Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended											12 Months Ended				108 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2003	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues:
Product revenues, net	$ 281,309		$ 303,501	$ 373,273		$ 375,375	$ 456,759	$ 419,595		$ 74,535	$ 0	$ 1,333,458	$ 950,889	$ 0
Royalty revenues	43,451		25,586	33,480		38,981	25,405	8,539		10,010	6,061	141,498	50,015	30,244
Collaborative revenues	9,234		6,919	11,552		24,381	81,176	231,066		29,879	67,601	52,086	409,722	113,126
Total revenues	333,994		336,006	418,305		438,737	563,340	659,200		114,424	73,662	1,527,042	1,410,626	143,370
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product revenues (Note F)	75,595	[1]	30,680	104,549	[2]	25,918	22,936	35,285		5,404	0	236,742	63,625	0
Royalty expenses	12,120		7,856	9,874		13,293	7,191	3,121		3,902	2,666	43,143	16,880	12,730
Research and development expenses	213,109		200,161	196,544		196,371	186,438	189,052		173,604	158,612	806,185	707,706	637,416
Sales, general and administrative expenses	110,452		97,684	117,514		111,146	121,881	110,654		96,663	71,523	436,796	400,721	187,800
Restructuring expense	194		696	594		360	992	(419)		741	760	1,844	2,074	1,501	91,824	62,479
Intangible asset impairment charge	0		0	0		0	0	105,800	[3]	0	0	0	105,800	0
Total costs and expenses	411,470		337,077	429,075		347,088	339,438	443,493		280,314	233,561	1,524,710	1,296,806	839,447
Income (loss) from operations	(77,476)		(1,071)	(10,770)		91,649	223,902	215,707		(165,890)	(159,899)	2,332	113,820	(696,077)
Interest income	497		519	560		364	197	77		202	1,402	1,940	1,878	1,955
Interest expense	(3,793)		(4,560)	(4,195)		(4,105)	(12,430)	(7,059)		(6,962)	(12,001)	(16,653)	(38,452)	(19,275)
Change in fair value of derivative instruments	0		0	0		0	(868)	(8,115)		(2,220)	(5,598)	0	(16,801)	(41,229)
Income (loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(80,772)		(5,112)	(14,405)		87,908	210,801	200,610		(174,870)	(176,096)	(12,381)	60,445	(754,626)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(2,696)		21,355	20,063		32	22,660	(27,842)	[3]	24,448	0	38,754	19,266	0
Net income (loss)	(78,076)		(26,467)	(34,468)		87,876	188,141	228,452		(199,318)	(176,096)	(51,135)	41,179	(754,626)
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling Interest (Alios)	1,928		(31,076)	(30,463)		3,714	(29,512)	(7,342)		25,249	0	(55,897)	(11,605)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex	$ (76,148)		$ (57,543)	$ (64,931)		$ 91,590	$ 158,629	$ 221,110		$ (174,069)	$ (176,096)	$ (107,032)	$ 29,574	$ (754,626)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Vertex common shareholders:
Basic	$ (0.35)		$ (0.27)	$ (0.31)		$ 0.44	$ 0.76	$ 1.06		$ (0.85)	$ (0.87)	$ (0.50)	$ 0.14	$ (3.77)
Diluted	$ (0.35)		$ (0.27)	$ (0.31)		$ 0.43	$ 0.74	$ 1.02		$ (0.85)	$ (0.87)	$ (0.50)	$ 0.14	$ (3.77)
Shares used in per share calculations:
Basic	214,607		213,767	211,344		208,018	206,758	206,002		204,413	202,329	211,946	204,891	200,402
Diluted	214,607		213,767	211,344		219,264	217,602	219,349		204,413	202,329	211,946	208,807	200,402

[1] During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company recorded within cost of product revenues a lower of cost or market charge of $55.2 million for excess and obsolete INCIVEK inventories. This charge resulted in a $0.25 increase in the net loss attributable to Vertex per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2012. See Note F, "Inventories," for further information.

[2] During the second quarter of 2012, the Company recorded within cost of product revenues a lower of cost or market charge of $78.0 million for excess and obsolete INCIVEK inventories. This charge affected net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per diluted share, net of tax, by $(0.36) for the second quarter of 2012, resulting in a net loss attributable to Vertex per diluted share in the second quarter of 2012. See Note F, "Inventories," for further information.

[3] During the third quarter of 2011, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $105.8 million. In connection with this impairment charge, the Company recorded a benefit from income taxes of $32.7 million resulting in a net decrease in net income attributable to Vertex related to this impairment charge of $73.1 million in the third quarter of 2011.