Segment Information - Revenues by Product (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of operating segments | segment									1
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Product revenues, net	$ 1,413,265	$ 949,828	$ 941,293	$ 858,435	$ 870,106	$ 784,535	$ 752,157	$ 640,799	$ 4,162,821	$ 3,047,597	$ 2,488,652
TRIKAFTA
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Product revenues, net									420,105	0	0
SYMDEKO/SYMKEVI
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Product revenues, net									1,417,668	768,657	0
ORKAMBI
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Product revenues, net									1,331,891	1,262,166	1,320,850
KALYDECO
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Product revenues, net									991,062	1,007,502	844,630
Product
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Product revenues, net	$ 1,413,265	$ 949,828	$ 940,380	$ 857,253	$ 868,173	$ 782,511	$ 749,912	$ 637,729	$ 4,160,726	$ 3,038,325	$ 2,165,480