# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0000875320
**File Stem:** 0000875320-26-000216
**Filing Date:** 2026-5
**Character Count:** 4714
**Document Hash:** f6a7c50bbd62afcdd75cfb07119e93a4
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0000875320-26-000216.hdr.sgml**: 20260513

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0000875320-26-000216

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: S-8 POS

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 4

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20260513

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20260513

**EFFECTIVENESS DATE**: 20260513

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC / MA
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000875320
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 03 Life Sciences
- **EIN:** 043039129
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** MA
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** S-8 POS
- **SEC ACT:** 1933 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 333-206075
- **FILM NUMBER:** 26973320

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 50 NORTHERN AVENUE
- **CITY:** BOSTON
- **STATE:** MA
- **ZIP:** 02210
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 6173416393

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 50 NORTHERN AVENUE
- **CITY:** BOSTON
- **STATE:** MA
- **ZIP:** 02210

## Exhibit 5.1

**Exhibit 5.1**

![image_0a.jpg](image_0a.jpg)

ROPES & GRAY LLPPRUDENTIAL TOWER800 BOYLSTON STREETBOSTON, MA 02199-3600WWW.ROPESGRAY.COM

May 13, 2026

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

50 Northern Avenue

Boston, MA 02210

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This opinion letter is furnished to you in connection with the Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statements on Form S-8, Reg. Nos. 333-188737, 333-197466, 333-206075, 333-219559, 333-226363, 333-232948 and 333-266582 (the "<u>Post-Effective Amendment</u>"), filed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, a Massachusetts corporation (the "<u>Company</u>"), on the date hereof, with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "<u>Securities Act</u>"). On May 13, 2026, the stockholders of the Company approved the Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2026 Stock and Option Plan (the "<u>2026 Plan</u>"). The total number of shares of the Company's common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the "<u>Common Stock</u>"), that may be issued under the 2026 Plan is 19,587,582, which is equal to the sum of (i) 6,400,000 shares of Common Stock, (ii) 9,051,356 shares of Common Stock which had been available for issuance and were not issued or subject to outstanding awards under the Company's 2013 Stock and Option Plan (the "<u>2013 Plan</u>") and (iii) 4,136,226 shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding awards under the 2013 Plan that may expire or otherwise terminate without having been exercised in full, or are forfeited to the Company and would have become available again for issuance under the terms of the 2013 Plan (the shares described in clause (ii) and clause (iii), the "<u>Carryover Shares</u>").

We are familiar with the actions taken by the Company in connection with the adoption of the 2026 Plan. We have examined such certificates, documents and records and have made such investigation of fact and such examination of law as we have deemed appropriate in order to enable us to render the opinions set forth herein. In conducting such investigation, we have relied, without independent verification, upon certificates of officers of the Company, public officials and other appropriate persons.

The opinions expressed below are limited to the Massachusetts Business Corporation Act.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Carryover Shares have been duly authorized and, when the Carryover Shares have been issued and sold in accordance with the terms of the 2026 Plan, the Carryover Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons

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whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

Very truly yours,

<br>/s/ Ropes & Gray LLP

<br>Ropes & Gray LLP

## Exhibit 23.1

**Exhibit 23.1**

**Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm**

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Amended and Restated 2013 Stock and Option Plan of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated of our reports dated February 13, 2026, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

May 13, 2026

<br>