Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Product revenues, net	$ 1,683,632	$ 1,000,324	$ 487,821
Royalty revenues	16,600	23,959	40,919
Collaborative revenues	1,945	8,053	51,675
Total revenues	1,702,177	1,032,336	580,415
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product revenues	206,811	117,151	39,725
Royalty expenses	3,649	7,361	21,262
Research and development expenses	1,047,690	995,922	855,506
Sales, general and administrative expenses	432,829	376,575	305,409
Restructuring expenses	1,262	2,206	50,925
Total costs and expenses	1,692,241	1,499,215	1,272,827
Income (loss) from operations	9,936	(466,879)	(692,412)
Interest expense, net	(81,432)	(84,206)	(72,863)
Other income (expense), net	4,130	(6,715)	30,400
Loss from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	(67,366)	(557,800)	(734,875)
Provision for income taxes	16,665	30,381	6,958
Loss from continuing operations	(84,031)	(588,181)	(741,833)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit of $0, $0 and $0, respectively	0	0	(912)
Net loss	(84,031)	(588,181)	(742,745)
(Income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(28,021)	31,847	4,190
Net loss attributable to Vertex	(112,052)	(556,334)	(738,555)
Loss from continuing operations	(112,052)	(556,334)	(737,643)
Loss from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ 0	$ (912)
Net loss from continuing operations:
Basic (usd per share)	$ (0.46)	$ (2.31)	$ (3.14)
Diluted (usd per share)	(0.46)	(2.31)	(3.14)
Net loss from discontinued operations:
Basic (usd per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00
Diluted (usd per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00
Net loss:
Basic (usd per share)	(0.46)	(2.31)	(3.14)
Diluted (usd per share)	$ (0.46)	$ (2.31)	$ (3.14)
Shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (in shares)	244,685	241,312	235,307
Diluted (in shares)	244,685	241,312	235,307