Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	$ 250,600,000	[1]		$ 663,500,000	[1]
Intangible asset impairment charge	412,900,000		0
Deferred federal income tax expense (benefit)	127,600,000
Asset impairment charges	285,300,000
Extraordinary Item, Earnings Per Share Impact, Net	$ 1.32
Goodwill	30,992,000	[1]		30,992,000	[1]
Goodwill, period increase (decrease)	0		0
Research and Development Arrangement | VX-222Asset [Member]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	0			412,900,000
Alios Bio Pharma Inc
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill	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

[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.