Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interest - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Total Vertex Shareholders' Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2013			233,789
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 1,356,405	$ 1,356,405	$ 2,320	$ 5,321,286	$ (306)	$ (3,966,895)	$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	283	283			283
Net loss	(391,839)	(391,839)				(391,839)	0
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)			3,542
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	117,947	117,947	$ 27	117,920
Stock-based compensation	89,473	89,473		89,473
Balance (shares) at Jun. 30, 2014			237,331
Balance at Jun. 30, 2014	1,172,269	1,172,269	$ 2,347	5,528,679	(23)	(4,358,734)	0
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014			241,764
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	1,096,183	1,075,006	$ 2,385	5,777,154	917	(4,705,450)	21,177
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(2,624)	(2,624)			(2,624)
Net loss	(419,696)	(387,454)				(387,454)	(32,242)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)			2,578
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	87,354	87,354	$ 21	87,333
Stock-based compensation	122,682	122,682		122,682
Noncontrolling interest upon consolidation	164,317	0					164,317
Balance (shares) at Jun. 30, 2015			244,342
Balance at Jun. 30, 2015	$ 1,048,216	$ 894,964	$ 2,406	$ 5,987,169	$ (1,707)	$ (5,092,904)	$ 153,252