Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interest (USD $) In Thousands, 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 Shareholders' Equity
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on marketable securities	(42)	(42)			(42)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	164	164			164
Net income (loss)	(146,962)	(129,055)				(129,055)	(17,907)
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
Change in liquidation value of 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
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 Shareholders' Equity
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on marketable securities	324	324			324
Foreign currency translation adjustment	313	313			313
Net income (loss)	26,941	(30,884)				(30,884)	57,825
Issuances of common stock:
Benefit plans	183,022	182,872	69	182,803			150
Benefit plans (in shares)			7,038
Stock-based compensation expense	87,537	87,168		87,168			369
Tax benefit from equity compensation	1,097	1,097		1,097
Change in liquidation value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(1,263)						(1,263)	1,263
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	$ 1,226,447	$ 1,027,733	$ 2,141	$ 4,471,727	$ (416)	$ (3,445,719)	$ 198,714	$ 38,299
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2012			216,342