Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Revenues:
Product revenues, net	$ 103,461	$ 267,381
Royalty revenues	10,733	43,573
Collaborative revenues	4,257	17,414
Total revenues	118,451	328,368
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product revenues	8,572	30,955
Royalty expenses	6,904	11,788
Research and development expenses	238,963	218,095
Sales, general and administrative expenses	74,212	92,879
Restructuring expense	6,188	39
Intangible asset impairment charge	0	412,900
Total costs and expenses	334,839	766,656
Loss from operations	(216,388)	(438,288)
Interest expense, net	(15,717)	(3,465)
Other income (expense), net	451	(1,187)
Loss before provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(231,654)	(442,940)
Benefit from income taxes	803	(130,313)
Net loss	(232,457)	(312,627)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (Alios)	0	4,611
Net loss attributable to Vertex	$ (232,457)	$ (308,016)
Net loss per share attributable to Vertex common shareholders:
Basic (usd per share)	$ (1.00)	$ (1.43)
Diluted (usd per share)	$ (1.00)	$ (1.43)
Shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (shares)	232,887	215,421
Diluted (shares)	232,887	215,421