Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Revenues:
Product revenues, net	$ 302,511	$ 137,099	$ 593,774	$ 362,879
Royalty revenues	5,759	8,386	17,628	32,134
Collaborative revenues	1,546	33,502	2,999	40,846
Total revenues	309,816	178,987	614,401	435,859
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product revenues	30,269	10,208	55,059	28,435
Royalty expenses	1,691	3,976	6,068	18,525
Research and development expenses	246,284	190,939	685,741	654,043
Sales, general and administrative expenses	99,772	75,224	280,026	226,882
Restructuring expenses, net	1,826	40,843	682	46,761
Total costs and expenses	379,842	321,190	1,027,576	974,646
Loss from operations	(70,026)	(142,203)	(413,175)	(538,787)
Interest expense, net	(21,134)	(20,384)	(63,552)	(51,686)
Other (expenses) income, net	(1,326)	(3,990)	(5,025)	34,192
Loss from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	(92,486)	(166,577)	(481,752)	(556,281)
Provision for income taxes	1,330	3,419	31,760	4,915
Loss from continuing operations	(93,816)	(169,996)	(513,512)	(561,196)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit of $0	0	(64)	0	(703)
Net loss	(93,816)	(170,060)	(513,512)	(561,899)
(Income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,333)	0	30,909	0
Net loss attributable to Vertex	(95,149)	(170,060)	(482,603)	(561,899)
Loss from continuing operations	(95,149)	(169,996)	(482,603)	(561,196)
Loss from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ (64)	$ 0	$ (703)
Net loss from continuing operations:
Net loss per share from continuing operations, basic (usd per share)	$ (0.39)	$ (0.72)	$ (2.00)	$ (2.40)
Net loss per share from continuing operations, diluted (usd per share)	(0.39)	(0.72)	(2.00)	(2.40)
Net loss from discontinued operations:
Net loss from discontinued operations, basic (usd per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Net loss from discontinued operations, diluted (usd per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Net loss:
Basic (usd per share)	(0.39)	(0.72)	(2.00)	(2.40)
Diluted (usd per share)	$ (0.39)	$ (0.72)	$ (2.00)	$ (2.40)
Shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (in shares)	241,969	236,137	240,749	234,207
Diluted (in shares)	241,969	236,137	240,749	234,207