Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended							9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2013 Research and Development Arrangement VX-222Asset [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Research and Development Arrangement VX-222Asset [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 VX-222Asset [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Alios Bio Pharma Inc	Dec. 31, 2012 Alios Bio Pharma Inc	Dec. 31, 2012 Alios Bio Pharma Inc Research and Development Arrangement	Sep. 30, 2013 Vertex
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	$ 250,600,000	[1]		$ 250,600,000	[1]		$ 663,500,000	[1]	$ 0	$ 412,900,000				$ 250,600,000
Intangible asset impairment charge	0		0	412,900,000		0					412,900,000				285,300,000
Deferred federal income tax expense (benefit)				127,600,000
Extraordinary Item, Earnings Per Share Impact, Net				$ 1,280
Goodwill	30,992,000	[1]		30,992,000	[1]		30,992,000	[1]				4,890,000	4,890,000
Goodwill, period increase (decrease)	$ 0		$ 0	$ 0		$ 0

[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.