SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                         PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

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        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 14, 2002

                       Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


       MASSACHUSETTS                    000-19319               04-3039129
(state or other jurisdiction of  (Commission File Number)     (IRS Employer
       incorporation)                                       Identification No.)


                               130 WAVERLY STREET
                               CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139
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               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 444-6100

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ITEM 9.  REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

         The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending June 30, 2002
by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated was accompanied by certifications by the
company's principal executive officer, Joshua S. Boger, and principal financial
officer, Ian F. Smith, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.




         A copy of the certifications is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit 99.1    Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
                of 2002.


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                   VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
                                   (Registrant)



Date:  August 14, 2002             /s/Ian F. Smith
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                                   Ian F. Smith
                                   Vice President and Chief Financial Officer