-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OnFQ9nvGVWaNBHXVsQcXYyHC/uiIW+a4f9TfQ87Hw58maVCVJMk4cpWyJPyrzZjq
 oVBqz9h9fc3sFNz5HJcwcQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000875320-08-000044.txt : 20080619
<SEC-HEADER>0000875320-08-000044.hdr.sgml : 20080619
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080619164200
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000875320-08-000044
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080618
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080619
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080619

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Lewis-Hall Freda C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001437909

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19319
		FILM NUMBER:		08908116

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		617-444-6589

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
		STREET 2:		130 WAVERLY STREET
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02139
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-06-18</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000875320</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC / MA</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VRTX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001437909</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lewis-Hall Freda C</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>EVP, Medicines Development</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common  Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">No securities beneficially owned.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Valerie L. Andrews, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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