Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net product revenues	$ 48,175	$ 172,401	$ 265,163	$ 533,410
Royalty revenues	24,503	0	24,503	0
Total net revenues	72,678	172,401	289,666	533,410
Operating expenses:
Cost of product revenue	86,970	69,076	157,706	221,630
Research and development	30,120	33,314	90,290	105,638
Selling, general and administrative	82,477	82,662	259,257	235,928
Total operating expenses	199,567	185,052	507,253	563,196
Loss from operations	(126,889)	(12,651)	(217,587)	(29,786)
Co-promotion and license income	985	2,864	10,011	16,210
Gain on remeasurement of equity investment	0	0	22,741	0
Gain on sale of investment	0	0	19,773	0
Investment impairment	0	(7,500)	0	(7,500)
Loss in equity investment	0	(1,184)	(144)	(1,184)
Legal settlement	5,000	0	5,000	0
Interest expense	(9,547)	(3,958)	(27,502)	(11,710)
Other income (expense)	(137)	(53)	66	(24)
Loss before income taxes	(130,588)	(22,482)	(187,642)	(33,994)
Benefit for income taxes	25,447	5,693	40,968	7,026
Net loss	(105,141)	(16,789)	(146,674)	(26,968)
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interest	9	53	(16)	79
Net loss attributable to The Medicines Company	$ (105,132)	$ (16,736)	$ (146,690)	$ (26,889)
Basic loss per common share attributable to The Medicines Company (USD per share)	$ (1.57)	$ (0.26)	$ (2.22)	$ (0.42)
Diluted loss per common share attributable to The Medicines Company (USD per share)	$ (1.57)	$ (0.26)	$ (2.22)	$ (0.42)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (shares)	67,137	64,534	66,079	64,363
Diluted (shares)	67,137	64,534	66,079	64,363