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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PK6dsGrhav4XNdKuYBJ8WsdoWfhcL73CSe8NkHl13AZ1IFcFaKq1G/mCS4xCJOQ7
 fLKlZGJKl3aosoDpzhMgOg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000875320-03-000058.txt : 20031215
<SEC-HEADER>0000875320-03-000058.hdr.sgml : 20031215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031215162244
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000875320-03-000058
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031211
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031215

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SATO VICKI L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001197020

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19319
		FILM NUMBER:		031054881

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		130 WAVERLY STREET
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02139

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC / MA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000875320
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				043039129
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		130 WAVERLY STREET
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02139-4242
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6165776000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-11</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000875320</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC / MA</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VRTX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197020</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SATO VICKI L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>130 WAVERLY STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02139</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-11</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4000</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>135917</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><nature
OfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7079</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>shares 401(k)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.07</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-11</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>30000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0
</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-03-11</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock </value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>30000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1204500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Stock grant made under 1996 Stock and Option Plan, vesting in 4 equal annual installments from 12/11/2003.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Right to buy under 1996 Stock and Option Plan, vesting in 16 
equal quarterly installments from 12/11/2003.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Valerie L. Andrews, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-15</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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