Intangible Assets and Goodwill (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		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	$ 663,500,000	[1]				$ 663,500,000	[1]					$ 663,500,000	[1]	$ 663,500,000	[1]
Intangible asset impairment charge	0		0	0	0	0		105,800,000	[2]	0	0	0		105,800,000		0
Change in deferred income taxes								32,700,000
Deferred tax liability from intangible assets	229,696,000					229,696,000						229,696,000		229,696,000
Goodwill	30,992,000	[1]				30,992,000	[1]					30,992,000	[1]	30,992,000	[1]
VX-222Asset [Member]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Deferred tax liability from intangible assets	127,600,000					127,600,000						127,600,000		127,600,000
Research and Development Arrangement | VX-222Asset [Member]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	412,900,000					412,900,000						412,900,000		412,900,000		412,900,000
Research and Development Arrangement | VX759Asset [Member]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets						0								0		105,800,000
Alios Bio Pharma Inc
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill	4,890,000					4,890,000						4,890,000		4,890,000
Alios Bio Pharma Inc | Research and Development Arrangement
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	$ 250,600,000					$ 250,600,000						$ 250,600,000		$ 250,600,000

[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.

[2] 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.