Property and Equipment (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment, gross	$ 730,294,000		$ 404,239,000
Less: accumulated depreciation	(296,685,000)		(271,063,000)
Total property and equipment, net	433,609,000	[1]	133,176,000	[1]
Capital leased assets, gross	30,100,000		0
Capital leases accumulated depreciation	1,100,000		0
Depreciation and amortization expense	35,700,000		28,900,000		27,900,000
Furniture and equipment
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment, gross	173,766,000		151,961,000
Leasehold improvements
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment, gross	123,770,000		107,169,000
Software
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment, gross	101,276,000		56,923,000
Computers
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment, gross	40,779,000		33,116,000
Construction-in-process
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment, gross	$ 290,703,000		$ 55,070,000

[1] Amounts include the assets and liabilities of Vertex’s variable interest entity (“VIE”), Alios BioPharma, Inc. (“Alios”). Vertex’s interests and obligations with respect to the VIE’s assets and liabilities are limited to those accorded to Vertex in its agreement with Alios. See Note B, "Collaborative Arrangements," to these consolidated financial statements for amounts.