Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Product revenues, net	$ 130,875	$ 103,461
Royalty revenues	6,792	10,733
Collaborative revenues	842	4,257
Total revenues	138,509	118,451
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product revenues	9,381	8,572
Royalty expenses	2,926	6,904
Research and development expenses	215,599	238,617
Sales, general and administrative expenses	85,860	74,212
Restructuring (income) expenses	(3,272)	6,188
Total costs and expenses	310,494	334,493
Loss from operations	(171,985)	(216,042)
Interest expense, net	(21,307)	(15,717)
Other (expense) income, net	(5,113)	451
Loss from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	(198,405)	(231,308)
Provision for income taxes	299	803
Loss from continuing operations	(198,704)	(232,111)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit of $0	0	(346)
Net loss	(198,704)	(232,457)
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	98	0
Net loss attributable to Vertex	(198,606)	(232,457)
Loss from continuing operations	(198,606)	(232,111)
Loss from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ (346)
Net loss from continuing operations:
Net loss per share from continuing operations, basic (usd per share)	$ (0.83)	$ (1.00)
Net loss per share from continuing operations, diluted (usd per share)	$ (0.83)	$ (1.00)
Net loss from discontinued operations:
Net loss from discontinued operations, basic (usd per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Net loss from discontinued operations, diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Net loss:
Basic (usd per share)	$ (0.83)	$ (1.00)
Diluted (usd per share)	$ (0.83)	$ (1.00)
Shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (in shares)	239,493	232,887
Diluted (in shares)	239,493	232,887