Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) – 52% Rate of success in Hepatitis C patients taking Telaprevir.

ABOVE: Vertex stock chart over the last 3 Months

06/09/2008: Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: VRTX) announced that telaprevir-based regimen decreased virus blood levels in certain patients with hepatitis C(HCV) that failed previous treatment with the the standard Hepatitis C therapy.
Approximately 4.5 million Americans are estimated to be infected with Hepatitis C, 80% will most likely develop some form or chronic lIver disease. The annual health care cost for patients in the US that develop health issues from hepatitis C is a staggering $9 billion.  Vertex will be poised to make several 100 million dollars in revenue if Telaprevir becomes a viable treatment for Hepatitis C.  In addition, Telaprivir based treatments may also significantly decrease the cost of treating patients with Hepatitis C if Liver Transplantation can be averted.
Vertex will initiate a Phase 3 Clinical Trial of Telaprevir in the 3rd quarter of 2008.  Assuming that Telaprivir continues to be successful, the phase 3, 48 week trial will be the last stepping stone before Telaprivir goes on the market.  Thus, the drug may be released late in 2009 or possibly early in 2010.
VRTX closed on June 6th at 32.24 and it subsequently opened higher at 34.48 on June 9th.  The 52 week range for VRTX ranges from 13.84 – 41.42.  It is difficult to say if this stock will continue to increase at this piont.  Its current price is toward inching up towards its 52 week high.  It may be prudent to wait until the results of the Phase 3 Clinical Trial on Telaprivir are known which should be available in 2009.  Nonetheless, as a potential investment VRTX has significant potential.  As a trader, one may want to consider shorting this stock as it approaches its 52 week high if there is no further good news forth coming in the near future.