Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Comprehensive Loss (USD $) In Thousands	Total	Total Vertex Shareholders' Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit	Noncontrolling Interest (Alios)	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest (Alios)	Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 1,096,346	$ 1,096,346	$ 1,982	$ 3,784,787	$ (640)	$ (2,689,783)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009			199,955
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Unrealized holding gain (losses) on marketable securities	116	116			116				116
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(153)	(153)			(153)				(153)
Net loss	(574,234)	(574,234)				(574,234)			(574,234)
Comprehensive loss	(574,271)	(574,271)							(574,271)
Issuances of common stock:
Convertible senior subordinated notes (due 2013) conversion	31,565	31,565	14	31,551
Convertible senior subordinated notes (due 2013) conversion (in shares)			1,386
Benefit plans	28,906	28,906	16	28,890
Benefit plans (in shares)			1,760
Stock-based compensation expense	67,550	67,550		67,550
Balance at Sep. 30, 2010	650,096	650,096	2,012	3,912,778	(677)	(3,264,017)
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2010			203,101
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	503,973	503,973	2,016	3,947,433	(1,067)	(3,444,409)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010			203,523
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Unrealized holding gain (losses) on marketable securities	(42)	(42)			(42)				(42)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	164	164			164				164
Net loss	(146,962)	(129,055)				(129,055)	(17,907)		(146,962)
Comprehensive loss	(146,840)	(128,933)					(17,907)		(146,840)
Issuances of common stock:
Benefit plans	115,146	115,248	49	115,199			(102)
Benefit plans (in shares)			4,938
Stock-based compensation expense	90,002	89,474		89,474			528
Alios noncontrolling interest upon consolidation	132,266						132,266	36,299
Dividends on redeemable noncontrolling interest	(397)						(397)	397
Balance at Sep. 30, 2011	$ 694,150	$ 579,762	$ 2,065	$ 4,152,106	$ (945)	$ (3,573,464)	$ 114,388	$ 36,696
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2011			208,461