Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. ( VRTX ) shares are trading higher Friday following two major developments that strengthen its position in both pain management and gene therapy.

What To Know: The company secured FDA approval for JOURNAVX, a non-opioid oral pain signal inhibitor for acute pain. This marks the first approval of a new class of pain medication in more than 20 years, offering an alternative to traditional opioid treatments. The approval may signal regulatory confidence in the drug's efficacy and safety, which could drive adoption in a market where non-opioid options remain limited.

Separately, Vertex also announced a reimbursement agreement with NHS England for CASGEVY, its CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited therapy for sickle cell disease. The deal ensures that eligible patients in England will have access to the treatment, expanding on a previous agreement for transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia patients. The agreement reflects growing support for gene therapy within national healthcare systems and could set a precedent for future reimbursement deals in other regions.

“We are pleased to have reached this new agreement that ensures both eligible SCD and TDT patients can now be treated with CASGEVY, recognizing the value a one-time treatment can provide to patients, their families and the healthcare system,” said Ludovic Fenaux, Senior Vice President, Vertex International.

VRTX Price Action: Vertex shares were up 4.96% at $460.15 at the time of writing, according to Benzinga pro.

Read Next:

ESG Investing: Greenwashing Trend or Profitable Strategy?

Image Via Shutterstock.