Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Revenues:
Product revenues, net	$ 549,642	$ 409,689	$ 1,544,252	$ 1,229,750
Royalty revenues	2,231	3,835	6,643	12,713
Collaborative revenues	26,292	259	286,123	1,008
Total revenues	578,165	413,783	1,837,018	1,243,471
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product revenues	72,186	53,222	188,963	147,165
Royalty expenses	688	855	2,104	2,813
Research and development expenses	454,947	272,370	1,017,961	799,238
Sales, general and administrative expenses	120,710	106,055	361,285	322,921
Restructuring expenses, net	337	8	13,859	1,038
Intangible asset impairment charge	255,340	0	255,340	0
Total costs and expenses	904,208	432,510	1,839,512	1,273,175
Loss from operations	(326,043)	(18,727)	(2,494)	(29,704)
Interest expense, net	(13,574)	(20,140)	(45,003)	(60,993)
Other (expenses) income, net	(77,553)	(167)	(80,634)	3,025
Loss before (benefit from) provision for income taxes	(417,170)	(39,034)	(128,131)	(87,672)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes	(125,903)	503	(117,581)	24,118
Net loss	(291,267)	(39,537)	(10,550)	(111,790)
Loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest	188,315	696	173,350	(33,207)
Net (loss) income attributable to Vertex	$ (102,952)	$ (38,841)	$ 162,800	$ (144,997)
Net (loss) income:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.41)	$ (0.16)	$ 0.66	$ (0.59)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.41)	$ (0.16)	$ 0.64	$ (0.59)
Shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (in shares)	250,268	244,920	247,963	244,529
Diluted (in shares)	250,268	244,920	252,095	244,529