Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net product revenues	$ 13,845	$ 31,375
Royalty revenues	10,371	18,931
Total net revenues	24,216	50,306
Operating expenses:
Cost of product revenues	13,553	18,797
Research and development	38,427	33,491
Selling, general and administrative	63,182	79,298
Total operating expenses	115,162	131,586
Loss from operations	(90,946)	(81,280)
Co-promotion and license income	757	975
Interest expense	(12,422)	(9,746)
Other loss	(9)	(262)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(102,620)	(90,313)
Provision for income taxes	(50)	(46)
Net loss from continuing operations	(102,670)	(90,359)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(2,105)
Net loss	(102,670)	(92,464)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest	0	16
Net (loss) income attributable to The Medicines Company	(102,670)	(92,448)
Amounts attributable to The Medicines Company:
Net loss from continuing operations	(102,670)	(90,343)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(2,105)
Net (loss) income attributable to The Medicines Company	$ (102,670)	$ (92,448)
Basic loss per common share attributable to The Medicines Company:
Loss from continuing operations (USD per share)	$ (1.44)	$ (1.31)
Loss from discontinued operations (USD per share)	0.00	(0.03)
Basic loss per share (USD per share)	(1.44)	(1.34)
Diluted loss per common share attributable to The Medicines Company:
Loss from continuing operations (USD per share)	(1.44)	(1.31)
Loss from discontinued operations (USD per share)	0.00	(0.03)
Diluted loss per share (USD per share)	$ (1.44)	$ (1.34)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (shares)	71,073	69,210
Diluted (shares)	71,073	69,210