Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues:
Product revenues, net	$ 621,228	$ 549,642	$ 513,988	$ 480,622	$ 453,882	$ 409,689	$ 425,651	$ 394,410	$ 2,165,480	$ 1,683,632	$ 1,000,324
Royalty revenues	1,345	2,231	2,861	1,551	3,887	3,835	5,282	3,596	7,988	16,600	23,959
Collaborative revenues	29,061	26,292	27,286	232,545	937	259	675	74	315,184	1,945	8,053
Total revenues	651,634	578,165	544,135	714,718	458,706	413,783	431,608	398,080	2,488,652	1,702,177	1,032,336
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product revenues	83,712	72,186	70,535	46,242	59,646	53,222	44,154	49,789	272,675	206,811	117,151
Royalty expenses	340	688	670	746	836	855	1,098	860	2,444	3,649	7,361
Research and development expenses	306,664	454,947	289,451	273,563	248,452	272,370	271,008	255,860	1,324,625	1,047,690	995,922
Sales, general and administrative expenses	134,794	120,710	127,249	113,326	109,908	106,055	111,652	105,214	496,079	432,829	376,575
Restructuring expenses	387	337	3,523	9,999	224	8	343	687	14,246	1,262	2,206
Intangible asset impairment charge	0	255,340	0	0					255,340	0	0
Total costs and expenses	525,897	904,208	491,428	443,876	419,066	432,510	428,255	412,410	2,365,409	1,692,241	1,499,215
Income (loss) from operations	125,737	(326,043)	52,707	270,842	39,640	(18,727)	3,353	(14,330)	123,243	9,936	(466,879)
Interest expense, net	(12,547)	(13,574)	(14,664)	(16,765)	(20,439)	(20,140)	(20,155)	(20,698)	(57,550)	(81,432)	(84,206)
Other (expense) income, net	(748)	(77,553)	(2,537)	(544)	1,105	(167)	(1,219)	4,411	(81,382)	4,130	(6,715)
Loss before (benefit from) provision for income taxes	112,442	(417,170)	35,506	253,533	20,306	(39,034)	(18,021)	(30,617)	(15,689)	(67,366)	(557,800)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes	10,257	(125,903)	4,337	3,985	(7,453)	503	18,130	5,485	(107,324)	16,665	30,381
Net income (loss)	102,185	(291,267)	31,169	249,548	27,759	(39,537)	(36,151)	(36,102)	91,635	(84,031)	(588,181)
Loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,501)	188,315	(13,173)	(1,792)	5,186	696	(28,374)	(5,529)	171,849	(28,021)	31,847
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex	$ 100,684	$ (102,952)	$ 17,996	$ 247,756	$ 32,945	$ (38,841)	$ (64,525)	$ (41,631)	$ 263,484	$ (112,052)	$ (556,334)
Net income (loss):
Basic (usd per share)	$ 0.40	$ (0.41)	$ 0.07	$ 1.01	$ 0.13	$ (0.16)	$ (0.26)	$ (0.17)	$ 1.06	$ (0.46)	$ (2.31)
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.39	$ (0.41)	$ 0.07	$ 0.99	$ 0.13	$ (0.16)	$ (0.26)	$ (0.17)	$ 1.04	$ (0.46)	$ (2.31)
Shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (in shares)	251,557	250,268	247,521	246,024	245,454	244,920	244,482	243,831	248,858	244,685	241,312
Diluted (in shares)	256,804	250,268	251,635	248,700	247,757	244,920	244,482	243,831	253,225	244,685	241,312