Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended					1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2010 Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes 3.35 Percent Due 2015	Jun. 30, 2013 Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes 3.35 Percent Due 2015	Dec. 31, 2013 Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes 3.35 Percent Due 2015
Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes
Convertible senior subordinated notes		$ 0	[1]	$ 400,000,000	[1]	$ 400,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)						3.35%
Net proceeds from convertible debt offering						391,600,000
Underwriting discount						8,400,000
Conversion price (in dollars per share)						$ 48.83
Original conversion rate, number of shares to be issued per $1000 of principal (in shares)								20.4794
Convertible debt principal amount, basis for exchange						1,000
Percent closing price needs to exceed the conversion price for at least 20 trading days within 30 consecutive trading days for provisional redemption (as a percent)						130.00%
Minimum number of days within 30 consecutive trading days the closing price needs to exceed the conversion price for provisional redemption (in days)						20 days
Total consecutive trading days during which the closing price must exceed the conversion price for at least 20 trading days for provisional redemption (in days)						30 days
Redemption price (percent)						100.00%
Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Amount							399,800,000
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Conversion of Convertible Securities (shares)							8,188,448
Stock Redeemed or Called During Period, Value							200,000
Redemption premium (in usd per share)							16.75
Additional shares issued (shares)	87,109
Interest expense							6,700,000
Offset to additional paid-in capital							$ 4,200,000

[1] Amounts as of December 31, 2012 include the assets and liabilities of Vertex’s variable interest entity (“VIE”), Alios BioPharma, Inc. (“Alios”). The Company deconsolidated Alios as of December 31, 2013. 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 B, "Collaborative Arrangements," to these consolidated financial statements for amounts.