News Summary
Vertex Pharmaceuticals has announced plans to lay off 125 employees in Rhode Island due to the discontinuation of its VX-264 program targeting Type 1 diabetes. The layoffs are effective August 5, 2025, following a Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification (WARN) filed with the Rhode Island Department of Labor. The company is consolidating operations into a single facility while offering support to affected employees. Despite these layoffs, Vertex remains committed to advancing therapies for diabetes, including ongoing clinical trials for a new treatment.
Providence, Rhode Island – Vertex Pharmaceuticals has announced that it will lay off 125 employees in Rhode Island, effective August 5, 2025, due to the discontinuation of its VX-264 program aimed at treating Type 1 diabetes. The company filed a Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification (WARN) letter with the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, indicating that a total of 140 positions will be impacted, with the majority located in Providence.
Vertex operates three buildings in Providence: two on Baker Street and one on Carolina Avenue, which function as an integrated campus. As part of its operational consolidation, the company will merge these facilities into the single location at 225 Carolina Avenue.
The layoffs stem from the halting of the VX-264 program, which was a “cells plus device” study for Type 1 diabetes that failed to meet effectiveness targets in its Phase 1/2 trials. This failure directly influenced the decision to eliminate certain roles specifically tied to the VX-264 project.
In light of the layoffs, Vertex representatives have stated that the company is dedicated to offering support to impacted employees. This assistance will come in the form of severance pay, outplacement services, and career counseling aimed at helping those affected transition to new opportunities.
Despite these layoffs, Vertex remains committed to advancing transformative therapies for Type 1 diabetes, with a particular focus on an ongoing clinical trial for the therapy zimislecel, which is currently in Phase 3 development. This commitment indicates that while the VX-264 program has been discontinued, Vertex continues to explore innovative solutions for diabetes treatment.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals has experienced overall growth in its workforce, increasing from 5,400 employees in 2023 to 6,100 employees in 2024. This recent employee count indicates that while the layoffs are impactful, the company is still pursuing expansion and development opportunities in other areas.
Vertex is a publicly traded company with dual headquarters located in Boston, Massachusetts, and London, England. The company’s primary focus lies in discovering and delivering therapies for serious diseases, including cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease, alongside their diabetes programs.
Notably, Vertex has not issued a WARN notice regarding layoffs at any of its Massachusetts locations, which highlights the concentration of job losses in Rhode Island. The state is actively working to boost its biotech industry, recently celebrating several achievements in the sector, but also expressing concern about the ramifications of the Vertex layoffs.
The combination of operational consolidation and the cessation of certain projects reflects broader trends within the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors, where companies continuously adapt to scientific outcomes and market needs. The effects of these layoffs will be felt not only by the departing employees but also by the local Rhode Island economy as the state continues its efforts to cultivate a robust biotech environment.
In summary, Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ recent decision to lay off 125 employees in Rhode Island is primarily driven by the discontinuation of the VX-264 Type 1 diabetes program, with the company emphasizing ongoing support for affected workers and a commitment to future diabetes therapies.
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Vertex Pharmaceuticals to Lay Off 125 Employees in Rhode Island
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Announces Major Layoffs in Rhode Island
Vertex Pharmaceuticals to Lay Off 125 Employees in Providence
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Announces Layoffs in Rhode Island
Additional Resources
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