Exhibit 23

                     CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 33-48030, 33-48348, 33-65742, 33-93224,
33-12325, 333-27011, 333-56179 and 333-79549) of Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Incorporated of our report dated February 16, 2000, except as to the
information in Note R for which the date is February 28, 2000, relating to
the financial statements, which appears in this Form 10-K.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts
March 3, 2000