Continuing to diversify its pipeline away from its flagship cystic fibrosis business, Vertex Pharmaceuticals has agreed to acquire Semma Therapeutics for US$950 M in cash. With the deal, Vertex gains access to Semma’s cell-based therapies that have been shown in preclinical studies to reduce the need forinsulin in patients with type 1 diabetes. Vertex has been making quite a splash in the M&A sector so far in 2019, having signed its two largest M&A deals by total potential deal value in the space of four months including the acquisition of Exonics Therapeutics in June 2019.