Global
APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD) is a serious disease with a high unmet need — exactly the type of problem that fits our research strategy. Hear from experts in our AMKD podcast episode, in partnership with Bloomberg Media Studios.
When reflecting on 2023, it is clear that the Vertex Foundation had another strong year of impact through its nonprofit partnerships in our amazing communities and with the unwavering support of Vertexians.
We’ve been working with the beta thalassemia community since the inception of our research program in 2015. Learn more about our efforts and commitments around the globe.
The Vertex Foundation Scholarship helps eligible people with cystic fibrosis and their families in the United States and Canada pursue higher education degrees. We award recipients $5,000 USD/CAD toward the 2025-2026 academic year.
Diana Cruz Solash, Vice President of Talent and ID&E, shares game-changing insights from our seventh annual ID&E Week.
Ms. Thornberry joined our board in 2023. She founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Kallyope, a clinical stage biotechnology company, from its launch in 2015 until 2021, and remains on Kallyope’s board of directors and is Chair of Research and Development. Prior to joining Kallyope, Ms. Thornberry spent more than 30 years at Merck & Co., Inc., most recently as Senior Vice President and Global Franchise Head, Diabetes and Endocrinology, with responsibility for discovery and clinical research in diabetes, obesity and women’s health. Among her many notable scientific accomplishments, Ms. Thornberry initiated and led Merck’s dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) project, which resulted in the discovery and commercialization of JANUVIA® for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. She also identified the first caspase, interleukin-1β converting enzyme (ICE/caspase-1). For her scientific contributions she has received numerous awards, including the Merck Presidential Fellowship, Merck Directors Award, Heroes of Chemistry Award from the American Chemical Society, and in 2011, the Pharmaceuticals Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Discoverers Award, which honors research scientists whose work has been of special benefit to humankind. In addition to her role at Kallyope, she serves on the board of directors of Schrödinger, Inc., Denali Therapeutics Inc. and the New York Genome Center. She serves as an advisor to GV (Google Ventures) and is a member of NYC’s Mayor’s Life Sciences (LifeSciNYC) Advisory Council. Ms. Thornberry holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and biology from Muhlenberg College.
Ms. Thornberry joined our board in 2023. She founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Kallyope, a clinical stage biotechnology company, from its launch in 2015 until 2021, and remains on Kallyope’s board of directors and is Chair of Research and Development. Prior to joining Kallyope, Ms. Thornberry spent more than 30 years at Merck & Co., Inc., most recently as Senior Vice President and Global Franchise Head, Diabetes and Endocrinology, with responsibility for discovery and clinical research in diabetes, obesity and women’s health. Among her many notable scientific accomplishments, Ms. Thornberry initiated and led Merck’s dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) project, which resulted in the discovery and commercialization of JANUVIA® for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. She also identified the first caspase, interleukin-1β converting enzyme (ICE/caspase-1). For her scientific contributions she has received numerous awards, including the Merck Presidential Fellowship, Merck Directors Award, Heroes of Chemistry Award from the American Chemical Society, and in 2011, the Pharmaceuticals Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Discoverers Award, which honors research scientists whose work has been of special benefit to humankind. In addition to her role at Kallyope, she serves on the board of directors of Schrödinger, Inc., Denali Therapeutics Inc. and the New York Genome Center. She serves as an advisor to GV (Google Ventures) and is a member of NYC’s Mayor’s Life Sciences (LifeSciNYC) Advisory Council. Ms. Thornberry holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and biology from Muhlenberg College.
Join us as we celebrate 15 years of giving back at Vertex.
Chief Human Resources Officer Stephanie Franklin discusses Vertex’s inclusive benefits and how they are helping Vertexians.
Individuals living with severe sickle cell disease report higher exposure to health care prejudice, according to new research by our Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) team.
Mr. Lagarde joined our board in 2023. He currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., a supplier of analytical instruments, life sciences solutions, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory, pharmaceutical and biotechnology services. He is responsible for Thermo Fisher’s Pharma Services, Customer Channels, BioProduction, Analytical Instruments, Laboratory Products and Clinical Research businesses as well as its Corporate Accounts function and Chief Medical Office. He joined Thermo Fisher as Senior Vice President and President, Pharma Services, in 2017 through its acquisition of Patheon N.V., a pharma services company. Prior to Thermo Fisher, Mr. Lagarde was President and Chief Operating Officer at Patheon from 2016 to 2017 and Managing Director at JLL Partners, a private equity firm investing in health care services, from 2008 to 2016. Prior to JLL, he spent 12 years at Philips, a global leader in health technology, in various finance roles across several international markets. Mr. Lagarde holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from European University in Antwerp, Belgium, and an executive master’s degree in finance and control from Maastricht Universiteit in the Netherlands.
Mr. Lagarde joined our board in 2023. He currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., a supplier of analytical instruments, life sciences solutions, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory, pharmaceutical and biotechnology services. He is responsible for Thermo Fisher’s Pharma Services, Customer Channels, BioProduction, Analytical Instruments, Laboratory Products and Clinical Research businesses as well as its Corporate Accounts function and Chief Medical Office. He joined Thermo Fisher as Senior Vice President and President, Pharma Services, in 2017 through its acquisition of Patheon N.V., a pharma services company. Prior to Thermo Fisher, Mr. Lagarde was President and Chief Operating Officer at Patheon from 2016 to 2017 and Managing Director at JLL Partners, a private equity firm investing in health care services, from 2008 to 2016. Prior to JLL, he spent 12 years at Philips, a global leader in health technology, in various finance roles across several international markets. Mr. Lagarde holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from European University in Antwerp, Belgium, and an executive master’s degree in finance and control from Maastricht Universiteit in the Netherlands.