Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Revenues:
Product revenues, net	$ 409,689	$ 302,511	$ 1,229,750	$ 593,774
Royalty revenues	3,835	5,759	12,713	17,628
Collaborative revenues	259	1,546	1,008	2,999
Total revenues	413,783	309,816	1,243,471	614,401
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product revenues	53,222	30,269	147,165	55,059
Royalty expenses	855	1,691	2,813	6,068
Research and development expenses	272,370	246,284	799,238	685,741
Sales, general and administrative expenses	106,055	99,772	322,921	280,026
Restructuring expenses, net	8	1,826	1,038	682
Total costs and expenses	432,510	379,842	1,273,175	1,027,576
Loss from operations	(18,727)	(70,026)	(29,704)	(413,175)
Interest expense, net	(20,140)	(21,134)	(60,993)	(63,552)
Other (expenses) income, net	(167)	(1,326)	3,025	(5,025)
Loss before provision for income taxes	(39,034)	(92,486)	(87,672)	(481,752)
Provision for income taxes	503	1,330	24,118	31,760
Net loss	(39,537)	(93,816)	(111,790)	(513,512)
Loss (Income) attributable to noncontrolling interest	696	(1,333)	(33,207)	30,909
Net loss attributable to Vertex	$ (38,841)	$ (95,149)	$ (144,997)	$ (482,603)
Net loss:
Basic (usd per share)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.39)	$ (0.59)	$ (2.00)
Diluted (usd per share)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.39)	$ (0.59)	$ (2.00)
Shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (in shares)	244,920	241,969	244,529	240,749
Diluted (in shares)	244,920	241,969	244,529	240,749