Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Vertex Common Shareholders (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Basic net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders	$ (308,016)	$ 91,590
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	0	(906)
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders—basic	(308,016)	90,684
Weighted-average shares used to compute basic net income (loss) per common share (shares)	215,421	208,018
Basic net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share (usd per share)	$ (1.43)	$ 0.44
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders	(308,016)	91,590
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	0	(860)
Plus: Interest expense and amortization of deferred issuance costs related to convertible senior subordinated notes	0	3,749
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders—diluted	$ (308,016)	$ 94,479
Weighted-average shares used to compute basic net income (loss) per common share (shares)	215,421	208,018
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Convertible senior subordinated notes (shares)	0	8,891
Stock options (shares)	0	2,289
Other (shares)	0	66
Weighted-average shares used to compute diluted net income (loss) per common share (shares)	215,421	219,264
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share (usd per share)	$ (1.43)	$ 0.43
Stock options
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	21,848	13,768
Convertible senior subordinated notes
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	8,192	0
Unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	2,682	16