Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended				96 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2003	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues:
Product revenues, net	$ 456,759	$ 419,595	$ 74,535						$ 950,889
Royalty revenues	25,405	8,539	10,010	6,061	8,402	8,173	7,262	6,407	50,015	30,244	28,320
Collaborative revenues	81,176	231,066	29,879	67,601	57,122	15,622	24,360	16,022	409,722	113,126	73,569
Total revenues	563,340	659,200	114,424	73,662	65,524	23,795	31,622	22,429	1,410,626	143,370	101,889
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product revenues	22,936	35,285	5,404						63,625
Royalty expenses	7,191	3,121	3,902	2,666	3,049	3,228	3,086	3,367	16,880	12,730	14,202
Research and development expenses	186,438	189,052	173,604	158,612	168,888	170,434	155,082	143,012	707,706	637,416	550,274
Sales, general and administrative expenses	121,881	110,654	96,663	71,523	62,478	48,855	40,915	35,552	400,721	187,800	130,192
Restructuring expense	992	(419)	741	760	(2,257)	866	2,112	780	2,074	1,501	6,240	91,824	60,635
Intangible asset impairment charge		105,800							105,800		7,200
Total costs and expenses	339,438	443,493	280,314	233,561	232,158	223,383	201,195	182,711	1,296,806	839,447	715,901
Income (loss) from operations	223,902	215,707	(165,890)	(159,899)	(166,634)	(199,588)	(169,573)	(160,282)	113,820	(696,077)	(614,012)
Interest income	197	77	202	1,402	523	493	484	455	1,878	1,955	5,010
Interest expense	(12,430)	(7,059)	(6,962)	(12,001)	(7,686)	(3,951)	(3,683)	(3,955)	(38,452)	(19,275)	(13,192)
Change in fair value of derivative instruments	(868)	(8,115)	(2,220)	(5,598)	(6,595)	(5,911)	(27,234)	(1,489)	(16,801)	(41,229)	(1,847)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	210,801	200,610	(174,870)	(176,096)					60,445	(754,626)	(642,178)
Provision for income taxes	22,660	(27,842)	24,448						19,266
Net income (loss)	188,141	228,452	(199,318)	(176,096)					41,179	(754,626)	(642,178)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (Alios)	29,512	7,342	(25,249)						11,605
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex	$ 158,629	$ 221,110	$ (174,069)	$ (176,096)	$ (180,392)	$ (208,957)	$ (200,006)	$ (165,271)	$ 29,574	$ (754,626)	$ (642,178)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Vertex common shareholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.76	$ 1.06	$ (0.85)	$ (0.87)	$ (0.90)	$ (1.04)	$ (1.00)	$ (0.83)	$ 0.14	$ (3.77)	$ (3.71)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.74	$ 1.02	$ (0.85)	$ (0.87)	$ (0.90)	$ (1.04)	$ (1.00)	$ (0.83)	$ 0.14	$ (3.77)	$ (3.71)
Shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (in shares)	206,758	206,002	204,413	202,329	201,355	200,887	200,397	198,935	204,891	200,402	173,259
Diluted (in shares)	217,602	219,349	204,413	202,329	201,355	200,887	200,397	198,935	208,807	200,402	173,259