Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Revenues:
Product revenues, net	$ 122,319	$ 254,789	$ 225,780	$ 522,170
Royalty revenues	13,015	49,120	23,748	92,693
Collaborative revenues	3,087	6,841	7,344	24,255
Total revenues	138,421	310,750	256,872	639,118
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product revenues	9,655	24,695	18,227	55,650
Royalty expenses	7,645	13,236	14,549	25,024
Research and development expenses	224,780	222,455	463,743	440,550
Sales, general and administrative expenses	77,446	106,521	151,658	199,400
Restructuring expenses	(270)	776	5,918	815
Intangible asset impairment charge	0	0	0	412,900
Total costs and expenses	319,256	367,683	654,095	1,134,339
Loss from operations	(180,835)	(56,933)	(397,223)	(495,221)
Interest expense, net	(15,585)	(6,551)	(31,302)	(10,016)
Other income (expense), net	37,731	(27)	38,182	(1,214)
Loss before provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(158,689)	(63,511)	(390,343)	(506,451)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	693	(1,799)	1,496	(132,112)
Net loss	(159,382)	(61,712)	(391,839)	(374,339)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (Alios)	0	4,547	0	9,158
Net loss attributable to Vertex	$ (159,382)	$ (57,165)	$ (391,839)	$ (365,181)
Net loss per share attributable to Vertex common shareholders:
Basic (usd per share)	$ (0.68)	$ (0.26)	$ (1.68)	$ (1.67)
Diluted (usd per share)	$ (0.68)	$ (0.26)	$ (1.68)	$ (1.67)
Shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (shares)	233,808	222,053	233,353	218,795
Diluted (shares)	233,808	222,053	233,353	218,795