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 Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	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	$ (3,966,895)	$ (306)	$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,467	1,467				1,467
Net loss	(561,899)	(561,899)			(561,899)		0
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)			6,449
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	223,867	223,867	$ 55	223,812
Stock-based compensation	136,065	136,065		136,065
Balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2014			240,238
Balance at Sep. 30, 2014	1,155,905	1,155,905	$ 2,375	5,681,163	(4,528,794)	1,161	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	(4,705,450)	917	21,177
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	594	594				594
Net loss	(513,512)	(482,603)			(482,603)		(30,909)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)			3,882
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	139,453	139,453	$ 34	139,419
Stock-based compensation	189,697	189,697		189,697
Noncontrolling interest upon consolidation	164,317	0					164,317
Balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2015			245,646
Balance at Sep. 30, 2015	$ 1,076,732	$ 922,147	$ 2,419	$ 6,106,270	$ (5,188,053)	$ 1,511	$ 154,585