Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 475,320		$ 243,197
Marketable securities, available for sale	493,602		788,214
Restricted cash and cash equivalents (Alios)	51,878	[1]
Accounts receivable, net	183,135	[1]	12,529
Inventories	112,430
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	14,889	[1]	13,099
Total current assets	1,331,254		1,057,039
Restricted cash	34,090		34,090
Property and equipment, net	133,176	[1]	72,333
Intangible assets	663,500	[1]	518,700
Goodwill	30,992	[1]	26,102
Other assets	11,268	[1]	17,182
Total assets	2,204,280		1,725,446
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	74,642	[1]	35,851
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	252,299	[1]	134,414
Accrued interest	3,363	[1]	3,462	[1]
Deferred revenues, current portion	45,037		74,619
Accrued restructuring expense, current portion	4,932		5,497
Secured notes (due 2012)			136,991
Liability related to sale of milestone payments			77,799
Income taxes payable (Alios)	12,075	[1]
Other obligations			6,150
Total current liabilities	392,348		474,783
Deferred revenues, excluding current portion	118,095		160,049
Accrued restructuring expense, excluding current portion	21,381		24,098
Convertible senior subordinated notes (due 2015)	400,000		400,000
Deferred tax liability	243,707	[1]	160,278
Construction financing obligation	55,950
Other liabilities	7,287	[1]	2,265
Total liabilities	1,238,768		1,221,473
Commitments and contingencies (Note T and Note U)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest (Alios)	37,036	[1]
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2011 and 2010; 209,303,995 and 203,522,976 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively	2,072		2,016
Additional paid-in capital	4,200,659		3,947,433
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,053)		(1,067)
Accumulated deficit	(3,414,835)		(3,444,409)
Total Vertex shareholders' equity	786,843		503,973
Noncontrolling interest (Alios)	141,633	[1]
Total shareholders' equity	928,476		503,973
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 2,204,280		$ 1,725,446

[1] Amounts include the assets and liabilities of Vertex's variable interest entity ("VIE"), Alios BioPharma, Inc. ("Alios"). Vertex's interests and obligations with respect to the VIE's assets and liabilities are limited to those accorded to Vertex in its agreement with Alios. See Note B , "Collaborative Arrangements," to these consolidated financial statements for amounts.