Financial Instruments (Interest Rate and Credit Risks) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Interest rate risk
Average interest rate received on cash and liquid investments	less than 1% per annum
Credit risk
Percent of the Company's product sales accounted for by three major customers in the US	49.00%
Relevant Countries
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of doubtful accounts	$ 184.0	$ 144.0
Accounts receivable net as a percentage of total outstanding accounts receivable net	22.00%	21.00%
Accounts receivable received	193
Greece
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable received	11
Accounts receivable received in the form of GGBs	2.1
Principal amount of GGBs	2.1
Carrying amount of GGBs	0.7
Ireland
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable received	18
Italy
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable received	94
Portugal
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable received	5
Spain
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable received	65
Government-owned or Supported Healthcare Providers \| Relevant Countries
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of doubtful accounts	170.0	126.0
Government-owned or Supported Healthcare Providers \| Greece
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of doubtful accounts	4.0	8.0
Government-owned or Supported Healthcare Providers \| Ireland
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of doubtful accounts	1.0	1.0
Government-owned or Supported Healthcare Providers \| Italy
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of doubtful accounts	81.0	60.0
Government-owned or Supported Healthcare Providers \| Portugal
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of doubtful accounts	14.0	5.0
Government-owned or Supported Healthcare Providers \| Spain
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of doubtful accounts	70.0	52.0
Shire 2.75% Convertible Bond due 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount	$ 1,100
Stated interest rate	2.75%

The carrying value of accounts receivable to be received in the form of foreign government bonds.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The total amount of accounts receivable to be received in the form of foreign government bonds.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Accounts receivable net as a percentage of total outstanding accounts receivable net.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Average interest rate received on cash and liquid investments.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage of revenues for the major customers in the USA over total revenues to consolidated external customers.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Cash receipts from customers in the form of foreign government bonds during the current period which are usually for sales of goods and services.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, the amount due from customers or clients for goods or services that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to their estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 3

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.9)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.5)

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- Definition

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

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-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

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- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Definition

Cash receipts from customers during the current period which are usually for sales of goods and services.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 27

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3536-108585

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