Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 0	$ (4,530)	$ 0	$ (13,688)
Revenues:
Product revenues, net	137,099	186,653	362,879	708,823
Royalty revenues	8,386	27,012	32,134	119,705
Collaborative revenues	33,502	8,035	40,846	32,290
Total revenues	178,987	221,700	435,859	860,818
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product revenues	10,208	20,048	28,435	75,698
Royalty expenses	3,976	7,291	18,525	32,315
Research and development expenses	190,939	219,442	654,043	643,636
Sales, general and administrative expenses	75,224	86,427	226,882	283,133
Restructuring expenses	40,843	12,048	46,761	12,863
Intangible asset impairment charge	0	0	0	412,900
Total costs and expenses	321,190	345,256	974,646	1,460,545
Loss from operations	(142,203)	(123,556)	(538,787)	(599,727)
Interest expense, net	(20,384)	(95)	(51,686)	(10,109)
Other income (expense), net	(3,990)	4,751	34,192	3,360
Loss from continuing operations before provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(166,577)	(118,900)	(556,281)	(606,476)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	3,419	2,555	4,915	(123,774)
Loss from continuing operations	(169,996)	(121,455)	(561,196)	(482,702)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit of $0, $3,306, $0 and $9,089, respectively	(64)	(7,207)	(703)	(20,299)
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to Vertex	(64)	(2,677)	(703)	(6,611)
Net loss attributable to Vertex	$ (170,060)	$ (124,132)	$ (561,899)	$ (489,313)
Net loss per share from continuing operations:
Net loss per share from continuing operations, basic (usd per share)	$ (0.72)	$ (0.53)	$ (2.40)	$ (2.17)
Net loss per share from continuing operations, diluted (usd per share)	$ (0.72)	$ (0.53)	$ (2.40)	$ (2.17)
Net loss from discontinued operations per share attributable to Vertex common shareholders:
Net loss from discontinued operations per share attributable to Vertex common shareholders, basic (usd per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)
Net loss from discontinued operations per share attributable to Vertex common shareholders, diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)
Net loss per share attributable to Vertex common shareholders:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to parent, basic (usd per share)	$ (0.72)	$ (0.54)	$ (2.40)	$ (2.20)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to parent, diluted (usd per share)	$ (0.72)	$ (0.54)	$ (2.40)	$ (2.20)
Shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (in shares)	236,137	230,505	234,207	222,764
Diluted (in shares)	236,137	230,505	234,207	222,764