Collaborative Arrangements (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Schedule of Collaborative Arrangements
Collaborative revenues	$ 842,000	$ 4,257,000
Noncontrolling interest	21,079,000			21,177,000	21,177,000
BioAxone Biosciences Inc
Schedule of Collaborative Arrangements
Up-front license payment				10,000,000
License fees and milestone payments (up to)			90,000,000
Goodwill acquired					8,900,000
Noncontrolling interest				21,200,000	21,200,000
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Incorporated
Schedule of Collaborative Arrangements
Collaborative funding						75,000,000
Number of years over which funding will be made (in years)						5 years
Collaborative revenues	0	2,900,000
Milestone payment made							9,300,000	9,300,000
Number of commercial milestone payments for achievement of certain sales levels for corrector compound such as VX-809 or VX-661 (in payments)	2
Janssen
Schedule of Collaborative Arrangements
Net reimbursement for telaprevir development costs	600,000	1,400,000
Royalty Expense	1,500,000	4,900,000
Up-front license payment					35,000,000
Reimbursement Revenue	7,600,000	0
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | BioAxone Biosciences Inc
Schedule of Collaborative Arrangements
Cash and cash equivalents	7,700,000			8,400,000	8,400,000
In-process research and development intangible asset				29,000,000	29,000,000
Deferred tax liability				$ 11,500,000	$ 11,500,000