Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 267,923		$ 475,320
Marketable securities, available for sale	712,944		493,602
Restricted cash and cash equivalents (Alios)	58,017	[1]	51,878	[1]
Accounts receivable, net	232,228		183,135
Inventories	129,595		112,430
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	35,407	[1]	14,889	[1]
Total current assets	1,436,114		1,331,254
Restricted cash	34,090		34,090
Property and equipment, net	170,331	[1]	133,176	[1]
Intangible assets	663,500	[1]	663,500	[1]
Goodwill	30,992	[1]	30,992	[1]
Other assets	10,816	[1]	11,268	[1]
Total assets	2,345,843		2,204,280
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	73,226	[1]	74,642	[1]
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	241,483	[1]	252,299	[1]
Accrued interest	6,713	[1]	3,363	[1]
Deferred revenues, current portion	30,491		45,037
Accrued restructuring expense, current portion	4,701		4,932
Income taxes payable (Alios)	201	[1]	12,075	[1]
Total current liabilities	356,815		392,348
Deferred revenues, excluding current portion	116,189		118,095
Accrued restructuring expense, excluding current portion	20,772		21,381
Convertible senior subordinated notes (due 2015)	400,000		400,000
Deferred tax liability	241,426	[1]	243,707	[1]
Construction financing obligation	94,179		55,950
Other liabilities	10,885	[1]	7,287	[1]
Total liabilities	1,240,266		1,238,768
Commitments and contingencies:
Redeemable noncontrolling interest (Alios)	37,496	[1]	37,036	[1]
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding at March 31,2012 and December 31, 2011
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized; 210,863,353 and 209,303,995 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	2,087		2,072
Additional paid-in capital	4,252,284		4,200,659
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(628)		(1,053)
Accumulated deficit	(3,323,245)		(3,414,835)
Total Vertex shareholders' equity	930,498		786,843
Noncontrolling interest (Alios)	137,583	[1]	141,633	[1]
Total shareholders' equity	1,068,081		928,476
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 2,345,843		$ 2,204,280

[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 C, "Collaborative Arrangements," to these condensed consolidated financial statements for amounts.