Segment Information - Revenues by Product (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Number of operating segments | segment									1
Product revenues, net	$ 1,627,820	$ 1,538,271	$ 1,524,485	$ 1,515,107	$ 1,413,265	$ 949,828	$ 941,293	$ 858,435	$ 6,205,683	$ 4,162,821	$ 3,047,597
TRIKAFTA/KAFTRIO
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Product revenues, net									3,863,824	420,105	0
SYMDEKO/SYMKEVI
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Product revenues, net									628,577	1,417,668	768,657
ORKAMBI
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Product revenues, net									907,512	1,331,891	1,262,166
KALYDECO
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Product revenues, net									802,870	991,062	1,007,502
Product revenues, net
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Product revenues, net	$ 1,626,920	$ 1,536,271	$ 1,524,485	$ 1,515,107	$ 1,413,265	$ 949,828	$ 940,380	$ 857,253	$ 6,202,783	$ 4,160,726	$ 3,038,325