Collaborative Arrangements (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	22 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2013 Janssen Pharmaceutica, N.V.	Mar. 31, 2012 Janssen Pharmaceutica, N.V.	Dec. 31, 2006 Janssen Pharmaceutica, N.V.	Mar. 31, 2013 Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation	Mar. 31, 2012 Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation	Dec. 31, 2011 Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation	Dec. 31, 2009 Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation	Apr. 30, 2011 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Incorporated	Mar. 31, 2013 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Incorporated payment	Sep. 30, 2012 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Incorporated	Mar. 31, 2012 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Incorporated	Dec. 31, 2006 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Incorporated	Mar. 31, 2013 Alios Bio Pharma Inc lines	Mar. 31, 2012 Alios Bio Pharma Inc	Dec. 31, 2012 Alios Bio Pharma Inc	Mar. 31, 2013 Alios Bio Pharma Inc lines	Jun. 13, 2011 Alios Bio Pharma Inc	Mar. 31, 2013 Minimum [Member] Janssen Pharmaceutica, N.V.	Mar. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member] Janssen Pharmaceutica, N.V.
Schedule of Collaborative Arrangements
Drug development costs to be paid by collaborator (as a percent)						50.00%		50.00%
Up-front license payment								$ 165,000,000
Deferred revenue related to up-front license payment						40,400,000
Total contingent milestone payments earned						350,000,000
Notice period required to terminate without cause (in years)						1 year
Notice period required for termination after first commercial sale ( in years)						10 years
Collaborative revenues recognized
Royalty revenues	43,573,000		38,981,000			39,044,000	32,884,000
Amortized portion of up-front payment						3,107,000	3,107,000
Net reimbursement (payment) for telaprevir development costs						(27,000)	(1,139,000)
Reimbursement for manufacturing services						10,299,000	4,449,000
Collaborative revenues	17,414,000		24,381,000			13,379,000	6,417,000		0	14,000,000				3,600,000		3,900,000
Total revenues	328,368,000		438,737,000			52,423,000	39,301,000
License fee paid upon amendment of agreement												105,000,000
Milestone payment received											65,000,000			9,300,000	9,300,000		1,500,000
Notice period required to terminate without cause (in days)									60 days
Collaborative funding													75,000,000
Number of years over which funding will be made (in years)													5 years
Number of commercial milestone payments for achievement of certain sales levels for corrector compound such as VX-809 or VX-661 (in payments)														2
Up-front payment																						60,000,000
Milestone payments																				25,000,000	60,000,000
Development milestone payments, maximum																					312,500,000
Commercial milestone payments, maximum																		750,000,000
Notice period for termination of contract due to technical failure (in days)																		30 days
Notice period for termination of contract after completion of clinical trials (in days)																		60 days
Latest expiration period for royalty obligation after first commercial sale in country unless contract is terminated earlier (in years)																		10 years
Noncontrolling Interest (Alios)
Number of lines on balance sheet where noncontrolling interest is reported																		2			2
Loss (income) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes																		5,297,000	5,024,000
Decrease (increase) in fair value of contingent milestone and royalty payments																		2,740,000	970,000
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(130,313,000)		32,000															(3,426,000)	(2,280,000)
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest (Alios)	(4,611,000)		(3,714,000)															4,611,000	3,714,000
Restricted cash and cash equivalents (Alios)	63,008,000	[1]		69,983,000	[1]													63,008,000		69,983,000	63,008,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	47,835,000	[1]		24,673,000	[1]													3,776,000		672,000	3,776,000
Property and equipment, net	504,232,000	[1]		433,609,000	[1]													1,623,000		1,728,000	1,623,000
Intangible assets																		250,600,000		250,600,000	250,600,000
Goodwill	30,992,000	[1]		30,992,000	[1]													4,890,000		4,890,000	4,890,000
Tiered Royalty Average Percent of Net Sales																							20.00%	30.00%
Other assets	8,693,000	[1]		9,668,000	[1]													990,000		861,000	990,000
Accounts payable	59,627,000	[1]		101,292,000	[1]													1,975,000		1,054,000	1,975,000
Accrued expenses	274,061,000	[1]		264,884,000	[1]													5,019,000		6,099,000	5,019,000
Deferred tax liability	151,664,000	[1]		280,367,000	[1]													151,664,000		152,781,000	151,664,000
Other liabilities, excluding current portion	16,678,000	[1]		13,902,000	[1]													648,000		1,625,000	648,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interest (Alios)	38,872,000	[1]		38,530,000	[1]													38,872,000		38,530,000	38,872,000
Noncontrolling interest (Alios)	$ 191,845,000	[1]		$ 196,672,000	[1]													$ 191,845,000		$ 196,672,000	$ 191,845,000

[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 C, "Collaborative Arrangements," to these condensed consolidated financial statements for amounts.