Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 90,472	$ 183,774	$ 216,988	$ 361,009
Operating expenses:
Cost of revenue	36,999	85,687	70,736	152,554
Research and development	36,221	41,228	60,170	72,324
Selling, general and administrative	96,246	88,745	176,780	153,266
Total operating expenses	169,466	215,660	307,686	378,144
Loss from operations	(78,994)	(31,886)	(90,698)	(17,135)
Co-promotion and license income	638	7,326	9,026	13,346
Gain on remeasurement of equity investment	0	0	22,741	0
Gain on sale of investment	19,773	0	19,773	0
Loss in equity investment	0	0	(144)	0
Interest expense	(9,348)	(3,892)	(17,955)	(7,752)
Other income (expense)	94	(150)	203	29
Loss before income taxes	(67,837)	(28,602)	(57,054)	(11,512)
Benefit for income taxes	21,298	23,428	15,521	1,333
Net loss	(46,539)	(5,174)	(41,533)	(10,179)
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interest	(53)	17	(25)	26
Net loss attributable to The Medicines Company	$ (46,592)	$ (5,157)	$ (41,558)	$ (10,153)
Basic loss per common share attributable to The Medicines Company (USD per share)	$ (0.71)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.63)	$ (0.16)
Diluted loss per common share attributable to The Medicines Company (USD per share)	$ (0.71)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.63)	$ (0.16)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (shares)	65,903	64,400	65,541	64,277
Diluted (shares)	65,903	64,400	65,541	64,277