Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 664,879	$ 625,259
Marketable securities, available for sale	516,255	761,847
Accounts receivable, net	80,332	75,964
Inventories	34,089	30,848
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	62,648	52,593
Total current assets	1,358,203	1,546,511
Property and equipment, net	708,616	715,812
Intangible assets	29,000	29,000
Goodwill	39,915	39,915
Restricted cash	22,141	176
Other assets	7,952	3,265
Total assets	2,165,827	2,334,679
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	43,524	71,194
Accrued expenses	176,981	209,676
Deferred revenues, current portion	15,918	17,468
Accrued restructuring expenses, current portion	13,133	33,107
Capital lease obligations, current portion	19,672	17,806
Senior secured term loan, current portion	28,527	14,206
Other liabilities, current portion	4,683	4,797
Total current liabilities	302,438	368,254
Deferred revenues, excluding current portion	24,000	27,808
Accrued restructuring expenses, excluding current portion	8,355	12,748
Capital lease obligations, excluding current portion	46,471	39,293
Deferred tax liability	15,093	15,044
Fan Pier lease obligation, excluding current portion	472,971	473,073
Senior secured term loan, excluding current portion	266,266	280,569
Other liabilities, excluding current portion	32,696	21,707
Total liabilities	1,168,290	1,238,496
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014	0	0
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014; 243,580,032 and 241,764,398 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	2,399	2,385
Additional paid-in capital	5,877,324	5,777,154
Accumulated other comprehensive income	791	917
Accumulated deficit	(4,904,056)	(4,705,450)
Total Vertex shareholders' equity	976,458	1,075,006
Noncontrolling interest	21,079	21,177
Total shareholders’ equity	997,537	1,096,183
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 2,165,827	$ 2,334,679