vertex

Casgevy, developed by the company Vertex, is the first approved therapy to use Crispr-technology.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals recently reported positive results for a non-opioid painkiller, one of several medications the Boston-based drugmaker has been developing for various forms of pain.

The Associated Press spoke with Vertex’s chief scientist Dr. David Altshuler about the company’s research and development plans.

Q: Why is Vertex interested in new drugs for treating pain?

Vertex has been working on this for 20 years, and the insight that led to the medicines actually came from studies of people who had a rare condition where they are insensitive to pain.