Vertex plans to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA for VX-661 in combination with ivacaftor in the second half of 2017, pending data from the Phase 3 program.

Vertex will open a new stage of its search for the perfect NaV1.8 inhibitor when it moves another of VX-150’s siblings into phase 1 later in the first half of 2020.

VX-993 is designed to block a sodium channel called NaV1.8, the same target as Journavx, Vertex’s twice-daily pain pill approved in January.

Vertex plans to conduct two 24-week Phase 3 studies to support approval of the combination of VX-809 and ivacaftor in people with CF ages 12 and older.