Nature of Business and Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 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 M product	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Product revenues allowances and reserve categories
Advertising Expenses									$ 58,600,000	$ 30,800,000	$ 0
Number of products									2
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex	(76,148,000)	(57,543,000)	(64,931,000)	91,590,000	158,629,000	221,110,000	(174,069,000)	(176,096,000)	(107,032,000)	29,574,000	(754,626,000)
Basic EPS	$ 0.35	$ 0.27	$ 0.31	$ (0.44)	$ (0.76)	$ (1.06)	$ 0.85	$ 0.87	$ 0.50	$ (0.14)	$ 3.77
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities	1,300,000,000								1,300,000,000
Product revenues, net
Discount rate for payments made within 30 days (percent)									2.00%
Period prior to the labeled expiration date in which distributors have right to return unopened, unprescribed INCIVEK (teleprevir) (in months)									6
Period after the labeled expiration date in which distributors have right to return unopened, unprescribed INCIVEK (teleprevir) (in months)									12
Activity related to product revenues allowances and reserve categories
Balance, Beginning of Period				69,363,000				0	69,363,000	0
Provision related to current period sales									(294,025,000)	(123,618,000)
Adjustments related to prior period sales									5,482,000
Credits/payments made									(293,477,000)	(54,255,000)
Balance, End of Period	75,393,000				69,363,000				75,393,000	69,363,000	0
Trade allowances
Activity related to product revenues allowances and reserve categories
Balance, Beginning of Period				11,162,000				0	11,162,000	0
Provision related to current period sales									(55,913,000)	(38,228,000)
Adjustments related to prior period sales									29,000
Credits/payments made									(61,688,000)	(27,066,000)
Balance, End of Period	5,416,000				11,162,000				5,416,000	11,162,000
Rebates, Chargebacks and Discounts
Activity related to product revenues allowances and reserve categories
Balance, Beginning of Period				52,659,000				0	52,659,000	0
Provision related to current period sales									(216,942,000)	(75,145,000)
Adjustments related to prior period sales									3,883,000
Credits/payments made									(209,924,000)	(22,486,000)
Balance, End of Period	63,560,000				52,659,000				63,560,000	52,659,000
Product Returns
Activity related to product revenues allowances and reserve categories
Balance, Beginning of Period				340,000				0	340,000	0
Provision related to current period sales									(2,067,000)	(553,000)
Adjustments related to prior period sales									1,498,000
Credits/payments made									(1,053,000)	(213,000)
Balance, End of Period	2,852,000				340,000				2,852,000	340,000
Other Incentives
Activity related to product revenues allowances and reserve categories
Balance, Beginning of Period				5,202,000				0	5,202,000	0
Provision related to current period sales									(19,103,000)	(9,692,000)
Adjustments related to prior period sales									72,000
Credits/payments made									(20,812,000)	(4,490,000)
Balance, End of Period	$ 3,565,000				$ 5,202,000				$ 3,565,000	$ 5,202,000