Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) will pay $4.9 billion to acquire immunological-focused biotech Alpine Immune Sciences (ALPN), the companies said late Wednesday. Alpine stock rocketed almost 21% on rumors of the deal. X Alpine's lead product is in development for patients with IgA nephropathy, a chronic kidney disease that progresses over 10 to 20 years, and can lead to end-stage renal disease, according to Johns Hopkins researchers. The company is due to begin a Phase 3 study in the second half of this year. ...