Vertex to Acquire Crinetics Pharmaceuticals
On July 6, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a global pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for endocrine diseases, announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Vertex will acquire Crinetics for $85.00 per share in cash, for a total equity value of approximately $10.0 billion, or approximately $8.8 billion net of estimated cash acquired. The transaction was unanimously approved by both the Vertex and Crinetics Boards of Directors and is anticipated to close in the third quarter of 2026.
Crinetics’ marketed medicine, PALSONIFY® (paltusotine), received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2025. PALSONIFY was recently approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and is under review by other global regulatory bodies. It is the first and only once-daily oral therapy for adults with acromegaly, a rare and debilitating condition caused by a pituitary tumor that secretes excess growth hormone, which affects an estimated 20,000 diagnosed people in the U.S. PALSONIFY leads to rapid disease control and normalization of key disease markers in both treatment-experienced and untreated populations. Since launch, PALSONIFY has demonstrated promising early commercial momentum, supported by strong demand across all patient segments, prescribing activity expansion, and growing reimbursement coverage, all of which reinforce its potential to redefine the treatment paradigm in acromegaly.
Crinetics’ most advanced pipeline candidate, atumelnant, is a once-daily oral adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) receptor antagonist currently in Phase 3 development for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Classic CAH, the most severe form of the disease, with 17,000 addressable patients in the U.S., is a rare, chronic genetic condition affecting the adrenal glands that has significant unmet medical need. Among other features, CAH is characterized by impaired cortisol synthesis and, in most cases, excess androgen production, both of which contribute to a range of serious health consequences. In Phase 2 studies, patients taking atumelnant were able to achieve near normalization of excess androgen levels on physiologic replacement doses of glucocorticoids. This unique therapeutic profile positions atumelnant to become the leading medical therapy for people struggling with CAH. Atumelnant was generally well tolerated with no treatment-related severe or serious adverse events to date.
“Crinetics is an excellent strategic fit for Vertex, with its focus on serious diseases in specialty markets with significant unmet need, well-understood causal human biology, and potentially best-in-class medicines that could deliver transformative benefit to patients,” said Reshma Kewalramani, MD, chief executive officer and president of Vertex. “We believe Vertex can build on the strong momentum of the PALSONIFY launch by applying our experience in commercializing medicines for rare genetic diseases. We are also excited by the significant potential of atumelnant to transform the treatment landscape for CAH, setting a new standard of care where patients do not have to choose between managing their excess adrenal androgens and enduring the side effects of high-dose steroids.”
Kewalramani continued, “We look forward to working with the talented Crinetics team to rapidly advance their pipeline of medicines for patients living with serious, rare endocrine disorders. Together, these potential blockbuster assets build on our core CF business, ongoing launches and internal innovation portfolio, adding to our growth outlook and driving value for patients and shareholders.”
“Nearly 18 years ago, we founded Crinetics with a clear goal of transforming the lives of patients living with endocrine-related diseases. Today marks a historic milestone as we embark on this next chapter with Vertex,” said Endocrine Society member Scott Struthers, PhD, founder and chief executive officer of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals. “This partnership is anchored by a mutual commitment to science and a shared vision for delivering innovative treatments to patient communities that have long been underserved. Vertex’s global infrastructure and commercial footprint will serve to amplify the reach of our science and allow us to maximize the impact of PALSONIFY, atumelnant and our pipeline. I want to extend my deepest gratitude for the relentless dedication, brilliance and passion of our extraordinary employees, who have worked tirelessly to bring our scientific vision to life, as well as the clinical partners and patient communities who have championed our mission from the very beginning.”
Struthers was the recipient of the Endocrine Society’s 2023 John D. Baxter Prize for his innovation in drug discovery. Read a Q&A with Struthers here, and more about his award here.
Insulet Accelerates Global Growth with Launch of Omnipod® 5 and Omnipod Discover™ in Spain, Expanding Access to Tubeless Diabetes Technology
On July 6, Insulet Corporation, the global leader in tubeless insulin pump technology with its Omnipod® brand of products,today announced the commercial launch of its Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System and its proprietary data management system Omnipod Discover™ in Spain, the Company’s newest European market. Spain is the 26th country where Insulet sells Omnipod, and the 20th country where Omnipod 5 is available, further accelerating Insulet’s mission to transform the lives of people with diabetes around the world.
“We’re thrilled to introduce Omnipod 5 with Omnipod Discover to Spain—an important and dynamic market where we see a meaningful opportunity to support people with diabetes and the healthcare professionals who care for them,” said Pat Crannell, Insulet senior vice president and international general manager. “Our continued international expansion—including the launch of Omnipod 5 in 15 countries over the last 18 months—reflects the strength of our global growth strategy and passion of our teams. Every new market brings us closer to a world where diabetes demands less.”
Spain is home to more than 4.6 million adults with diabetes, including an estimated 189,000 individuals (and more than 18,500 children and adolescents age 0-19) with type 1 diabetes, who rely on insulin to manage their condition.
“Insulet understands that many people living with type 1 diabetes in Spain want tools that are simple and more intuitive, helping them feel safer and more confident. That is why the arrival of Omnipod 5 and Omnipod Discover are important steps towards easing the day-to-day demands of diabetes management while improving the quality of life for individuals and their families,” said Rafael Bravo, specialist in endocrinology and vice president for Global Medical Affairs at Insulet.
Omnipod 5 is a tubeless automated insulin delivery system that helps simplify diabetes management by automatically adjusting insulin every five minutes to help improve glycemic outcomes, including better time in range and reduced HbA1c—without the need for multiple daily injections. The waterproof, discreet, wearable Pod communicates with a sensor and proactively corrects for highs and helps protect against lows, day and night.
In Spain, Omnipod 5 is indicated for people aged two years and older with type 1 diabetes and is compatible with the Abbott FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus sensor and Dexcom G7 sensor.
