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 Loss	Accumulated Deficit	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2012			217,287
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 1,195,852	$ 999,180	$ 2,149	$ 4,519,448	$ (550)	$ (3,521,867)	$ 196,672
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	244	244			244
Net income (loss)	$ (687,550)	(445,028)				(445,028)	(242,522)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)	99		8,226
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	$ 271,738	271,801	$ 88	271,713			(63)
Convertible senior subordinated notes (due 2015) conversion (shares)			8,276
Convertible senior subordinated notes (due 2015) conversion	402,265	402,265	$ 83	402,182
Stock-based compensation expense	128,351	127,883		127,883			468
Restructuring expense related to benefit plans	1,312	1,312		1,312
Tax benefit from equity compensation	(1,252)	(1,252)		(1,252)
Noncontrolling interest upon deconsolidation	45,445						45,445
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,356,405	1,356,405	$ 2,320	5,321,286	(306)	(3,966,895)	0
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2013			233,789
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2012	38,530
Increase (Decrease) in Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Noncontrolling interest upon deconsolidation	(38,530)
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2013	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	1,223	1,223			1,223
Net income (loss)	(742,745)	(738,555)				(738,555)	(4,190)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)			7,975
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	274,808	274,808	$ 65	274,743
Stock-based compensation expense	178,965	178,965		178,965
Tax benefit from equity compensation	2,160	2,160		2,160
Noncontrolling interest upon consolidation	25,367						25,367
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	1,096,183	1,075,006	$ 2,385	5,777,154	917	(4,705,450)	21,177
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014			241,764
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2014	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	907	907			907
Net income (loss)	(588,181)	(556,334)				(556,300)	(31,847)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)			4,543
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	185,290	185,276	$ 42	185,234			14
Stock-based compensation expense	235,112	235,112		235,112
Noncontrolling interest upon consolidation	164,317						164,317
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	1,093,628	$ 939,967	$ 2,427	$ 6,197,500	$ 1,824	$ (5,261,784)	$ 153,661
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2015			246,307
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 0