Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 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
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	185,012	131,914	135,740	95,092	122,289	111,255	104,382	71,613	547,758	409,539	275,119
Research and development expenses	480,011	555,948	379,091	339,490	437,881	330,510	337,532	310,553	1,754,540	1,416,476	1,324,625
Sales, general and administrative expenses	195,277	159,674	156,502	147,045	153,210	137,295	137,303	129,808	658,498	557,616	496,079
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	1,500	2,959	0	0					4,459	0	0
Restructuring (income) expenses					(4)	174	(62)	76	0	(184)	14,246
Intangible asset impairment charges					29,000	0	0	0	0	29,000	255,340
Total costs and expenses	861,800	850,495	671,333	581,627	742,384	578,886	579,279	511,898	2,965,255	2,412,447	2,365,409
Income from operations	551,465	99,333	269,960	276,808	127,722	205,649	172,878	128,901	1,197,566	635,150	123,243
Interest income	12,359	17,628	18,076	15,615	13,971	10,543	8,049	5,789	63,678	38,352	11,748
Interest expense	(14,249)	(14,548)	(14,837)	(14,868)	(18,744)	(18,686)	(18,155)	(16,886)	(58,502)	(72,471)	(69,298)
Other income (expense), net	127,375	(31,747)	53,939	42,610	(90,452)	(60,995)	53,819	96,838	192,177	(790)	(81,382)
Income (loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes	676,950	70,666	327,138	320,165	32,497	136,511	216,591	214,642	1,394,919	600,241	(15,689)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	93,716	13,148	59,711	51,534	(1,492,599)	8,055	10,341	(12,659)	218,109	(1,486,862)	(107,324)
Net income					1,525,096	128,456	206,250	227,301	1,176,810	2,087,103	91,635
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest					25,431	290	1,110	(17,038)	0	9,793	171,849
Net income attributable to Vertex	$ 583,234	$ 57,518	$ 267,427	$ 268,631	$ 1,550,527	$ 128,746	$ 207,360	$ 210,263	$ 1,176,810	$ 2,096,896	$ 263,484
Net income:
Basic (usd per share)	$ 2.26	$ 0.22	$ 1.04	$ 1.05	$ 6.08	$ 0.51	$ 0.82	$ 0.83	$ 4.58	$ 8.24	$ 1.06
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 2.23	$ 0.22	$ 1.03	$ 1.03	$ 5.97	$ 0.50	$ 0.80	$ 0.81	$ 4.51	$ 8.09	$ 1.04
Shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (in shares)	258,003	256,946	256,154	255,695	254,868	254,905	254,135	253,231	256,728	254,292	248,858
Diluted (in shares)	262,108	260,473	259,822	260,175	259,812	259,788	258,584	258,526	260,673	259,185	253,225
Product revenues, net
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 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
Collaborative and royalty revenues
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 0	$ 0	$ 913	$ 1,182	$ 1,933	$ 2,024	$ 2,245	$ 3,070	$ 2,095	$ 9,272	$ 323,172