** Brokerage Leerink Partners raises PT on drugmaker Vertex Pharmaceuticals VRTX.O to $525 from $456

** Says is optimistic about the company’s revenue and pipeline prospects, which is expected to drive stock price performance, and projects higher investment spending growth

** Brokerage anticipates encouraging updates from co's kidney pipeline in 2026

** Adds results from late-stage trials studying co's drug for kidney disease IgA nephropathy in H1 should be better cross-trial than competitors

** Trial results from other kidney disease drugs and next-gen drug for cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that causes sticky, thick mucus to build up in the body, is also expected

** In pain, VRTX is in the final stages of Journavx formulary negotiations with a third major pharmacy benefit manager, brokerage says

** Up to last close, stock up 14% YTD

(Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru)

((((Sriparna.Roy@thomsonreuters.com;))