Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 6,205,683	$ 4,162,821	$ 3,047,597
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	736,300	547,758	409,539
Research and development expenses	1,829,537	1,754,540	1,416,476
Sales, general and administrative expenses	770,456	658,498	557,616
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	13,100	4,459	0
Restructuring income	0	0	(184)
Intangible asset impairment charge	0	0	29,000
Total costs and expenses	3,349,393	2,965,255	2,412,447
Income from operations	2,856,290	1,197,566	635,150
Interest income	22,239	63,678	38,352
Interest expense	(58,151)	(58,502)	(72,471)
Other income (expense), net	296,420	192,177	(790)
Income before provision for (benefit from) income taxes	3,116,798	1,394,919	600,241
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	405,151	218,109	(1,486,862)
Net income	2,711,647	1,176,810	2,087,103
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	9,793
Net income attributable to Vertex	$ 2,711,647	$ 1,176,810	$ 2,096,896
Net income:
Basic ( in usd per share)	$ 10.44	$ 4.58	$ 8.24
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 10.29	$ 4.51	$ 8.09
Shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (in shares)	259,841	256,728	254,292
Diluted (in shares)	263,396	260,673	259,185
Product revenues, net
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 6,202,783	$ 4,160,726	$ 3,038,325
Collaborative and royalty revenues
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 2,900	$ 2,095	$ 9,272