Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity, Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Noncontrolling Interest (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Total Vertex Shareholders' Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit	Noncontrolling Interest (Alios)	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest (Alios)	Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 238,874	$ 238,874	$ 1,494	$ 2,281,817	$ 3,168	$ (2,047,605)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2008			151,245
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on marketable securities	(3,178)	(3,178)			(3,178)				(3,178)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(630)	(630)			(630)				(630)
Net income (loss)	(642,178)	(642,178)				(642,178)			(642,178)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(645,986)	(645,986)							(645,986)
Issuances of common stock:
Convertible senior subordinated notes (due 2013) exchanges	270,892	270,892	116	270,776
Convertible senior subordinated notes (due 2013) exchanges (in shares)			11,582
Acquisition of ViroChem	290,557	290,557	107	290,450
Acquisition of ViroChem (in shares)			10,734
Equity offerings	801,385	801,385	230	801,155
Equity offerings (in shares)			23,000
Benefit plans	53,902	53,902	35	53,867
Benefit plans (in shares)	198		3,394
Stock-based compensation expense	86,722	86,722		86,722
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	1,096,346	1,096,346	1,982	3,784,787	(640)	(2,689,783)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009			199,955
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on marketable securities	46	46			46				46
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(473)	(473)			(473)				(473)
Net income (loss)	(754,626)	(754,626)				(754,626)			(754,626)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(755,053)	(755,053)							(755,053)
Issuances of common stock:
Convertible senior subordinated notes (due 2013) conversion	31,565	31,565	14	31,551
Convertible senior subordinated notes (due 2013) conversion (in shares)			1,386
Benefit plans	39,991	39,991	20	39,971
Benefit plans (in shares)	174		2,182
Stock-based compensation expense	91,124	91,124		91,124
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	503,973	503,973	2,016	3,947,433	(1,067)	(3,444,409)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010			203,523
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on marketable securities	(119)	(119)			(119)				(119)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	133	133			133				133
Net income (loss)	41,179	29,574				29,574	11,605		41,179
Comprehensive income (loss)	41,193	29,588					11,605		41,193
Issuances of common stock:
Benefit plans	133,393	133,418	56	133,362			(25)
Benefit plans (in shares)	183		5,781
Stock-based compensation expense	119,268	118,964		118,964			304
Tax benefit from equity compensation	900	900		900
Alios noncontrolling interest upon consolidation	130,486						130,486	36,299
Dividends on redeemable noncontrolling interest	(737)						(737)	737
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 928,476	$ 786,843	$ 2,072	$ 4,200,659	$ (1,053)	$ (3,414,835)	$ 141,633	$ 37,036
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011			209,304