Long-term Obligations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011 leases building squarefeet	Jun. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity		$ 31,900,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Low of Range		4.00%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, High of Range		7.00%
Number of leases (leases)	2
Area of leased property (in square feet)	1,100,000
Number of buildings under lease agreement (buildings)	2
Initial term of lease agreement (in years)	15 years
Optional term of lease agreement (in years)	10 years
Construction in progress		421,300,000		290,700,000
Construction financing lease obligation		359,100,000	[1]	268,031,000	[1]
Change in Restricted Cash Balance as Result of Transactions		$ 31,800,000

[1] Amounts include the assets and liabilities of Vertex’s variable interest entity (“VIE”), Alios BioPharma, Inc. (“Alios”). Vertex’s interests and obligations with respect to the VIE’s assets and liabilities are limited to those accorded to Vertex in its agreement with Alios. See Note C, "Collaborative Arrangements," to these condensed consolidated financial statements for amounts.