Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Silva Paul M
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
09/29/2008
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC / MA [VRTX]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED, 130 WAVERLY STREET
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
V.P. and Corporate Controller
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 2,250 (1)
D
 
Common Stock 1,000 (2)
D
 
Common Stock 500 (3)
D
 
Common Stock 300
I
401(k)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option 11/13/2007(4) 08/12/2017 Common Stock 7,500 $ 36.27 D  
Stock Option 05/07/2008(5) 02/06/2018 Common Stock 7,500 $ 18.93 D  
Stock Option 10/24/2008(6) 07/23/2018 Common Stock 3,750 $ 32.16 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Silva Paul M
C/O VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
130 WAVERLY STREET
CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139
      V.P. and Corporate Controller  

Signatures

Valerie L. Andrews, Attorney-In-Fact 09/30/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Stock grant made under 2006 Stock and Option Plan, 750 shares vesting on 8/13/2009; 750 shares vesting 8/13/2010; and 750 shares vesting on 8/13/2011.
(2) Stock grant made under 2006 Stock and Option Plan vesting in four equal annual installments from 2/7/2008.
(3) Stock grant made under 2006 Stock and Option Plan vesting in four equal annual installments from 7/24/2008.
(4) Right to buy shares of Common Stock under 2006 Stock and Option Plan, vesting in 16 equal quarterly installments from 8/13/07.
(5) Right to buy shares of Common Stock under 2006 Stock and Option Plan, vesting in 16 equal quarterly installments from 2/7/08.
(6) Right to buy shares of Common Stock under 2006 Stock and Option Plan, vesting in 16 equal quarterly installments from 7/24/08.

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