Boston– Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced that Paul Negulescu, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of the company, has been named a recipient of the 2025 Canada Gairdner International Award for his pioneering work in cystic fibrosis (CF) research and drug development.
Negulescu shares the prestigious honor with Dr. Michael J. Welsh of the University of Iowa. The Gairdner Foundation recognized their groundbreaking research into the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind CF, which has led to the development of transformative therapies that directly address the genetic cause of the disease.
“For more than 20 years, Paul and the Vertex research team have worked tirelessly to develop breakthrough therapies for CF,” said Dr. David Altshuler, Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Vertex. “Thanks to Paul’s vision and leadership, we’ve achieved what once seemed impossible—creating the first protein-folding corrector medicines that treat the root cause of CF.”
Negulescu expressed gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing that the award reflects the collective effort of Vertex employees and the wider CF community. “This honor highlights the dedication and scientific excellence of thousands who have committed themselves to improving the lives of those with CF,” he said.
While the CF gene was identified in 1989, therapies addressing the underlying protein dysfunction only emerged through Vertex’s work under Negulescu’s leadership. Today, five approved medicines from the company aim to restore the function of the defective CFTR protein. The latest therapy, a once-daily triple combination treatment, can potentially benefit more than 90% of CF patients across over 300 genetic mutations.
Vertex continues to pursue treatments for the remaining 10% of CF patients who may not respond to current therapies, including an investigational mRNA-based approach.
The Canada Gairdner International Award, one of the world’s top scientific honors, celebrates researchers whose work has significantly advanced understanding of human biology and improved global health.
