The announcement was made at the Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit (RGMBS), building on a collaboration established after Saudi Arabia’s first gene therapy infusion in 2024.
The acquisition adds rare endocrine diseases as a new growth area alongside Vertex’s existing focus on cystic fibrosis, hematology, acute pain and renal disease.
AbCellera will oversee discovery and early-stage development activities, while Vertex will finance all research and development costs.
The expanded label is expected to make about 5,500 additional children in the United States eligible for treatment.
This cutting-edge approach represents a major advancement in how doctors can treat genetic diseases by directly modifying the faulty genes responsible for these conditions.