Vertex Pharmaceuticals, a large biopharmaceutical company with a robust pipeline of medical research for chronic diseases, announced the layoff of 140 Rhode Island employees in connection with its failed T1D trial. Additionally, three buildings operating as an integrated campus in Providence, RI, will consolidate into one.
The announcement was made via a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification letter, and workforce reduction will take effect starting August 5, 2025. In the letter, Vertex said they “presently expect this action to be permanent.”
What does this mean for T1D? Is it full steam ahead or a step back?
Failed T1D Trial: VX-264
VX-264 was a phase I/II trial that transplanted encapsulated, insulin-producing stem cell-derived beta cells (sBCs) into patients with established T1D. This project was a potential Practical Cure.
The 90-day follow-up demonstrated that the investigational therapy was safe but did not deliver measurable benefit. In communication with the Providence Journal, a Vertex representative clarified the decision to lay off employees resulted from the discontinuation of the T1D Practical Cure trial last March.
The Layoffs
Vertex identified the layoffs are directly related to the withdrawal of VX-264. Vertex is offering severance, outplacement support, career counseling, and consideration for internal opportunities.
Vertex currently employs approximately 6,000 individuals.
While unfortunate, JDCA views this staffing adjustment as not unusual. Instead, the typical behavior of a disciplined organization as it reviews, refocuses, and redeploys resources.
What This Means for T1D
In short, the company remains committed to T1D despite layoffs.
The release detailing the discontinuation of VX-264 noted the company planned to evaluate other approaches to protect transplanted islets from the immune system. Potential pathways included gene-edited cells, encapsulation, and alternative forms of immunosuppression. This suggests the company is purposefully steering away from encapsulation techniques and pivoting to other modes of protection.
There is no indication from these layoffs that Vertex is backing away from T1D, and they should not be interpreted as such.
VX-880 Unchanged
The cell line tested in VX-264 is the same used in the advanced phase III trial VX-880 (Zimislecel), testing transplanted sBCs protected by full-body immunosuppression. VX-880 may solve the issue of limited cell supply that restricts T1D research today, and the company plans to file for market approval in 2026. If successful, this would be the first FDA-approved sBC line.
Vertex will present at the American Diabetes Association’s 85th Scientific Session, taking place in Chicago IL, June 20-23. Any news updates regarding Vertex’s T1D pipeline will be reported on by JDCA after the Sessions conclude.
