Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Revenues:
Product revenues, net	$ 425,651	$ 160,388	$ 820,061	$ 291,263
Royalty revenues	5,282	5,077	8,878	11,869
Collaborative revenues	675	611	749	1,453
Total revenues	431,608	166,076	829,688	304,585
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product revenues	44,154	15,409	93,943	24,790
Royalty expenses	1,098	1,451	1,958	4,377
Research and development expenses	271,008	223,858	526,868	439,457
Sales, general and administrative expenses	111,652	94,394	216,866	180,254
Restructuring expenses (income), net	343	2,128	1,030	(1,144)
Total costs and expenses	428,255	337,240	840,665	647,734
Income (loss) from operations	3,353	(171,164)	(10,977)	(343,149)
Interest expense, net	(20,155)	(21,111)	(40,853)	(42,418)
Other (expenses) income, net	(1,219)	1,414	3,192	(3,699)
Loss before provision for income taxes	(18,021)	(190,861)	(48,638)	(389,266)
Provision for income taxes	18,130	30,131	23,615	30,430
Net loss	(36,151)	(220,992)	(72,253)	(419,696)
(Income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(28,374)	32,144	(33,903)	32,242
Net loss attributable to Vertex	$ (64,525)	$ (188,848)	$ (106,156)	$ (387,454)
Net loss:
Basic (usd per share)	$ (0.26)	$ (0.78)	$ (0.43)	$ (1.61)
Diluted (usd per share)	$ (0.26)	$ (0.78)	$ (0.43)	$ (1.61)
Shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (in shares)	244,482	240,757	244,124	240,129
Diluted (in shares)	244,482	240,757	244,124	240,129