people with CF eligible and able to receive our medicines and providing improved treatment options for people who are already eligible for one of our medicines; • the data that will be generated by ongoing and planned clinical trials and the ability to use that data to advance compounds, continue development, support regulatory filings, or accelerate regulatory approval, including our plans to share data in 2025 from the ongoing clinical trial of VX-522 in patients with CF and from Part B of the ongoing clinical trial evaluating VX-264 in patients with T1D, and our plans to file for accelerated regulatory approvals based on interim analyses from the AMPLITUDE study in AMKD and the RAINIER study in IgAN; • our beliefs that ALYFTREK will provide additional clinical benefits to eligible people with CF, regarding the durable efficacy and effectiveness of CASGEVY as one-time functional cure for people with SCD and TDT, and regarding the clinical benefits of JOURNAVX without the evidence of the limitations of other available therapies; • our beliefs regarding the support provided by clinical trials and preclinical and nonclinical studies of our therapies for further investigation, clinical trials or potential use as a treatment; • our plans to continue investing in our research and development programs, including anticipated timelines for our programs, and our strategy to develop our pipeline programs, alone or with third party-collaborators; • our beliefs regarding the approximate patient populations for the disease areas on which we focus; • the potential benefits and therapeutic scope of our acquisitions and collaborations, including our acquisition of Alpine and its lead asset, povetacicept, its potential to become a pipeline-in-a-product, and our expectations regarding the Zai collaboration; • our expectations regarding the lower royalty burden for ALYFTREK; • our plans to expand, strengthen, and invest in our global supply chains and manufacturing infrastructure and capabilities, including for biologic and cell and gene therapies; • potential business development activities, including the identification of potential collaborative partners or acquisition targets; • our ability to expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio and otherwise maintain exclusive rights to products; • the establishment, development and maintenance of collaborative relationships, including potential milestone payments or other obligations; • potential fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and the effectiveness of our foreign currency management program; • our expectations regarding the amount of cash to generated by operations, our cash balance and expected generation and interest income; 64 • our expectations regarding our provision for or benefit from income taxes and the utilization of our deferred tax assets; • our ability to use our research programs to identify and develop new product candidates to address serious diseases and significant unmet medical needs; • the effectiveness of our governance, plans and strategy with respect to managing cybersecurity risks and other threats to our information technology systems; • our ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; • our expectations involving governmental cost containment and other regulatory efforts; • our expectations surrounding the competitive landscape facing our products and product candidates; and • our liquidity and our expectations regarding the possibility of raising additional capital.
Such statements may relate to: • our expectations regarding the amount of, timing of, and trends with respect to our financial performance, including revenues, costs and expenses, and other gains and losses; • our expectations regarding clinical trials, including expectations for patient enrollment, development timelines, the expected timing of data from our ongoing and planned clinical trials, and regulatory authority filings and other submissions for our therapies; • our beliefs, expectations, and plans with respect to the commercial launches of CASGEVY for the treatment of SCD and TDT, ALYFTREK for the treatment of CF, and JOURNAVX for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain, and the anticipated launch of povetacicept for the treatment of IgAN ; • our ability to maintain and obtain adequate reimbursement for our products and product candidates, our ability to launch, commercialize and market our products or any of our other therapies for which we obtain regulatory approval, and our ability to obtain label expansions for existing therapies; • our expectations regarding our ability to continue to grow our CF business by increasing the number of people with CF eligible and able to receive our medicines and providing improved treatment options for people who are already eligible for one of our medicines, and our beliefs that t he majority of people with CF will transition to ALYFTREK over time ; • our beliefs regarding the support provided by clinical trials and preclinical and nonclinical studies of our therapies for further investigation, clinical trials or potential use as a treatment, including with respect to povetacicept as a pipeline-in-a-product and as a potential best-in-class approach for the treatment of IgAN, pMN, and gMG; • the data that will be generated by ongoing and planned clinical trials and the ability to use that data to advance compounds, continue development, support regulatory filings, or accelerate regulatory approval, including our plans to complete the full submission for potential accelerated approval of povetacicept in IgAN in the first half of 2026 and to share data from the interim analysis of the Phase 2/3 clinical trial of inaxaplin in AMKD in late 2026 or early 2027 and from the Phase 2 trial in people with AMKD in mid-2026; • our beliefs that ALYFTREK will provide additional clinical benefits to eligible people with CF, regarding the durable efficacy and effectiveness of CASGEVY as one-time functional cure for people with SCD and TDT, and regarding the clinical benefits of JOURNAVX without the evidence of the several limitations of other available therapies; • our plans to continue investing in our research and development programs, including anticipated timelines for our programs, and our strategy to develop our pipeline programs, alone or with third-party collaborators; • our beliefs regarding the approximate patient populations for the disease areas on which we focus; • the potential benefits and therapeutic scope of our acquisitions and collaborations, including our acquisition of Alpine and its lead asset, povetacicept, its potential to become a pipeline-in-a-product , and our expectations regarding our agreements with Zai, Ono and WuXi; • our expectations regarding the lower royalty burden for ALYFTREK; • our plans to expand, strengthen, and invest in our global supply chains and manufacturing infrastructure and capabilities, including for biologic and cell and gene therapies; • the effects of import and export licensing requirements, tariffs, trade barriers, and other trade and travel restrictions; • potential business development activities, including the identification of potential collaborative partners or acquisition targets; 39 • our ability to expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio and otherwise maintain exclusive rights to products; • our expectations or beliefs regarding any legal proceedings in which we are involved, including any litigation, arbitration or other similar proceedings involving our products, product candidates or activities; • the establishment, development and maintenance of collaborative relationships, including potential milestone payments or other obligations; • potential fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and the effectiveness of our foreign currency management program; • our expectations regarding the amount of cash to generated by operations, our cash balance and expected generation and interest income; • our expectations regarding our provision for or benefit from income taxes and the utilization of our deferred tax assets; • our ability to use our research programs to identify and develop new product candidates to address serious diseases and significant unmet medical needs; • the effectiveness of our governance, plans and strategy with respect to managing cybersecurity risks and other threats to our information technology systems; • our ability to effectively implement artificial intelligence systems and tools; • our ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; • our expectations involving governmental cost containment and other regulatory efforts; • our expectations surrounding the competitive landscape facing our products and product candidates; and • our liquidity and our expectations regarding the possibility of raising additional capital.
The final form of these laws and the relevant practical application is unknown at this time, but may lead to lower prices, paybacks or other forms of discounts or special taxes.
The impact of these laws where finalized, the final form of laws under consideration, and their relevant practical application, are unknown at this time, but may lead to lower prices, paybacks, or other forms of discounts or special taxes.
For example, in December 2024, the FDA modified the labeling of TRIKAFTA by revising information regarding liver injury and liver failure and moving it from the “warnings and precautions” section to a “boxed warning” section, and included similar language in the ALYFTREK label.
For example, in December 2024, the FDA required us to modify the TRIKAFTA label by revising information regarding liver injury and liver failure and moving that information from the “warnings and precautions” section to a “boxed warning” section; the FDA required similar language in the ALYFTREK label.
For example, our corporate headquarters, as well as additional leased space that we use for certain logistical and laboratory operations and manufacturing, are located in a flood zone along the Massachusetts coast. We have adopted business continuity plans to address most crises.
For example, our corporate headquarters, as well as additional leased space that we use for certain logistical and laboratory operations and manufacturing, are located in a flood zone along the Massachusetts coast.
For example, legislation has been introduced in Congress to limit certain U.S. biotechnology companies from using equipment or services produced or provided by select Chinese biotechnology companies, and others in Congress have advocated for the use of existing executive branch authorities to limit those Chinese service providers’ ability to engage in business in the U.S.
For example, U.S. legislation has been introduced to limit certain U.S. biotechnology companies from using equipment or services from select Chinese biotechnology companies, and others in Congress have advocated for limitations on those Chinese service providers’ ability to engage in business in the U.S.
In February 2023, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase up to $3.0 billion of our common stock from time to time through open market or privately negotiated transactions, of which $1.6 billion has been repurchased as of December 31, 2024.
In May 2025, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase up to $4.0 billion of our common stock from time to time through open market or privately negotiated transactions, of which $618.5 million has been repurchased as of December 31, 2025 .
However, if we are unable to fully implement our business continuity plans, we may experience delays in recovery of data and/or an inability to perform vital corporate functions, which could result in a significant disruption in our research, development, manufacturing and/or commercial activities, large expenses to repair or replace the facility and/or the loss of critical data, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
If we are unable to effectively implement our business continuity plans, we may experience delays in recovery of data and/or an inability to perform vital corporate functions, which could result in a significant disruption in our operations, large expenses to repair or replace the facility and/or the loss of critical data.
Due to evolving legal standards relating to the patentability, validity, and enforceability of patents covering pharmaceutical and biotechnological inventions and the scope of claims made under these patents, our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patents is uncertain and involves complex legal and factual questions. We have many pending patent applications covering our products.
Due to the complexity of the legal standards and factual questions relating to the patentability, validity, and enforceability of patents covering pharmaceutical and biotechnological inventions and the scope of claims made under these patents, our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce our patents is uncertain.
We have adopted provisions in our articles of organization and by-laws and are subject to Massachusetts corporate laws that may frustrate any attempt to remove or replace members of our board or to effectuate certain types of business combinations involving us.
Failure to appropriately manage these risks could result in regulatory actions, liability, or other adverse consequences. We have adopted provisions in our articles of organization and by-laws and are subject to Massachusetts corporate laws that may frustrate any attempt to remove or replace members of our board or to effectuate certain types of business combinations involving us.
A disruption, infiltration, or failure of our information technology systems or any of our data centers as a result of software or hardware malfunctions, computer viruses, cyber-attacks, employee theft or misuse, power disruptions, natural disasters, floods or accidents could cause breaches of data security and loss of critical data, which in turn could materially adversely affect our business and subject us to both private and governmental causes of action.
Disruption, infiltration, or failure of our information technology systems because of software or hardware malfunctions, computer viruses, cyber-attacks, employee theft or misuse, power disruptions, natural disasters or accidents could cause breaches of data security and/or loss of critical data, which in turn could materially adversely affect our business.
In many countries, the health care professionals we regularly interact with may meet the definition of a foreign government official for purposes of the FCPA. We also are subject to import/export control laws.
In many countries, the health care professionals we regularly interact with may meet the FCPA’s definition of a foreign government official. We are also subject to U.K.
In addition, our increased use of cloud technologies heightens these third party and other operational risks, and any failure by cloud or other technology service providers to adequately safeguard their systems and prevent cyber-attacks could disrupt our operations and result in misappropriation, corruption, or loss of confidential or propriety information.
We use cloud technologies and any failure by cloud or other technology service providers to adequately safeguard their systems and prevent cyber-attacks or data privacy incidents could disrupt our operations and result in misappropriation, corruption, or loss of confidential or proprietary information.
It also is possible that other federal, state, or foreign enforcement authorities might take action if they believe that the alleged improper promotion led to the submission and payment of claims for an unapproved use, which could result in significant fines or penalties under other statutory authorities, such as laws prohibiting false claims for reimbursement.
It is also possible that other federal, state, or foreign enforcement authorities might take action if they believe that the alleged conduct led to the submission and payment of claims for unapproved uses of our product, which could result in significant fines or penalties.
In addition, we maintain cyber liability insurance, however, this insurance may not be sufficient to cover the financial, legal, business or reputational losses that may result from an interruption or breach of our systems and those of critical third parties. Cyber-attacks are increasing in their frequency, sophistication, and intensity, and are becoming increasingly difficult to detect.
While we maintain cyber liability insurance, this insurance may not be sufficient to cover the financial, legal, business or reputational losses that may result from an interruption or breach of our systems and those of critical third parties.
Further, the credit agreement includes negative covenants, subject to exceptions, restricting or limiting our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, grant liens, engage in certain investment, acquisition and disposition transactions, and enter into transactions with affiliates.
The credit agreement requires that we comply with certain financial covenants, including a consolidated leverage ratio covenant and negative covenants, restricting or limiting our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, grant liens, engage in certain investment, acquisition and disposition transactions, and enter into transactions with affiliates.
We are subject to data privacy and security laws and regulations in various jurisdictions that apply to the collection, storage, use, sharing, and security of personal data, including health information, and impose significant compliance obligations.
We are subject to a variety of evolving and developing data privacy and security laws and regulations in various jurisdictions related to the collection, storage, use, sharing, and security of personal data, including health information.
This would increase our reliance on that manufacturer or require us to obtain a license from that manufacturer to have our products or product candidates manufactured by other suppliers utilizing the same process.
This would increase our reliance on that manufacturer or require us to obtain a license from that manufacturer to have our products or product candidates manufactured by other suppliers utilizing the same process. In addition, we and our CMOs and corporate partners are subject to cGMP, as well as comparable regulations in other jurisdictions.
As a result, shareholders or other parties may find it difficult to remove or replace our directors or to effectuate certain types of business combinations involving us. 63 SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the descriptions of our Business set forth in Part I, Item 1, our Risk Factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A, and our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations set forth in Part II, Item 7, contains forward-looking statements.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the descriptions of our Business set forth in Part I, Item 1, our Risk Factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A, and our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations set forth in Part II, Item 7, contains forward-looking statements.
Any failure to obtain regulatory approvals for a product candidate would prevent us from commercializing that product candidate. Any delay in obtaining required regulatory approvals could materially adversely affect our ability to successfully commercialize a product candidate.
Any delay in obtaining required regulatory approvals could adversely affect our ability to successfully commercialize a product candidate.
Following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, stockholder derivative lawsuits and securities class action litigation are common. Such litigation, if instituted against us or our officers and directors, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources.
Following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, shareholder derivative lawsuits and securities class action litigation are common. Such litigation, if instituted against us or our officers and directors, could result in substantial costs and other harm to our business. If we fail to attract and retain skilled employees, our business could be materially harmed.
We cannot, however, predict whether future reviews by the Colorado PDAB, or any other PDAB, will come to the same conclusion about TRIKAFTA or any of our other therapies, or the amount of any potential upper payment limit. We may continue to see more state action requiring additional disclosures or other actions.
Although the Colorado PDAB later found TRIKAFTA to be ineligible for an upper payment limit we cannot predict whether future reviews by the Colorado PDAB, or any other PDAB, will come to the same conclusion about TRIKAFTA or any of our other therapies, or the amount of any potential upper payment limit.
Supply disruptions may result from a number of factors, including shortages in product raw materials, labor or technical difficulties, regulatory inspections or restrictions, shipping or customs delays, general global supply chain disruptions, events beyond our control, or any other performance failure by us or any third-party manufacturer on which we rely.
Supply disruptions may result from a variety of factors, including shortages in product raw materials or labor, technical difficulties, regulatory inspections or restrictions, delays in construction, regulatory approval, and inspection of new facilities or the expansion of existing facilities, shipping or customs delays, inability to maintain compliance with quality or other regulations, including cGMP requirements, general global supply chain disruptions, and performance failures by us or any third-party manufacturer on which we rely.
To ensure the stability of our supply chains, we continue to develop alternative suppliers for our manufacturing processes and key materials. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to establish and maintain additional manufacturers or capacity for all of our product candidates and products on a timely basis or at all.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to identify, establish and maintain additional manufacturers or capacity for our product candidates and products on a timely basis, on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.
As a result, if any of our CF products were to experience safety issues or labeling modifications, our other CF products may be adversely affected.
Each of our CF products shares at least one active pharmaceutical ingredient with another of our products. If any of our CF products were to experience safety issues or labeling modifications, our other CF products may be adversely affected.
If any of the above risks were to materialize, if we are otherwise unable to increase revenues from sales of our CF medicines, or if we do not meet the expectations of investors or public equity market analysts, our business would be materially harmed and our ability to fund our operations could be adversely affected. 35 If we are unable to successfully develop, obtain approval and commercialize treatments for acute and neuropathic pain, our business could be materially harmed.
If we are unable to sustain or increase revenues from sales of our CF medicines, or if we do not meet the expectations of investors, our business would be materially harmed and our ability to fund our operations could be adversely affected.
We regularly assess the probable outcomes of these audits to determine the appropriateness of our tax provision, and we have established contingency reserves for material tax exposures.
We are subject to ongoing tax audits in various jurisdictions, and local tax authorities may disagree with certain positions we have taken and assess additional taxes. We regularly assess the probable outcomes of these audits to determine the appropriateness of our tax provision, and we have established contingency reserves for material tax exposures.
The timing of the release of information by us regarding our drug and therapy development programs is often beyond our control and is influenced by the timing of receipt of data from our clinical trials and by the general preference among pharmaceutical companies to disclose clinical data during medical conferences.
The timing of the release of information by us regarding our product development programs is often beyond our control and is influenced by the timing of receipt of communications from regulators and data from our clinical trials, among other things.
Additionally, unfavorable geopolitical events or situations could affect our ability to interact with or conduct business with specific vendors within our global supply network, or could prevent or delay the transportation of supplies or products to their planned destination. Any such disruptions could disrupt sales of our products and/or the timing or advancement of our clinical trials.
Additionally, unfavorable geopolitical events could affect our ability to interact with or conduct business with specific vendors within our global supply network or could prevent or delay the transportation of supplies or products to their planned destination. For example, we depend on China-based suppliers for portions of our supply chain.
There are many risks that could result in delays and additional costs, including the need to hire and train qualified employees and obtain access to necessary equipment and third-party technology. This capacity may be limited by the number of other clinical trials and commercial manufacturing ongoing for other companies seeking similar support.
There are many risks that could result in delays and additional costs, including the need to hire and train qualified employees and obtain access to necessary equipment and third-party technology.
While we have implemented security measures to minimize these risks to our data and information technology systems and have adopted a business continuity plan to deal with a disruption to our information technology systems, there can be no assurance that our efforts to protect our data and information systems will prevent breakdowns or breaches in our systems that could adversely affect our business.
There can be no assurance that our efforts to protect our data and information systems will prevent breakdowns or breaches in our systems that could adversely affect our business.
The regulatory approval process and clinical trial requirements for cell and genetic therapies can be more expensive and take longer than for other, better known or more extensively studied product candidates, and regulatory requirements governing cell and genetic therapy products have changed frequently and may continue to change in the future.
Compliance with the regulatory requirements for biologics and cell and gene therapies can be more burdensome, expensive and time-consuming than for other, better known or more extensively studied types of medicines, such as small molecules. Regulatory requirements governing cell and genetic therapy products have changed frequently and may continue to change in the future.
For example, the results from completed preclinical studies and clinical trials may not be replicated in later clinical trials, and ongoing clinical trials for our product candidates may not be predictive of the results we may obtain in later-stage clinical trials or of the likelihood of approval of a product candidate for commercial sale.
Similarly, results from earlier-stage clinical 28 trials may not be predictive of the results from later-stage clinical trials, or of the likelihood of approval of a product candidate for commercial sale.
We maintain and rely extensively on information technology systems and network infrastructures for the effective operation of our business.
We maintain and rely extensively on information technology systems and network infrastructures, internally and with third parties for the effective operation of our business. We collect, store, and transmit confidential information, including personal information, financial information and intellectual property .
There is no assurance that coverage and reimbursement will be available outside of the U.S. for our approved or future therapies and, even if it is available, whether 41 the timing or the level of reimbursement will be sufficient to allow us to market them.
There is no assurance that coverage and reimbursement will continue for our current products or be available for our future products. Even if reimbursement is available, there is no assurance that the timing or level of reimbursement will be sufficient.
Results of our clinical trials and findings from our nonclinical studies, including toxicology findings in nonclinical studies conducted concurrently with clinical trials, could lead to abrupt changes in our development activities, including the possible cessation of development activities associated with a particular product candidate or program.
In addition, results of our clinical trials and findings from nonclinical studies could lead to abrupt changes in our development activities, including the possible cessation of development activities associated with a particular product candidate or program. For example, after VX-264 did not meet its efficacy endpoint, we announced that the program would not advance into further clinical studies.
Our ability to continue to commercialize our products and achieve our research and development objectives depends on our ability to respond effectively to these demands. If we are unable to hire and retain qualified personnel, there could be a material adverse effect on our business. If our facilities were to experience a catastrophic loss, our operations would be seriously harmed.
Our ability to commercialize our products and achieve our research and development objectives depends on our ability to respond effectively to these demands. If we are unable to hire and retain qualified personnel, our ability to advance our pipeline, commercialize our products, and achieve our business objectives could be materially adversely affected.
If we are unable to obtain or use services from existing service providers or become unable to export or sell our products to any of our customers or service providers, our business could be materially and adversely affected. Our revenues are subject to foreign exchange rate fluctuations due to the global nature of our operations.
If we are unable to obtain or use services from existing service providers or become unable to export or sell our products to any of our customers or service providers, our business could be materially and adversely affected. A breakdown or breach of our information technology systems, or unauthorized access to confidential information could adversely affect our business.
If any of the following risks or uncertainties actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer, possibly materially. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could decline. SUMMARY OF RISK FACTORS Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, discussed in more detail in the following section.
If any of the following risks or uncertainties occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer, possibly materially. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could decline. Risks Related to Our Business and Products Our success depends on our ability to develop and commercialize additional medicines.
Cyber-attacks also include manufacturing, hardware or software supply chain attacks, which could cause a delay in the manufacturing of products or products produced for contract manufacturing or lead to a data privacy or security breach. Our business partners face similar risks and when they experience a security breach of their systems, our security can be adversely affected.
Cyber-attacks and incidents also include manufacturing, hardware or software supply chain attacks, which could cause disruption to or a delay in the manufacturing of our products or product candidates, or lead to data privacy or security breach.
Some state PDABs either have the authority or have defined a pathway where they may be granted the authority to establish upper payment limits for prescription drugs, including Colorado, Maryland, Washington, and Minnesota. Under the Washington law, the PDAB cannot select for an affordability review drugs that are solely for the treatment of an orphan-designated disease or condition.
Some state PDABs, including those in Colorado, Maryland, Washington, and Minnesota, either have the authority or have defined a pathway pursuant to which they may be granted the authority to establish upper payment limits for prescription drugs. In certain states, there is pending litigation that would establish a PDAB or expand the authority of an existing PDAB.
Failure to maintain our third-party relationships or challenges at or with these third parties could materially harm our business. Our business depends on relationships with third parties for a variety of functions, including activities critical to supply and manufacturing, commercialization, research and development, and technology.
Reliance on third-party relationships could adversely affect our business. Our business depends on relationships with third parties, including activities critical to research, development, manufacturing, commercialization, and technology.
Our effective tax rate fluctuates, and changes in tax laws, regulations and treaties, unfavorable resolution to the tax positions we have taken or exposure to additional income tax liabilities could have a material impact on our future taxable income. Our effective tax rate is derived from a combination of applicable tax rates in the various places that we operate globally.
We face additional risks in connection with our current and future collaborative arrangements, including with respect to the performance of the collaborator and their compliance with contractual obligations. 36 Our effective tax rate fluctuates, and changes in tax laws, regulations and treaties, unfavorable resolution to the tax positions we have taken, and exposure to additional income tax liabilities could have a material impact on our future taxable income.
The reporting of adverse safety events involving our products or public speculation about such events could cause our stock price to decline or experience periods of volatility.
In addition, safety or efficacy issues affecting suppliers’ or competitors’ products also may reduce the market acceptance of our products. The discovery of safety events involving our products or public speculation about such events could limit or reduce product revenues and cause our stock price to decline or experience periods of volatility.
Risks Related To Our Operations If we fail to scale our operations to accommodate growth, our business may suffer. We have expanded and are continuing to expand our global operations and capabilities, which has placed, and will continue to place, significant demands on our management and our operational, research and development and financial infrastructure.
If we fail to scale our operations to accommodate growth, our business may suffer. As we continue to expand our global operations and capabilities, we face increasing demands on our management and infrastructure.
Compliance with the these laws and regulations is a rigorous and time-intensive process that may increase our cost of doing business or require us to change our business practices, and despite those efforts, there is a risk that we may be subject to fines and penalties, litigation, and reputational harm in connection with any activities falling within the scope of the GDPR or other privacy laws or regulations.
Compliance with privacy laws and regulations is a rigorous and time-intensive process that may increase our cost of doing business or require us to change our business practices. Failure to comply may result in liability through government enforcement, private actions, civil and criminal fines and penalties, litigation, and reputational harm.
If we discover safety issues with any of our products or if we fail to comply with continuing U.S. and applicable foreign regulations, commercialization efforts for the product could be negatively affected, the approved product could lose its approval, and our business could be materially harmed.
If we discover safety or efficacy issues with any of our products, commercialization efforts for the product could be negatively affected, the approved product could lose its approval, and our business could be materially harmed. After regulatory approval and launch, our products are used over longer periods of time and by larger populations of patients than during pre-approval clinical trials.
We expended significant efforts to establish, and are continuing to devote significant resources to maintain and enhance, systems and processes to comply with these regulations. Requirements to track and disclose financial interactions with health care providers and organizations increase government and public scrutiny of these financial interactions.
We are required to track and disclose financial interactions with health care providers and health care organizations, which may increase government and public scrutiny of these financial interactions. Failure to comply with these reporting requirements could result in significant civil monetary penalties.
If we are not able to successfully develop and commercialize additional products our business could be materially harmed. If we are unable to sustain and grow revenues from sales of our CF medicines, our business would be materially harmed and the market price of our common stock would likely decline.
If we are not able to successfully develop and commercialize additional medicines, our business would be materially harmed. Our business is substantially dependent on the success of our CF medicines. Substantially all our net product revenues have been derived from the sale of our CF medicines.
Furthermore, the number of government investigations and enforcement actions related to data security incidents and privacy violations, with a specific focus on online data sharing, continue to increase and government investigations typically require significant resources and generate negative publicity, which could harm our business and our reputation.
Furthermore, the number of government investigations, enforcement actions, and class action lawsuits related to data security incidents and privacy violations, particularly focused on online data sharing, continue to increase.
In August 2023, the Colorado PDAB selected five drugs for an affordability review, including TRIKAFTA; later that year, it found TRIKAFTA to be not unaffordable, and thus not eligible for an upper payment limit.
For example, in August 2023, the Colorado PDAB selected five drugs for an affordability review, including TRIKAFTA.
Additionally, establishing, managing and expanding our global manufacturing and supply chain requires a significant financial commitment and the creation and maintenance of our numerous third-party contractual relationships. We may not 50 be able to agree on contractual terms with third parties as needed for manufacturing of our products.
Establishing, managing and expanding our global manufacturing capabilities and supply chain, particularly as we enter new therapeutic modalities, requires significant financial commitment. This includes the creation and maintenance of numerous third-party contractual relationships upon which we rely.
Due to the highly technical nature of our drug discovery and development activities, we require the services of highly qualified and trained scientists who have the skills necessary to conduct these activities. In addition, we need to attract and retain employees with experience in development, marketing and commercialization of medicines and therapies, including cell and genetic therapies.
We must attract and retain highly qualified and trained scientists, as well as employees with experience in the development, manufacture, and commercialization of medicines, including biologic and cell and genetic therapies.
In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us, we may have to pay substantial damages, obtain one or more licenses from third parties, pay royalties or redesign our infringing products, which may be impossible or require substantial time and monetary expenditure.
A successful claim of patent infringement or other violation or misappropriation of intellectual property rights by a third party could subject us to significant damages and/or an injunction preventing the manufacture, sale, or use of the affected product or products, and/or require us to pay royalties or redesign our infringing products, which may be impossible or require substantial time and monetary expenditure.
Even with the relevant experience and expertise, manufacturers of cell and genetic therapy products often encounter difficulties in production, including difficulties with production costs and yields, quality control, and compliance with federal, state and foreign regulations.
Additionally, even with relevant experience and expertise, drug manufacturers often encounter difficulties in scale-up and production, including difficulties with production costs and yields, quality control, and compliance with federal, state and foreign 33 regulations, which can prevent manufacturers from completing clinical trials or commercializing products on a timely or profitable basis, if at all.
Although we have a foreign currency risk management program, our efforts to reduce currency exchange volatility may not be successful. As a result, currency fluctuations among our reporting currency, the U.S. dollar, and the currencies in which we do business will affect our operating results, often in unpredictable ways.
The exchange rates among our reporting currency, the U.S. dollar, and the currencies in which we do business are volatile and our efforts to mitigate against these risks may not be successful.
We participate in the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, the 340B program, and a number of other federal and state government pricing programs in the U.S. to obtain coverage for our products by certain government health care programs.
In the U.S., we participate in the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, Medicare, and other governmental pricing programs. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that is administered by the states for low-income and disabled beneficiaries.
In addition, failure of any third-party contractor to conduct activities in accordance with our expectations, could adversely affect the relevant research, development, commercial or administrative activity. 51 Risks Related to Business Development Activities We face risks in connection with existing and future collaborations with respect to the development, manufacture and commercialization of our products and product candidates.
Failure by any of our third parties to meet their contractual, regulatory, or other obligations, any disruption in the relationship between Vertex and a third party upon whom we rely, or the failure of a third party to conduct activities in accordance with our expectations, could adversely affect the relevant research, development, manufacturing, commercial, or administrative activity and our business.
The issuance of restricted common stock or common stock upon exercise of any outstanding options would be dilutive, and may cause the market price for a share of our common stock to decline. There can be no assurance that we will repurchase shares of common stock or that we will repurchase shares at favorable prices.
There can be no assurance that we will repurchase shares of common stock or that we will repurchase shares at favorable prices.
In the U.S., federal and state laws regulate financial interactions between pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers, require disclosure to government authorities and the public of such interactions, and mandate the adoption of compliance standards or programs.
Laws and regulations also have been enacted by the federal government and various states to regulate the sales and marketing practices of pharmaceutical manufacturers. The laws and regulations generally limit financial interactions between manufacturers and health care providers, require manufacturers to adopt certain compliance standards or require disclosure to the government and public of such interactions.
We have faced and will continue to face significant competition for the acquisition of rights to these types of products, product candidates and other technologies from a variety of other companies, some of which have significantly more financial resources and experience in business development activities than we have.
Our future transactions and collaborations may be similar to prior transactions, may be structured differently from prior transactions, or may involve larger transactions or later-stage assets. We face significant competition for potential strategic transactions and collaborations from a variety of other companies, some of which have significantly more financial resources and experience in business development activities.
If a regulatory agency determines that our promotional materials, or other activities constitute promotion of unapproved uses or otherwise false and misleading promotion, it could request that we modify our promotional materials or other activities, conduct corrective advertising, or subject us to regulatory enforcement actions, such as the issuance of a warning or untitled letter, injunction, seizure, civil fines and criminal penalties.
If a regulatory authority interprets any of our conduct, including our marketing practices or patient support programs, as promotion of unapproved uses or otherwise false and misleading, it could request that we modify or withdraw our promotional materials or issue corrective advertising.
We face intense competition for our personnel from our competitors and other companies throughout our industry, especially with respect to employees with expertise in cell or genetic therapies. We also experience competition for the hiring of scientific and clinical personnel from universities and research institutions.
We face intense competition for such talent from our competitors, other companies, academic institutions, and other organizations throughout our industry, especially with respect to employees with expertise in cell or genetic therapies. Our compensation program, including equity awards, may not be sufficient to retain employees, especially if our stock price declines or other employers offer more attractive opportunities.
The reimbursement process in ex-U.S. markets can take a significant time to conclude and reimbursement decisions are made on a country by country or region by region basis. Further, many ex-U.S. governments are introducing new legislation focusing on cost containment measures in the pharmaceutical industry.
In most markets outside of the U.S., the pricing and reimbursement medicines is subject to governmental control and governments are making greater efforts to reduce drug prices and limit drug spending. The reimbursement process in ex-U.S. markets vary widely and can take a significant time to complete, and reimbursement decisions are made on a country-by- country and region-by-region basis.
In addition, we maintain property insurance, however, this insurance may not be sufficient to cover all potential losses that may result from an interruption to our operations. The use of social media platforms and artificial intelligence tools presents risks and challenges.
Additionally, we use hazardous materials in some of our facilities, and any accident, injury or other loss related thereto could result in substantial liability. Our property or other relevant insurance may not be sufficient to cover all potential losses that may result from an interruption to our operations or damage resulting from these risks.
Failure to comply with the covenants could result in an event of default that could trigger acceleration of our indebtedness, which would require us to repay all amounts owed under the credit agreements and/or our finance leases and could have a material adverse effect on our business.
As a result, we may be restricted from engaging in business activities that may otherwise improve our business. Failure to comply with the covenants could result in an event of default that could trigger acceleration of our indebtedness. If we incur additional indebtedness, the risks related to our business and our ability to service or repay our indebtedness would increase.
If we borrow under our current credit agreement or any future credit agreements, such indebtedness could have important consequences to our business, including increasing our vulnerability to general adverse financial, business, economic and industry conditions, 62 as well as other factors that are beyond our control.
Future indebtedness could materially and adversely affect our financial condition, and the terms of our credit agreements impose restrictions on our business. If we borrow under our current credit agreement or any future credit agreements, or otherwise issue or incur additional debt, such indebtedness could have important consequences to our business.
We have experienced challenges in obtaining timely reimbursement for our products in various countries outside the U.S. Our future product revenues, including from TRIKAFTA/KAFTRIO, ALYFTREK, and CASGEVY, depend on, among other things, our ability to maintain reimbursement in ex-U.S. markets for our products.
Reimbursement for our products by governments, including the timing of any reimbursements, may also be affected by budgetary or political constraints, particularly in challenging economic environments. We have experienced challenges in obtaining timely reimbursement for our products in various countries outside the U.S., and our future revenues depend on maintaining such reimbursement.