Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interest (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	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)
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 gains on marketable securities	1	1			1
Foreign currency translation adjustment	359	359			359
Net income (loss)	(375,414)	(350,165)				(350,165)	(25,249)
Issuances of common stock:
Benefit plans	93,087	93,087	39	93,048
Benefit plans (in shares)			3,950
Stock-based compensation expense	60,294	60,294		60,294
Alios noncontrolling interest upon consolidation	130,581						130,581	36,299
Balance at Jun. 30, 2011	412,881	307,549	2,055	4,100,775	(707)	(3,794,574)	105,332	36,299
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2011			207,473
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	928,476	786,843	2,072	4,200,659	(1,053)	(3,414,835)	141,633	37,036
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011			209,304
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Unrealized holding gains on marketable securities	255	255			255
Foreign currency translation adjustment	125	125			125
Net income (loss)	53,408	26,659				26,659	26,749
Issuances of common stock:
Benefit plans	163,477	163,332	61	163,271			145
Benefit plans (in shares)			6,131
Stock-based compensation expense	59,616	59,345		59,345			271
Tax benefit from equity compensation	1,214	1,214		1,214
Change in liquidation value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(878)						(878)	878
Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	$ 1,205,693	$ 1,037,773	$ 2,133	$ 4,424,489	$ (673)	$ (3,388,176)	$ 167,920	$ 37,914
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2012			215,435