Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX) has made it to the major leagues in the world of biotech. The company is the leading maker of cystic fibrosis (CF) treatments, with its products generating more than $9.8 billion in revenue last year. Vertex also recently submitted its latest CF candidate to regulators for consideration -- and an approval could truly cement its long-term dominance.

On top of this, late last year Vertex won approval -- along with partner CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRSP) -- for Casgevy, a gene-editing therapy for blood disorders. It showed that the big biotech can indeed expand beyond its CF specialty. And Vertex is continuing this with its recent rolling regulatory submission of its candidate for pain.

So, over time, Vertex has become a company with multiple products and multiple treatment areas, helping it to generate billions of dollars in earnings. The stock price followed, climbing more than 145% over the past three years.

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Source Fool.com