Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 458,195		$ 243,197
Marketable securities, available for sale	135,296		788,214
Restricted cash and cash equivalents (Alios)	63,098	[1]
Accounts receivable, net	96,016		12,529
Inventories	52,622
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	21,897	[1]	13,099
Total current assets	827,124	[1]	1,057,039
Restricted cash	34,114		34,090
Property and equipment, net	84,203	[1]	72,333
Intangible assets	769,300	[1]	518,700
Goodwill	33,501	[1]	26,102
Other assets	14,858	[1]	17,182
Total assets	1,763,100	[1]	1,725,446
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	67,275	[1]	35,851
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	141,167	[1]	134,414
Accrued interest	3,350		3,462
Deferred revenues, current portion	65,018		74,619
Accrued restructuring expense, current portion	5,151		5,497
Secured notes (due 2012)	94,664		136,991
Liability related to sale of potential future milestone payments	87,131		77,799
Income taxes payable (Alios)	15,212	[1]
Other obligations			6,150
Total current liabilities	478,968	[1]	474,783
Deferred revenues, excluding current portion	134,036		160,049
Accrued restructuring expense, excluding current portion	23,054		24,098
Convertible senior subordinated notes (due 2015)	400,000		400,000
Deferred tax liability, net	260,448	[1]	160,278
Construction financing obligation	11,181
Other liabilities	6,233	[1]	2,265
Total liabilities	1,313,920	[1]	1,221,473
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest (Alios)	36,299	[1]
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010; 207,473,193 and 203,522,976 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	2,055		2,016
Additional paid-in capital	4,100,775		3,947,433
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(707)		(1,067)
Accumulated deficit	(3,794,574)		(3,444,409)
Total Vertex shareholders' equity	307,549		503,973
Noncontrolling interest (Alios)	105,332	[1]
Total shareholders' equity	412,881	[1]	503,973
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 1,763,100	[1]	$ 1,725,446

[1] Amounts include the assets and liabilities of Vertex's variable interest entity ("VIE"), Alios BioPharma, Inc. ("Alios"). Vertex's interests and obligations with respect to the VIE's assets and liabilities are limited to those accorded to Vertex in its agreement with Alios. See Note K to these condensed consolidated financial statements for amounts.