David Altshuler, a prominent geneticist who has played a pivotal role in shaping Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ research strategy for the past decade, will be stepping down next year, the company announced on Monday. Altshuler, who currently serves as the company’s chief scientific officer, is set to retire on August 1, 2026, as part of a planned transition. Mark Bunnage, Vertex’s senior vice president of global research, will assume Altshuler’s position on February 1. Bunnage, who has been working closely with Altshuler since 2016 and has been leading Vertex’s discovery research since March 2024, is well-positioned to take on this new role.
Altshuler joined Vertex’s board of directors in 2012 and officially took on the role of leading the company’s internal and external research efforts three years later. Under his leadership, Vertex has expanded beyond its core focus on cystic fibrosis and has successfully brought to market the first CRISPR gene editing therapy, as well as a novel pain medication. Vertex CEO Reshma Kewalramani expressed her gratitude for Altshuler’s exceptional scientific vision and the impact he has had on patients during his tenure at the company.
When Altshuler joined Vertex in 2015, he inherited a company that was still recovering from a significant setback in its hepatitis C business. Despite having successful cystic fibrosis drugs on the market, Vertex had faced challenges due to underestimating competition and a lack of diversification. Altshuler’s task was to lead the company’s strategic planning efforts and focus on developing treatments for conditions caused by easily identifiable genetic mutations within specialty diseases.
Altshuler’s approach to drug development, which involved iterative testing of similar drugs for rare disorders, has been instrumental in Vertex’s success. The company’s focus on specialty diseases and genetic mutations has resulted in the development of multiple successful drugs, including those for cystic fibrosis, CRISPR gene editing therapy, and a pain medication alternative to opioids. Vertex’s market value has significantly increased since Altshuler joined the company, reflecting the success of its research and development efforts.
While Vertex has made significant strides under Altshuler’s leadership, there are still challenges ahead. The company is working on advancing programs for kidney conditions and diabetes, as well as ongoing research in muscular dystrophy and other diseases. The future success of Vertex will depend on its ability to identify and develop new drug franchises that can match the success of its cystic fibrosis portfolio.
In conclusion, David Altshuler’s contributions to Vertex Pharmaceuticals have been invaluable, and his planned retirement marks the end of an era for the company. As Mark Bunnage takes on the role of chief scientific officer, Vertex will continue to build on its legacy of innovation and drug development under new leadership.