Vertex Pharmaceuticals on Monday nudged upward the top end of its annual revenue forecast, attributing the change to continued strength in sales of its cystic fibrosis (CF) treatments. The company now projects 2026 revenue in a range of $13.1 billion to $13.2 billion, up from a prior range of $12.95 billion to $13.1 billion.
Vertex noted that the revised outlook does not include the pending acquisition of Crinetics, and that it will provide an updated forecast after the deal closes. The company expects that closing to occur in the third quarter.
Analysts surveyed by LSEG have an average 2026 revenue estimate of $13.07 billion, which sits within Vertex's newly expanded guidance range. The company also reported second-quarter results showing a 12% year-over-year rise in total revenue to $3.33 billion, beating consensus estimates of $3.23 billion.
Sales of Vertex's newer once-daily triple combination CF therapy, Alyftrek, were a notable contributor. Alyftrek generated $573.6 million in the second quarter, up from $156.8 million in the year-ago quarter. By contrast, Vertex's established CF therapy Trikafta produced $2.50 billion in quarterly sales, a figure that fell short of estimates set at $2.65 billion.
On profitability, Vertex reported adjusted earnings of $4.73 per share for the quarter, in line with analyst estimates.
Vertex's pending $10 billion purchase of Crinetics is presented by the company as a strategic move to broaden its therapeutic focus beyond cystic fibrosis. The acquisition would add endocrine disorders to Vertex's therapeutic areas and is part of a diversification approach that, according to analysts cited by the company, already includes programs such as povetacicept for kidney indications, Casgevy for sickle cell disease, and Journavx in pain.
Cystic fibrosis itself is described by the company as a rare, progressive genetic disorder caused by the absence of a protein that regulates salt and water transport across cell membranes, resulting in severe respiratory and digestive complications.
Vertex said it would update its guidance to reflect the inclusion of Crinetics after the transaction closes. Until then, management is relying on continued demand for its CF therapies to underpin the raised revenue outlook.