Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenues:
Product revenues, net	$ 186,653	$ 303,501	$ 708,823	$ 1,052,149
Royalty revenues	27,012	25,586	119,705	98,047
Collaborative revenues	8,035	6,919	32,290	42,852
Total revenues	221,700	336,006	860,818	1,193,048
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product revenues	20,048	30,680	75,698	161,147
Royalty expenses	7,291	7,856	32,315	31,023
Research and development expenses	228,624	200,161	669,174	593,076
Sales, general and administrative expenses	87,754	97,684	287,154	326,344
Restructuring expense	12,048	696	12,863	1,650
Intangible asset impairment charge	0	0	412,900	0
Total costs and expenses	355,765	337,077	1,490,104	1,113,240
Income (loss) from operations	(134,065)	(1,071)	(629,286)	79,808
Other income (expense), net	4,652	(4,041)	(6,578)	(11,417)
Income (loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(129,413)	(5,112)	(635,864)	68,391
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(751)	21,355	(132,863)	41,450
Net income (loss)	(128,662)	(26,467)	(503,001)	26,941
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling Interest (Alios)	4,530	(31,076)	13,688	(57,825)
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex	$ (124,132)	$ (57,543)	$ (489,313)	$ (30,884)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Vertex common shareholders:
Basic (usd per share)	$ (0.54)	$ (0.27)	$ (2.20)	$ (0.15)
Diluted (usd per share)	$ (0.54)	$ (0.27)	$ (2.20)	$ (0.15)
Shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (shares)	230,505	213,767	222,764	211,053
Diluted (shares)	230,505	213,767	222,764	211,053