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Fair Value Measurements (Details 1) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]      
Unrealized gains included in earnings $ 5.4biib_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainIncludedInEarnings $ 10.5biib_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainIncludedInEarnings  
Unrealized losses included in earnings (7.3)biib_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLossIncludedInEarnings (6.3)biib_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLossIncludedInEarnings  
Purchases 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPurchases 0.7us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPurchases  
Settlements (5.5)us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetSettlements (3.3)us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetSettlements  
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Venture capital investments      
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]      
Fair value, beginning of year     20.3us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= biib_VentureCapitalInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
Fair value, end of year $ 14.5us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= biib_VentureCapitalInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
$ 21.9us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= biib_VentureCapitalInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
$ 20.3us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= biib_VentureCapitalInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember