Revenue Recognition - Schedule of disaggregation of revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenue	$ 784,535	$ 578,165	$ 2,177,491	$ 1,837,018
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenue	620,485	454,736	1,687,963	1,483,666
Europe
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenue	132,876	94,057	400,685	278,407
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenue	31,174	29,372	88,843	74,945
Total revenues outside of the United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenue	164,050	123,429	489,528	353,352
Product revenues, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenue	782,511	549,642	2,170,152	1,544,252
KALYDECO
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenue	245,733	213,461	748,365	588,809
ORKAMBI
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenue	281,859	336,183	947,186	955,451
SYMDEKO
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenue	254,919	0	474,601	0
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenue	$ 0	$ (2)	$ 0	$ (8)