BioMarin Pharmaceutical (BMRN) 10-K 2 Mar 15 2014 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Billions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Feb. 13, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-14
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	BMRN
Entity Registrant Name	BIOMARIN PHARMACEUTICAL INC
Entity Central Index Key	1048477
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		159,135,697
Entity Public Float			$5.50

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$875,486	$568,781
Short-term investments	69,706	215,942
Accounts receivable, net (allowance for doubtful accounts: $490 and $529, at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively)	144,472	117,822
Inventory	199,452	162,605
Current deferred tax assets	31,203	30,561
Other current assets	105,310	41,707
Total current assets	1,425,629	1,137,418
Noncurrent assets:
Investment in BioMarin/Genzyme LLC	1,039	816
Long-term investments	97,856	267,700
Property, plant and equipment, net	523,516	319,316
Intangible assets, net	156,578	163,147
Goodwill	54,258	54,258
Long-term deferred tax assets	166,296	145,234
Other assets	65,281	156,171
Total assets	2,490,453	2,244,060
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	235,739	183,271
Total current liabilities	235,739	183,271
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term convertible debt	657,976	655,566
Long-term contingent acquisition consideration payable	38,767	30,790
Other long-term liabilities	30,077	33,392
Total liabilities	962,559	903,019
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.001 par value: 250,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2014 and 2013: 149,093,647 and 143,463,668 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.	149	144
Additional paid-in capital	2,359,744	2,059,101
Company common stock held by Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan	-9,695	-7,421
Accumulated other comprehensive income	27,466	5,018
Accumulated deficit	-849,770	-715,801
Total stockholders’ equity	1,527,894	1,341,041
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$2,490,453	$2,244,060

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$490	$529
Common stock, par value	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock, shares authorized	250,000,000	250,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	149,093,647	143,463,668
Common stock, shares outstanding	149,093,647	143,463,668

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_OPE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
REVENUES:
Net product revenues	$738,416	$538,360	$496,497
Collaborative agreement revenues	1,592	3,918	1,955
Royalty, license and other revenues	11,032	6,207	2,271
Total revenues	751,040	548,485	500,723
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of sales	129,764	95,742	91,830
Research and development	461,543	354,780	302,218
Selling, general and administrative	302,156	235,356	198,173
Intangible asset amortization and contingent consideration	17,968	18,614	18,717
Gain on sale of intangible asset	-67,500
Total operating expenses	843,931	704,492	610,938
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS	-92,891	-156,007	-110,215
Equity in the loss of BioMarin/Genzyme LLC	-877	-1,149	-1,221
Interest income	5,937	3,083	2,584
Interest expense	-36,642	-10,447	-7,639
Debt conversion expense	-674	-12,965
Other income (expense)	279	982	-1,787
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES	-124,868	-176,503	-118,278
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	9,101	-150	-3,931
NET LOSS	($133,969)	($176,353)	($114,347)
NET LOSS PER SHARE, BASIC AND DILUTED	($0.92)	($1.28)	($0.95)
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted	146,349	137,755	120,271

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET LOSS	($133,969)	($176,353)	($114,347)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS):
Net foreign currency gain (loss)	-75	361	-301
Unrealized holding gain arising during the period, net of tax impact of $(2,931), $(3,535) and $(140) for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.	5,088	6,275	388
Reclassifications to net loss, net of tax impact of $0, $0 and $40 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.	0	-1	-110
Net change in unrealized holding gains, net of tax	5,088	6,274	278
Unrealized holding gain (loss) arising during the period, net of tax impact of $(1,214), $789 and $5,114 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.	18,078	-1,366	-8,749
Less reclassifications to net loss, net of tax impact of $(365), $(28) and $2,153 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.	643	49	-3,683
Net change in unrealized holding gains (loss), net of tax	17,435	-1,415	-5,066
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAX	22,448	5,220	-5,089
COMPREHENSIVE LOSS	($111,521)	($171,133)	($119,436)

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Unrealized holding gain arising during the period, tax	($2,931)	($3,535)	($140)
Reclassifications to net loss, tax	0	0	40
Unrealized holding gain (loss) arising during the period, tax	-1,214	789	5,114
Reclassifications to net loss, tax	($365)	($28)	$2,153

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_STO

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Company Common Stock Held By Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit
In Thousands, except Share data
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$773,048	$115	$1,197,082	($3,935)	$4,887	($425,101)
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		114,790,000
Net loss	-114,347					-114,347
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-5,089				-5,089
Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs (in shares)		6,500,000
Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs	235,499	7	235,492
Issuance of common stock under the 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the ESPP) (in shares)		254,000
Issuance of common stock under the 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the ESPP)	5,495		5,495
Exercise of common stock options (in shares)		4,097,000
Exercise of common stock options	77,566	4	77,562
Excess tax benefit from stock option exercises	473		473
Conversion of convertible notes (in shares)		6,000
Conversion of convertible notes	105		105
Restricted stock vested during the period, net (in shares)		162,000
Restricted stock vested during the period, net	-1,659		-1,659
Common stock held by Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan	-2,668			-2,668
Stock-based compensation	47,340		47,340
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	1,015,763	126	1,561,890	-6,603	-202	-539,448
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		125,809,000
Net loss	-176,353					-176,353
Other comprehensive income (loss)	5,220				5,220
Purchase of capped call share options, net of tax	-19,065		-19,065
Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs	99,879		99,879
Issuance of common stock under the 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the ESPP) (in shares)		254,000
Issuance of common stock under the 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the ESPP)	6,839		6,839
Exercise of common stock options (in shares)		2,885,000
Exercise of common stock options	65,740	4	65,736
Excess tax benefit from stock option exercises	733		733
Conversion of convertible notes (in shares)		14,313,000
Conversion of convertible notes	283,319	14	283,305
Restricted stock vested during the period, net (in shares)		203,000
Restricted stock vested during the period, net	-6,397		-6,397
Common stock held by Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan	-818			-818
Stock-based compensation	66,181		66,181
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,341,041	144	2,059,101	-7,421	5,018	-715,801
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		143,464,000
Net loss	-133,969					-133,969
Other comprehensive income (loss)	22,448				22,448
Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs (in shares)		1,500,000
Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs	117,464	1	117,463
Issuance of common stock under the 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the ESPP) (in shares)		258,000
Issuance of common stock under the 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the ESPP)	8,714		8,714
Exercise of common stock options (in shares)	2,563,636	2,564,000
Exercise of common stock options	71,190	3	71,187
Excess tax benefit from stock option exercises	1,491		1,491
Conversion of convertible notes (in shares)		1,055,000
Conversion of convertible notes	21,324	1	21,323
Restricted stock vested during the period, net (in shares)		253,000
Restricted stock vested during the period, net	-7,768		-7,768
Common stock held by Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan	-2,274			-2,274
Stock-based compensation	88,233		88,233
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$1,527,894	$149	$2,359,744	($9,695)	$27,466	($849,770)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		149,094,000

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	($133,969)	($176,353)	($114,347)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	56,744	47,264	44,335
Non-cash interest expense	27,225	5,875	960
Accretion of discount on investments	7,211	5,780	4,469
Stock-based compensation	88,233	66,181	47,340
Gain on sale of intangible asset	-67,500
Gain on termination of lease	-10,092
Equity in the loss of BioMarin/Genzyme LLC	877	1,149	1,221
Impairment of intangible assets		939	6,707
Deferred income taxes	-25,483	-9,156	-9,921
Excess tax benefit from stock option exercises	-1,491	-733	-473
Unrealized foreign exchange gain on forward contracts	-832	-658	-6,529
Non-cash changes in the fair value of contingent acquisition consideration payable	11,567	10,197	8,788
Debt conversion expense	674	12,965
Other	3,637		2,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	-26,650	-8,756	-4,227
Inventory	-36,847	-33,910	1,423
Other current assets	-2,211	-12,073	-3,506
Other assets	-6,435	1,676	-4,076
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	38,710	20,420	37,411
Other long-term liabilities	3,093	9,559	6,034
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	-73,539	-59,634	17,609
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	-118,834	-65,124	-44,571
Restricted funds held in escrow for the purchase of San Rafael Corporate Center (the SRCC)		-116,500
Maturities and sales of investments	808,313	288,643	237,837
Purchase of available-for-sale investments	-507,036	-395,042	-382,168
Proceeds from sale of intangible asset	67,500
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired		-9,875
Investments in BioMarin/Genzyme LLC	-1,100	-885	-1,743
Investment in convertible promissory note	-52,288		-5,000
Other	-2,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	194,555	-298,783	-195,645
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from exercises of stock options and ESPP	79,904	72,579	83,061
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards	-7,768	-6,397	-1,659
Proceeds from convertible senior note offering, net		726,202
Purchase of capped call share options		-29,813
Proceeds from public offering of common stock, net	117,464		235,499
Excess tax benefit from stock option exercises	1,491	733	473
Payments for debt conversion	-674	-12,965
Payment of contingent acquisition consideration payable	-4,691	-3,061	-4,405
Other	-37	-607	-678
Net cash provided by financing activities	185,689	746,671	312,291
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	306,705	388,254	134,255
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period	568,781	180,527	46,272
End of period	875,486	568,781	180,527
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW DISCLOSURES:
Cash paid for interest, net of interest capitalized into fixed assets	9,324	2,159	6,665
Cash paid for income taxes	34,986	14,897	6,582
Stock-based compensation capitalized into inventory	8,166	6,121	4,347
Depreciation capitalized into inventory	10,952	11,016	7,335
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW DISCLOSURES FROM INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities related to fixed assets	16,766	5,001	-511
Conversion of convertible debt	21,324	283,319	105
Deferred offering costs reclassified into additional paid-in-capital as a result of conversion of convertible debt	$158	$2,765

NATURE_OF_OPERATIONS_AND_BUSIN

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BUSINESS RISKS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BUSINESS RISKS	(1) NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BUSINESS RISKS
	BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (the Company or BioMarin), a Delaware corporation, develops and commercializes innovative biopharmaceuticals for serious diseases and medical conditions. BioMarin selects product candidates for diseases and conditions that represent a significant unmet medical need, have well-understood biology and provide an opportunity to be first-to-market or offer a significant benefit over existing products. The Company’s product portfolio is comprised of five approved products and multiple clinical and pre-clinical product candidates. The Company’s approved products are Vimizim (elosulfase alpha), Naglazyme (galsulfase), Kuvan (sapropterin dihydrochloride), Aldurazyme (laronidase) and Firdapse (amifampridine phosphate).
	Through December 31, 2014, the Company had accumulated losses of approximately $849.8 million. The Company expects to continue to finance future cash needs that exceed its operating activities primarily through its current cash, cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments, and to the extent necessary, through proceeds from equity or debt financings, loans and collaborative agreements with corporate partners. If the Company elects to increase its spending on development programs significantly above current long-term plans or enters into potential licenses and other acquisitions of complementary technologies, products or companies, the Company may need additional capital.
	The Company is subject to a number of risks, including: the financial performance of Vimizim, Naglazyme, Kuvan, Aldurazyme and Firdapse; the potential need for additional financings; the Company’s ability to successfully commercialize its approved product candidates, if approved; the uncertainty of the Company’s research and development (R&D) efforts resulting in future successful commercial products; the Company’s ability to successfully obtain regulatory approval for new products; significant competition from larger organizations; reliance on the proprietary technology of others; dependence on key personnel; uncertain patent protection; dependence on corporate partners and collaborators; and possible restrictions on reimbursement from governmental agencies and healthcare organizations, as well as other changes in the health care industry.

BASIS_OF_PRESENTATION

BASIS OF PRESENTATION	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
BASIS OF PRESENTATION	(2) BASIS OF PRESENTATION
	Basis of Presentation
	These Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) and include the accounts of BioMarin and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Management performed an evaluation of the Company’s activities through the date of filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and has concluded that there are no subsequent events except for the transactions disclosed in Note 25 to these Consolidated Financial Statements.
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	(3) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	The Company treats liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased as cash and cash equivalents.
	Investments
	The Company determines the appropriate classification of its investments in debt and equity securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such designations at each balance sheet date. All of the Company’s securities are classified as available-for-sale and reported in short-term investments, other assets or long-term investments. Available-for-sale investments are recorded at fair market value, with unrealized gains or losses included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, exclusive of other-than-temporary impairment losses, if any. Investments are comprised of corporate securities, commercial paper, U.S. federal government agency securities and certificates of deposit.
	Inventory
	The Company values inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value and determines the cost of inventory using the average-cost method. Inventories consist of currently marketed products and may contain certain products awaiting regulatory approval. In evaluating the recoverability of inventories produced in preparation for product launches, the Company considers the likelihood that revenue will be obtained from the future sale of the related inventory together with the status of the product within the regulatory approval process.
	The Company analyzes its inventory levels quarterly and writes down inventory that has become obsolete, or has a cost basis in excess of its expected net realizable value and inventory quantities in excess of expected requirements. In applying the lower of cost or net realizable value to pre-launch inventory, the Company estimates a range of likely commercial prices based on its comparable commercial products. Expired inventory is disposed of and the related costs are recognized as Cost of Sales in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.
	Inventories Produced in Preparation for Product Launches
	The Company capitalizes inventories produced in preparation for product launches based upon the probability of regulatory approval and earning future revenues. Typically, capitalization of such inventory begins when positive results have been obtained for the clinical trials that the Company believes are necessary to support regulatory approval, uncertainties regarding ultimate regulatory approval have been significantly reduced and the Company has determined it is probable that these capitalized costs will provide some future economic benefit in excess of capitalized costs. The material factors considered by the Company in evaluating these uncertainties include the receipt and analysis of positive pivotal clinical trial results for the underlying product candidate, results from meetings with the relevant regulatory authorities prior to the filing of regulatory applications, and the compilation of the regulatory application. The Company closely monitors the status of each respective product within the regulatory approval process, including all relevant communication with regulatory authorities. The Company also considers its historical experience with manufacturing and commercializing similar products and the relevant product candidate. If the Company is aware of any specific material risks or contingencies other than the normal regulatory review and approval process, or if there are any specific issues identified relating to safety, efficacy, manufacturing, marketing or labeling, the related inventory would generally not be capitalized.
	For inventories that are capitalized in preparation of product launch, anticipated future sales, expected approval date and shelf lives are evaluated in assessing realizability. The shelf life of a product is determined as part of the regulatory approval process; however, in evaluating whether to capitalize pre-launch inventory production costs, the Company considers the product stability data of all of the pre-approval production to date to determine whether there is adequate expected shelf life for the capitalized pre-launch production costs.
	Investment in BioMarin/Genzyme LLC and Equity in the Loss of BioMarin/Genzyme LLC
	The Company accounts for its investment in BioMarin/Genzyme LLC (the LLC), the joint venture between the Company and Genzyme Corporation (Genzyme), using the equity method. Accordingly, the Company records an increase in its investment for contributions to BioMarin/Genzyme LLC and a reduction in its investment for its 50% share of any losses of the LLC or disbursements of profits from the LLC. Equity in the loss of the LLC includes the Company’s 50% share of the LLC’s loss for the period. The investment in the LLC includes the Company’s share of the net equity of the LLC.
	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the related estimated useful lives as presented in the table below. Significant additions and improvements are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. Property and equipment purchased for specific research and development (R&D) projects with no alternative uses are expensed as incurred.
	Leasehold improvements		Shorter of life of asset or lease term
	Building and improvements		20 to 50 years
	Manufacturing and laboratory equipment		5 to 15 years
	Computer hardware and software		3 to 8 years
	Office furniture and equipment		5 years
	Vehicles		5 years
	Land improvements		10 years
	Land		Not applicable
	Construction-in-progress		Not applicable
	Certain of the Company’s operating lease agreements include scheduled rent escalations over the lease term, as well as tenant improvement allowances. Scheduled increases in rent expense are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The difference between rent expense and rent paid is recorded as deferred rent and included in other liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The tenant improvement allowances and free rent periods are recognized as a reduction of rent expense over the lease term on a straight-line basis.
	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
	The Company records goodwill in a business combination when the total consideration exceeds the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired. Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized but subject to an annual impairment analysis. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis.
	The Company performs its annual impairment review of goodwill and indefinite lived intangibles during the fourth quarter and whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If it is determined that the full carrying amount of an asset is not recoverable, an impairment loss is recorded in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value. The Company currently operates in one business segment, the biopharmaceutical development and commercialization segment. When reviewing goodwill for impairment, the Company assesses whether goodwill should be allocated to operating levels lower than its single operating segment for which discrete financial information is available and reviewed for decision making purposes. These lower levels are referred to as reporting units. As of December 31, 2014, the Company has only one reporting unit.
	The Company tests finite-lived intangible assets for impairment when facts or circumstances suggest that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. If the carrying value exceeds the projected undiscounted pre-tax cash flows of the intangible asset, an impairment loss equal to the excess of the carrying value over the estimated fair value (discounted after-tax cash flows) is recognized.
	The recoverability of the carrying value of the Company’s buildings, leasehold improvements for its facilities and equipment depends on the successful execution of the Company’s business initiatives and its ability to earn sufficient returns on approved products and product candidates. The Company continually monitors events and changes in circumstances that could indicate carrying amounts of its fixed assets may not be recoverable. When such events or changes in circumstances occur, the Company assesses recoverability by determining whether the carrying value of such assets will be recovered through the undiscounted expected future cash flows. If the future undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of these assets, the Company recognizes an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the assets.
	Revenue Recognition
	The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the price to the buyer is fixed or determinable and collection from the customer is reasonably assured.
	Net Product Revenues—The Company recognizes revenues from product sales when title and risk of loss have passed to the customer, which typically occurs upon delivery. Product sales transactions are evidenced by customer purchase orders, customer contracts, invoices and/or the related shipping documents. Upon recognition of revenue from product sales, provisions are made for government rebates such as Medicaid reimbursements, customer incentives such as cash discounts for prompt payment, distributor fees and expected returns of expired products, as appropriate. Amounts collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities, which are primarily comprised of value-added taxes related to product sales in foreign jurisdictions, are presented on a net basis in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations, in that taxes billed to customers are not included as a component of net product revenues.
	In the U.S., the Company’s commercial products are generally sold to specialty pharmacies or end-users, such as hospitals, which act as retailers. The Company also sells Kuvan to Merck Serono S.A. (Merck Serono) at a price near its manufacturing cost, and Merck Serono resells the product to end users outside the U.S., Canada and Japan. The royalty earned from Kuvan product sold by Merck Serono in the EU is included as a component of net product revenues in the period earned. Outside the U.S., the Company’s commercial products are sold to its authorized distributors or directly to government purchasers or hospitals, which act as the end-users.
	The Company receives a 39.5% to 50% royalty on worldwide net Aldurazyme sales by Genzyme depending on sales volume, which is included in Net Product Revenues in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company recognizes a portion of this amount as product transfer revenue when product is released to Genzyme because all of the Company’s performance obligations are fulfilled at that point and title to, and risk of loss for, the product has transferred to Genzyme. The product transfer revenue represents the fixed amount per unit of Aldurazyme that Genzyme is required to pay the Company if the product is unsold by Genzyme. The amount of product transfer revenue will eventually be deducted from the calculated royalty earned when the product is sold by Genzyme. The Company records the Aldurazyme royalty revenue based on net sales information provided by Genzyme and records product transfer revenue based on the fulfillment of Genzyme purchase orders in accordance with the terms of the related agreements with Genzyme and when the title and risk of loss for the product is transferred to Genzyme.
	The Company records reserves for rebates payable under Medicaid and other government programs as a reduction of revenue at the time product revenues are recorded. The Company’s reserve calculations require estimates, including estimates of customer mix, to determine which sales will be subject to rebates and the amount of such rebates. The Company updates its estimates and assumptions each quarter and records any necessary adjustments to its reserves. The Company records fees paid to distributors as a reduction of revenue.
	The Company records allowances for product returns, if appropriate, as a reduction of revenue at the time product sales are recorded. Several factors are considered in determining whether an allowance for product returns is required, including market exclusivity of the products based on their orphan drug status, the patient population, the customers’ limited return rights and the Company’s experience with returns. Because of the pricing of the Company’s commercial products, the limited number of patients and the customers’ limited return rights, most customers and retailers carry a limited inventory.
	However, certain international customers, usually government entities, tend to purchase larger quantities of product less frequently. Although such buying patterns may result in revenue fluctuations from quarter to quarter, the Company has not experienced any increased product returns or risk of product returns. The Company relies on historical return rates to estimate returns. Genzyme’s contractual return rights for Aldurazyme are limited to defective product. Based on these factors and the fact that the Company has not experienced significant product returns to date, management has concluded that product returns will be minimal. In the future, if any of these factors and/or the history of product returns change, an allowance for product returns may be required.
	Collaborative Agreement Revenues—Collaborative agreement revenues include both license revenue and contract research revenue.
	Activities under collaborative agreements are evaluated to determine if they represent a multiple element revenue arrangement. The Company identifies the deliverables included within the agreement and evaluates which deliverables represent separate units of accounting. The Company accounts for those components as separate units of accounting if the following two criteria are met:
	·	The delivered item or items have value to the customer on a stand-alone basis; and
	·	If there is a general right of return relative to the delivered items, delivery or performance of the undelivered items is considered probable and within the Company’s control.
	Factors considered in this determination include, among other things, whether any other vendors sell the items separately and if the licensee could use the delivered item for its intended purpose without the receipt of the remaining deliverables. If multiple deliverables included in an arrangement are separable into different units of accounting, the Company allocates the arrangement consideration to those units of accounting. The amount of allocable arrangement consideration is limited to amounts that are fixed or determinable. Arrangement consideration is allocated at the inception of the arrangement to the identified units of accounting based on their relative estimated selling price. Revenue is recognized for each unit of accounting when the appropriate revenue recognition criteria are met.
	Nonrefundable up-front license fees where the Company has continuing involvement through R&D collaboration are initially deferred and recognized as collaborative agreement license revenue over the estimated period for which the Company continues to have a performance obligation.
	Future milestone payments that are contingent upon the achievement of a substantive milestone are recognized in their entirety in the period in which the milestone is achieved. A milestone is substantive if:
	·	It can only be achieved based in whole or in part on either the Company’s performance or on the occurrence of a specific outcome resulting from the Company’s performance;
	·	There is substantive uncertainty at the date an arrangement is entered into that the event will be achieved; and
	·	It would result in additional payments being due to the entity.
	Royalty, License and Other Revenues—Royalty revenues includes royalties on net sales of products with which the Company has no direct involvement and is recognized based on data reported by licensees or sublicensees and rental income associated with the tenants in the SRCC which is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the respective lease. Royalties are recognized as earned in accordance with the contract terms at the time the royalty amount is fixed or determinable based on information received from the sublicensees and at the time collectibility is reasonably assured.
	Due to the significant role the Company plays in the operations (primarily the manufacturing and regulatory activities) of Aldurazyme and Kuvan as well as the rights and responsibilities to deliver the products to Genzyme and Merck Serono, respectively, the Company elected not to classify these royalties earned as royalty, license and other revenues but instead to include them as a component of Net Product Revenues in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.
	Research and Development
	R&D expenses include expenses associated with contract research and development provided by third parties, most product manufacturing prior to regulatory approval, clinical and regulatory costs, and internal R&D costs. In instances where the Company enters into agreements with third parties for R&D activities, costs are expensed upon the earlier of when non-refundable amounts are due or as services are performed unless there is an alternative future use of the funds in other R&D projects. Amounts due under such arrangements may be either fixed fee or fee for service and may include upfront payments, monthly payments and payments upon the completion of milestones or receipt of deliverables. The Company accrues costs for clinical trial activities based upon the services received and estimates of related expenses incurred that have yet to be invoiced by the vendors that perform the activities.
	Convertible Debt Transactions
	The Company separately accounts for the liability and equity components of convertible debt instruments that can be settled in cash by allocating the proceeds from issuance between the liability component and the embedded conversion option, or equity component, in accordance with accounting for convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash (including partial cash settlement) upon conversion. The value of the equity component is calculated by first measuring the fair value of the liability component, using the interest rate of a similar liability that does not have a conversion feature, as of the issuance date. The difference between the proceeds from the convertible debt issuance and the amount measured as the liability component is recorded as the equity component with a corresponding discount recorded on the debt. The Company recognizes the accretion of the resulting discount using the effective interest method as part of Interest Expense in its Consolidated Statements of Operations.
	Net Loss Per Common Share
	Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted average shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share reflects the potential dilution that would occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock; however, potential common equivalent shares are excluded if their effect is anti-dilutive. The Company currently has no dilutive securities due to the net loss position and as such, basic and diluted net loss per share are the same for the periods presented.
	Stock-Based Compensation
	The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options and the Company’s ESPP awards. The determination of the fair value of stock-based payment awards using an option-pricing model is affected by the Company’s stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each award. Further, stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations is based on awards expected to vest and therefore the amount of expense has been reduced for estimated forfeitures, which are based on historical experience. If actual forfeitures differ from estimates at the time of grant they will be revised in subsequent periods.
	The Company uses a lattice model with a Monte Carlo simulation to value restricted stock unit awards with performance and market conditions. This valuation methodology utilizes the closing price of the Company’s common stock on grant date and several key assumptions, including expected volatility of the Company’s stock price, risk-free rates of return, expected dividend yield and estimated total shareholder return.
	If factors change and different assumptions are employed in determining the fair value of stock-based awards, the stock-based compensation expense recorded in future periods may differ significantly from what was recorded in the current period. See Note 17 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
	Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan
	The Company’s Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the Deferred Compensation Plan) allows eligible employees, including members of the Company’s Board of Directors (the Board), management and certain highly-compensated employees as designated by the Deferred Compensation Plan’s administrative committee, to make voluntary deferrals of compensation to specified dates, retirement or death. Participants are permitted to defer portions of their salary, annual cash bonus and restricted stock. The Company is not allowed to make additional direct contributions to the Deferred Compensation Plan on behalf of the participants without further action by the Board.
	All of the investments held in the Deferred Compensation Plan are classified as trading securities and recorded at fair value with changes in the investments’ fair values recognized as earnings in the period they occur. Company stock issued and held by the Deferred Compensation Plan is accounted for similarly to treasury stock in that the value of the employer stock is determined on the date the restricted stock vests and the shares are issued into the Deferred Compensation Plan. The restricted stock issued into the Deferred Compensation Plan is recorded as stockholders’ equity and changes in the fair value of the corresponding liability are recognized in earnings as incurred. The corresponding liability for the Deferred Compensation Plan is included in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities and Other Long-Term Liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	Income Taxes
The Company calculates and provides for income taxes in each of the tax jurisdictions in which it operates. Deferred tax assets and liabilities, measured using enacted tax rates, are recognized for the future tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax and financial statement basis of assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance reduces the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company establishes liabilities or reduces assets for uncertain tax positions when the Company believes certain tax positions are not more likely than not of being sustained if challenged. Each quarter, the Company evaluates these uncertain tax positions and adjusts the related tax assets and liabilities in light of changing facts and circumstances.
The Company uses financial projections to support its net deferred tax assets, which contain significant assumptions and estimates of future operations. If such assumptions were to differ significantly, it may have a material impact on the Company’s ability to realize its deferred tax assets. At the end of each period, the Company will reassess the ability to realize its deferred tax benefits. If it is more likely than not that the Company would not realize the deferred tax benefits, a valuation allowance may need to be established against all or a portion of the deferred tax assets, which will result in a charge to tax expense.
Foreign Currency and Other Hedging Instruments
The Company engages in transactions denominated in foreign currencies and, as a result, is exposed to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. To manage the volatility resulting from fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates, the Company nets its exposures, where possible to take advantage of natural offsets and enters into forward foreign currency exchange contracts for the remaining exposures.
The Company accounts for its derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet and measures them at fair value. Derivatives that are not defined as hedging instruments are adjusted to fair value through earnings. Gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value are accounted for depending on the use of the derivative and whether it is designated and qualifies for hedge accounting.
The Company assess, both at inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting the changes in cash flows of the hedged items. The Company also assesses hedge ineffectiveness on a monthly basis and records the gain or loss related to the ineffective portion to current earnings. If the Company determines that a forecasted transaction is no longer probable of occurring, it discontinues hedge accounting for the affected portion of the hedge instrument, and any related unrealized gain or loss on the contract is recognized in current earnings.
See Note 11 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company discloses the fair value of financial instruments for assets and liabilities for which the value is practicable to estimate. The carrying amounts of all cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments and forward exchange contracts approximate fair value based upon quoted market prices. The fair values of trade accounts receivables, accounts payable and other financial instruments approximate carrying value due to their short-term nature, and would be considered level 2 items in the fair value hierarchy.
Business Combinations
The Company allocates the purchase price of acquired businesses to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values on the acquisition date. The purchase price allocation process requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions, especially at the acquisition date with respect to intangible assets and in-process research and development (IPR&D). In connection with the purchase price allocations for acquisitions, the Company estimates the fair value of contingent payments utilizing a probability-based income approach inclusive of an estimated discount rate.
Contingent Acquisition Consideration Payable
The Company determines the fair value of contingent acquisition consideration payable on the acquisition date using a probability-based income approach utilizing an appropriate discount rate. Each reporting period thereafter, the Company revalues these obligations and records increases or decreases in their fair value as adjustments to Intangible Asset Amortization and Contingent Consideration in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. Changes in the fair value of the contingent acquisition consideration payable can result from adjustments to the estimated probability and assumed timing of achieving the underlying milestones, as well as from changes to the discount rates and periods.
Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income (loss) and certain changes in stockholders’ equity that are excluded from net income (loss), such as changes in unrealized gains and losses on the Company’s available-for-sale securities, unrealized gains (losses) on foreign currency hedges and changes in the Company’s cumulative foreign currency translation account.
Reclassifications and Adjustments
Certain items in the prior year’s Consolidated Financial Statements have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

RECENT_ACCOUNTING_PRONOUNCEMEN

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Changes And Error Corrections [Abstract]
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS	(4) RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
	Except for FASB Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 (ASU 2014-09), Revenue from Contracts with Customers, there have been no new accounting pronouncements or changes to accounting pronouncements during the year ended December 31, 2014, as compared to the recent accounting pronouncements described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2013, that are of significance or potential significance to the Company.
	ASU 2014-09 will supersede the revenue recognition requirements in Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) and requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period, which for the Company is January 1, 2017. Early adoption is not permitted. The new standard can be applied retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of the change recognized at the date of the initial application in retained earnings. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and has not yet selected a transition method.

INVESTMENTS

INVESTMENTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Investments Schedule [Abstract]
INVESTMENTS	(5) INVESTMENTS
	All investments were classified as available-for-sale at December 31, 2014 and 2013. The amortized cost, gross unrealized holding gains or losses, and fair value of the Company’s available-for-sale securities by major security type at December 31, 2014 and 2013 are summarized in the tables below:
		Amortized Cost		Gross		Gross			Aggregate Fair
				Unrealized		Unrealized			Value at
				Holding Gains		Holding Losses			31-Dec-14
	Certificates of deposit	$	72,302	$	1	$	—		$	72,303
	Corporate debt securities		95,478		—		(342	)		95,136
	Greek government-issued bonds		50		73		—			123
	Total	$	167,830	$	74	$	(342	)	$	167,562
		Amortized Cost		Gross		Gross			Aggregate Fair
				Unrealized		Unrealized			Value at
				Holding Gains		Holding Losses			31-Dec-13
	Certificates of deposit	$	47,008	$	2	$	—		$	47,010
	Corporate debt securities		341,519		313		(423	)		341,409
	Commercial paper		86,154		24		—			86,178
	U.S. Government agency securities		8,900		1		—			8,901
	Greek government-issued bonds		52		92		—			144
	Total	$	483,633	$	432	$	(423	)	$	483,642
	The Company has investments in marketable equity securities which are measured using quoted prices in their respective active market that are considered strategic investments. As of December 31, 2014, the fair value of the Company’s strategic investments of $30.8 million included an unrealized gain of $18.3 million. As of December 31, 2013, the fair value of the Company’s strategic investments of $13.0 million includes an unrealized gain of $10.1 million. These investments are recorded in Other Assets in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	The fair values of available-for-sale securities by contractual maturity were as follows:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Maturing in one year or less	$	69,706	$	215,942
	Maturing after one year through five years		97,856		267,700
	Total	$	167,562	$	483,642
	Impairment assessments are made at the individual security level each reporting period. When the fair value of an investment is less than its cost at the balance sheet date, a determination is made as to whether the impairment is other-than-temporary and, if it is other-than-temporary, an impairment loss is recognized in earnings equal to the difference between the investment’s amortized cost and fair value at such date. As of December 31, 2014, some of the Company’s investments were in an unrealized loss position. However, the Company has the ability and intent to hold all investments that have been in a continuous loss position until maturity or recovery, thus no other-than-temporary impairment is deemed to have occurred.
	See Note 12 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding the fair value of the Company’s available-for-sale securities.

INTANGIBLE_ASSETS

INTANGIBLE ASSETS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
INTANGIBLE ASSETS	(6) INTANGIBLE ASSETS
	Intangible assets consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Intangible assets:
	Finite-lived intangible assets	$	123,365		$	118,242
	Indefinite-lived intangible assets		74,430			74,430
	Gross intangible assets:		197,795			192,672
	Less: Accumulated amortization		(41,217	)		(29,525	)
	Net carrying value	$	156,578		$	163,147
	Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
	The following table summarizes the annual amortization of the finite-lived intangible assets through 2025:
		Net Balance at			Estimated		Average Remaining Life	Annual
		December 31, 2014			Useful Life			Amortization
	Repurchased royalty rights	$	60,188		12 years		8.9 years	$	6,750
	License payments for marketing approvals		2,892		7 to 10 years		6.6 years		512
	Acquired intellectual property		16,919		10 years		5.2 years		3,223
	SRCC in-place and above market		2,149		Remaining lease terms		Varies	Varies
	tenant leases
	Total	$	82,148					$	10,485
	Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
	Indefinite-lived intangible assets consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	In-Process Research and Development:
	Talazoparib (BMN 673)	$	35,150		$	35,150
	Reveglucosidase alfa (BMN 701)		25,010			25,010
	SENSI-Pro technology		11,680			11,680
	Other acquired pre-clinical compounds		2,590			2,590
	Net carrying value	$	74,430		$	74,430
	Intangible assets related to IPR&D assets are considered to be indefinite-lived until the completion or abandonment of the associated R&D efforts. During the period the assets are considered indefinite-lived, they will not be amortized but will be tested for impairment on an annual basis and between annual tests if the Company becomes aware of any events occurring or changes in circumstances that would indicate a reduction in the fair value of the IPR&D assets below their respective carrying amounts. If and when development is complete, which generally occurs if and when regulatory approval to market a product is obtained, the associated assets would be deemed finite-lived and would then be amortized based on their respective estimated useful lives at that point in time.
	During the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company performed its annual impairment review and determined that no impairments existed as of December 31, 2014.
	During the first quarter of 2012, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $6.7 million related to certain Firdapse IPR&D assets. These IPR&D assets were associated with marketing rights in the U.S. The Company was exploring strategic options for the Firdapse U.S. program, including the potential outlicense of rights in the U.S. In March 2012, the Company recognized an impairment charge based on the status of business development efforts at the time and the related discounted cash flow projections that no longer supported the carrying-value of the IPR&D intangible assets. The impairment charge was included in Intangible Asset Amortization and Contingent Consideration in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2012.

ACQUISITION_OF_SAN_RAFAEL_CORP

ACQUISITION OF SAN RAFAEL CORPORATE CENTER	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]
ACQUISITION OF SAN RAFAEL CORPORATE CENTER	(7) ACQUISITION OF SAN RAFAEL CORPORATE CENTER
	In March 2014, the Company completed the acquisition of the real estate commonly known as the San Rafael Corporate Center (SRCC), located in San Rafael, California. SRCC is a multi-building, commercial property where, prior to the transaction, the Company was leasing a certain portion of the space for its headquarters and related operating activities. The purpose of this acquisition is to allow for future expansion of the Company’s corporate headquarters to accommodate anticipated headcount growth. The acquisition of SRCC has been accounted for as a business combination because the building and the in-place leases met the definition of a business in Accounting Standards Codification 805 (ASC 805), Business Combinations. The fair value of the consideration paid was $116.5 million, all of which was paid in cash, which was held in escrow as of December 31, 2013.
	The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of assets acquired as of the date of acquisition:
		Estimated		Estimated
		Fair Value		Useful Lives
	Building and improvements	$	94,414	50 years
	Land		14,565
	Land improvements		3,616	10 years
	Intangible assets		3,905	Remaining
				lease terms
	Total identifiable net assets	$	116,500
	The fair values assigned to tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired are based on management’s estimates and assumptions using the information that was available as of the date of the acquisition. The Company believes that the information provides a reasonable basis for estimating the fair values of assets acquired.
	The following table sets forth the fair value of the components of the identifiable intangible assets acquired by asset class as of the date of acquisition:
	Above market leases	$	351
	In-place leases		3,554
	Total intangible assets subject to amortization	$	3,905
	The value of any in-place leases is estimated to be equal to the property owners’ avoidance of costs necessary to release the property for a lease term equal to the remaining primary in-place lease term and the value of investment-grade tenancy, which is derived by estimating, based on a review of the market, the cost to be borne by a property owner to replicate a market lease for the remaining in-place term. These costs consist of: (i) rent lost during downtime (e.g., assumed periods of vacancy), (ii) estimated expenses that would be incurred by the property owner during periods of vacancy, (iii) rent concessions (e.g., free rent), (iv) leasing commissions and (v) tenant improvement allowances. The Company determined these values using management’s estimates along with third-party appraisals. The Company will amortize the capitalized value of in-place lease intangible assets to expense over the remaining initial term of each lease. The Company will amortize the capitalized value of above market leases to expense over the remaining lives of the underlying leases.
	The amount of third-party tenant revenue (included in the line item Royalty, License and Other Revenues) included in the Company’s Consolidated of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2014, was $4.0 million. The amount of net income/loss from third-party tenants for the year ended December 31, 2014, was insignificant the to the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.
	SRCC’s results of operations prior to the acquisition were insignificant to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
	Included in Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) expenses are transaction costs incurred in connection with the acquisition of SRCC of $0.3 million during 2014. In connection with the purchase of SRCC, the Company recognized a gain of $8.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, due to the early termination of the Company’s pre-existing lease and the realization of the remaining balance in deferred rent and the reversal of the related asset retirement obligation upon acquisition of the SRCC. $2.7 million and $6.1 million of the gain were included in SG&A and R&D expenses, respectively. The allocation of the gain to SG&A and R&D is consistent with the Company’s allocation practices for facility costs for this previously leased space.

PROPERTY_PLANT_AND_EQUIPMENT

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT	(8) PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
	Property, plant and equipment, net consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Leasehold improvements	$	39,297		$	73,420
	Building and improvements		335,991			159,678
	Manufacturing and laboratory equipment		124,564			95,126
	Computer hardware and software		97,032			74,948
	Furniture and equipment		13,717			12,367
	Land improvements		4,106			—
	Land		29,358			11,608
	Construction-in-progress		108,340			77,212
			752,405			504,359
	Less: Accumulated depreciation		(228,889	)		(185,043	)
	Total property, plant and equipment, net	$	523,516		$	319,316
	The construction-in-process balance is primarily comprised of costs related to active construction projects including the construction of a laboratory on the Company’s California campus and the build-out of the manufacturing facility in Shanbally, Ireland.
	During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company purchased two buildings in Novato, California which were accounted for as asset purchases. The total purchase price for the buildings was $20.0 million.
	The following table summarizes the allocation of the total purchase price of the buildings:
		Estimated Fair Value			Estimated
					Useful Lives
	Building and improvements	$	15,836		35 to 45 years
	Land		3,216
	Land improvements		919		10 years
	Total identifiable net assets	$	19,971
	Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $44.3 million, $36.5 million and $34.9 million, respectively, of which $11.0 million, $11.0 million and $7.3 million was capitalized into inventory, respectively.
	Capitalized interest related to the Company’s property, plant and equipment purchases for each of the three years ended December 31, 2014 was insignificant.

INVENTORY

INVENTORY	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
INVENTORY	(9) INVENTORY
	Inventory consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Raw materials	$	22,488	$	15,309
	Work-in-process		114,393		88,417
	Finished goods		62,571		58,879
	Total inventory	$	199,452	$	162,605

SUPPLEMENTAL_BALANCE_SHEET_INF

SUPPLEMENTAL BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
SUPPLEMENTAL BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION	(10) SUPPLEMENTAL BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
	Other current assets consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Prepaid expenses		28,865	$	21,139
	Short-term forward currency exchange contract assets		10,513		59
	Promissory notes receivable, net		46,946		—
	Restricted investments		2,354		5,670
	Convertible promissory note conversion option		2,386		—
	Other receivables		9,733		11,513
	Other		4,513		3,326
	Total other current assets	$	105,310	$	41,707
	Other assets consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Deposits		12,021	$	7,196
	Escrow balance for SRCC purchase		—		116,500
	Deferred debt offering costs		11,763		15,374
	Strategic investments		30,811		13,000
	Long-term forward foreign currency exchange contract assets		5,387		—
	Other		5,299		4,101
	Total other assets	$	65,281	$	156,171
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Accounts payable	$	32,779	$	36,894
	Accrued accounts payable		98,490		58,408
	Accrued compensation expense		45,479		33,496
	Accrued vacation expense		12,540		10,487
	Current portion of contingent acquisition		3,895		11,882
	consideration payable
	Accrued rebates payable		14,859		10,429
	Accrued royalties payable		9,050		5,829
	Value added taxes payable		5,479		3,603
	Other accrued operating expenses		8,244		4,875
	Current portion of nonqualified deferred		2,304		1,363
	compensation liability
	Other		2,620		6,005
	Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	235,739	$	183,271
	The roll forward of significant estimated accrued rebates, reserve for cash discounts and allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:
		Balance at		Provision		Provision/			Actual Charges			Actual Charges			Balance at
		Beginning		for Current		(Reversals)			Related to			Related to			End of
		of Period		Period Sales		for Prior			Current			Prior Period			Period
						Period Sales			Period Sales			Sales
	Year ended December 31, 2014:
	Accrued rebates	$	10,429	$	24,431	$	(1,159	)	$	(12,768	)	$	(6,074	)	$	14,859
	Reserve for cash discounts		388		6,435		—			(5,747	)		(388	)		688
	Sales return reserve		907		—		(907	)		—			—			—
	Allowance for doubtful accounts		529		410		(319	)		—			(130	)		490
	Year ended December 31, 2013:
	Accrued rebates	$	9,625	$	18,872	$	(1,169	)	$	(12,025	)	$	(4,874	)	$	10,429
	Reserve for cash discounts		372		4,549		—			(4,191	)		(342	)		388
	Sales return reserve		—		907		—			—			—			907
	Allowance for doubtful accounts		348		138		43			—			—			529
	Year ended December 31, 2012:
	Accrued rebates	$	6,025	$	16,449	$	(434	)	$	(8,193	)	$	(4,222	)	$	9,625
	Reserve for cash discounts		342		4,214		—			(4,184	)		—			372
	Allowance for doubtful accounts		513		—		(165	)		—			—			348

DERIVATIVE_INSTRUMENTS_AND_HED

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING STRATEGIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING STRATEGIES	(11) DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING STRATEGIES
	Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Exposure
	The Company uses forward foreign currency exchange contracts to hedge certain operational exposures resulting from potential changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Such exposures result from portions of the Company’s forecasted revenues and operating expenses being denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily the Euro, the British Pound and the Brazilian Real.
	The Company designates certain of these forward foreign currency exchange contracts as hedging instruments and enters into some forward foreign currency exchange contracts that are considered to be economic hedges that are not designated as hedging instruments. Whether designated or undesignated, these forward foreign currency exchange contracts protect against the reduction in value of forecasted foreign currency cash flows resulting from product revenues, royalty revenues, operating expenses and asset or liability positions designated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The fair values of forward foreign currency exchange contracts are estimated using current exchange rates and interest rates, and take into consideration the current creditworthiness of the counterparties or the Company, as applicable. Details of the specific instruments used by the Company to hedge its exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations are discussed below. See Note 12 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding the fair value of forward foreign currency exchange contracts.
	At December 31, 2014, the Company had 92 forward foreign currency exchange contracts outstanding to sell a total of 116.1 million Euros with expiration dates ranging from January 2015 through February 2017. These hedges were entered into in order to protect against the fluctuations in revenue associated with Euro-denominated sales. The Company has formally designated these forward foreign currency exchange contracts as cash flow hedges and expects them to be highly effective in offsetting fluctuations in revenues denominated in Euros related to changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
	The Company also enters into forward foreign currency exchange contracts that are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. The changes in fair value of these forward foreign currency exchange contracts are included as a part of SG&A expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. At December 31, 2014, the Company had 3 outstanding forward foreign currency exchange contract to sell 82.7 million Euros and one contract to sell 4.3 million British Pounds, which were not designated as a hedge for accounting purposes and matured on January 31, 2015.
	The maximum length of time over which the Company is hedging its exposure to the reduction in value of forecasted foreign currency revenues through forward foreign currency exchange contracts is through February 2017. Over the next twelve months, the Company expects to reclassify $10.3 million from accumulated other comprehensive income to earnings as the forecasted revenue transactions occur.
	The fair value carrying amounts of the Company’s derivative instruments were as follows:
			Asset Derivatives						Liability Derivatives
			31-Dec-14						31-Dec-14
			Balance Sheet Location		Fair Value				Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
	Forward foreign currency exchange contracts		Other current assets		$	10,206			Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	—
	Forward foreign currency exchange contracts		Other assets			5,387			Other long- term liabilities		—
	Total				$	15,593				$	—
	Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
	Forward foreign currency exchange contracts		Other current assets		$	307			Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	12
	Total					307					12
	Total value of derivative contracts				$	15,900				$	12
			Asset Derivatives						Liability Derivatives
			31-Dec-13						31-Dec-13
			Balance Sheet Location		Fair Value				Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
	Forward foreign currency exchange contracts		Other current assets		$	—			Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	2,186
	Forward foreign currency exchange contracts		Other assets			—			Other long- term liabilities		—
	Total				$	—				$	2,186
	Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
	Forward foreign currency exchange contracts		Other current assets		$	59			Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	—
	Total					59					—
	Total value of derivative contracts				$	59				$	2,186
	The effect of the Company’s derivative instruments on the Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was as follows:
			Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
			2014				2013			2012
	Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
	Net gain (loss) recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (OCI) (1)		$	18,078			$	(1,366	)	$	(8,749	)
	Net gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income (2)			643				49			(3,683	)
	Net gain (loss) recognized in net loss (3)			(294	)			310			927
	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
	Net gain (loss) recognized in net loss(4)		$	8,010			$	(2,041	)	$	674
	-1	Net change in the fair value of the effective portion classified as OCI.
	-2	Effective portion classified as net product revenue.
	-3	Ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing classified as selling, general and administrative expense.
	-4	Classified as selling, general and administrative expense.
	At December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, accumulated other comprehensive income before taxes associated with forward foreign currency exchange contracts qualifying for hedge accounting treatment was a gain of $15.9 million, loss of $2.4 million and a gain of $0.2 million, respectively.
	The Company is exposed to counterparty credit risk on all of its derivative financial instruments. The Company has established and maintains strict counterparty credit guidelines and enters into hedges only with financial institutions that are investment grade or better to minimize the Company’s exposure to potential defaults. The Company does not require collateral to be pledged under these agreements.

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	(12) FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
	The Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis, including available-for-sale fixed income securities and foreign currency derivatives.
	The tables below present the fair value of these financial assets and liabilities determined using the following input levels.
			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2014
			Quoted Price in			Significant Other		Significant		Total
			Active Markets			Observable		Unobservable
			For Identical			Inputs		Inputs
			Assets			(Level 2)		(Level 3)
			(Level 1)
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents:
	Overnight deposits		$	225,159		$	—	$	—	$	225,159
	Money market instruments			—			650,327		—		650,327
	Total cash and cash equivalents		$	225,159		$	650,327	$	—	$	875,486
	Available-for-sale securities:
	Short-term:
	Certificates of deposit		$	—		$	54,174	$	—	$	54,174
	Corporate debt securities			—			15,532		—		15,532
	Long-term:
	Certificates of deposit			—			18,129		—		18,129
	Corporate debt securities			—			79,604		—		79,604
	Greek government-issued bonds			—			123		—		123
	Total available-for-sale securities		$	—		$	167,562	$	—	$	167,562
	Other Current Assets:
	Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan assets		$	—		$	514	$	—	$	514
	Forward foreign currency exchange contract(1)			—			10,513		—		10,513
	Restricted investments (2)			—			2,354		—		2,354
	Embedded derivative (3)			—			—		2,386		2,386
	Total other current assets		$	—		$	13,381	$	2,386	$	15,767
	Other Assets:
	Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan assets		$	—		$	5,112	$	—	$	5,112
	Forward foreign currency exchange contract(1)			—			5,387		—		5,387
	Strategic investment (4)			30,811			—		—		30,811
	Total other assets		$	30,811		$	10,499	$	—	$	41,310
	Total assets		$	255,970		$	841,769	$	2,386	$	1,100,125
	Liabilities:
	Current Liabilities:
	Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan liability		$	1,790		$	514	$	—	$	2,304
	Forward foreign currency exchange contract (1)			—			12		—		12
	Contingent acquisition consideration payable			—			—		3,895		3,895
	Total current liabilities		$	1,790		$	526	$	3,895	$	6,211
	Other long-term liabilities:
	Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan liability		$	18,453		$	5,112	$	—	$	23,565
	Contingent acquisition consideration payable			—			—		38,767		38,767
	Total other long-term liabilities		$	18,453		$	5,112	$	38,767	$	62,332
	Total liabilities		$	20,243		$	5,638	$	42,662	$	68,543
			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013
			Quoted Price in			Significant Other		Significant		Total
			Active Markets			Observable		Unobservable
			For Identical			Inputs		Inputs
			Assets			(Level 2)		(Level 3)
			(Level 1)
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents:
	Overnight deposits		$	156,228		$	—	$	—	$	156,228
	Money market instruments			—			412,553		—		412,553
	Total cash and cash equivalents		$	156,228		$	412,553	$	—	$	568,781
	Available-for-sale securities:
	Short-term:
	Certificates of deposit		$	—		$	30,513	$	—	$	30,513
	Corporate debt securities			—			99,251		—		99,251
	Commercial paper			—			86,178		—		86,178
	Long-term:
	Certificates of deposit			—			16,497		—		16,497
Corporate debt securities			—			242,158		—		242,158
U.S. Government agency securities			—			8,901		—		8,901
Greek government-issued bonds			—			144		—		144
Total available-for-sale securities		$	—		$	483,642	$	—	$	483,642
Other Current Assets:
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan assets		$	—		$	136	$	—	$	136
Forward foreign currency exchange contract(1)			—			59		—		59
Restricted investments (2)			—			5,670		—		5,670
Total other current assets		$	—		$	5,865	$	—	$	5,865
Other Assets:
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan assets		$	—		$	3,459	$	—	$	3,459
Restricted investments (2)			—			412		—		412
Strategic investment (4)			13,000			—		—		13,000
Total other assets		$	13,000		$	3,871	$	—	$	16,871
Total assets		$	169,228		$	905,931	$	—	$	1,075,159
Liabilities:
Current Liabilities:
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan liability		$	1,227		$	136	$	—	$	1,363
Forward foreign currency exchange contract(1)			—			2,186		—		2,186
Contingent acquisition consideration payable			—			—		11,882		11,882
Total current liabilities		$	1,227		$	2,322	$	11,882	$	15,431
Other long-term liabilities:
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan liability		$	12,345		$	3,459	$	—	$	15,804
Contingent acquisition consideration payable			—			—		30,790		30,790
Total other long-term liabilities		$	12,345		$	3,459	$	30,790	$	46,594
Total liabilities		$	13,572		$	5,781	$	42,672	$	62,025
-1	See Note 11 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the derivative instruments.
-2	The restricted investments at December 31, 2014 secure the Company’s irrevocable standby letter of credit obtained in connection with certain commercial agreements. The restricted investments at December 31, 2013 secure the Company’s irrevocable standby letter of credit obtained in connection with the Company’s SRCC lease and certain commercial agreements.
-3	The embedded derivative represents the fair value of the conversion feature of a promissory note which may be settled in the issuer’s underlying shares.
-4	The Company has investments in marketable equity securities measured using quoted prices in an active market that are considered strategic investments. See Note 5 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding the Company’s strategic investments.
There were no transfers between levels during the year ended December 31, 2014.
The Company’s Level 2 securities are valued using third-party pricing sources. The pricing services utilize industry standard valuation models, including both income and market-based approaches, for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly, to estimate fair value. These inputs include reported trades of and broker/dealer quotes on the same or similar securities, issuer credit spreads, benchmark securities, prepayment/default projections based on historical data and other observable inputs.
The Company validates the prices provided by its third-party pricing services by understanding the models used, obtaining market values from other pricing sources, analyzing pricing data in certain instances and confirming those securities traded in active markets. See Note 5 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the Company’s financial instruments.
Liabilities measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs were comprised of contingent acquisition consideration payable and asset retirement obligations.
The Company’s contingent acquisition consideration payable is estimated using a probability-based income approach utilizing an appropriate discount rate. Key assumptions used by management to estimate the fair value of contingent acquisition consideration payable include estimated probabilities, the estimated timing of when a milestone may be attained and assumed discount periods and rates. Subsequent changes in the fair value of the contingent acquisition consideration payable, resulting from management’s revision of key assumptions, will be recorded in Intangible Asset Amortization and Contingent Consideration in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. The probability-based income approach used by management to estimate the fair value of the contingent acquisition consideration is most sensitive to changes in the estimated probabilities.
Contingent acquisition consideration payable at December 31, 2013		$	42,672
Changes in the fair value of the contingent acquisition			12,990
consideration payable
Milestone payments to former ZyStor shareholders			(13,000	)
Contingent acquisition consideration payable at December 31, 2014		$	42,662
Under certain of the Company’s lease agreements, the Company is contractually obligated to return leased space to its original condition upon termination of the lease agreement. The Company records an asset retirement obligation liability and a corresponding capital asset in an amount equal to the estimated fair value of the obligation when estimable. In subsequent periods, for each such lease, the Company records Interest Expense to accrete the asset retirement obligation liability to full value and depreciates each capitalized asset retirement obligation asset, both over the term of the associated lease agreement.
Asset retirement obligations at December 31, 2013		$	4,122
Accretion expense			182
Additions			536
Release of ARO accruals related to purchases of previously			(1,075	)
leased office space
Asset retirement obligations at December 31, 2014		$	3,765
The Company acquired intangible assets as a result of various business acquisitions. The estimated fair value of these long-lived assets was measured using Level 3 inputs as of the acquisition date.

CONVERTIBLE_DEBT

CONVERTIBLE DEBT	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
CONVERTIBLE DEBT	(13) CONVERTIBLE DEBT
	2018/2020 Notes
	On October 15, 2013, the Company issued $750.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior subordinated convertible notes consisting of $375.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 0.75% senior subordinated convertible notes due in October 2018 (the 2018 Notes) and $375.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 1.50% senior subordinated convertible notes due in October 2020 (the 2020 Notes and, together with the 2018 Notes, the Notes). Net proceeds from the offering were $726.2 million.
	The 2018 Notes and the 2020 Notes bear interest at a rate of 0.75% and 1.5% per year, respectively, which is payable semiannually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on April 15, 2014.
	The Notes are senior unsecured obligations, and rank (i) equally to any of the Company’s existing and future unsecured senior debt, (ii) senior to any of the Company’s future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated to the Notes, and (iii) effectively junior to any secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of a “fundamental change”, as defined in the indenture, the holders may require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of the Notes for cash at 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being purchased, plus any accrued and unpaid interest.
	The Notes are convertible into 7,965,975 shares of the Company’s common stock under certain circumstances prior to maturity at a conversion rate of 10.6213 shares per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes, which represents a conversion price of $94.15 per share, subject to adjustment under certain conditions. Holders may convert their notes at their option at any time prior to July 15, 2018, in the case of the 2018 Notes, and July 15, 2020, in the case of the 2020 Notes, only under the following circumstances: (1) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on March 31, 2014 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the applicable conversion price on each applicable trading day; (2) during the five business day period after any five consecutive trading day period (the measurement period) in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of the relevant notes for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock and the applicable conversion rate on each such trading day; or (3) upon the occurrence of specified corporate events.
	Upon conversion, the Company may pay cash, shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and stock, as determined by the Company in its discretion.
	The Company has separately accounted for the liability and equity components of the Notes by allocating the proceeds from issuance of the Notes between the liability component and the embedded conversion option, or equity component. This allocation was done by first estimating an interest rate at the time of issuance for similar notes that do not include the embedded conversion option. The Company allocated $156.2 million to the equity component, net of offering costs of $5.1 million. The Company recorded a discount on the notes of $161.3 million which will be accreted and recorded as additional interest expense over the life of the Notes. During 2014, the Company recognized interest expense related to the accretion of the discount of $13.0 million and $10.9 million, for the 2018 Notes and the 2020 Notes, respectively, compared to 2013 when the Company recognized interest expense of $2.6 million and $2.2 million, for the 2018 Notes and the 2020 Notes, respectively. The effective interest rate on the liability component of the Notes for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were 7.3% and 7.5%, respectively.
	In connection with the issuance of the Notes, the Company incurred $23.8 million of issuance costs. These costs are being amortized and are recorded as additional interest expense over the life of the Notes. During 2014, the Company recognized $1.9 million and $1.3 million of amortization of deferred offering costs, for the 2018 Notes and the 2020 Notes, respectively, compared to 2013 when the Company recognized $0.4 million and $0.3 million of amortization of deferred offering costs, for the 2018 Notes and the 2020 Notes, respectively.
	To minimize the impact of potential dilution upon conversion of the 2018 Notes and the 2020 Notes, the Company entered into capped call transactions separate from the issuance of the Notes with certain counterparties covering 3,982,988 shares of the Company’s common stock, subject to adjustment. The capped calls have a strike price of $94.15 and a cap price of $121.05 and are exercisable when and if the Notes are converted. If upon conversion of the Notes, the price of the Company’s common stock is above the strike price of the capped calls, the counterparties will deliver shares of the Company’s common stock and/or cash with an aggregate value equal to the difference between the price of the Company’s common stock at the conversion date and the strike price, multiplied by the number of shares of the Company’s common stock related to the capped calls being exercised. The Company paid $29.8 million for these capped calls transactions, which was recorded as additional paid-in capital.
	2017 Notes
	In April 2007, the Company sold $324.9 million in aggregate principal amount of senior subordinated convertible notes due in April 2017 (the 2017 Notes), of which $40.6 million remained outstanding at December 31, 2014. The 2017 Notes were issued at face value and bear interest at the rate of 1.875% per annum, payable semi-annually in cash. The 2017 Notes are convertible, at the option of the holder, at any time prior to maturity or redemption, into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $20.36 per share, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The 2017 Notes do not include a call provision and the Company is unable to unilaterally redeem the 2017 Notes prior to maturity on April 23, 2017. The Company also must repay the 2017 Notes if there is a qualifying change in control or termination of trading of its common stock. If a change of control occurs, the Company will pay a make whole premium by increasing the conversion rate applicable to the 2017 Notes.
	In connection with the placement of the 2017 Notes, the Company paid $8.5 million in offering costs, which have been deferred and are included in other assets. The deferred offering costs are being amortized as interest expense over the life of the debt. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recognized amortization expense of $0.1 million, compared to $0.4 million and $0.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	During 2014, the Company entered into two separate agreements with an existing holder of its senior subordinated convertible notes due in 2017 pursuant to which such holder converted $16.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2017 Notes into 809,351 shares of the Company’s common stock. In addition to issuing the requisite number of shares of the Company’s common stock, the Company also made varying cash payments to the holder totaling $0.7 million in aggregate, of which $0.7 million was recognized in total as Debt Conversion Expense on the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2014.
	During 2013, the Company entered into separate agreements with 18 of the existing holders of the 2017 Notes pursuant to which such holders converted $262.8 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2017 Notes into 12,906,780 shares of the Company’s common stock. In addition to issuing the requisite number of shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the 2017 Notes, the Company also made varying cash payments to each of the holders, totaling $14.8 million in the aggregate, of which $13.0 million was recognized in total as Debt Conversion Expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2013 and $1.8 million was for accrued interest. Additionally, the Company reclassified $2.8 million of deferred offering costs to additional paid-in capital in connection with the conversion of the 2017 Notes.
	2013 Notes
	In March 2006, the Company sold $172.5 million in aggregate principal amount of senior subordinated convertible notes due in March 2013 (the 2013 Notes), which fully matured on March 29, 2013. The 2013 Notes were issued at face value and bore interest at the rate of 2.5% per annum, payable semi-annually in cash. The 2013 Notes were convertible, at the option of the holder, at any time prior to maturity or redemption, into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $16.58 per share, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The 2013 Notes did not include a call provision and the Company was unable to unilaterally redeem the debt prior to maturity on March 29, 2013. Upon maturity of the remaining 2013 Notes outstanding in March 2013, the Company issued the requisite 1,403,735 shares of common stock pursuant to the 2013 Notes to the bond holders, in exchange for $23.3 million in principal and paid one bond holder the par value at maturity in cash totaling $98.
	In connection with the placement of the 2013 Notes, the Company paid approximately $5.5 million in offering costs, which were deferred and were included in other assets. The deferred offering costs were amortized as interest expense over the life of the debt. For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recognized amortization expense of $27, compared to $0.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2012.
	The following table summarizes information regarding the Company’s convertible debt at December 31:
			2014		2013
	Convertible Notes due 2020, net of unamortized discount of		$	297,955	$	287,025
	$77,045 and $87,975, at December 31, 2014 and 2013,
	respectively
	Convertible Notes due 2018, net of unamortized discount of			319,463		306,500
	$55,537 and $68,500, at December 31, 2014 and 2013,
	respectively
	Convertible Notes due 2017			40,558		62,041
	Total convertible debt, net of unamortized discount		$	657,976	$	655,566
	Fair value of fixed rate convertible debt
	Convertible Notes due in 2020 (1)		$	456,360	$	400,879
	Convertible Notes due in 2018 (1)			442,448		397,691
	Convertible Notes due in 2017 (1)			180,984		213,765
	Total		$	1,079,792	$	1,012,335
	-1	The fair value of the Company’s fixed rate convertible debt is based on open market trades and is classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.
	Interest expense on the Company’s convertible debt was comprised of the following:
			Years Ended December 31,
			2014		2013		2012
	Coupon interest		$	9,417	$	4,550	$	6,679
	Amortization of issuance costs			3,332		1,053		960
	Accretion of debt discount			23,893		4,821		—
	Total interest expense on convertible debt		$	36,642	$	10,424	$	7,639
	See Note 14 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the effect of conversion on net loss per common share.

NET_LOSS_PER_COMMON_SHARE

NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE	(14) NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE
	Potentially issuable shares of common stock include shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding employee stock option awards, common stock issuable under the ESPP, unvested restricted stock, common stock held by the Deferred Compensation Plan and contingent issuances of common stock related to convertible debt. The table below presents potential shares of common stock that were excluded from the computation as they were anti-dilutive using the treasury stock method (in thousands):
		Years Ended December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Options to purchase common stock		11,477		13,157		13,895
	Common stock issuable under the 2013 and 2017 Notes		1,992		3,047		17,365
	Common stock issuable under the 2018 and 2020 Notes		7,966		7,966		—
	Unvested restricted stock units		1,244		1,159		1,165
	Potentially issuable common stock for ESPP purchases		195		197		263
	Common stock held by the Nonqualified		224		193		233
	Deferred Compensation Plan
	Total number of potentially issuable shares		23,098		25,719		32,921
	The effect of the 2018 Notes and the 2020 Notes was excluded from the diluted net income/loss per share since they may be settled in cash or shares at the Company’s option, and the Company’s current intention is to settle up to the principal amount of the converted notes in cash and any excess conversion value (conversion spread) in shares of the Company’s common stock. As a result, the 2018 Notes and the 2020 Notes have no effect on diluted net income/loss per share until the Company’s stock price at period end exceeds the conversion price of $94.15 per share for the Notes.

INCOME_TAXES

INCOME TAXES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	(15) INCOME TAXES
	The provision for (benefit from) income taxes is based on income/(loss) before income taxes as follows:
		Years Ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	U.S. Source	$	49,411		$	46,675		$	45,422
	Non-U.S. Source		(174,279	)		(223,178	)		(163,700	)
	Loss before income taxes	$	(124,868	)	$	(176,503	)	$	(118,278	)
	The U.S. and foreign components of the provision for (benefit from) income taxes are as follows:
		Years Ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Provision for current income tax expense:
	Federal	$	28,093		$	5,060		$	2,253
	State and local		3,011			1,496			1,879
	Foreign		3,614			2,199			1,858
		$	34,718		$	8,755		$	5,990
	Provision for deferred income tax expense (benefit):
	Federal	$	(20,367	)	$	(6,084	)	$	(6,055	)
	State and local		(4,982	)		(2,658	)		(3,891	)
	Foreign		(268	)		(163	)		25
		$	(25,617	)	$	(8,905	)	$	(9,921	)
	Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	$	9,101		$	(150	)	$	(3,931	)
	The following is a reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the Company’s effective income tax rate expressed as a percentage of income/(loss) before income taxes:
		Years Ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Federal statutory income tax rate		35	%		35	%		35	%
	State and local taxes		(1.6	)%		(0.3	)%		(1.3	)%
	Orphan Drug & General Business Credit		29.3	%		14.7	%		27.6	%
	Stock compensation expense		(2.4	)%		(1.7	)%		(1.6	)%
	Changes in the fair value of contingent acquisition consideration payable		(3.6	)%		(2.9	)%		(2.6	)%
	Subpart F income		(9.2	)%	—			—
	Foreign tax rate differential		(51.5	)%		(45.4	)%		(50.0	)%
	Other		(3.6	)%		1.6	%		(3.2	)%
	Valuation allowance/Deferred benefit		0.3	%		(0.9	)%		(0.6	)%
	Effective income tax rate		(7.3	)%		0.1	%		3.3	%
	The significant components of the Company’s net deferred tax assets are as follows:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Net deferred tax assets:
	Net operating loss carryforwards	$	16,208		$	17,733
	Tax credit carryforwards		178,364			176,226
	Property, plant and equipment		—			504
	Accrued expenses, reserves, and prepaids		30,626			21,071
	Intangible assets		14,550			8,255
	Stock-based compensation		34,133			29,603
	Inventory		14,108			12,417
	Impairment and capital loss carryforwards		1,997			3,071
	Other		928			799
	Valuation allowance		(7,812	)		(8,347	)
	Total deferred tax assets	$	283,102		$	261,332
	Joint venture basis difference	$	(1,781	)	$	(1,806	)
	Acquired Intangibles		(33,049	)		(34,091	)
	Convertible notes discount		(39,317	)		(46,029	)
	Property, plant and equipment		(4,932	)		—
	Unrealized gains		(6,525	)		(3,611	)
	Total deferred tax liabilities	$	(85,604	)	$	(85,537	)
	Net deferred tax assets	$	197,498		$	175,795
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of $25.7 million and state net operating loss carryforwards of $185.0 million. The Company also had federal research and development and orphan drug credit carryforwards of $284.3 million and state research credit carryovers of $50.2 million. The Company has elected to recognize the excess benefits related to the exercise of employee stock options under a with and without approach, which will be accounted for as an increase to additional paid-in-capital if and when realized. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had unrecognized federal and state stock option benefits of $201.8 million and $75.2 million, respectively.
	The federal net operating loss carryforwards will expire at various dates beginning in 2027 through 2033 if not utilized. The federal credit carryforward will expire at various dates beginning in 2021 through 2034 if not utilized. The state net operating loss carryforwards will expire at various dates beginning in 2015 through 2034 if not utilized. Certain state research credit carryovers will begin to expire in 2019 if not utilized, with others carrying forward indefinitely.
	The Company’s net operating losses and credits could be subject to annual limitations due to ownership change limitations provided by Internal Revenue Code Section 382 and similar state provisions. An annual limitation could result in the expiration of net operating losses and tax credit carryforward before utilization. There are limitations on the tax attributes of acquired entities however, the Company does not believe the limitations will have a material impact on the utilization of the net operating losses or tax credits.
	In 2014, the valuation allowance decreased by $0.5 million primarily due to the expiration of fully valued capital loss carryforwards. In 2013, the valuation allowance increased by $2.3 million primarily due to investment impairments that are not more likely than not to be realized.
	The financial statement recognition of the benefit for a tax position is dependent upon the benefit being more likely than not to be sustainable upon audit by the applicable taxing authority. If this threshold is met, the tax benefit is then measured and recognized at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Balance at beginning of period	$	50,815		$	43,531
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		20,303			7,478
Additions for tax positions of prior years		545			(194	)
Balance at end of period	$	71,663		$	50,815
Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2014 are potential benefits of $71.7 million that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. The Company’s policy for classifying interest and penalties associated with unrecognized income tax benefits is to include such items in the income tax expense. The total amount of accrued interest and penalties was not significant as of December 31, 2014.
The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various states and foreign jurisdictions. For income tax returns filed before 2011, the Company is no longer subject to audit by the U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. tax authorities. However, carryforward tax attributes that were generated prior to 2011 may still be adjusted upon examination by tax authorities. Currently, the Company has open income tax return audits with the Internal Revenue Service for the year 2012 and with the state of California for tax years 2010 and 2011.
U.S. income and foreign withholding taxes have not been recognized on the excess of the amount for financial reporting over the tax basis of investments in foreign subsidiaries that are essentially permanent in duration. This excess totaled approximately $1.1 million as of December 31, 2014, which will be indefinitely reinvested; therefore, deferred income taxes of approximately $0.4 million have not been provided on such foreign earnings.

EQUITY_COMPENSATION_PLANS

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Equity [Abstract]
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS	(16) EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
	2014 Inducement Plan
	In December 2014, the Board approved the BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. 2014 Inducement Plan (the 2014 Inducement Plan), which provides for grants of up to 1.7 million share-based awards to new employees, including grants of restricted stock units (RSUs) and grants of options to purchase common stock at a price equal to the fair market value of such shares on the date of grant. The awards are substantially similar to those granted under the BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. 2006 Share Incentive Plan, as amended and restated on March 22, 2010 (as further amended, the 2006 Share Incentive Plan), and the BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. 2012 Inducement Plan (the 2012 Inducement Plan). The 2014 Inducement Plan expires on the date of the Company’s 2015 annual meeting of stockholders.
	Share Incentive Plan
	The 2006 Share Incentive Plan, which replaced the Company’s previous stock option plans (the 1997 Stock Plan and the 1998 Directors Options Plan), provides for grants of options to employees to purchase common stock at the fair market value of such shares on the grant date, as well as other forms of equity compensation. As of December 31, 2014, awards issued under the 2006 Share Incentive Plan include both stock options and restricted RSUs. Stock option awards granted to employees generally vest over a four-year period on a cliff basis six months after the grant date and then monthly thereafter. The term of the outstanding options is generally ten years. RSUs granted to employees generally vest in a straight-line annually over a four-year period after the grant date. Restricted stock units granted to directors generally vest in full one year after the grant date.
	As of December 31, 2014, options to purchase approximately 10.9 million and 0.6 million shares were outstanding under the Share Incentive Plan and the Company’s previous stock option plans, respectively.
	As of December 31, 2014, an aggregate of approximately 19.0 million unissued shares were authorized for future issuance under the Share Incentive Plan.
	Employee Stock Purchase Plan
	Under BioMarin’s ESPP, which was initially approved in June 2006, replacing the Company’s previous plan, and was further amended on March 5, 2014, employees meeting specific employment qualifications are eligible to participate and can purchase shares on established dates (each purchase date) semi-annually through payroll deductions at the lower of 85% of the fair market value of the stock at the commencement of the offering period or each purchase date of the offering period. Each offering period will span up to two-years. The ESPP permits eligible employees to purchase common stock through payroll deductions for up to 10% of qualified compensation, up to an annual limit of $25,000. The ESPP is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code. During 2014, the Company issued 258,173 shares under the ESPP.
	As of December 31, 2014 there were approximately 1.1 million shares reserved for future issuance under the ESPP.
	Board of Director Grants
	Each Independent Director is automatically granted an initial stock option grant to purchase 10,000 share of common stock and 4,000 RSUs on the date that such person first becomes an Independent Director. The shares of common stock subject to the initial grant vest quarterly over three years and the initial RSU grant vest annually over three years. On the date of our annual meeting of shareholders, each re-elected director is granted an additional stock option grant to purchase 8,500 shares of common stock and 3,400 RSUs. The shares of common stock subject to the annual option grant vest quarterly over one year and the additional annual RSUs vest in full on the one-year anniversary of the grant date. Thea additional option grant or RSU grant for a director that has served for less than a year is prorated to the nearest quarter. These options and RSUs continue to vest only while the director serves on the Board. The exercise price per share of each of these options is 100% of the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. These options have a term of 10 years.
	Stockholders’ Rights Plan
	At December 31, 2014, an aggregate of approximately 22.8 million unissued shares was authorized for future issuance under the Company’s stock plans, which includes shares issuable under the 2006 Share Incentive Plan, the 2014 Inducement Plan and the ESPP. Under the 2006 Share Incentive Plan awards that expire or are cancelled without delivery of shares generally become available for issuance under the respective plan. Awards that expire or are cancelled under the Company’s suspended 1997 Stock Plan, 1998 Director Option Plan, 2012 Inducement Plan or 2014 Inducement Plan may not be reissued.

STOCKBASED_COMPENSATION

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION	(17) STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
	The following table summarizes activity under the Company’s stock option plans, including the 2012 Inducement Plan and those suspended upon the adoption of the 2006 Share Incentive Plan for the year ended December 31, 2014. All option grants presented in the table had exercise prices not less than the fair value of the underlying common stock on the grant date:
			Shares			Weighted			Weighted		Aggregate
						Average			Average		Intrinsic
						Exercise			Remaining		Value (1)
						Price			Years
	Options outstanding as of December 31, 2013			13,157,283		$	34.06		6.7		$	477,618
	Granted			1,185,376		$	63.72
	Exercised			(2,563,636	)	$	27.77
	Expired and forfeited			(301,859	)	$	49.88
	Options outstanding as of December 31, 2014			11,477,164		$	38.11		6.2		$	600,112
	Options expected to vest at December 31, 2014			2,968,962		$	56.13				$	101,736
	Exercisable at December 31, 2014			8,093,512		$	30.44		5.3		$	485,259
	-1	The aggregate intrinsic value for outstanding options is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying awards and the quoted price of the Company’s common stock as of the last trading day for the respective year. The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable includes options with an exercise price below $90.40, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2014.
	The weighted-average fair value per option granted in the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $30.93, $30.77 and $16.98, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $130.1 million, $119.2 million and $94.6 million, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised was determined as of the date of option exercise. Upon the exercise of the options, the Company issues new common stock from its authorized shares.
	There were 11.5 million options that were in-the-money at December 31, 2014.
	Determining the Fair Value of Stock Options and Stock Purchase Rights
	The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model and the assumptions noted in the tables below. The expected life of options is based on observed historical exercise patterns. Groups of employees that have similar historical exercise patterns were considered separately for valuation purposes, but none were identified that had distinctly different exercise patterns as of December 31, 2014. The expected volatility of stock options is based upon the weighted average of the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock and the implied volatility of traded options on the Company’s common stock for fiscal periods in which there is sufficient trading volume in options on the Company’s common stock. The risk-free interest rate is based on the implied yield on a U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issue with a remaining term equal to the expected term of the option. The dividend yield reflects that the Company has not paid any cash dividends since inception and does not intend to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The assumptions used to estimate the per share fair value of stock options granted under the 2006 Share Incentive Plan and 2012 Inducement Plan were as follows:
			Years Ended December 31,
			2014			2013			2012
	Expected volatility		44 – 45%			44 – 47%			45 – 46%
	Dividend yield			0.00%			0.00%			0.00%
	Expected life		6.9 years			6.6 – 6.8 years			6.5 years
	Risk-free interest rate		1.8 – 2.3%			1.0 – 2.4%			0.8 – 1.1%
	The Company recorded $41.1 million, $37.0 million and $32.8 million of compensation costs related to current period vesting of stock options for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options was $86.7 million. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.5 years.
	The assumptions used to estimate the per share fair value of stock purchase rights granted under the ESPP were as follows:
			Years Ended December 31,
			2014			2013			2012
	Expected volatility		38 - 39%				37%			31%
	Dividend yield			0.00%			0.00%			0.00%
	Expected life		6-24 months			6-24 months			6-24 months
	Risk-free interest rate		0.1-0.5%			0.1-0.3%			0.2-0.3%
	The Company recorded $4.8 million, $3.6 million and $2.9 million of compensation costs related to options granted under the ESPP for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, there was $8.7 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options issuable under the ESPP. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.5 years.
	Restricted Stock Unit Awards with Service-Based Vesting Conditions
	RSUs are generally subject to forfeiture if employment terminates prior to the release of vesting restrictions. The Company expenses the cost of the RSUs, which is determined to be the fair market value of the shares of common stock underlying the RSUs at the date of grant, ratably over the period during which the vesting restrictions lapse.
	A summary of non-vested RSU activity under the plan for the year ended December 31, 2014 as follows:
			Shares			Weighted			Weighted				Aggregate
						Average			Average				Intrinsic
						Grant Date			Remaining				Value
						Fair Value			Years
	Non-vested units as of December 31, 2013			1,133,835		$	50.97			3			$	79,765
	Granted			884,612		$	64.37
	Vested			(383,332	)	$	46.72
	Forfeited			(94,412	)	$	54.96
	Non-vested units as of December 31, 2014			1,540,703		$	59.46			2.9			$	139,280
	Non-vested units expected to vest at December 31, 2014			1,412,629		$	59.15						$	127,702
	The weighted-average grant date fair value per share of RSUs granted during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, was $64.37, $66.81 and $37.81, respectively. The total fair value of restricted stock that vested and was released in the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $22.9 million, $19.7 million and $7.7 million, respectively.
	The Company recorded $21.3 million, $13.0 million and $7.3 million of compensation costs related to RSUs with service-based vesting conditions for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, there was $74.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested RSUs with service-based vesting conditions. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.9 years.
	Restricted Stock Unit Awards with Performance and Market-Based Vesting Conditions
	Pursuant to the approval of the Board the Company granted RSU awards with performance and market-based vesting conditions to certain executive officers that provide for a base award of 860,000 RSUs in total (Base RSUs) that may be adjusted to 75% to 125% depending on the performance of the Company’s stock as discussed further below. A summary of non-vested Base RSU activity under the plans for the year ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:
			Base Awards			Weighted			Weighted				Aggregate
						Average			Average				Intrinsic
						Grant Date			Remaining				Value
						Fair Value			Years
	Non-vested units with performance and market vesting			860,000		$	34.66			2.2			$	60,501
	conditions as of December 31, 2013
	Granted			—
	Vested			—
	Forfeited			—
	Non-vested units with performance and market vesting			860,000		$	34.66			1.2			$	77,744
	conditions as of December 31, 2014
	The number of RSUs that could potentially vest from the Base RSUs granted is contingent upon achievement of specific performance goals and will be multiplied by the Total Shareholder Return (the TSR) multiplier which could range from 75% to 125% to determine the number of earned RSUs.
	The vesting of the Base RSUs under these specific grants is contingent upon the achievement of multiple performance conditions, as follows:
	Strategic Performance Goals		Percentage of			Base Number
Base RSUs to			of RSUs
Vest Upon			Granted
Achievement			Before TSR
of Goal			Multiplier
Product Goals
Approval of Vimizim in the U.S. or EU prior to			35	%		301,000
December 31, 2015
Approval of pegvaliase (PEG PAL) or any other			25	%		215,000
non-Vimizim product in the U.S. or EU prior
to December 31, 2015
Financial Goal
Total revenues of at least $775.0 million in fiscal 2015			40	%		344,000
						860,000
The number of RSUs that could potentially vest from the Base RSUs granted is contingent upon achievement of specific performance goals and will be multiplied by the TSR multiplier which could range from 75% to 125% to determine the number of earned RSUs. The TSR multiplier will be determined based on the Company’s TSR percentile ranking relative to the TSR of the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index on December 31, 2015. TSR is calculated based on the 20-trading day average prices before the beginning and end of the performance period of the Company’s common stock and each comparator company in the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index. The measurement period for the performance and TSR conditions is from the grant date through December 31, 2015, subject to certain change of control provisions (the Performance Period). The RSUs earned at the end of the Performance Period will vest on the filing date of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2015 fiscal year, subject to certain holding periods. The maximum number of RSUs that could vest if all performance conditions are achieved and a TSR multiplier of 125% is applied would be 1,075,000 RSUs.
The Company utilized a Monte Carlo simulation model to estimate the TSR multiplier and determined the grant date fair value on each of the grant dates. The assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the RSUs with performance and market vesting conditions were as follows:
		Grant Date
		September 5,			May 29,			June 1,
		2012			2012			2011
Fair value of the Company’s common stock on grant date		$	37.45		$	39.06		$	28.11
Expected volatility			31.73	%		44.87	%		47.95	%
Risk-free interest rate			0.37	%		0.52	%		1.42	%
Dividend yield			0	%		0	%		0	%
The Monte Carlo simulation model also assumed correlations of returns of the stock prices of the Company’s common stock and the common stock of a peer group of companies and historical stock price volatilities of the peer group of companies. The valuation model also used terms based on the length of the performance period and compound annual growth rate goals for total stockholder return based on the provisions of the award.
Stock-based compensation expense for this award will be recognized over the remaining service period beginning in the period the Company determines the strategic performance goal or goals is probable of achievement. During 2014, management concluded that the revenue performance goal was probable and began recognizing compensation expense related to the performance awards allocated to the revenue performance goal. During 2013, management concluded that regulatory approval of Vimizim was probable and began recognizing compensation expense related to the performance based RSUs allocated to the Vimizim performance goal. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded $12.9 million and $6.5 million, respectively, of compensation expense related to performance awards. The Company did not recognize compensation expense for these awards for the years ended December 31, 2012 because the Company’s management had not yet determined the goals were probable of achievement. As of December 31, 2014, there was $7.2 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to the unvested awards allocated to the Vimizim and revenue performance goals. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.2 years.
Compensation expense included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for all stock-based compensation arrangements was as follows:
		Years Ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
Cost of sales		$	6,076		$	4,860		$	4,890
Research and development			33,835			27,763			20,736
Selling, general and administrative			46,499			31,753			22,346
Total stock-based compensation expense		$	86,410		$	64,376		$	47,972
Stock-based compensation of $8.2 million, $6.1 million and $4.3 million was capitalized into inventory, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Capitalized stock-based compensation is recognized as cost of sales when the related product is sold.

COMPREHENSIVE_INCOME

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Equity [Abstract]
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	(18) COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
	The following table summarizes amounts reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) (AOCI) and their effect on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.
		Amount Reclassified from AOCI (Gain) Loss
		Years Ended December 31,						Consolidated Statement of
	Details about AOCI Components	2014			2013			Operations Classification
	Gains on cash flow hedges:
	Forward foreign currency exchange contracts	$	(1,008	)	$	(37	)	Net product revenues
	Forward foreign currency exchange contracts		—			(40	)	Selling, general and administrative
			365			28		Provision for income taxes
		$	(643	)	$	(49	)	Net loss
	The following table summarizes changes in the accumulated balances for each component, of other comprehensive income/(loss), including current period other comprehensive income and reclassifications out of AOCI, for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.
		Year Ended December 31, 2014
		Before Tax			Tax (Expense)			Net-of-Tax
		Amount			Benefit			Amount
	AOCI balance at December 31, 2013	$	7,756		$	(2,738	)	$	5,018
	Foreign currency translation adjustment		(75	)		—			(75	)
	Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities:
	Unrealized holding gains		8,019			(2,931	)		5,088
	Less: reclassification adjustment for gain realized in net loss		—			—			—
	Net unrealized holding gain		8,019			(2,931	)		5,088
	Net unrealized holding gain on cash flow hedges:
	Unrealized holding gain		19,292			(1,214	)		18,078
	Less: reclassification adjustment for gain realized in net loss		1,008			(365	)		643
	Net unrealized holding gain		18,284			(849	)		17,435
	Other comprehensive income		26,228			(3,780	)		22,448
	AOCI balance at December 31, 2014	$	33,984		$	(6,518	)	$	27,466
		Year Ended December 31, 2013
		Before Tax			Tax (Expense)			Net-of-Tax
		Amount			Benefit			Amount
	AOCI balance at December 31, 2012	$	(182	)	$	(20	)	$	(202	)
	Foreign currency translation adjustment		361			—			361
	Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities:
	Unrealized holding gains		9,810			(3,535	)		6,275
	Less: reclassification adjustment for gain realized in net loss		(1	)		—			(1	)
	Net unrealized holding gain		9,809			(3,535	)		6,274
	Net unrealized holding gain on cash flow hedges:
	Unrealized holding gain		(2,155	)		789			(1,366	)
	Less: reclassification adjustment for gain realized in net loss		77			(28	)		49
	Net unrealized holding gain		(2,232	)		817			(1,415	)
	Other comprehensive income		7,938			(2,718	)		5,220
	AOCI balance at December 31, 2013	$	7,756		$	(2,738	)	$	5,018

REVENUE_AND_CREDIT_CONCENTRATI

REVENUE AND CREDIT CONCENTRATIONS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Risks And Uncertainties [Abstract]
REVENUE AND CREDIT CONCENTRATIONS	(19) REVENUE AND CREDIT CONCENTRATIONS
	Net Product Revenue—The Company considers there to be revenue concentration risks for regions where net product revenue exceeds ten percent of consolidated net product revenue. The concentration of the Company’s net product revenue within the regions below may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s revenue and results of operations if sales in the respective regions experience difficulties.
	The table below summarizes consolidated net product revenue concentrations based on patient location for Vimizim, Naglazyme, Kuvan and Firdapse and the headquarters for Genzyme for Aldurazyme. Although Genzyme sells Aldurazyme worldwide, the royalties earned by the Company on Genzyme’s net sales are included in the U.S. region, as the transactions are with Genzyme whose headquarters are located in the U.S.
			Years Ended December 31,
			2014			2013			2012
	Region:
	United States			51	%		52	%		50	%
	Europe			19	%		22	%		22	%
	Latin America			16	%		13	%		15	%
	Rest of world			14	%		13	%		13	%
	Total net product revenue			100	%		100	%		100	%
	The following table illustrates the percentage of the consolidated net product revenue attributed to the Company’s four largest customers.
			For the Years Ended December 31,
			2014			2013			2012
	Customer A			15	%		15	%		15	%
	Customer B (1)			14	%		16	%		16	%
	Customer C			12	%		9	%		12	%
	Customer D			11	%		11	%		9	%
	Total			52	%		51	%		52	%
	-1	Genzyme is the Company’s sole customer for Aldurazyme and is responsible for marketing and selling Aldurazyme to third-parties. Net product revenues from Genzyme are comprised of royalties on worldwide net Aldurazyme sales and incremental product transfer revenue.
	On a consolidated basis, the Company’s two largest customers accounted for 42% and 18% of the December 31, 2014 accounts receivable balance, respectively, compared to December 31, 2013 when the two largest customers accounted for 45% and 15% of the accounts receivable balance, respectively. As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, accounts receivable for the Company’s largest customer balance included $34.5 million and $26.3 million, respectively, of unbilled accounts receivable related to net incremental Aldurazyme product transfers to Genzyme. The Company does not require collateral from its customers, but does perform periodic credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and requires immediate payment in certain circumstances.
	The Company is subject to credit risk from accounts receivable related to product sales. The majority of the Company’s trade accounts receivable arises from product sales in the U.S. and the European Union (the EU). The Company’s product sales to government-owned or government-funded customers in certain European countries, including Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Russia, are subject to payment terms that are statutorily determined. Because these customers are government-owned or government-funded, the Company may be impacted by declines in sovereign credit ratings or sovereign defaults in these countries. A significant or further decline in sovereign credit ratings or a default in these countries may decrease the likelihood that the Company will collect accounts receivable or may increase the discount rates and the length of time until receivables are collected, which could result in a negative impact to the Company’s operating results. In the year ended December 31, 2014 the Company’s net product revenues for these countries was 4%. Additionally, approximately 8% of the Company’s outstanding accounts receivable at December 31, 2014 related to such countries.
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company’s accounts receivable in certain European countries, specifically Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Russia, totaled approximately $11.4 million, of which $0.4 million were greater than 90 days past due and $0.3 million were greater than 180 days past due and $18 was greater than 365 days past due.
	The Company also sells its products in other countries that face economic crises and local currency devaluation. Although the Company has historically collected receivables from customers in those countries, sustained weakness or further deterioration of the local economies and currencies may cause customers in those countries to be unable to pay for the Company’s products. The Company has not historically experienced a significant level of uncollected receivables and has received continued payments from its more aged accounts. The Company believes that the allowances for doubtful accounts related to these countries is adequate based on its analysis of the specific business circumstances and expectations of collection for each of the underlying accounts in these countries.

SEGMENT_INFORMATION

SEGMENT INFORMATION	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
SEGMENT INFORMATION	(20) SEGMENT INFORMATION
	The Company operates in one business segment, which primarily focuses on the development and commercialization of innovative biopharmaceuticals for serious diseases and medical conditions. All products are included in one segment because the majority of our products have similar economic and other characteristics, including the nature of the products and production processes, type of customers, distribution methods and regulatory environment.
		Years Ended December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Net product revenue by product:
	Vimizim	$	77,319	$	85	$	—
	Naglazyme		334,447		271,244		256,929
	Kuvan		202,987		167,422		143,106
	Aldurazyme		105,616		83,545		82,234
	Firdapse		18,047		16,064		14,228
	Total net product revenue	$	738,416	$	538,360	$	496,497
	The following table summarizes total revenues from external customers and collaborative partners by geographic region. Net product revenue is based on patient location for Vimizim, Naglazyme, Kuvan and Firdapse and Genzyme’s headquarters for Aldurazyme. Although Genzyme sells Aldurazyme worldwide, the royalties earned by the Company on Genzyme’s net sales are included in the U.S. region, as the transactions are with Genzyme whose headquarters are located in the U.S.
		Years Ended December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Total revenues by geographic region:
	United States	$	380,044	$	284,303	$	249,744
	Europe		139,940		115,729		109,865
	Latin America		118,562		67,339		74,390
	Rest of world		112,494		81,114		66,724
	Total revenues	$	751,040	$	548,485	$	500,723
	The following table summarizes non-monetary long-lived assets by geographic region. Non-monetary long-lived assets primarily consists of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets, goodwill and deferred tax assets.
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Long-lived assets by geography:
	United States	$	820,356	$	651,815
	Rest of world		104,081		82,130
	Total long-lived assets	$	924,437	$	733,945

ACQUISITION_OF_ZACHARON_PHARMA

ACQUISITION OF ZACHARON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
ACQUISITION OF SAN RAFAEL CORPORATE CENTER	(7) ACQUISITION OF SAN RAFAEL CORPORATE CENTER
	In March 2014, the Company completed the acquisition of the real estate commonly known as the San Rafael Corporate Center (SRCC), located in San Rafael, California. SRCC is a multi-building, commercial property where, prior to the transaction, the Company was leasing a certain portion of the space for its headquarters and related operating activities. The purpose of this acquisition is to allow for future expansion of the Company’s corporate headquarters to accommodate anticipated headcount growth. The acquisition of SRCC has been accounted for as a business combination because the building and the in-place leases met the definition of a business in Accounting Standards Codification 805 (ASC 805), Business Combinations. The fair value of the consideration paid was $116.5 million, all of which was paid in cash, which was held in escrow as of December 31, 2013.
	The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of assets acquired as of the date of acquisition:
		Estimated			Estimated
		Fair Value			Useful Lives
	Building and improvements	$	94,414		50 years
	Land		14,565
	Land improvements		3,616		10 years
	Intangible assets		3,905		Remaining
					lease terms
	Total identifiable net assets	$	116,500
	The fair values assigned to tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired are based on management’s estimates and assumptions using the information that was available as of the date of the acquisition. The Company believes that the information provides a reasonable basis for estimating the fair values of assets acquired.
	The following table sets forth the fair value of the components of the identifiable intangible assets acquired by asset class as of the date of acquisition:
	Above market leases	$	351
	In-place leases		3,554
	Total intangible assets subject to amortization	$	3,905
	The value of any in-place leases is estimated to be equal to the property owners’ avoidance of costs necessary to release the property for a lease term equal to the remaining primary in-place lease term and the value of investment-grade tenancy, which is derived by estimating, based on a review of the market, the cost to be borne by a property owner to replicate a market lease for the remaining in-place term. These costs consist of: (i) rent lost during downtime (e.g., assumed periods of vacancy), (ii) estimated expenses that would be incurred by the property owner during periods of vacancy, (iii) rent concessions (e.g., free rent), (iv) leasing commissions and (v) tenant improvement allowances. The Company determined these values using management’s estimates along with third-party appraisals. The Company will amortize the capitalized value of in-place lease intangible assets to expense over the remaining initial term of each lease. The Company will amortize the capitalized value of above market leases to expense over the remaining lives of the underlying leases.
	The amount of third-party tenant revenue (included in the line item Royalty, License and Other Revenues) included in the Company’s Consolidated of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2014, was $4.0 million. The amount of net income/loss from third-party tenants for the year ended December 31, 2014, was insignificant the to the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.
	SRCC’s results of operations prior to the acquisition were insignificant to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
	Included in Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) expenses are transaction costs incurred in connection with the acquisition of SRCC of $0.3 million during 2014. In connection with the purchase of SRCC, the Company recognized a gain of $8.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, due to the early termination of the Company’s pre-existing lease and the realization of the remaining balance in deferred rent and the reversal of the related asset retirement obligation upon acquisition of the SRCC. $2.7 million and $6.1 million of the gain were included in SG&A and R&D expenses, respectively. The allocation of the gain to SG&A and R&D is consistent with the Company’s allocation practices for facility costs for this previously leased space.
Zacharon Pharmaceuticals Inc
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
ACQUISITION OF SAN RAFAEL CORPORATE CENTER	(21) ACQUISITION OF ZACHARON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
	On January 4, 2013, the Company entered into a merger agreement with Zacharon, a private biotechnology company focused on developing small molecules targeting pathways of glycan and glycolipid metabolism, for a total purchase price of $11.5 million.
	In connection with its acquisition of Zacharon, the Company made an upfront payment of $9.7 million in cash to the Zacharon stockholders for all of the outstanding common stock of Zacharon, net of transaction cost of $0.8 million paid on behalf of the Zacharon stockholders. The transactions costs related to this acquisition were recognized as SG&A expense on the Company’s Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2013. The Company also agreed to pay the Zacharon stockholders additional consideration in future periods of up to $134.0 million (undiscounted) in milestone payments if certain clinical, development and sales milestones are met. The fair value of the contingent acquisition consideration payments was $1.9 million and was estimated by applying a probability-based income approach utilizing an appropriate discount rate. This estimation was based on significant inputs that are not observable in the market, referred to as Level 3 inputs. Key assumptions included a discount rate of 4.7% and various probability factors. See Note 12 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding fair value measurements of the contingent acquisition consideration payable.
	The following table presents the final allocation of the purchase consideration for the Zacharon acquisition, including the contingent acquisition consideration payable, based on fair value. The final allocation includes an adjustment to goodwill and the deferred tax assets of approximately $0.7 million resulting from the finalization of Zacharon’s tax returns.
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	560
	Other current assets		216
	Property, plant and equipment		398
	Acquired deferred tax assets		2,625
	Other assets		38
	IPR&D		11,680
	Total identifiable assets acquired		15,517
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(1,182	)
	Debt assumed		(1,313	)
	Deferred tax liability		(4,217	)
	Total liabilities assumed		(6,712	)
	Net identifiable assets acquired		8,805
	Goodwill		2,715
	Net assets acquired	$	11,520
	A substantial portion of the assets acquired consisted of intangible assets related to Zacharon’s SENSI-Pro technology. The Company determined that the estimated acquisition-date fair value of the intangible assets related to the SENSI-Pro technology was $11.7 million.
	The $2.6 million of deferred tax assets resulting from the acquisition was primarily related to federal and state net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The $4.2 million of deferred tax liabilities relates to the tax impact of future amortization or possible impairments associated with the identified intangible assets acquired, which are not deductible for tax purposes.
	The excess of the consideration transferred over the fair values assigned to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed was $2.7 million, which represents the amount of goodwill resulting from the acquisition. The Company believes that the goodwill primarily represents synergies expected from the acquisition and other benefits that do not qualify for separate recognition as acquired intangible assets. None of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. The Company recorded the goodwill in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as of the acquisition date.
	Zacharon’s results of operations prior to and since the acquisition date are insignificant to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
	See Note 6 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the acquired intangible assets.

COLLABORATIVE_AGREEMENTS

COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENTS	(22) COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENTS
	Merck Serono
	In May 2005, the Company entered into an agreement with Merck Serono for the further development and commercialization of 6R-BH4, both in Kuvan for PKU and for other indications, and pegvaliase (phenylalanine ammonia lyase, formerly referred to as PEG PAL). Through the agreement and subsequent amendment, Merck Serono acquired exclusive rights to market these products in all territories outside the U.S., Canada and Japan, and the Company retained exclusive rights to market these products in the U.S. and Canada. The Company and Merck Serono may collaborate on the development of Kuvan and pegvaliase. If they agree to collaborate Merck Serono will generally share equally all development costs following successful completion of Phase 2 trials for such product candidate in such indication. Merck Serono has “opted-out” of the pegvaliase development program, a decision that does not affect its exclusive rights to pegvaliase in its territory. Unless or until Merck Serono elects to opt-in, it is not obligated to pay any of the milestones related to the program or to reimburse the Company for any of the pegvaliase development costs. Merck Serono may elect to opt in at any time. If it elects to opt in prior to the unblinding of the first Phase 3 trial, it must pay 75% of the Phase 3 costs incurred prior to opting in and a $7.0 million development milestone if the Phase 3 trial has started. If Merck Serono opts in after the unblinding of the first Phase 3 trial for pegvaliase, it must pay 100% of the Phase 3 costs incurred prior to opting in and a $7.0 million development milestone.
	The Company and Merck Serono are individually responsible for the costs of commercializing the products within their respective territories. Merck Serono will also pay the Company royalties on its net sales of these products. The term of the agreement is the later of 10 years after the first commercial sale of the products or the period through the expiration of all related patents within the territories. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, amounts due from Merck Serono for reimbursable development costs for Kuvan totaled $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively.
	Other Agreements
	The Company is engaged in R&D collaborations with various other entities. These provide for sponsorship of R&D by the Company and may also provide for exclusive royalty-bearing intellectual property licenses or rights of first negotiation regarding licenses to intellectual property development under the collaborations. Typically, these agreements can be terminated for cause by either party upon 90 days written notice.
	In September 2007, the Company licensed to Asubio Pharma Co., Ltd. (a subsidiary of Daiichi Sankyo) exclusive rights to data and intellectual property contained in the Kuvan new drug application. The Company receives royalties on net sales of the product in Japan.
	In October 2012, the Company licensed to Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc., (Catalyst) the North American rights to develop and market Firdapse. In consideration of this licensing arrangement, the Company received from Catalyst a $5.0 million convertible promissory note. Under the terms of the note agreement, the Company received 6.7 million shares of Catalyst common stock upon the automatic conversion of the convertible promissory note on December 10, 2012. The conversion price was based on $0.75 per share, which resulted in a $2.0 million loss on conversion, which was included as a component of Other Income (Expense) on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2012. In exchange for the North American rights to Firdapse the Company may receive royalties of 7% to 10% on net product sales of Firdapse in North America. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, amounts due from Catalyst for reimbursable development costs totaled $0.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively.
	In May 2013, the Company entered into a non-exclusive royalty bearing license with Shire Human Genetic Therapies, Inc., (Shire). Under the terms of the agreement, Shire was granted the right to use patents related to the intrathecal delivery of lysosomal enzymes that are within the Company’s control. In consideration of this licensing agreement, the Company received a $3.0 million non-refundable upfront payment, future milestone payments of up to $18.0 million if certain development and commercial milestones are attained by Shire and royalties ranging from 3% to 5% on Shire net sales of the product. The milestone payments to be made by Shire are based solely upon Shire’s performance; therefore the Company expects to recognize the payments as revenue upon receipt, provided that the other revenue recognition criteria have been satisfied.
	Other Commitments
	In the normal course of business, the Company enters into various firm purchase commitments primarily related to active pharmaceutical ingredients and certain inventory related items. As of December 31, 2014, these commitments for the next five years were approximately $61.0 million. The amounts primarily related to active pharmaceutical ingredients represent minimum purchase requirements and post marketing commitments related to the Company’s approved products.

COMPENSATION_AGREEMENTS_AND_PL

COMPENSATION AGREEMENTS AND PLANS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]
COMPENSATION AGREEMENTS AND PLANS	(23) COMPENSATION AGREEMENTS AND PLANS
	Employment Agreements
	The Company has entered into employment agreements with certain officers. Generally, these agreements can be terminated without cause by the Company upon prior written notice and payment of specified severance, or by the officer upon four weeks’ prior written notice to the Company.
	401(k) Plan
	The Company sponsors the BioMarin Retirement Savings Plan (the 401(k) Plan). Most employees (Participants) are eligible to participate following the start of their employment, at the beginning of each calendar month. Participants may contribute to the 401(k) Plan up to the lesser of 100% of their current compensation or an amount up to a statutorily prescribed annual limit. The Company pays the direct expenses of the 401(k) Plan and matched 100% of each Participant’s contributions, up to a maximum of the lesser of 3% of the employee’s annual compensation or $6,000 per year through December 31, 2013. The Company’s matching contribution vests over four years from employment commencement and was approximately $8.3 million, $3.4 million and $2.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Employer contributions not vested upon employee termination are forfeited.
	Deferred Compensation Plan
	In December 2005, the Company adopted the Deferred Compensation Plan. The Deferred Compensation Plan allows eligible employees, including members of the Board, management and certain highly-compensated employees as designated by the Deferred Compensation Plan’s Administrative Committee, the opportunity to make voluntary deferrals of compensation to specified future dates, retirement or death. Participants are permitted to defer portions of their salary, annual cash bonus and restricted stock. The Company may not make additional direct contributions to the Deferred Compensation Plan on behalf of the participants, without further action by the Board. Deferred compensation is held in trust and generally invested to match the investment benchmarks selected by participants. The recorded cost of any investments will approximate fair value. Company stock issued into the Deferred Compensation Plan is recorded and accounted for similarly to treasury stock in that the value of the employer stock is determined on the date the restricted stock vests and the shares are issued into the Deferred Compensation Plan. The Company stock issued into the Deferred Compensation Plan upon vesting is recorded in stockholders’ equity. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the fair value of Company stock held by the Deferred Compensation Plan, was $20.2 million and $13.6 million, respectively, which is included in current and non-current liabilities. The change in market value amounted to a loss of $4.8 million in 2014, compared to losses of $4.2 million and $3.2 million in 2013 and 2012, respectively. See Note 12 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding the fair value of the Deferred Compensation Plan assets and liabilities.

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	(24) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	Lease Commitments
	The Company leases office space and research, testing and manufacturing laboratory space in various facilities under operating agreements expiring at various dates through 2022. Certain of the leases provide for options by the Company to extend the lease for multiple five-year renewal periods and also provide for annual minimum increases in rent, usually based on a consumer price index or annual minimum increases. Minimum lease payments for future years are as follows:
	2015	$	5,738
	2016		4,882
	2017		3,879
	2018		3,207
	2019		930
	Thereafter		1,677
	Total	$	20,313
	Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $7.9 million, $10.4 million and $10.1 million, respectively. Deferred rent accruals at December 31, 2014 totaled $1.3 million, of which $0.7 million was current. Deferred rent accruals at December 31, 2013 totaled $9.9 million, of which $0.9 million was current. The December 31, 2013 deferred rent accruals included $8.8 million related to SRCC which was released upon the completion of the purchase of SRCC during the first quarter of 2014.
	See Note 7 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding the purchase of SRCC.
	Research and Development Funding and Technology Licenses
	The Company uses experts and laboratories at universities and other institutions to perform certain R&D activities. These amounts are included as R&D expense as services are provided.
	The Company has also licensed technology, for which it is required to pay royalties upon future sales, subject to certain annual minimums. As of December 31, 2014, such minimum annual commitments were approximately $0.7 million.
	Contingencies
	From time to time the Company is involved in legal actions arising in the normal course of its business. The most significant of these actions are described below.
	The process of resolving matters through litigation or other means is inherently uncertain and it is possible that an unfavorable resolution of these matters could adversely affect the Company, its results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. The Company’s general practice is to expense legal fees as services are rendered in connection with legal matters, and to accrue for liabilities when losses are probable and reasonably estimable.
	Patent Lawsuit Against Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Inc. and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Ltd.
	The Company has received a paragraph IV notice letter, dated October 3, 2014, from Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Inc. and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Ltd. (collectively, DRL), notifying the Company that DRL has filed an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) seeking approval of a proposed generic version of Kuvan (sapropterin dihydrochloride) 100 mg oral tablets prior to the expiration of the Company’s patents listed in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations ( the Orange Book).
	On November 17, 2014, the Company, together with Merck & Cie (Merck), filed a lawsuit against DRL in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey alleging patent infringement for the Company’s patents relating to Kuvan. On January 16, 2015, the Company, together with Merck, filed an Amended Complaint requesting a declaratory judgment that DRL has no legitimate basis to trigger the ANDA process, alleging that DRL did not have a proper ANDA because, upon information and belief, it did not submit proper bioequivalence data in support of its purported ANDA.
	Declaratory Judgment Action
	On January 16, 2015, the Company filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking a declaratory judgment that the Company is under no legal obligation to sell or otherwise provide samples of Kuvan (sapropterin dihydrochloride) to DRL.  DRL seeks such samples to conduct bioequivalence testing in support of its proposed generic Kuvan (sapropterin dihydrochloride) product.
	Contingent Payments
	As of December 31, 2014 the Company is also subject to contingent payments totaling approximately $1,398.7 million upon achievement of certain regulatory and licensing milestones if they occur before certain dates in the future and the acquisition of Prosensa Holdings N.V. (Prosensa). Of this amount, $52.8 million relates to programs that are no longer being developed and $680.1 million relates to payments made in January and February 2015 in connection with the acquisition of Prosensa.
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company has recorded $42.7 million of contingent acquisition consideration payable on its Consolidated Balance Sheet, of which $3.9 million is expected to be paid in 2015.

SUBSEQUENT_EVENTS

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	(25) SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
	Tender Offer for Prosensa Holding N.V.
	On December 12, 2014, the Company commenced a tender offer (the Offer) to acquire all of the ordinary shares (the Prosensa Shares) of Prosensa, a public limited liability company organized under the laws of The Netherlands in an all cash transaction for $17.75 per Prosensa Share for an upfront purchase price of approximately $680 million. In addition, for each Prosensa Share purchased, the Company issued one non-transferable contingent value right, which represents the contractual right to receive a cash payment of up to $4.14 per Prosensa Share, or approximately $160 million, upon the achievement of certain product approval milestones.
	On January 15, 2015, the Company closed the initial offering period relating to the Offer, purchased 93.4% of the Prosensa Shares and immediately launched a subsequent offering period that expired on January 29, 2015. On January 15, 2015, the Company paid approximately $659.3 million for approximately 35.0 million Prosensa Shares, representing approximately 96.8% of all the outstanding Prosensa Shares outstanding and options that vested pursuant to the definitive purchase agreement. On February 12, 2015 the Company completed the asset transfer and paid an additional $20.8 million to the remaining Prosensa shareholders. Effective February 12, 2015, Prosensa has been dissolved and is in liquidation under Dutch law.
	Public Offering of BioMarin Common Stock
	In January 2015, the Company sold 9,775,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $93.25 per share in an underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement previously filed with the SEC. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $888.2 million from this public offering.

BASIS_OF_PRESENTATION_Policies

BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation
	These Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) and include the accounts of BioMarin and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Management performed an evaluation of the Company’s activities through the date of filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and has concluded that there are no subsequent events except for the transactions disclosed in Note 25 to these Consolidated Financial Statements.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash And Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	The Company treats liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased as cash and cash equivalents.
Investments	Investments
	The Company determines the appropriate classification of its investments in debt and equity securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such designations at each balance sheet date. All of the Company’s securities are classified as available-for-sale and reported in short-term investments, other assets or long-term investments. Available-for-sale investments are recorded at fair market value, with unrealized gains or losses included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, exclusive of other-than-temporary impairment losses, if any. Investments are comprised of corporate securities, commercial paper, U.S. federal government agency securities and certificates of deposit.
Inventory	Inventory
	The Company values inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value and determines the cost of inventory using the average-cost method. Inventories consist of currently marketed products and may contain certain products awaiting regulatory approval. In evaluating the recoverability of inventories produced in preparation for product launches, the Company considers the likelihood that revenue will be obtained from the future sale of the related inventory together with the status of the product within the regulatory approval process.
	The Company analyzes its inventory levels quarterly and writes down inventory that has become obsolete, or has a cost basis in excess of its expected net realizable value and inventory quantities in excess of expected requirements. In applying the lower of cost or net realizable value to pre-launch inventory, the Company estimates a range of likely commercial prices based on its comparable commercial products. Expired inventory is disposed of and the related costs are recognized as Cost of Sales in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Investment In BioMarin/Genzyme LLC And Equity In The Loss Of BioMarin/Genzyme LLC	Investment in BioMarin/Genzyme LLC and Equity in the Loss of BioMarin/Genzyme LLC
	The Company accounts for its investment in BioMarin/Genzyme LLC (the LLC), the joint venture between the Company and Genzyme Corporation (Genzyme), using the equity method. Accordingly, the Company records an increase in its investment for contributions to BioMarin/Genzyme LLC and a reduction in its investment for its 50% share of any losses of the LLC or disbursements of profits from the LLC. Equity in the loss of the LLC includes the Company’s 50% share of the LLC’s loss for the period. The investment in the LLC includes the Company’s share of the net equity of the LLC.
Property, Plant And Equipment	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the related estimated useful lives as presented in the table below. Significant additions and improvements are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. Property and equipment purchased for specific research and development (R&D) projects with no alternative uses are expensed as incurred.
	Leasehold improvements		Shorter of life of asset or lease term
	Building and improvements		20 to 50 years
	Manufacturing and laboratory equipment		5 to 15 years
	Computer hardware and software		3 to 8 years
	Office furniture and equipment		5 years
	Vehicles		5 years
	Land improvements		10 years
	Land		Not applicable
	Construction-in-progress		Not applicable
	Certain of the Company’s operating lease agreements include scheduled rent escalations over the lease term, as well as tenant improvement allowances. Scheduled increases in rent expense are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The difference between rent expense and rent paid is recorded as deferred rent and included in other liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The tenant improvement allowances and free rent periods are recognized as a reduction of rent expense over the lease term on a straight-line basis.
Impairment Of Long-Lived Assets	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
	The Company records goodwill in a business combination when the total consideration exceeds the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired. Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized but subject to an annual impairment analysis. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis.
	The Company performs its annual impairment review of goodwill and indefinite lived intangibles during the fourth quarter and whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If it is determined that the full carrying amount of an asset is not recoverable, an impairment loss is recorded in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value. The Company currently operates in one business segment, the biopharmaceutical development and commercialization segment. When reviewing goodwill for impairment, the Company assesses whether goodwill should be allocated to operating levels lower than its single operating segment for which discrete financial information is available and reviewed for decision making purposes. These lower levels are referred to as reporting units. As of December 31, 2014, the Company has only one reporting unit.
	The Company tests finite-lived intangible assets for impairment when facts or circumstances suggest that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. If the carrying value exceeds the projected undiscounted pre-tax cash flows of the intangible asset, an impairment loss equal to the excess of the carrying value over the estimated fair value (discounted after-tax cash flows) is recognized.
	The recoverability of the carrying value of the Company’s buildings, leasehold improvements for its facilities and equipment depends on the successful execution of the Company’s business initiatives and its ability to earn sufficient returns on approved products and product candidates. The Company continually monitors events and changes in circumstances that could indicate carrying amounts of its fixed assets may not be recoverable. When such events or changes in circumstances occur, the Company assesses recoverability by determining whether the carrying value of such assets will be recovered through the undiscounted expected future cash flows. If the future undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of these assets, the Company recognizes an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the assets.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition
	The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the price to the buyer is fixed or determinable and collection from the customer is reasonably assured.
	Net Product Revenues—The Company recognizes revenues from product sales when title and risk of loss have passed to the customer, which typically occurs upon delivery. Product sales transactions are evidenced by customer purchase orders, customer contracts, invoices and/or the related shipping documents. Upon recognition of revenue from product sales, provisions are made for government rebates such as Medicaid reimbursements, customer incentives such as cash discounts for prompt payment, distributor fees and expected returns of expired products, as appropriate. Amounts collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities, which are primarily comprised of value-added taxes related to product sales in foreign jurisdictions, are presented on a net basis in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations, in that taxes billed to customers are not included as a component of net product revenues.
	In the U.S., the Company’s commercial products are generally sold to specialty pharmacies or end-users, such as hospitals, which act as retailers. The Company also sells Kuvan to Merck Serono S.A. (Merck Serono) at a price near its manufacturing cost, and Merck Serono resells the product to end users outside the U.S., Canada and Japan. The royalty earned from Kuvan product sold by Merck Serono in the EU is included as a component of net product revenues in the period earned. Outside the U.S., the Company’s commercial products are sold to its authorized distributors or directly to government purchasers or hospitals, which act as the end-users.
	The Company receives a 39.5% to 50% royalty on worldwide net Aldurazyme sales by Genzyme depending on sales volume, which is included in Net Product Revenues in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company recognizes a portion of this amount as product transfer revenue when product is released to Genzyme because all of the Company’s performance obligations are fulfilled at that point and title to, and risk of loss for, the product has transferred to Genzyme. The product transfer revenue represents the fixed amount per unit of Aldurazyme that Genzyme is required to pay the Company if the product is unsold by Genzyme. The amount of product transfer revenue will eventually be deducted from the calculated royalty earned when the product is sold by Genzyme. The Company records the Aldurazyme royalty revenue based on net sales information provided by Genzyme and records product transfer revenue based on the fulfillment of Genzyme purchase orders in accordance with the terms of the related agreements with Genzyme and when the title and risk of loss for the product is transferred to Genzyme.
	The Company records reserves for rebates payable under Medicaid and other government programs as a reduction of revenue at the time product revenues are recorded. The Company’s reserve calculations require estimates, including estimates of customer mix, to determine which sales will be subject to rebates and the amount of such rebates. The Company updates its estimates and assumptions each quarter and records any necessary adjustments to its reserves. The Company records fees paid to distributors as a reduction of revenue.
	The Company records allowances for product returns, if appropriate, as a reduction of revenue at the time product sales are recorded. Several factors are considered in determining whether an allowance for product returns is required, including market exclusivity of the products based on their orphan drug status, the patient population, the customers’ limited return rights and the Company’s experience with returns. Because of the pricing of the Company’s commercial products, the limited number of patients and the customers’ limited return rights, most customers and retailers carry a limited inventory.
	However, certain international customers, usually government entities, tend to purchase larger quantities of product less frequently. Although such buying patterns may result in revenue fluctuations from quarter to quarter, the Company has not experienced any increased product returns or risk of product returns. The Company relies on historical return rates to estimate returns. Genzyme’s contractual return rights for Aldurazyme are limited to defective product. Based on these factors and the fact that the Company has not experienced significant product returns to date, management has concluded that product returns will be minimal. In the future, if any of these factors and/or the history of product returns change, an allowance for product returns may be required.
	Collaborative Agreement Revenues—Collaborative agreement revenues include both license revenue and contract research revenue.
	Activities under collaborative agreements are evaluated to determine if they represent a multiple element revenue arrangement. The Company identifies the deliverables included within the agreement and evaluates which deliverables represent separate units of accounting. The Company accounts for those components as separate units of accounting if the following two criteria are met:
	-1	The delivered item or items have value to the customer on a stand-alone basis; and
	-2	If there is a general right of return relative to the delivered items, delivery or performance of the undelivered items is considered probable and within the Company’s control.
	Factors considered in this determination include, among other things, whether any other vendors sell the items separately and if the licensee could use the delivered item for its intended purpose without the receipt of the remaining deliverables. If multiple deliverables included in an arrangement are separable into different units of accounting, the Company allocates the arrangement consideration to those units of accounting. The amount of allocable arrangement consideration is limited to amounts that are fixed or determinable. Arrangement consideration is allocated at the inception of the arrangement to the identified units of accounting based on their relative estimated selling price. Revenue is recognized for each unit of accounting when the appropriate revenue recognition criteria are met.
	Nonrefundable up-front license fees where the Company has continuing involvement through R&D collaboration are initially deferred and recognized as collaborative agreement license revenue over the estimated period for which the Company continues to have a performance obligation.
	Future milestone payments that are contingent upon the achievement of a substantive milestone are recognized in their entirety in the period in which the milestone is achieved. A milestone is substantive if:
	-3	It can only be achieved based in whole or in part on either the Company’s performance or on the occurrence of a specific outcome resulting from the Company’s performance;
	-4	There is substantive uncertainty at the date an arrangement is entered into that the event will be achieved; and
	-5	It would result in additional payments being due to the entity.
	Royalty, License and Other Revenues—Royalty revenues includes royalties on net sales of products with which the Company has no direct involvement and is recognized based on data reported by licensees or sublicensees and rental income associated with the tenants in the SRCC which is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the respective lease. Royalties are recognized as earned in accordance with the contract terms at the time the royalty amount is fixed or determinable based on information received from the sublicensees and at the time collectibility is reasonably assured.
	Due to the significant role the Company plays in the operations (primarily the manufacturing and regulatory activities) of Aldurazyme and Kuvan as well as the rights and responsibilities to deliver the products to Genzyme and Merck Serono, respectively, the Company elected not to classify these royalties earned as royalty, license and other revenues but instead to include them as a component of Net Product Revenues in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Research and Development	Research and Development
	R&D expenses include expenses associated with contract research and development provided by third parties, most product manufacturing prior to regulatory approval, clinical and regulatory costs, and internal R&D costs. In instances where the Company enters into agreements with third parties for R&D activities, costs are expensed upon the earlier of when non-refundable amounts are due or as services are performed unless there is an alternative future use of the funds in other R&D projects. Amounts due under such arrangements may be either fixed fee or fee for service and may include upfront payments, monthly payments and payments upon the completion of milestones or receipt of deliverables. The Company accrues costs for clinical trial activities based upon the services received and estimates of related expenses incurred that have yet to be invoiced by the vendors that perform the activities.
Convertible Debt Transactions	Convertible Debt Transactions
	The Company separately accounts for the liability and equity components of convertible debt instruments that can be settled in cash by allocating the proceeds from issuance between the liability component and the embedded conversion option, or equity component, in accordance with accounting for convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash (including partial cash settlement) upon conversion. The value of the equity component is calculated by first measuring the fair value of the liability component, using the interest rate of a similar liability that does not have a conversion feature, as of the issuance date. The difference between the proceeds from the convertible debt issuance and the amount measured as the liability component is recorded as the equity component with a corresponding discount recorded on the debt. The Company recognizes the accretion of the resulting discount using the effective interest method as part of Interest Expense in its Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Net Loss Per Common Share	Net Loss Per Common Share
	Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted average shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share reflects the potential dilution that would occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock; however, potential common equivalent shares are excluded if their effect is anti-dilutive. The Company currently has no dilutive securities due to the net loss position and as such, basic and diluted net loss per share are the same for the periods presented.
Stock-Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation
	The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options and the Company’s ESPP awards. The determination of the fair value of stock-based payment awards using an option-pricing model is affected by the Company’s stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each award. Further, stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations is based on awards expected to vest and therefore the amount of expense has been reduced for estimated forfeitures, which are based on historical experience. If actual forfeitures differ from estimates at the time of grant they will be revised in subsequent periods.
	The Company uses a lattice model with a Monte Carlo simulation to value restricted stock unit awards with performance and market conditions. This valuation methodology utilizes the closing price of the Company’s common stock on grant date and several key assumptions, including expected volatility of the Company’s stock price, risk-free rates of return, expected dividend yield and estimated total shareholder return.
	If factors change and different assumptions are employed in determining the fair value of stock-based awards, the stock-based compensation expense recorded in future periods may differ significantly from what was recorded in the current period. See Note 17 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan	Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan
	The Company’s Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the Deferred Compensation Plan) allows eligible employees, including members of the Company’s Board of Directors (the Board), management and certain highly-compensated employees as designated by the Deferred Compensation Plan’s administrative committee, to make voluntary deferrals of compensation to specified dates, retirement or death. Participants are permitted to defer portions of their salary, annual cash bonus and restricted stock. The Company is not allowed to make additional direct contributions to the Deferred Compensation Plan on behalf of the participants without further action by the Board.
	All of the investments held in the Deferred Compensation Plan are classified as trading securities and recorded at fair value with changes in the investments’ fair values recognized as earnings in the period they occur. Company stock issued and held by the Deferred Compensation Plan is accounted for similarly to treasury stock in that the value of the employer stock is determined on the date the restricted stock vests and the shares are issued into the Deferred Compensation Plan. The restricted stock issued into the Deferred Compensation Plan is recorded as stockholders’ equity and changes in the fair value of the corresponding liability are recognized in earnings as incurred. The corresponding liability for the Deferred Compensation Plan is included in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities and Other Long-Term Liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes
	The Company calculates and provides for income taxes in each of the tax jurisdictions in which it operates. Deferred tax assets and liabilities, measured using enacted tax rates, are recognized for the future tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax and financial statement basis of assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance reduces the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company establishes liabilities or reduces assets for uncertain tax positions when the Company believes certain tax positions are not more likely than not of being sustained if challenged. Each quarter, the Company evaluates these uncertain tax positions and adjusts the related tax assets and liabilities in light of changing facts and circumstances.
	The Company uses financial projections to support its net deferred tax assets, which contain significant assumptions and estimates of future operations. If such assumptions were to differ significantly, it may have a material impact on the Company’s ability to realize its deferred tax assets. At the end of each period, the Company will reassess the ability to realize its deferred tax benefits. If it is more likely than not that the Company would not realize the deferred tax benefits, a valuation allowance may need to be established against all or a portion of the deferred tax assets, which will result in a charge to tax expense.
Foreign Currency and Other Hedging Instruments	Foreign Currency and Other Hedging Instruments
	The Company engages in transactions denominated in foreign currencies and, as a result, is exposed to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. To manage the volatility resulting from fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates, the Company nets its exposures, where possible to take advantage of natural offsets and enters into forward foreign currency exchange contracts for the remaining exposures.
	The Company accounts for its derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet and measures them at fair value. Derivatives that are not defined as hedging instruments are adjusted to fair value through earnings. Gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value are accounted for depending on the use of the derivative and whether it is designated and qualifies for hedge accounting.
	The Company assess, both at inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting the changes in cash flows of the hedged items. The Company also assesses hedge ineffectiveness on a monthly basis and records the gain or loss related to the ineffective portion to current earnings. If the Company determines that a forecasted transaction is no longer probable of occurring, it discontinues hedge accounting for the affected portion of the hedge instrument, and any related unrealized gain or loss on the contract is recognized in current earnings.
	See Note 11 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The Company discloses the fair value of financial instruments for assets and liabilities for which the value is practicable to estimate. The carrying amounts of all cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments and forward exchange contracts approximate fair value based upon quoted market prices. The fair values of trade accounts receivables, accounts payable and other financial instruments approximate carrying value due to their short-term nature, and would be considered level 2 items in the fair value hierarchy.
Business Combinations	Business Combinations
	The Company allocates the purchase price of acquired businesses to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values on the acquisition date. The purchase price allocation process requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions, especially at the acquisition date with respect to intangible assets and in-process research and development (IPR&D). In connection with the purchase price allocations for acquisitions, the Company estimates the fair value of contingent payments utilizing a probability-based income approach inclusive of an estimated discount rate.
Contingent Acquisition Consideration Payable	Contingent Acquisition Consideration Payable
	The Company determines the fair value of contingent acquisition consideration payable on the acquisition date using a probability-based income approach utilizing an appropriate discount rate. Each reporting period thereafter, the Company revalues these obligations and records increases or decreases in their fair value as adjustments to Intangible Asset Amortization and Contingent Consideration in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. Changes in the fair value of the contingent acquisition consideration payable can result from adjustments to the estimated probability and assumed timing of achieving the underlying milestones, as well as from changes to the discount rates and periods.
Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
	Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income (loss) and certain changes in stockholders’ equity that are excluded from net income (loss), such as changes in unrealized gains and losses on the Company’s available-for-sale securities, unrealized gains (losses) on foreign currency hedges and changes in the Company’s cumulative foreign currency translation account.
Reclassifications And Adjustments	Reclassifications and Adjustments
	Certain items in the prior year’s Consolidated Financial Statements have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.
Prior to Regulatory Approval
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Inventory	Inventories Produced in Preparation for Product Launches
	The Company capitalizes inventories produced in preparation for product launches based upon the probability of regulatory approval and earning future revenues. Typically, capitalization of such inventory begins when positive results have been obtained for the clinical trials that the Company believes are necessary to support regulatory approval, uncertainties regarding ultimate regulatory approval have been significantly reduced and the Company has determined it is probable that these capitalized costs will provide some future economic benefit in excess of capitalized costs. The material factors considered by the Company in evaluating these uncertainties include the receipt and analysis of positive pivotal clinical trial results for the underlying product candidate, results from meetings with the relevant regulatory authorities prior to the filing of regulatory applications, and the compilation of the regulatory application. The Company closely monitors the status of each respective product within the regulatory approval process, including all relevant communication with regulatory authorities. The Company also considers its historical experience with manufacturing and commercializing similar products and the relevant product candidate. If the Company is aware of any specific material risks or contingencies other than the normal regulatory review and approval process, or if there are any specific issues identified relating to safety, efficacy, manufacturing, marketing or labeling, the related inventory would generally not be capitalized.
	For inventories that are capitalized in preparation of product launch, anticipated future sales, expected approval date and shelf lives are evaluated in assessing realizability. The shelf life of a product is determined as part of the regulatory approval process; however, in evaluating whether to capitalize pre-launch inventory production costs, the Company considers the product stability data of all of the pre-approval production to date to determine whether there is adequate expected shelf life for the capitalized pre-launch production costs.

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT1

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Schedule Of Property, Plant And Equipment Estimated Useful Lives
	Leasehold improvements	Shorter of life of asset or lease term
	Building and improvements	20 to 50 years
	Manufacturing and laboratory equipment	5 to 15 years
	Computer hardware and software	3 to 8 years
	Office furniture and equipment	5 years
	Vehicles	5 years
	Land improvements	10 years
	Land	Not applicable
	Construction-in-progress	Not applicable

INVESTMENTS_Tables

INVESTMENTS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Investments Schedule [Abstract]
Amortized Cost, Gross Unrealized Holding Gain or Loss, and Fair Value of Available For Sale Security by Major Security type	The amortized cost, gross unrealized holding gains or losses, and fair value of the Company’s available-for-sale securities by major security type at December 31, 2014 and 2013 are summarized in the tables below:
		Amortized Cost		Gross		Gross			Aggregate Fair
				Unrealized		Unrealized			Value at
				Holding Gains		Holding Losses			31-Dec-14
	Certificates of deposit	$	72,302	$	1	$	—		$	72,303
	Corporate debt securities		95,478		—		(342	)		95,136
	Greek government-issued bonds		50		73		—			123
	Total	$	167,830	$	74	$	(342	)	$	167,562
		Amortized Cost		Gross		Gross			Aggregate Fair
				Unrealized		Unrealized			Value at
				Holding Gains		Holding Losses			31-Dec-13
	Certificates of deposit	$	47,008	$	2	$	—		$	47,010
	Corporate debt securities		341,519		313		(423	)		341,409
	Commercial paper		86,154		24		—			86,178
	U.S. Government agency securities		8,900		1		—			8,901
	Greek government-issued bonds		52		92		—			144
	Total	$	483,633	$	432	$	(423	)	$	483,642
Fair Values of Available-For-Sale Securities by Contractual Maturity	The fair values of available-for-sale securities by contractual maturity were as follows:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Maturing in one year or less	$	69,706	$	215,942
	Maturing after one year through five years		97,856		267,700
	Total	$	167,562	$	483,642

INTANGIBLE_ASSETS_Tables

INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Intangible Assets	Intangible assets consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Intangible assets:
	Finite-lived intangible assets	$	123,365		$	118,242
	Indefinite-lived intangible assets		74,430			74,430
	Gross intangible assets:		197,795			192,672
	Less: Accumulated amortization		(41,217	)		(29,525	)
	Net carrying value	$	156,578		$	163,147
Schedule of Amortization of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets	The following table summarizes the annual amortization of the finite-lived intangible assets through 2025:
		Net Balance at			Estimated		Average Remaining Life	Annual
		December 31, 2014			Useful Life			Amortization
	Repurchased royalty rights	$	60,188		12 years		8.9 years	$	6,750
	License payments for marketing approvals		2,892		7 to 10 years		6.6 years		512
	Acquired intellectual property		16,919		10 years		5.2 years		3,223
	SRCC in-place and above market		2,149		Remaining lease terms		Varies	Varies
	tenant leases
	Total	$	82,148					$	10,485
Schedule of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets	Indefinite-lived intangible assets consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	In-Process Research and Development:
	Talazoparib (BMN 673)	$	35,150		$	35,150
	Reveglucosidase alfa (BMN 701)		25,010			25,010
	SENSI-Pro technology		11,680			11,680
	Other acquired pre-clinical compounds		2,590			2,590
	Net carrying value	$	74,430		$	74,430

ACQUISITION_OF_SAN_RAFAEL_CORP1

ACQUISITION OF SAN RAFAEL CORPORATE CENTER (Tables) (San Rafael Corporate Center)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
San Rafael Corporate Center
Summary of Estimated Fair Values of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed	The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of assets acquired as of the date of acquisition:
		Estimated		Estimated
		Fair Value		Useful Lives
	Building and improvements	$	94,414	50 years
	Land		14,565
	Land improvements		3,616	10 years
	Intangible assets		3,905	Remaining
				lease terms
	Total identifiable net assets	$	116,500
Fair Value of Identifiable Intangible Assets Acquired by Asset Class	The following table sets forth the fair value of the components of the identifiable intangible assets acquired by asset class as of the date of acquisition:
	Above market leases	$	351
	In-place leases		3,554
	Total intangible assets subject to amortization	$	3,905

PROPERTY_PLANT_AND_EQUIPMENT_T

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]
Schedule of Property Plant and Equipment Net	Property, plant and equipment, net consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Leasehold improvements	$	39,297		$	73,420
	Building and improvements		335,991			159,678
	Manufacturing and laboratory equipment		124,564			95,126
	Computer hardware and software		97,032			74,948
	Furniture and equipment		13,717			12,367
	Land improvements		4,106			—
	Land		29,358			11,608
	Construction-in-progress		108,340			77,212
			752,405			504,359
	Less: Accumulated depreciation		(228,889	)		(185,043	)
	Total property, plant and equipment, net	$	523,516		$	319,316
Summary of Allocation of Total Purchase Price of Buildings	The following table summarizes the allocation of the total purchase price of the buildings:
		Estimated Fair Value			Estimated
					Useful Lives
	Building and improvements	$	15,836		35 to 45 years
	Land		3,216
	Land improvements		919		10 years
	Total identifiable net assets	$	19,971

INVENTORY_Tables

INVENTORY (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule Of Inventory	Inventory consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Raw materials	$	22,488	$	15,309
	Work-in-process		114,393		88,417
	Finished goods		62,571		58,879
	Total inventory	$	199,452	$	162,605

SUPPLEMENTAL_BALANCE_SHEET_INF1

SUPPLEMENTAL BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Schedule of Other Current Assets	Other current assets consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Prepaid expenses		28,865	$	21,139
	Short-term forward currency exchange contract assets		10,513		59
	Promissory notes receivable, net		46,946		—
	Restricted investments		2,354		5,670
	Convertible promissory note conversion option		2,386		—
	Other receivables		9,733		11,513
	Other		4,513		3,326
	Total other current assets	$	105,310	$	41,707
Schedule of Other Assets	Other assets consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Deposits		12,021	$	7,196
	Escrow balance for SRCC purchase		—		116,500
	Deferred debt offering costs		11,763		15,374
	Strategic investments		30,811		13,000
	Long-term forward foreign currency exchange contract assets		5,387		—
	Other		5,299		4,101
	Total other assets	$	65,281	$	156,171
Schedule of Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Accounts payable	$	32,779	$	36,894
	Accrued accounts payable		98,490		58,408
	Accrued compensation expense		45,479		33,496
	Accrued vacation expense		12,540		10,487
	Current portion of contingent acquisition		3,895		11,882
	consideration payable
	Accrued rebates payable		14,859		10,429
	Accrued royalties payable		9,050		5,829
	Value added taxes payable		5,479		3,603
	Other accrued operating expenses		8,244		4,875
	Current portion of nonqualified deferred		2,304		1,363
	compensation liability
	Other		2,620		6,005
	Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	235,739	$	183,271
Schedule of Estimated Accrued Rebates, Reserve for Cash Discounts and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	The roll forward of significant estimated accrued rebates, reserve for cash discounts and allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:
		Balance at		Provision		Provision/			Actual Charges			Actual Charges			Balance at
		Beginning		for Current		(Reversals)			Related to			Related to			End of
		of Period		Period Sales		for Prior			Current			Prior Period			Period
						Period Sales			Period Sales			Sales
	Year ended December 31, 2014:
	Accrued rebates	$	10,429	$	24,431	$	(1,159	)	$	(12,768	)	$	(6,074	)	$	14,859
	Reserve for cash discounts		388		6,435		—			(5,747	)		(388	)		688
	Sales return reserve		907		—		(907	)		—			—			—
	Allowance for doubtful accounts		529		410		(319	)		—			(130	)		490
	Year ended December 31, 2013:
	Accrued rebates	$	9,625	$	18,872	$	(1,169	)	$	(12,025	)	$	(4,874	)	$	10,429
	Reserve for cash discounts		372		4,549		—			(4,191	)		(342	)		388
	Sales return reserve		—		907		—			—			—			907
	Allowance for doubtful accounts		348		138		43			—			—			529
	Year ended December 31, 2012:
	Accrued rebates	$	6,025	$	16,449	$	(434	)	$	(8,193	)	$	(4,222	)	$	9,625
	Reserve for cash discounts		342		4,214		—			(4,184	)		—			372
	Allowance for doubtful accounts		513		—		(165	)		—			—			348

DERIVATIVE_INSTRUMENTS_AND_HED1

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING STRATEGIES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Fair Value Carrying Amount of Derivative Instruments	The fair value carrying amounts of the Company’s derivative instruments were as follows:
			Asset Derivatives						Liability Derivatives
			31-Dec-14						31-Dec-14
			Balance Sheet Location		Fair Value				Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
	Forward foreign currency exchange contracts		Other current assets		$	10,206			Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	—
	Forward foreign currency exchange contracts		Other assets			5,387			Other long- term liabilities		—
	Total				$	15,593				$	—
	Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
	Forward foreign currency exchange contracts		Other current assets		$	307			Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	12
	Total					307					12
	Total value of derivative contracts				$	15,900				$	12
			Asset Derivatives						Liability Derivatives
			31-Dec-13						31-Dec-13
			Balance Sheet Location		Fair Value				Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
	Forward foreign currency exchange contracts		Other current assets		$	—			Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	2,186
	Forward foreign currency exchange contracts		Other assets			—			Other long- term liabilities		—
	Total				$	—				$	2,186
	Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
	Forward foreign currency exchange contracts		Other current assets		$	59			Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	—
	Total					59					—
	Total value of derivative contracts				$	59				$	2,186
Effect of Derivative Instruments	The effect of the Company’s derivative instruments on the Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was as follows:
			Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
			2014				2013			2012
	Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
	Net gain (loss) recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (OCI) (1)		$	18,078			$	(1,366	)	$	(8,749	)
	Net gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income (2)			643				49			(3,683	)
	Net gain (loss) recognized in net loss (3)			(294	)			310			927
	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
	Net gain (loss) recognized in net loss(4)		$	8,010			$	(2,041	)	$	674
	-1	Net change in the fair value of the effective portion classified as OCI.
	-2	Effective portion classified as net product revenue.
	-3	Ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing classified as selling, general and administrative expense.
	-4	Classified as selling, general and administrative expense.

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Tables

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities	The tables below present the fair value of these financial assets and liabilities determined using the following input levels.
			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2014
			Quoted Price in			Significant Other		Significant		Total
			Active Markets			Observable		Unobservable
			For Identical			Inputs		Inputs
			Assets			(Level 2)		(Level 3)
			(Level 1)
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents:
	Overnight deposits		$	225,159		$	—	$	—	$	225,159
	Money market instruments			—			650,327		—		650,327
	Total cash and cash equivalents		$	225,159		$	650,327	$	—	$	875,486
	Available-for-sale securities:
	Short-term:
	Certificates of deposit		$	—		$	54,174	$	—	$	54,174
	Corporate debt securities			—			15,532		—		15,532
	Long-term:
	Certificates of deposit			—			18,129		—		18,129
	Corporate debt securities			—			79,604		—		79,604
	Greek government-issued bonds			—			123		—		123
	Total available-for-sale securities		$	—		$	167,562	$	—	$	167,562
	Other Current Assets:
	Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan assets		$	—		$	514	$	—	$	514
	Forward foreign currency exchange contract(1)			—			10,513		—		10,513
	Restricted investments (2)			—			2,354		—		2,354
	Embedded derivative (3)			—			—		2,386		2,386
	Total other current assets		$	—		$	13,381	$	2,386	$	15,767
	Other Assets:
	Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan assets		$	—		$	5,112	$	—	$	5,112
	Forward foreign currency exchange contract(1)			—			5,387		—		5,387
	Strategic investment (4)			30,811			—		—		30,811
	Total other assets		$	30,811		$	10,499	$	—	$	41,310
	Total assets		$	255,970		$	841,769	$	2,386	$	1,100,125
	Liabilities:
	Current Liabilities:
	Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan liability		$	1,790		$	514	$	—	$	2,304
	Forward foreign currency exchange contract (1)			—			12		—		12
	Contingent acquisition consideration payable			—			—		3,895		3,895
	Total current liabilities		$	1,790		$	526	$	3,895	$	6,211
	Other long-term liabilities:
	Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan liability		$	18,453		$	5,112	$	—	$	23,565
	Contingent acquisition consideration payable			—			—		38,767		38,767
	Total other long-term liabilities		$	18,453		$	5,112	$	38,767	$	62,332
	Total liabilities		$	20,243		$	5,638	$	42,662	$	68,543
			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013
			Quoted Price in			Significant Other		Significant		Total
			Active Markets			Observable		Unobservable
			For Identical			Inputs		Inputs
			Assets			(Level 2)		(Level 3)
			(Level 1)
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents:
	Overnight deposits		$	156,228		$	—	$	—	$	156,228
	Money market instruments			—			412,553		—		412,553
	Total cash and cash equivalents		$	156,228		$	412,553	$	—	$	568,781
	Available-for-sale securities:
	Short-term:
	Certificates of deposit		$	—		$	30,513	$	—	$	30,513
	Corporate debt securities			—			99,251		—		99,251
	Commercial paper			—			86,178		—		86,178
	Long-term:
	Certificates of deposit			—			16,497		—		16,497
	Corporate debt securities			—			242,158		—		242,158
	U.S. Government agency securities			—			8,901		—		8,901
Greek government-issued bonds			—			144		—		144
Total available-for-sale securities		$	—		$	483,642	$	—	$	483,642
Other Current Assets:
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan assets		$	—		$	136	$	—	$	136
Forward foreign currency exchange contract(1)			—			59		—		59
Restricted investments (2)			—			5,670		—		5,670
Total other current assets		$	—		$	5,865	$	—	$	5,865
Other Assets:
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan assets		$	—		$	3,459	$	—	$	3,459
Restricted investments (2)			—			412		—		412
Strategic investment (4)			13,000			—		—		13,000
Total other assets		$	13,000		$	3,871	$	—	$	16,871
Total assets		$	169,228		$	905,931	$	—	$	1,075,159
Liabilities:
Current Liabilities:
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan liability		$	1,227		$	136	$	—	$	1,363
Forward foreign currency exchange contract(1)			—			2,186		—		2,186
Contingent acquisition consideration payable			—			—		11,882		11,882
Total current liabilities		$	1,227		$	2,322	$	11,882	$	15,431
Other long-term liabilities:
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan liability		$	12,345		$	3,459	$	—	$	15,804
Contingent acquisition consideration payable			—			—		30,790		30,790
Total other long-term liabilities		$	12,345		$	3,459	$	30,790	$	46,594
Total liabilities		$	13,572		$	5,781	$	42,672	$	62,025
-1	See Note 11 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the derivative instruments.
-2	The restricted investments at December 31, 2014 secure the Company’s irrevocable standby letter of credit obtained in connection with certain commercial agreements. The restricted investments at December 31, 2013 secure the Company’s irrevocable standby letter of credit obtained in connection with the Company’s SRCC lease and certain commercial agreements.
-3	The embedded derivative represents the fair value of the conversion feature of a promissory note which may be settled in the issuer’s underlying shares.
-4	The Company has investments in marketable equity securities measured using quoted prices in an active market that are considered strategic investments. See Note 5 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding the Company’s strategic investments.
Liabilities Measured at Fair Value Using Level 3 Inputs
	Contingent acquisition consideration payable at December 31, 2013		$	42,672
	Changes in the fair value of the contingent acquisition			12,990
	consideration payable
	Milestone payments to former ZyStor shareholders			(13,000	)
	Contingent acquisition consideration payable at December 31, 2014		$	42,662
Asset Retirement Obligation Liability and Corresponding Capital Asset
	Asset retirement obligations at December 31, 2013		$	4,122
	Accretion expense			182
	Additions			536
	Release of ARO accruals related to purchases of previously			(1,075	)
	leased office space
	Asset retirement obligations at December 31, 2014		$	3,765

CONVERTIBLE_DEBT_Tables

CONVERTIBLE DEBT (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Convertible Debt	The following table summarizes information regarding the Company’s convertible debt at December 31:
			2014		2013
	Convertible Notes due 2020, net of unamortized discount of		$	297,955	$	287,025
	$77,045 and $87,975, at December 31, 2014 and 2013,
	respectively
	Convertible Notes due 2018, net of unamortized discount of			319,463		306,500
	$55,537 and $68,500, at December 31, 2014 and 2013,
	respectively
	Convertible Notes due 2017			40,558		62,041
	Total convertible debt, net of unamortized discount		$	657,976	$	655,566
	Fair value of fixed rate convertible debt
	Convertible Notes due in 2020 (1)		$	456,360	$	400,879
	Convertible Notes due in 2018 (1)			442,448		397,691
	Convertible Notes due in 2017 (1)			180,984		213,765
	Total		$	1,079,792	$	1,012,335
	-1	The fair value of the Company’s fixed rate convertible debt is based on open market trades and is classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.
Summary of Convertible Debt Interest Expense	Interest expense on the Company’s convertible debt was comprised of the following:
			Years Ended December 31,
			2014		2013		2012
	Coupon interest		$	9,417	$	4,550	$	6,679
	Amortization of issuance costs			3,332		1,053		960
	Accretion of debt discount			23,893		4,821		—
	Total interest expense on convertible debt		$	36,642	$	10,424	$	7,639

NET_LOSS_PER_COMMON_SHARE_Tabl

NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule Of Anti-Dilutive Common Stock Excluded From Computation of Diluted Net Loss Per Share	The table below presents potential shares of common stock that were excluded from the computation as they were anti-dilutive using the treasury stock method (in thousands):
		Years Ended December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Options to purchase common stock		11,477		13,157		13,895
	Common stock issuable under the 2013 and 2017 Notes		1,992		3,047		17,365
	Common stock issuable under the 2018 and 2020 Notes		7,966		7,966		—
	Unvested restricted stock units		1,244		1,159		1,165
	Potentially issuable common stock for ESPP purchases		195		197		263
	Common stock held by the Nonqualified		224		193		233
	Deferred Compensation Plan
	Total number of potentially issuable shares		23,098		25,719		32,921

INCOME_TAXES_Tables

INCOME TAXES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes Based on Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	The provision for (benefit from) income taxes is based on income/(loss) before income taxes as follows:
		Years Ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	U.S. Source	$	49,411		$	46,675		$	45,422
	Non-U.S. Source		(174,279	)		(223,178	)		(163,700	)
	Loss before income taxes	$	(124,868	)	$	(176,503	)	$	(118,278	)
Schedule of Components of Provision for (Benefit From) Income Taxes	The U.S. and foreign components of the provision for (benefit from) income taxes are as follows:
		Years Ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Provision for current income tax expense:
	Federal	$	28,093		$	5,060		$	2,253
	State and local		3,011			1,496			1,879
	Foreign		3,614			2,199			1,858
		$	34,718		$	8,755		$	5,990
	Provision for deferred income tax expense (benefit):
	Federal	$	(20,367	)	$	(6,084	)	$	(6,055	)
	State and local		(4,982	)		(2,658	)		(3,891	)
	Foreign		(268	)		(163	)		25
		$	(25,617	)	$	(8,905	)	$	(9,921	)
	Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	$	9,101		$	(150	)	$	(3,931	)
Schedule of Reconciliation of Statutory Federal Income Tax Rate to Company's Effective Income Tax Rate	The following is a reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the Company’s effective income tax rate expressed as a percentage of income/(loss) before income taxes:
		Years Ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Federal statutory income tax rate		35	%		35	%		35	%
	State and local taxes		(1.6	)%		(0.3	)%		(1.3	)%
	Orphan Drug & General Business Credit		29.3	%		14.7	%		27.6	%
	Stock compensation expense		(2.4	)%		(1.7	)%		(1.6	)%
	Changes in the fair value of contingent acquisition consideration payable		(3.6	)%		(2.9	)%		(2.6	)%
	Subpart F income		(9.2	)%	—			—
	Foreign tax rate differential		(51.5	)%		(45.4	)%		(50.0	)%
	Other		(3.6	)%		1.6	%		(3.2	)%
	Valuation allowance/Deferred benefit		0.3	%		(0.9	)%		(0.6	)%
	Effective income tax rate		(7.3	)%		0.1	%		3.3	%
Schedule of Components of Net Deferred Tax Assets	The significant components of the Company’s net deferred tax assets are as follows:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Net deferred tax assets:
	Net operating loss carryforwards	$	16,208		$	17,733
	Tax credit carryforwards		178,364			176,226
	Property, plant and equipment		—			504
	Accrued expenses, reserves, and prepaids		30,626			21,071
	Intangible assets		14,550			8,255
	Stock-based compensation		34,133			29,603
	Inventory		14,108			12,417
	Impairment and capital loss carryforwards		1,997			3,071
	Other		928			799
	Valuation allowance		(7,812	)		(8,347	)
	Total deferred tax assets	$	283,102		$	261,332
	Joint venture basis difference	$	(1,781	)	$	(1,806	)
	Acquired Intangibles		(33,049	)		(34,091	)
	Convertible notes discount		(39,317	)		(46,029	)
	Property, plant and equipment		(4,932	)		—
	Unrealized gains		(6,525	)		(3,611	)
	Total deferred tax liabilities	$	(85,604	)	$	(85,537	)
	Net deferred tax assets	$	197,498		$	175,795
Schedule of Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Balance at beginning of period	$	50,815		$	43,531
	Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		20,303			7,478
	Additions for tax positions of prior years		545			(194	)
	Balance at end of period	$	71,663		$	50,815

STOCKBASED_COMPENSATION_Tables

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Summary of Stock Option Activity	The following table summarizes activity under the Company’s stock option plans, including the 2012 Inducement Plan and those suspended upon the adoption of the 2006 Share Incentive Plan for the year ended December 31, 2014. All option grants presented in the table had exercise prices not less than the fair value of the underlying common stock on the grant date:
			Shares			Weighted			Weighted		Aggregate
						Average			Average		Intrinsic
						Exercise			Remaining		Value (1)
						Price			Years
	Options outstanding as of December 31, 2013			13,157,283		$	34.06		6.7		$	477,618
	Granted			1,185,376		$	63.72
	Exercised			(2,563,636	)	$	27.77
	Expired and forfeited			(301,859	)	$	49.88
	Options outstanding as of December 31, 2014			11,477,164		$	38.11		6.2		$	600,112
	Options expected to vest at December 31, 2014			2,968,962		$	56.13				$	101,736
	Exercisable at December 31, 2014			8,093,512		$	30.44		5.3		$	485,259
	-1	The aggregate intrinsic value for outstanding options is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying awards and the quoted price of the Company’s common stock as of the last trading day for the respective year. The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable includes options with an exercise price below $90.40, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2014.
Stock Option Valuation Assumptions	The assumptions used to estimate the per share fair value of stock options granted under the 2006 Share Incentive Plan and 2012 Inducement Plan were as follows:
			Years Ended December 31,
			2014			2013			2012
	Expected volatility		44 – 45%			44 – 47%			45 – 46%
	Dividend yield			0.00%			0.00%			0.00%
	Expected life		6.9 years			6.6 – 6.8 years			6.5 years
	Risk-free interest rate		1.8 – 2.3%			1.0 – 2.4%			0.8 – 1.1%
Employee Stock Purchase Plan Valuation Assumptions	The assumptions used to estimate the per share fair value of stock purchase rights granted under the ESPP were as follows:
			Years Ended December 31,
			2014			2013			2012
	Expected volatility		38 - 39%				37%			31%
	Dividend yield			0.00%			0.00%			0.00%
	Expected life		6-24 months			6-24 months			6-24 months
	Risk-free interest rate		0.1-0.5%			0.1-0.3%			0.2-0.3%
Multiple Performance Conditions for Vesting of Base RSUs	The vesting of the Base RSUs under these specific grants is contingent upon the achievement of multiple performance conditions, as follows:
	Strategic Performance Goals		Percentage of			Base Number
			Base RSUs to			of RSUs
			Vest Upon			Granted
			Achievement			Before TSR
			of Goal			Multiplier
	Product Goals
	Approval of Vimizim in the U.S. or EU prior to			35	%		301,000
	December 31, 2015
	Approval of pegvaliase (PEG PAL) or any other			25	%		215,000
	non-Vimizim product in the U.S. or EU prior
	to December 31, 2015
	Financial Goal
	Total revenues of at least $775.0 million in fiscal 2015			40	%		344,000
							860,000
Assumptions Used to Estimate Fair Value of Restricted Stock Units with Performance and Market Vesting Conditions	The assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the RSUs with performance and market vesting conditions were as follows:
			Grant Date
			September 5,			May 29,			June 1,
			2012			2012			2011
	Fair value of the Company’s common stock on grant date		$	37.45		$	39.06		$	28.11
	Expected volatility			31.73	%		44.87	%		47.95	%
	Risk-free interest rate			0.37	%		0.52	%		1.42	%
	Dividend yield			0	%		0	%		0	%
Stock-Based Compensation Expense	Compensation expense included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for all stock-based compensation arrangements was as follows:
			Years Ended December 31,
			2014			2013			2012
	Cost of sales		$	6,076		$	4,860		$	4,890
	Research and development			33,835			27,763			20,736
	Selling, general and administrative			46,499			31,753			22,346
	Total stock-based compensation expense		$	86,410		$	64,376		$	47,972
Restricted Stock With Service Based Vesting Conditions
Summary of Non-Vested Restricted Stock Unit Activity	A summary of non-vested RSU activity under the plan for the year ended December 31, 2014 as follows:
			Shares			Weighted			Weighted				Aggregate
						Average			Average				Intrinsic
						Grant Date			Remaining				Value
						Fair Value			Years
	Non-vested units as of December 31, 2013			1,133,835		$	50.97			3			$	79,765
	Granted			884,612		$	64.37
	Vested			(383,332	)	$	46.72
	Forfeited			(94,412	)	$	54.96
	Non-vested units as of December 31, 2014			1,540,703		$	59.46			2.9			$	139,280
	Non-vested units expected to vest at December 31, 2014			1,412,629		$	59.15						$	127,702
Restricted Stock With Performance and Market Based Vesting Conditions
Summary of Non-Vested Restricted Stock Unit Activity	A summary of non-vested Base RSU activity under the plans for the year ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:
			Base Awards			Weighted			Weighted				Aggregate
						Average			Average				Intrinsic
						Grant Date			Remaining				Value
						Fair Value			Years
	Non-vested units with performance and market vesting			860,000		$	34.66			2.2			$	60,501
	conditions as of December 31, 2013
	Granted			—
	Vested			—
	Forfeited			—
	Non-vested units with performance and market vesting			860,000		$	34.66			1.2			$	77,744
	conditions as of December 31, 2014

COMPREHENSIVE_INCOME_Tables

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Equity [Abstract]
Amounts Reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	The following table summarizes amounts reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) (AOCI) and their effect on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.
		Amount Reclassified from AOCI (Gain) Loss
		Years Ended December 31,						Consolidated Statement of
	Details about AOCI Components	2014			2013			Operations Classification
	Gains on cash flow hedges:
	Forward foreign currency exchange contracts	$	(1,008	)	$	(37	)	Net product revenues
	Forward foreign currency exchange contracts		—			(40	)	Selling, general and administrative
			365			28		Provision for income taxes
		$	(643	)	$	(49	)	Net loss
Summary of Changes in Accumulated Balances of Other Comprehensive Income Loss Including Current Period Other Comprehensive Income and Reclassifications	The following table summarizes changes in the accumulated balances for each component, of other comprehensive income/(loss), including current period other comprehensive income and reclassifications out of AOCI, for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.
		Year Ended December 31, 2014
		Before Tax			Tax (Expense)			Net-of-Tax
		Amount			Benefit			Amount
	AOCI balance at December 31, 2013	$	7,756		$	(2,738	)	$	5,018
	Foreign currency translation adjustment		(75	)		—			(75	)
	Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities:
	Unrealized holding gains		8,019			(2,931	)		5,088
	Less: reclassification adjustment for gain realized in net loss		—			—			—
	Net unrealized holding gain		8,019			(2,931	)		5,088
	Net unrealized holding gain on cash flow hedges:
	Unrealized holding gain		19,292			(1,214	)		18,078
	Less: reclassification adjustment for gain realized in net loss		1,008			(365	)		643
	Net unrealized holding gain		18,284			(849	)		17,435
	Other comprehensive income		26,228			(3,780	)		22,448
	AOCI balance at December 31, 2014	$	33,984		$	(6,518	)	$	27,466
		Year Ended December 31, 2013
		Before Tax			Tax (Expense)			Net-of-Tax
		Amount			Benefit			Amount
	AOCI balance at December 31, 2012	$	(182	)	$	(20	)	$	(202	)
	Foreign currency translation adjustment		361			—			361
	Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities:
	Unrealized holding gains		9,810			(3,535	)		6,275
	Less: reclassification adjustment for gain realized in net loss		(1	)		—			(1	)
	Net unrealized holding gain		9,809			(3,535	)		6,274
	Net unrealized holding gain on cash flow hedges:
	Unrealized holding gain		(2,155	)		789			(1,366	)
	Less: reclassification adjustment for gain realized in net loss		77			(28	)		49
	Net unrealized holding gain		(2,232	)		817			(1,415	)
	Other comprehensive income		7,938			(2,718	)		5,220
	AOCI balance at December 31, 2013	$	7,756		$	(2,738	)	$	5,018

REVENUE_AND_CREDIT_CONCENTRATI1

REVENUE AND CREDIT CONCENTRATIONS (Tables) (Net Product Revenue)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Geographic Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Schedules of Consolidated Net Product Revenue Concentration	The table below summarizes consolidated net product revenue concentrations based on patient location for Vimizim, Naglazyme, Kuvan and Firdapse and the headquarters for Genzyme for Aldurazyme. Although Genzyme sells Aldurazyme worldwide, the royalties earned by the Company on Genzyme’s net sales are included in the U.S. region, as the transactions are with Genzyme whose headquarters are located in the U.S.
			Years Ended December 31,
			2014			2013			2012
	Region:
	United States			51	%		52	%		50	%
	Europe			19	%		22	%		22	%
	Latin America			16	%		13	%		15	%
	Rest of world			14	%		13	%		13	%
	Total net product revenue			100	%		100	%		100	%
Customer Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Schedules of Consolidated Net Product Revenue Concentration	The following table illustrates the percentage of the consolidated net product revenue attributed to the Company’s four largest customers.
			For the Years Ended December 31,
			2014			2013			2012
	Customer A			15	%		15	%		15	%
	Customer B (1)			14	%		16	%		16	%
	Customer C			12	%		9	%		12	%
	Customer D			11	%		11	%		9	%
	Total			52	%		51	%		52	%
	-1	Genzyme is the Company’s sole customer for Aldurazyme and is responsible for marketing and selling Aldurazyme to third-parties. Net product revenues from Genzyme are comprised of royalties on worldwide net Aldurazyme sales and incremental product transfer revenue.

SEGMENT_INFORMATION_Tables

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Information by Product Revenue	The Company operates in one business segment, which primarily focuses on the development and commercialization of innovative biopharmaceuticals for serious diseases and medical conditions. All products are included in one segment because the majority of our products have similar economic and other characteristics, including the nature of the products and production processes, type of customers, distribution methods and regulatory environment.
		Years Ended December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Net product revenue by product:
	Vimizim	$	77,319	$	85	$	—
	Naglazyme		334,447		271,244		256,929
	Kuvan		202,987		167,422		143,106
	Aldurazyme		105,616		83,545		82,234
	Firdapse		18,047		16,064		14,228
	Total net product revenue	$	738,416	$	538,360	$	496,497
Summary of Total Revenues from External Customers and Collaborative Partners by Geographic Region	The following table summarizes total revenues from external customers and collaborative partners by geographic region. Net product revenue is based on patient location for Vimizim, Naglazyme, Kuvan and Firdapse and Genzyme’s headquarters for Aldurazyme. Although Genzyme sells Aldurazyme worldwide, the royalties earned by the Company on Genzyme’s net sales are included in the U.S. region, as the transactions are with Genzyme whose headquarters are located in the U.S.
		Years Ended December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Total revenues by geographic region:
	United States	$	380,044	$	284,303	$	249,744
	Europe		139,940		115,729		109,865
	Latin America		118,562		67,339		74,390
	Rest of world		112,494		81,114		66,724
	Total revenues	$	751,040	$	548,485	$	500,723
Summary of Non-Monetary Long-Lived Assets by Geographic Region	The following table summarizes non-monetary long-lived assets by geographic region. Non-monetary long-lived assets primarily consists of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets, goodwill and deferred tax assets.
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Long-lived assets by geography:
	United States	$	820,356	$	651,815
	Rest of world		104,081		82,130
	Total long-lived assets	$	924,437	$	733,945

ACQUISITION_OF_ZACHARON_PHARMA1

ACQUISITION OF ZACHARON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (Tables) (Zacharon Pharmaceuticals Inc)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Zacharon Pharmaceuticals Inc
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Summary of Estimated Fair Values of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed	The following table presents the final allocation of the purchase consideration for the Zacharon acquisition, including the contingent acquisition consideration payable, based on fair value. The final allocation includes an adjustment to goodwill and the deferred tax assets of approximately $0.7 million resulting from the finalization of Zacharon’s tax returns.
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	560
	Other current assets		216
	Property, plant and equipment		398
	Acquired deferred tax assets		2,625
	Other assets		38
	IPR&D		11,680
	Total identifiable assets acquired		15,517
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(1,182	)
	Debt assumed		(1,313	)
	Deferred tax liability		(4,217	)
	Total liabilities assumed		(6,712	)
	Net identifiable assets acquired		8,805
	Goodwill		2,715
	Net assets acquired	$	11,520

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES_

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Minimum Lease Payments for Future Years	Minimum lease payments for future years are as follows:
	2015	$	5,738
	2016		4,882
	2017		3,879
	2018		3,207
	2019		930
	Thereafter		1,677
	Total	$	20,313

Recovered_Sheet1

Nature of Operations and Business Risks - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
	Product
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Number of approved products	5
Accumulated deficit	($849,770)	($715,801)

Recovered_Sheet2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of share in gain / loss from joint ventures	50.00%
Minimum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Royalty payment as percentage of net sales	39.50%
Maximum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Royalty payment as percentage of net sales	50.00%

Schedule_of_Property_Plant_and

Schedule of Property Plant and Equipment (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Leasehold Improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life	Shorter of life of asset or lease term
Building and Improvements | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, (in years)	20 years
Building and Improvements | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, (in years)	50 years
Manufacturing and Laboratory Equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, (in years)	5 years
Manufacturing and Laboratory Equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, (in years)	15 years
Computer Hardware and Software | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, (in years)	3 years
Computer Hardware and Software | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, (in years)	8 years
Office Furniture and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, (in years)	5 years
Vehicles
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, (in years)	5 years
Land Improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, (in years)	10 years

Amortized_Cost_Gross_Unrealize

Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Holding Gain or Loss and Fair Value of Available for Sale Security by Major Security Type (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$167,830	$483,633
Gross Unrealized Holding Gains	74	432
Gross Unrealized Holding Losses	-342	-423
Aggregate Fair Value	167,562	483,642
Certificates of Deposit
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	72,302	47,008
Gross Unrealized Holding Gains	1	2
Aggregate Fair Value	72,303	47,010
Corporate Debt Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	95,478	341,519
Gross Unrealized Holding Gains		313
Gross Unrealized Holding Losses	-342	-423
Aggregate Fair Value	95,136	341,409
Commercial Paper
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost		86,154
Gross Unrealized Holding Gains		24
Aggregate Fair Value		86,178
U.S. Government Agency Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost		8,900
Gross Unrealized Holding Gains		1
Aggregate Fair Value		8,901
Greek Government-Issued Bonds
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	50	52
Gross Unrealized Holding Gains	73	92
Aggregate Fair Value	$123	$144

Investments_Additional_Informa

Investments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Investments Debt And Equity Securities [Abstract]
Fair value of strategic investments	$30.80	$13
Strategic investments, unrealized gain	$18.30	$10.10

Fair_Values_of_AvailableForSal

Fair Values of Available-For-Sale Securities by Contractual Maturity (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Investments Debt And Equity Securities [Abstract]
Maturing in one year or less	$69,706	$215,942
Maturing after one year through five years	97,856	267,700
Total	$167,562	$483,642

Intangible_Assets_Detail

Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets	$123,365	$118,242
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	74,430	74,430
Gross intangible assets:	197,795	192,672
Less: Accumulated amortization	-41,217	-29,525
Net carrying value	$156,578	$163,147

Schedule_of_Amortization_of_Fi

Schedule of Amortization of Finite Lived Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Net Balance at December 31, 2014	$82,148
Annual Amortization	10,485
Repurchased royalty rights
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Net Balance at December 31, 2014	60,188
Estimated Useful Life (in years)	12 years
Remaining Life (in years)	8 years 10 months 24 days
Annual Amortization	6,750
License payments for marketing approvals | Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Net Balance at December 31, 2014	2,892
Estimated Useful Life (in years)	7 years
Remaining Life (in years)	6 years 7 months 6 days
Annual Amortization	512
License payments for marketing approvals | Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Life (in years)	10 years
Acquired intellectual property
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Net Balance at December 31, 2014	16,919
Estimated Useful Life (in years)	10 years
Remaining Life (in years)	5 years 2 months 12 days
Annual Amortization	3,223
SRCC in-place and above market tenant leases
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Net Balance at December 31, 2014	$2,149
Estimated Useful Life (in years)	Remaining lease terms
Remaining Life (in years)	Varies
Annual Amortization	Varies

Schedule_of_Indefinite_Lived_I

Schedule of Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Net carrying value	$74,430	$74,430
In Process Research and Development
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Net carrying value	74,430	74,430
In Process Research and Development | Talazoparib (BMN 673)
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
In-process research and development acquired	35,150	35,150
In Process Research and Development | Reveglucosidase alfa (BMN 701)
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
In-process research and development acquired	25,010	25,010
In Process Research and Development | SENSI-Pro technology
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
In-process research and development acquired	11,680	11,680
In Process Research and Development | Other Acquired Pre-Clinical Compounds
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
In-process research and development acquired	$2,590	$2,590

Intangible_Assets_Additional_I

Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Impairment charge	$6,700	$939	$6,707

Recovered_Sheet3

Acquisition of San Rafael Corporate Center - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 10, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net gain recognized due to early termination of lease and realization of remaining balance in deferred rent and reversal of asset retirement obligation		$10,092,000
San Rafael Corporate Center
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition, cash paid	116,500,000
Net gain recognized due to early termination of lease and realization of remaining balance in deferred rent and reversal of asset retirement obligation		8,800,000
San Rafael Corporate Center | Royalty, License and Other Revenues
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Tenant revenue		4,000,000
San Rafael Corporate Center | Selling, General and Administrative
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination transaction costs		300,000
Net gain recognized due to early termination of lease and realization of remaining balance in deferred rent and reversal of asset retirement obligation		2,700,000
San Rafael Corporate Center | Research and Development
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net gain recognized due to early termination of lease and realization of remaining balance in deferred rent and reversal of asset retirement obligation		$6,100,000

Summary_of_Estimated_Fair_Valu

Summary of Estimated Fair Values of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 10, 2014
Land Improvements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	10 years
San Rafael Corporate Center
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Building and improvements		94,414
Land		14,565
Land improvements		3,616
Intangible assets		3,905
Total identifiable net assets		116,500
Estimated useful lives	Remaining lease terms
San Rafael Corporate Center | Building and Improvements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives		50 years
San Rafael Corporate Center | Land Improvements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives		10 years

Fair_Value_of_Identifiable_Int

Fair Value of Identifiable Intangible assets Acquired by Asset Class (Detail) (San Rafael Corporate Center, USD $)	Mar. 10, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value of identifiable intangible assets	$3,905
Above Market Leases
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value of identifiable intangible assets	351
In Place Leases
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value of identifiable intangible assets	$3,554

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_D

Property Plant and Equipment (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$752,405	$504,359
Less: Accumulated depreciation	-228,889	-185,043
Total property, plant and equipment, net	523,516	319,316
Leasehold Improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	39,297	73,420
Building and Improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	335,991	159,678
Manufacturing and Laboratory Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	124,564	95,126
Computer Hardware and Software
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	97,032	74,948
Furniture and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	13,717	12,367
Land Improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	4,106
Land
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	29,358	11,608
Construction-in-Progress
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$108,340	$77,212

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_A

Property Plant and Equipment - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
	Building
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]
Number of buildings purchased	2
Purchase price for the buildings	$20,000,000
Depreciation expense	44,300,000	36,500,000	34,900,000
Depreciation expense capitalized into inventory	$10,952,000	$11,016,000	$7,335,000

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_S

Property Plant and Equipment - Summary of Allocation of Total Purchase Price of Buildings (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Building and improvements	19,971
Building and Improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Building and improvements	15,836
Building and Improvements | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	20 years
Building and Improvements | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	50 years
Building and Improvements | Novato, California | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	35 years
Building and Improvements | Novato, California | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	45 years
Land
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Building and improvements	3,216
Land Improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Building and improvements	919
Estimated useful lives	10 years
Land Improvements | Novato, California
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	10 years

Schedule_of_Inventory_Detail

Schedule of Inventory (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Raw materials	$22,488	$15,309
Work-in-process	114,393	88,417
Finished goods	62,571	58,879
Total inventory	$199,452	$162,605

Schedule_of_Other_Current_Asse

Schedule of Other Current Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Condensed Financial Information Of Subsidiaries Disclosure [Abstract]
Prepaid expenses	$28,865	$21,139
Short-term forward currency exchange contract assets	10,513	59
Promissory notes receivable, net	46,946
Restricted investments	2,354	5,670
Convertible promissory note conversion option	2,386
Other receivables	9,733	11,513
Other	4,513	3,326
Total other current assets	$105,310	$41,707

Schedule_of_Other_Assets_Detai

Schedule of Other Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Condensed Financial Information Of Subsidiaries Disclosure [Abstract]
Deposits	$12,021	$7,196
Escrow balance for SRCC purchase		116,500
Deferred debt offering costs	11,763	15,374
Strategic investments	30,811	13,000
Long-term forward foreign currency exchange contract assets	5,387
Other	5,299	4,101
Total other assets	$65,281	$156,171

Schedule_of_Accounts_Payable_a

Schedule of Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Condensed Financial Information Of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]
Accounts payable	$32,779	$36,894
Accrued accounts payable	98,490	58,408
Accrued compensation expense	45,479	33,496
Accrued vacation expense	12,540	10,487
Current portion of contingent acquisition consideration payable	3,895	11,882
Accrued rebates payable	14,859	10,429
Accrued royalties payable	9,050	5,829
Value added taxes payable	5,479	3,603
Other accrued operating expenses	8,244	4,875
Current portion of nonqualified deferred compensation liability	2,304	1,363
Other	2,620	6,005
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$235,739	$183,271

Schedule_of_Estimated_Accrued_

Schedule of Estimated Accrued Rebates Reserve for Cash Discounts and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accrued Rebates
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information [Line Items]
Balance at Beginning of Period	$10,429	$9,625	$6,025
Provision for Current Period Sales	24,431	18,872	16,449
Provision/(Reversals) for Prior Period Sales	-1,159	-1,169	-434
Actual Charges Related to Current Period Sales	-12,768	-12,025	-8,193
Actual Charges Related to Prior Period Sales	-6,074	-4,874	-4,222
Balance at End of Period	14,859	10,429	9,625
Reserve for Cash Discount
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information [Line Items]
Balance at Beginning of Period	388	372	342
Provision for Current Period Sales	6,435	4,549	4,214
Actual Charges Related to Current Period Sales	-5,747	-4,191	-4,184
Actual Charges Related to Prior Period Sales	-388	-342
Balance at End of Period	688	388	372
Sales Return Reserve
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information [Line Items]
Balance at Beginning of Period	907
Provision for Current Period Sales		907
Provision/(Reversals) for Prior Period Sales	-907
Balance at End of Period		907
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information [Line Items]
Balance at Beginning of Period	529	348	513
Provision for Current Period Sales	410	138
Provision/(Reversals) for Prior Period Sales	-319	43	-165
Actual Charges Related to Prior Period Sales	-130
Balance at End of Period	$490	$529	$348

Recovered_Sheet4

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Strategies - Additional Information (Detail)

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Minimum

Maximum

Foreign Currency Derivatives

Foreign Currency Derivatives

Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments

Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments

Not Designated as Hedging Instrument

Not Designated as Hedging Instrument

Not Designated as Hedging Instrument

Not Designated as Hedging Instrument

USD ($)

Maximum

Euro

Foreign Currency Derivatives

Derivative

Sale Contracts

Foreign Currency Derivatives

Foreign Currency Derivatives

Derivative

Sale Contracts

Derivative

Sale Contracts

Sale Contracts

EUR (€)

EUR (€)

GBP (£)

Derivative [Line Items]

Number of forward foreign currency exchange contracts outstanding

92

3

1

Outstanding forward foreign currency exchange contracts

€ 116,100,000

€ 82,700,000

£ 4,300,000

Maturity period of foreign currency derivatives

1-Jan-15

28-Feb-17

28-Feb-17

31-Jan-15

Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to earnings as related to forecasted revenue transactions

-643,000

-49,000

3,683,000

10,300,000

Maximum length of time over which hedging its exposure to the reduction in value of forecasted foreign currency cash flows through foreign currency forward contracts

12 months

Gain (Loss) from foreign currency exchange contracts in accumulated other comprehensive income

$15,900,000

$2,400,000

$200,000

Recovered_Sheet5

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Strategies (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value	$15,900	$59
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	12	2,186
Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value	15,593
Derivative Liability, Fair Value		2,186
Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments | Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts | Other Current Assets
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value	10,206
Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments | Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts | Other Assets
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value	5,387
Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments | Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts | Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value		2,186
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value	307	59
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	12
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts | Other Current Assets
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value	307	59
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts | Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	$12

Effect_of_Derivative_Instrumen

Effect of Derivative Instruments (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Net gain (loss) recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (OCI)	$15,900		$2,400		$200
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts | Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Net gain (loss) recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (OCI)	18,078	[1]	-1,366	[1]	-8,749	[1]
Net gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income	643	[2]	49	[2]	-3,683	[2]
Net gain (loss) recognized in net loss	-294	[3]	310	[3]	927	[3]
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Net gain (loss) recognized in net loss	$8,010	[4]	($2,041)	[4]	$674	[4]
[1]	(1) Net change in the fair value of the effective portion classified as OCI.
[2]	(1) Effective portion classified as net product revenue.
[3]	Ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing classified as selling, general and administrative expense.
[4]	(1) Classified as selling, general and administrative expense.

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Assets

Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Cash and cash equivalents	$875,486		$568,781
Fair value of Available-for-sale securities	167,562		483,642
Forward foreign currency exchange contract	10,513		59
Total other current assets	15,767		5,865
Strategic investment	30,800		13,000
Total other assets	41,310		16,871
Fair value of financial assets, Total	1,100,125		1,075,159
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan liability	2,304		1,363
Contingent acquisition consideration payable	3,895		11,882
Total current liabilities	6,211		15,431
Total other long-term liabilities	62,332		46,594
Fair value of financial liabilities, Total	68,543		62,025
Overnight Deposits
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Cash and cash equivalents	225,159		156,228
Money Market Instruments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Cash and cash equivalents	650,327		412,553
Available-For-Sale Securities Short-Term | Certificates of Deposit
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Available-for-sale securities	54,174		30,513
Available-For-Sale Securities Short-Term | Corporate Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Available-for-sale securities	15,532		99,251
Available-For-Sale Securities Short-Term | Commercial Paper
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Available-for-sale securities			86,178
Available-For-Sale Securities Long-Term | Certificates of Deposit
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Available-for-sale securities	18,129		16,497
Available-For-Sale Securities Long-Term | Corporate Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Available-for-sale securities	79,604		242,158
Available-For-Sale Securities Long-Term | Greek Government-Issued Bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Available-for-sale securities	123		144
Available-For-Sale Securities Long-Term | U.S. Government Agency Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Available-for-sale securities			8,901
Other Current Assets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Restricted investments	2,354	[1]	5,670	[1]
Embedded derivative	2,386	[2]
Other Current Assets | Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, by Type of Compensation, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan assets	514		136
Other Current Assets | Foreign Exchange Forward
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Forward foreign currency exchange contract	10,513	[3]	59	[3]
Other Assets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Restricted investments			412	[1]
Strategic investment	30,811	[4]	13,000	[4]
Other Assets | Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, by Type of Compensation, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan assets	5,112		3,459
Other Assets | Foreign Exchange Forward
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Forward foreign currency exchange contract	5,387	[3]
Current Liabilities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Contingent acquisition consideration payable	3,895		11,882
Current Liabilities | Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, by Type of Compensation, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan liability	2,304		1,363
Current Liabilities | Foreign Exchange Forward
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Forward foreign currency exchange contract	12	[3]	2,186	[3]
Other Long-Term Liabilities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Contingent acquisition consideration payable	38,767		30,790
Other Long-Term Liabilities | Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, by Type of Compensation, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan liability	23,565		15,804
Quoted Price In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Cash and cash equivalents	225,159		156,228
Total other assets	30,811		13,000
Fair value of financial assets, Total	255,970		169,228
Total current liabilities	1,790		1,227
Total other long-term liabilities	18,453		12,345
Fair value of financial liabilities, Total	20,243		13,572
Quoted Price In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) | Overnight Deposits
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Cash and cash equivalents	225,159		156,228
Quoted Price In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) | Other Assets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Strategic investment	30,811	[4]	13,000	[4]
Quoted Price In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) | Current Liabilities | Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, by Type of Compensation, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan liability	1,790		1,227
Quoted Price In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) | Other Long-Term Liabilities | Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, by Type of Compensation, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan liability	18,453		12,345
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Cash and cash equivalents	650,327		412,553
Fair value of Available-for-sale securities	167,562		483,642
Total other current assets	13,381		5,865
Total other assets	10,499		3,871
Fair value of financial assets, Total	841,769		905,931
Total current liabilities	526		2,322
Total other long-term liabilities	5,112		3,459
Fair value of financial liabilities, Total	5,638		5,781
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Money Market Instruments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Cash and cash equivalents	650,327		412,553
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Available-For-Sale Securities Short-Term | Certificates of Deposit
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Available-for-sale securities	54,174		30,513
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Available-For-Sale Securities Short-Term | Corporate Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Available-for-sale securities	15,532		99,251
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Available-For-Sale Securities Short-Term | Commercial Paper
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Available-for-sale securities			86,178
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Available-For-Sale Securities Long-Term | Certificates of Deposit
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Available-for-sale securities	18,129		16,497
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Available-For-Sale Securities Long-Term | Corporate Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Available-for-sale securities	79,604		242,158
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Available-For-Sale Securities Long-Term | Greek Government-Issued Bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Available-for-sale securities	123		144
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Available-For-Sale Securities Long-Term | U.S. Government Agency Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of Available-for-sale securities			8,901
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other Current Assets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Restricted investments	2,354	[1]	5,670	[1]
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other Current Assets | Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, by Type of Compensation, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan assets	514		136
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other Current Assets | Foreign Exchange Forward
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Forward foreign currency exchange contract	10,513	[3]	59	[3]
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other Assets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Restricted investments			412	[1]
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other Assets | Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, by Type of Compensation, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan assets	5,112		3,459
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other Assets | Foreign Exchange Forward
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Forward foreign currency exchange contract	5,387	[3]
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Current Liabilities | Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, by Type of Compensation, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan liability	514		136
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Current Liabilities | Foreign Exchange Forward
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Forward foreign currency exchange contract	12	[3]	2,186	[3]
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other Long-Term Liabilities | Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, by Type of Compensation, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan liability	5,112		3,459
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total other current assets	2,386
Fair value of financial assets, Total	2,386
Total current liabilities	3,895		11,882
Total other long-term liabilities	38,767		30,790
Fair value of financial liabilities, Total	42,662		42,672
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Other Current Assets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Embedded derivative	2,386	[2]
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Current Liabilities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Contingent acquisition consideration payable	3,895		11,882
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Other Long-Term Liabilities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Contingent acquisition consideration payable	$38,767		$30,790
[1]	(1) The restricted investments at December 31, 2014 secure the Company’s irrevocable standby letter of credit obtained in connection with certain commercial agreements. The restricted investments at December 31, 2013 secure the Company’s irrevocable standby letter of credit obtained in connection with the Company’s SRCC lease and certain commercial agreements.
[2]	(1) The embedded derivative represents the fair value of the conversion feature of a promissory note which may be settled in the issuer’s underlying shares.
[3]	(1) See Note 11 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the derivative instruments.
[4]	(1) The Company has investments in marketable equity securities measured using quoted prices in an active market that are considered strategic investments. See Note 5 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding the Company’s strategic investments.

Liabilities_Measured_at_Fair_V

Liabilities Measured at Fair Value Using Level 3 Inputs (Detail) (Contingent Payment, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
Contingent Payment
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Contingent acquisition consideration payable, Beginning balance	$42,672
Changes in the fair value of the contingent acquisition consideration payable	12,990
Milestone payments to former ZyStor shareholders	-13,000
Contingent acquisition consideration payable, Ending balance	$42,662

Asset_Retirement_Obligation_Li

Asset Retirement Obligation Liability and Corresponding Capital Asset (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Asset retirement obligation, Beginning balance	$4,122
Accretion expense	182
Additions	536
Release of ARO accruals related to purchases of previously leased office space	-1,075
Asset retirement obligations, Ending balance	$3,765

Convertible_Debt_Additional_In

Convertible Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Oct. 15, 2013	Apr. 30, 2007	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2006	Mar. 31, 2013
		Investment
Debt Conversion [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal amount				$750,000,000
Repurchase of note principal amount		100.00%
Notes converted, number of shares		7,965,975
Conversion rate of shares		10.6213
Principal amount on conversion rate		1,000
Debt instrument, convertible, conversion price, per share		$94.15
Consecutive common stock trading days		30 days
Debt instrument convertible threshold percentage		130.00%
Number of business day period		5 days
Trading price percentage on reported sale price of common stock		98.00%
Carrying value of equity component		156,200,000
Offering costs		11,763,000	15,374,000
Effective interest rate on liability component		7.30%	7.50%
Debt issuance costs		23,800,000
Common stock shares covered under capped call transactions		3,982,988
Strike price		94.15
Cap price		121.05
Payment for capped calls transactions	29,800,000		29,813,000
Convertible cash premium paid to holder for agreeing to convert		674,000	12,965,000
Payment on debt conversion		674,000	12,965,000
Minimum
Debt Conversion [Line Items]
Common stock trading day		20
Convertible Senior Notes
Debt Conversion [Line Items]
Net proceeds from offering debt				726,200,000
Debt Instrument, unamortized discount		161,300,000
Offering costs		5,100,000
Convertible Notes due 2018
Debt Conversion [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal amount				375,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage, per annum				0.75%
Debt Instrument, unamortized discount		55,537,000	68,500,000
Debt instrument, convertible, interest expense		13,000,000	2,600,000
Amortization expense		1,900,000	400,000
Convertible Notes due 2020
Debt Conversion [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal amount				375,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage, per annum				1.50%
Debt Instrument, unamortized discount		77,045,000	87,975,000
Debt instrument, convertible, interest expense		10,900,000	2,200,000
Amortization expense		1,300,000	300,000
Convertible Notes due 2017
Debt Conversion [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage, per annum					1.88%
Debt instrument, convertible, conversion price, per share					$20.36
Amortization expense		100,000	400,000			900,000
Debt instrument, aggregate principal amount					324,900,000
Convertible debt		40,600,000
Maturity date of convertible debt					23-Apr-17
Payments of debt issuance costs					8,500,000
Number of agreements		2
Convertible Notes due 2017 | Agreement One
Debt Conversion [Line Items]
Notes converted, number of shares		809,351	12,906,780
Debt instrument, convertible, interest expense			1,800,000
Convertible notes aggregate principal		16,500,000	262,800,000
Convertible cash premium paid to holder for agreeing to convert		700,000	14,800,000
Reclassified of deferred offering costs to additional paid-in capital			2,800,000
Convertible Notes due 2017 | Convertible Senior Notes | Agreement One
Debt Conversion [Line Items]
Convertible cash premium paid to holder for agreeing to convert		700,000	13,000,000
Convertible Notes due 2013
Debt Conversion [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage, per annum							2.50%
Debt instrument, convertible, conversion price, per share							$16.58
Amortization expense			27,000			100,000
Debt instrument, aggregate principal amount							172,500,000
Maturity date of convertible debt							29-Mar-13
Payments of debt issuance costs			5,500,000
Convertible notes aggregate principal								23,300,000
Common stock issued upon conversion of convertible notes								1,403,735
Payment on debt conversion								$98,000

Summary_of_Convertible_Debt_De

Summary of Convertible Debt (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Convertible Notes, net of unamortized discount	$657,976		$655,566
Convertible Notes, fair value	1,079,792		1,012,335
Convertible Notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Convertible Notes, net of unamortized discount	297,955		287,025
Convertible Notes, fair value	456,360	[1]	400,879	[1]
Convertible Notes due 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Convertible Notes, net of unamortized discount	319,463		306,500
Convertible Notes, fair value	442,448	[1]	397,691	[1]
Convertible Notes due 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Convertible Notes, net of unamortized discount	40,558		62,041
Convertible Notes, fair value	$180,984	[1]	$213,765	[1]
[1]	The fair value of the Company’s fixed rate convertible debt is based on open market trades and is classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Summary_of_Convertible_Debt_Pa

Summary of Convertible Debt (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Convertible Notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term convertible debt, unamortized discount	$77,045	$87,975
Convertible Notes due 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term convertible debt, unamortized discount	$55,537	$68,500

Summary_of_Interest_Expense_on

Summary of Interest Expense on Convertible Debt (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule Of Interest Expenses [Line Items]
Total interest expense on convertible debt	$36,642	$10,447	$7,639
Convertible Senior Notes
Schedule Of Interest Expenses [Line Items]
Coupon interest	9,417	4,550	6,679
Amortization of issuance costs	3,332	1,053	960
Accretion of debt discount	23,893	4,821
Total interest expense on convertible debt	$36,642	$10,424	$7,639

AntiDilutive_Common_Stock_Excl

Anti-Dilutive Common Stock Excluded From Computation of Diluted Net Loss Per Share (Detail)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Potential shares of common stock excluded from computation of earnings (loss) per share as they are anti-dilutive	23,098	25,719	32,921
Stock Option
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Potential shares of common stock excluded from computation of earnings (loss) per share as they are anti-dilutive	11,477	13,157	13,895
Common stock issuable under the 2013 and 2017 Notes
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Potential shares of common stock excluded from computation of earnings (loss) per share as they are anti-dilutive	1,992	3,047	17,365
Common stock issuable under the 2018 and 2020 Notes
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Potential shares of common stock excluded from computation of earnings (loss) per share as they are anti-dilutive	7,966	7,966
Unvested restricted stock units
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Potential shares of common stock excluded from computation of earnings (loss) per share as they are anti-dilutive	1,244	1,159	1,165
Potentially issuable common stock for ESPP purchases
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Potential shares of common stock excluded from computation of earnings (loss) per share as they are anti-dilutive	195	197	263
Common stock held by the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Potential shares of common stock excluded from computation of earnings (loss) per share as they are anti-dilutive	224	193	233

Net_Loss_Per_Common_Share_Addi

Net Loss Per Common Share - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Debt instrument, convertible, conversion price, per share	$94.15

Provision_for_Benefit_from_Inc

Provision for Benefit from Income Taxes Based Income Loss Before Income Taxes (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
U.S. Source	$49,411	$46,675	$45,422
Non-U.S. Source	-174,279	-223,178	-163,700
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES	($124,868)	($176,503)	($118,278)

Components_of_Provision_for_Be

Components of Provision for Benefit from Income Taxes (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Federal	$28,093	$5,060	$2,253
State and local	3,011	1,496	1,879
Foreign	3,614	2,199	1,858
Current income tax expense, total	34,718	8,755	5,990
Federal	-20,367	-6,084	-6,055
State and local	-4,982	-2,658	-3,891
Foreign	-268	-163	25
Deferred income tax expense (benefit), total	-25,617	-8,905	-9,921
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	$9,101	($150)	($3,931)

Reconciliation_of_Statutory_Fe

Reconciliation of Statutory Federal Income Tax Rate to Company Effective Income Tax Rate (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Federal statutory income tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State and local taxes	-1.60%	-0.30%	-1.30%
Orphan Drug & General Business Credit	29.30%	14.70%	27.60%
Stock compensation expense	-2.40%	-1.70%	-1.60%
Changes in the fair value of contingent acquisition consideration payable	-3.60%	-2.90%	-2.60%
Subpart F income	-9.20%
Foreign tax rate differential	-51.50%	-45.40%	-50.00%
Other	-3.60%	1.60%	-3.20%
Valuation allowance/Deferred benefit	0.30%	-0.90%	-0.60%
Effective income tax rate	-7.30%	0.10%	3.30%

Components_of_Company_Net_Defe

Components of Company Net Deferred Tax Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforwards	$16,208	$17,733
Tax credit carryforwards	178,364	176,226
Property, plant and equipment		504
Accrued expenses, reserves, and prepaids	30,626	21,071
Intangible assets	14,550	8,255
Stock-based compensation	34,133	29,603
Inventory	14,108	12,417
Impairment and capital loss carryforwards	1,997	3,071
Other	928	799
Valuation allowance	-7,812	-8,347
Total deferred tax assets	283,102	261,332
Joint venture basis difference	-1,781	-1,806
Acquired Intangibles	-33,049	-34,091
Convertible notes discount	-39,317	-46,029
Property, plant and equipment	-4,932
Unrealized gains	-6,525	-3,611
Total deferred tax liabilities	-85,604	-85,537
Net deferred tax assets	$197,498	$175,795

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 12, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	$16,208,000	$17,733,000
Unrecognized tax benefit	71,663,000	50,815,000		43,531,000
Valuation allowance increase (decrease)	-500,000	2,300,000
Unrecognized tax benefits that would affect the effective tax rate if recognized			71,700,000
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries	1,100,000
Deferred income taxes that have not been provided on foreign earnings	400,000
Federal
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	25,700,000
Research credit carry forward	284,300,000
Federal | Minimum
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Operating loss carry forward if not utilized, expiration date	2027
Research credit carryovers if not utilized, expiration date	2021
Federal | Maximum
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Operating loss carry forward if not utilized, expiration date	2033
Research credit carryovers if not utilized, expiration date	2034
State
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	185,000,000
Research credit carry forward	50,200,000
State | Minimum
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Operating loss carry forward if not utilized, expiration date	2015
Research credit carryovers if not utilized, expiration date	2019
State | Maximum
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Operating loss carry forward if not utilized, expiration date	2034
Employee Stock Purchase Plan | Federal
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Unrecognized tax benefit	201,800,000
Employee Stock Purchase Plan | State
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Unrecognized tax benefit	$75,200,000

Reconciliation_of_Unrecognized

Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Balance at beginning of period	$50,815	$43,531
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	20,303	7,478
Additions for tax positions of prior years	545	-194
Balance at end of period	$71,663	$50,815

Equity_Compensation_Plans_Addi

Equity Compensation Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Share based awards, authorized	22,800,000
Options outstanding	11,477,164	13,157,283
Stock options granted	1,185,376
Common Stock
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting period, years	3 years
Board of Directors Chairman
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Outstanding options expiration term, years	10 years
Independent Director
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted	10,000
Re-elected Director
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted	8,500
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Percentage of fair market value of the stock purchased	85.00%
Span of offering period, in years	2 years
Maximum percentage of qualified compensation to be used for purchase	10.00%
Maximum payroll deductions	25,000
Shares issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	258,173
Shares reserved for future issuance	1,100,000
Unvested restricted stock units | Common Stock
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting period, years	1 year
Unvested restricted stock units | Independent Director
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting period, years	3 years
Stock options granted	4,000
Unvested restricted stock units | Re-elected Director
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting period, years	1 year
Stock options granted	3,400
2014 Inducement Plan | Maximum
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Share based awards, authorized	1,700,000
Share Incentive Plan
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Share based awards, authorized	19,000,000
Options outstanding	10,900,000
Share Incentive Plan | Stock Option
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting period, years	4 years
Initial time period vesting requirements, months	6
Outstanding options expiration term, years	10 years
Share Incentive Plan | Restricted Stock With Service Based Vesting Conditions
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting period, years	4 years
Share Incentive Plan | Restricted Stock With Service Based Vesting Conditions | Board of Directors Chairman
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting period, years	1 year
Previous Stock Option Plans
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Options outstanding	600,000

Summary_of_Stock_Option_Activi

Summary of Stock Option Activity (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Compensation Related Costs [Abstract]
Shares, Options outstanding as of December 31, 2013	13,157,283
Shares, Granted	1,185,376
Shares, Exercised	-2,563,636
Shares, Expired and forfeited	-301,859
Shares, Options outstanding as of December 31, 2014	11,477,164		13,157,283
Shares, Options expected to vest at December 31, 2014	2,968,962
Shares, Exercisable at December 31, 2014	8,093,512
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Outstanding as of December 31, 2014	$34.06
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Granted	$63.72
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercised	$27.77
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Expired and forfeited	$49.88
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Outstanding as of December 31, 2014	$38.11		$34.06
at December 31, 2014	$56.13
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercisable at December 31, 2014	$30.44
Options outstanding as of December 31, 2013	6 years 2 months 12 days		6 years 8 months 12 days
Weighted Average Remaining Years, Exercisable at December 31, 2014	5 years 3 months 18 days
Options outstanding as of December 31, 2013	$477,618	[1]
Options outstanding as of December 31, 2014	600,112	[1]	477,618	[1]
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options expected to vest at December 31, 2014	101,736	[1]
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Exercisable at December 31, 2014	$485,259	[1]
[1]	The aggregate intrinsic value for outstanding options is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying awards and the quoted price of the Company’s common stock as of the last trading day for the respective year. The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable includes options with an exercise price below $90.40, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2014.

Summary_of_Stock_Option_Activi1

Summary of Stock Option Activity (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014
Compensation Related Costs [Abstract]
Closing price of common stock	$90.40

Stock_Based_Compensation_Addit

Stock Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted-average fair value per option granted	$30.93	$30.77	$16.98
Total intrinsic value of options exercised	$130,100,000	$119,200,000	$94,600,000
Options in-the-money	11,500,000
Recognized compensation costs	86,410,000	64,376,000	47,972,000
Unissued shares authorized for future issuance	22,800,000
Stock-based compensation capitalized to inventory	8,200,000	6,100,000	4,300,000
Stock Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Recognized compensation costs	41,100,000	37,000,000	32,800,000
Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested awards	86,700,000
Unrecognized compensation cost expected to recognized over weighted average period, in years	2 years 6 months
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Recognized compensation costs	4,800,000	3,600,000	2,900,000
Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested awards	8,700,000
Unrecognized compensation cost expected to recognized over weighted average period, in years	1 year 6 months
Restricted Stock With Service Based Vesting Conditions
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Recognized compensation costs	21,300,000	13,000,000	7,300,000
Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested awards	74,600,000
Unrecognized compensation cost expected to recognized over weighted average period, in years	2 years 10 months 24 days
Weighted-average grant date fair value per share of restricted stock units, Grants in period	$64.37	$66.81	$37.81
The total fair value of restricted stock vested and released	22,900,000	19,700,000	7,700,000
Granted restricted stock units	1,540,703	1,133,835
Restricted Stock With Performance and Market Based Vesting Conditions
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Recognized compensation costs	12,900,000	6,500,000
Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested awards	$7,200,000
Unrecognized compensation cost expected to recognized over weighted average period, in years	1 year 2 months 12 days
Granted restricted stock units	860,000	860,000
TSR calculation period, days	20 days
Unissued shares authorized for future issuance	1,075,000
Restricted Stock With Performance and Market Based Vesting Conditions | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total shareholder return, percentage of multiplier range	75.00%
Restricted Stock With Performance and Market Based Vesting Conditions | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total shareholder return, percentage of multiplier range	125.00%

Assumptions_Used_to_Estimate_P

Assumptions Used to Estimate Per Share Fair Value of Stock Options Granted (Detail) (Stock Option)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Expected life	6 years 10 months 24 days		6 years 6 months
Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected volatility	44.00%	44.00%	45.00%
Expected life		6 years 7 months 6 days
Risk-free interest rate	1.80%	1.00%	0.80%
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected volatility	45.00%	47.00%	46.00%
Expected life		6 years 9 months 18 days
Risk-free interest rate	2.30%	2.40%	1.10%

Assumptions_Used_to_Estimate_P1

Assumptions Used to Estimate Per Share Fair Value of Stock Purchase Rights Granted (Detail) (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected volatility		37.00%	31.00%
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected volatility	38.00%
Expected life	6 months	6 months	6 months
Risk-free interest rate	0.10%	0.10%	0.20%
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected volatility	39.00%
Expected life	24 months	24 months	24 months
Risk-free interest rate	0.50%	0.30%	0.30%

Summary_of_NonVested_Restricte

Summary of Non-Vested Restricted Stock Unit Activity (Detail) (Restricted Stock With Service Based Vesting Conditions, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Restricted Stock With Service Based Vesting Conditions
Schedule of Share based Compensation Arrangements by Share based Payment Award, Equity Instruments, Other Than Options, Restricted Stock Units [Line Items]
Shares, Non-vested units as of December 31, 2013	1,133,835
Shares, Granted	884,612
Shares, Vested	-383,332
Shares, Forfeited	-94,412
Shares, Non-vested units as of December 31, 2014	1,540,703	1,133,835
Shares, Non-vested units expected to vest at December 31, 2014	1,412,629
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Non-vested units as of December 31, 2013	$50.97
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Granted	$64.37	$66.81	$37.81
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Vested	$46.72
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Forfeited	$54.96
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Non-vested units as of December 31, 2014	$59.46	$50.97
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Non-vested units expected to vest at December 31, 2014	$59.15
Weighted Average Remaining Years, Non-vested units as of December 31, 2013	2 years 10 months 24 days	2 years 9 months 18 days
Weighted Average Remaining Years, Non-vested units as of December 31, 2014	2 years 10 months 24 days	2 years 9 months 18 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Non-vested units as of December 31, 2013	$79,765
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Non-vested units as of December 31, 2014	139,280	79,765
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Non-vested units expected to vest at December 31, 2014	$127,702

Non_Vested_Base_Restricted_Sto

Non Vested Base Restricted Stock Unit Activity Under Plans (Detail) (Restricted Stock With Performance and Market Based Vesting Conditions, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Restricted Stock With Performance and Market Based Vesting Conditions
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares, Non-vested units as of December 31, 2013	860,000
Shares, Non-vested units as of December 31, 2014	860,000	860,000
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Non-vested units as of December 31, 2013	$34.66
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Non-vested units as of December 31, 2014	$34.66	$34.66
Weighted Average Remaining Years, Non-vested units as of December 31, 2013	1 year 2 months 12 days	2 years 2 months 12 days
Weighted Average Remaining Years, Non-vested units as of December 31, 2014	1 year 2 months 12 days	2 years 2 months 12 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Non-vested units as of December 31, 2013	$60,501
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Non-vested units as of December 31, 2014	$77,744	$60,501

Multiple_Performance_Condition

Multiple Performance Conditions for Vesting Of Base RSUs (Detail) (Restricted Stock With Performance and Market Based Vesting Conditions)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock units, outstanding	860,000	860,000
Product Goals | Approval of Vimizim In US or EU
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage of Base RSUs to Vest Upon Achievement of Goal	35.00%
Base Number of RSUs Granted Before TSR Multiplier	301,000
Product Goals | Approval of pegvaliase (Peg Pal) or Any Other Non Vimizim Product In US Or EU
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage of Base RSUs to Vest Upon Achievement of Goal	25.00%
Base Number of RSUs Granted Before TSR Multiplier	215,000
Financial Goal
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage of Base RSUs to Vest Upon Achievement of Goal	40.00%
Base Number of RSUs Granted Before TSR Multiplier	344,000

Multiple_Performance_Condition1

Multiple Performance Conditions for Vesting Of Base RSUs (Parenthetical) (Detail) (Restricted Stock With Performance and Market Based Vesting Conditions, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
Financial Goal
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total revenues expected, period	2015
Total revenues expected	$775
Approval of Vimizim In US or EU | Product Goals
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Approval of product in the U.S. or EU, date	31-Dec-15
Approval of pegvaliase (Peg Pal) or Any Other Non Vimizim Product In US Or EU | Product Goals
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Approval of product in the U.S. or EU, date	31-Dec-15

Assumptions_Used_to_Estimate_F

Assumptions Used to Estimate Fair Value of Award with Performance and Market Vesting Conditions (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended
	Sep. 05, 2012	29-May-12	Jun. 01, 2011	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Fair value of the Company’s common stock on grant date				$90.40
Restricted Stock With Performance and Market Based Vesting Conditions
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Fair value of the Company’s common stock on grant date	$37.45	$39.06	$28.11
Expected volatility	31.73%	44.87%	47.95%
Risk-free interest rate	0.37%	0.52%	1.42%
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Compensation_Expense_Detail

Compensation Expense (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total stock-based compensation expense	$86,410	$64,376	$47,972
Cost of Sales
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total stock-based compensation expense	6,076	4,860	4,890
Research and Development
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total stock-based compensation expense	33,835	27,763	20,736
Selling, General and Administrative
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total stock-based compensation expense	$46,499	$31,753	$22,346

Amounts_Reclassified_out_of_Ac

Amounts Reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net product revenues	$738,416	$538,360	$496,497
Selling, general and administrative	-302,156	-235,356	-198,173
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	-9,101	150	3,931
NET LOSS	-133,969	-176,353	-114,347
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges | Foreign Exchange Forward | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net product revenues	-1,008	-37
Selling, general and administrative		-40
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	365	28
NET LOSS	($643)	($49)

Summary_of_Changes_in_Accumula

Summary of Changes in Accumulated Balances of Other Comprehensive Income Loss Including Current Period Other Comprehensive Income and Reclassifications (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Equity [Abstract]
Beginning Balance, before tax amount	$7,756	($182)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, before tax amount	-75	361
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, before tax amount
Unrealized holding gains, before tax amount	8,019	9,810
Less: reclassification adjustment for gain realized in net income (loss), before tax amount		-1
Net unrealized holding gain, before tax amount	8,019	9,809
Net unrealized holding gain (loss) on cash flow hedges, before tax amount
Unrealized holding gain (loss), before tax amount	19,292	-2,155
Less: reclassification adjustment for gain realized in net income (loss), before tax amount	1,008	77
Net unrealized holding gain (loss), before tax amount	18,284	-2,232
Other comprehensive income, before tax amount	26,228	7,938
Ending Balance, before tax amount	33,984	7,756	-182
Beginning Balance, tax (expense) benefit	-2,738	-20
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, tax (expense) benefit
Unrealized holding gain arising during the period, tax	-2,931	-3,535	-140
Less: reclassification adjustment for gain realized in net income (loss), tax (expense) benefit	0	0	-40
Net unrealized holding loss, tax (expense) benefit	-2,931	-3,535
Net unrealized holding gain (loss) on cash flow hedges, tax (expense) benefit
Unrealized holding gain (loss) arising during the period, tax	-1,214	789	5,114
Reclassifications to net loss, tax	-365	-28	2,153
Net unrealized holding gain (loss), tax (expense) benefit	-849	817
Other comprehensive income, tax (expense) benefit	-3,780	-2,718
Ending Balance, tax (expense) benefit	-6,518	-2,738	-20
Beginning Balance, net of tax amount	5,018	-202
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax amount	-75	361
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of tax amount
Unrealized holding gains, net of tax amount	5,088	6,275	388
Reclassifications to net loss, net of tax impact of $0, $0 and $40 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.	0	-1	-110
Net change in unrealized holding gains, net of tax	5,088	6,274	278
Net unrealized holding gain (loss) on cash flow hedges, net of tax amount
Unrealized holding gain (loss), net of tax amount	18,078	-1,366	-8,749
Less reclassifications to net loss, net of tax impact of $(365), $(28) and $2,153 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.	643	49	-3,683
Net change in unrealized holding gains (loss), net of tax	17,435	-1,415	-5,066
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAX	22,448	5,220	-5,089
Ending Balance, net of tax amount	$27,466	$5,018	($202)

Consolidated_Net_Product_Reven

Consolidated Net Product Revenue Attributed to Largest Customers (Detail) (Net Product Revenue)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Geographic Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	100.00%		100.00%		100.00%
Geographic Concentration Risk | UNITED STATES
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	51.00%		52.00%		50.00%
Geographic Concentration Risk | Europe
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	19.00%		22.00%		22.00%
Geographic Concentration Risk | Latin America
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	16.00%		13.00%		15.00%
Geographic Concentration Risk | Rest of World
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	14.00%		13.00%		13.00%
Customer Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	52.00%		51.00%		52.00%
Customer Concentration Risk | Customer A
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	15.00%		15.00%		15.00%
Customer Concentration Risk | Customer B
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	14.00%	[1]	16.00%	[1]	16.00%	[1]
Customer Concentration Risk | Customer C
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	12.00%		9.00%		12.00%
Customer Concentration Risk | Customer D
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	11.00%		11.00%		9.00%
[1]	Genzyme is the Company’s sole customer for Aldurazyme and is responsible for marketing and selling Aldurazyme to third-parties. Net product revenues from Genzyme are comprised of royalties on worldwide net Aldurazyme sales and incremental product transfer revenue.

Recovered_Sheet6

Revenue and Credit Concentrations - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of customers accounted for largest balance in accounts receivable	2		2
Accounts receivable, net	144,472,000		117,822,000
Total amount past due	11,400,000
Greater than 90 days
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Total amount past due	400,000
Greater than 180 days
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Total amount past due	300,000
Greater than 365 days
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Total amount past due	18,000,000
Accounts Receivable | Southern European Countries
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	8.00%
Net Product Revenue | Southern European Countries
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	4.00%
Customer Concentration Risk | Customer A
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	34,500,000		26,300,000
Customer Concentration Risk | Accounts Receivable | Customer A
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	42.00%		45.00%
Customer Concentration Risk | Accounts Receivable | Customer B
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	18.00%		15.00%
Customer Concentration Risk | Net Product Revenue
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	52.00%		51.00%		52.00%
Customer Concentration Risk | Net Product Revenue | Customer A
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	15.00%		15.00%		15.00%
Customer Concentration Risk | Net Product Revenue | Customer B
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	14.00%	[1]	16.00%	[1]	16.00%	[1]
[1]	Genzyme is the Company’s sole customer for Aldurazyme and is responsible for marketing and selling Aldurazyme to third-parties. Net product revenues from Genzyme are comprised of royalties on worldwide net Aldurazyme sales and incremental product transfer revenue.

Segment_Information_Additional

Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
	Segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of operating business segment	1

Segment_Information_by_Product

Segment Information by Product Revenue (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Net product revenues	$738,416	$538,360	$496,497
Vimizim
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Net product revenues	77,319	85
Naglazyme
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Net product revenues	334,447	271,244	256,929
Kuvan
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Net product revenues	202,987	167,422	143,106
Aldurazyme
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Net product revenues	105,616	83,545	82,234
Firdapse
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Net product revenues	$18,047	$16,064	$14,228

Summary_of_Total_Revenues_from

Summary of Total Revenues from External Customers and Collaborative Partners by Geographic Region (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total revenues	$751,040	$548,485	$500,723
UNITED STATES
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total revenues	380,044	284,303	249,744
Europe
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total revenues	139,940	115,729	109,865
Latin America
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total revenues	118,562	67,339	74,390
Rest of World
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total revenues	$112,494	$81,114	$66,724

Summary_of_NonMonetary_LongLiv

Summary of Non-Monetary Long-Lived Assets by Geographic Region (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total long-lived assets	$924,437	$733,945
UNITED STATES
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total long-lived assets	820,356	651,815
Rest of World
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total long-lived assets	$104,081	$82,130

Recovered_Sheet7

Acquisition of Zacharon Pharmaceuticals Incorporated - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 04, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value of intangible assets			$42,700,000
Goodwill resulting from acquisition		54,258,000	54,258,000
Zacharon Pharmaceuticals Inc
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total purchase price	11,500,000
Acquisition cash paid, net of transaction costs	9,700,000
Acquisition, transaction cost	800,000
Maximum potential additional consideration milestone payments	134,000,000
Fair value of intangible assets	1,900,000
Discount rate		4.70%
Adjustment to goodwill and deferred tax assets		700,000
Intangible assets	11,680,000
Acquired deferred tax assets	2,625,000
Deferred tax liability	4,217,000
Goodwill resulting from acquisition	$2,715,000

Allocation_of_Purchase_Conside

Allocation of Purchase Consideration Including Contingent Acquisition Consideration Payable (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jan. 04, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Schedule Of Business Acquisitions Purchase Price Allocation [Line Items]
Goodwill	$54,258	$54,258
Zacharon Pharmaceuticals Inc
Schedule Of Business Acquisitions Purchase Price Allocation [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents			560
Other current assets			216
Property, plant and equipment			398
Acquired deferred tax assets			2,625
Other assets			38
IPR&D			11,680
Total identifiable assets acquired			15,517
Accounts payable and accrued expenses			-1,182
Debt assumed			-1,313
Deferred tax liability			-4,217
Total liabilities assumed			-6,712
Total identifiable net assets			8,805
Goodwill			2,715
Net assets acquired			$11,520

Collaborative_Agreements_Addit

Collaborative Agreements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012	31-May-13	Dec. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Term of the collaborative agreement, years	10 years
Accounts receivable	$200,000			$300,000
Termination of collaborative agreement prior to written notice in number of days	90 days
Licensing arrangement, convertible promissory note received	52,288,000	5,000,000
Licensing arrangement, conversion price	$94.15
Royalties on net product sales					7.00%
Royalties on net product sales					10.00%
Non-refundable upfront payment received	67,500,000
Commitments for next five year	61,000,000
If Merck opts in prior to unblinding of first Phase 3 trial | Merck Serono's
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaborative agreements, percentage of payment if Merck elects to opt-in	75.00%
Collaborative agreements, payment for development milestone if Merck elects to opt-in	7,000,000
If Merck opts in after unblinding of first Phase 3 trial | Merck Serono's
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaborative agreements, percentage of payment if Merck elects to opt-in	100.00%
Collaborative agreements, payment for development milestone if Merck elects to opt-in	7,000,000
Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc.
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	100,000			800,000
Licensing arrangement, convertible promissory note received		5,000,000
Licensing arrangement, shares received upon conversion promissory note		6.7
Licensing arrangement, conversion price		$0.75
Licensing arrangement, loss on conversion of promissory note		-2,000,000
Shire Human Genetic Therapies, Inc
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Accounts receivable			18,000,000
Royalties on net product sales			3.00%
Royalties on net product sales			5.00%
Non-refundable upfront payment received			$3,000,000

Recovered_Sheet8

Compensation Agreements and Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Line Items]
Loss in fair value of restricted stock issued	$4,800,000	$4,200,000	$3,200,000
BioMarin Retirement Savings Plan
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Line Items]
Employee contribution of their current compensation		100.00%
Company's contribution to match employees contribution		100.00%
Employer contribution of maximum percentage over employee's annual compensation		3.00%
Employer contribution over employee's annual compensation		6,000
Company's savings plan contribution vesting period, years	4 years
Company's contribution from employment commencement	8,300,000	3,400,000	2,800,000
Deferred Compensation Plan
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of company stock held	$20,200,000	$13,600,000

Recovered_Sheet9

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Lease expiration date	2022
Rent expense	$7.90	$10.40	$10.10
Deferred rent accruals	1.3	9.9
Deferred rent accruals, current	0.7	0.9
Minimum annual commitments	0.7
Contingent payments upon achievement of certain regulatory and licensing milestones	1,398.70
Contingent acquisition consideration payable	42.7
Current Liabilities
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Contingent acquisition consideration payable	3.9
Completed Programs
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Contingent payments upon achievement of certain regulatory and licensing milestones	52.8
San Rafael Corporate Center
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Deferred rent accruals		8.8
Prosensa Holdings N V
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Contingent payments upon achievement of certain regulatory and licensing milestones	$680.10

Minimum_Lease_Payments_for_Fut

Minimum Lease Payments for Future Years (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
2015	$5,738
2016	4,882
2017	3,879
2018	3,207
2019	930
Thereafter	1,677
Total	$20,313

Subsequent_Events_Additional_I

Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2015	Dec. 12, 2014	Feb. 12, 2015	Jan. 15, 2015
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Upfront purchase price		$9,875,000
Contractual right, share price					$4.14
Contractual right, amount					160,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	149,093,647	143,463,668
Proceeds from public offering	117,464,000		235,499,000
Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued				9,775,000
Common stock, issue price				$93.25
Proceeds from public offering				888,200,000
Prosensa Holdings N V
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Business acquisition, share price					$17.75
Upfront purchase price					680,000,000
Liquidation, description	Effective February 12, 2015, Prosensa has been dissolved and is in liquidation under Dutch law.
Prosensa Holdings N V | Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Business acquisition, percentage of shares acquired							93.40%
Offering period that is scheduled to expire							29-Jan-15
Business acquisition, cash paid						$20,800,000	$659,300,000
Approximate number of shares tendered at closing of initial offering							35,000,000
Approximate percentage of shares tendered at closing of initial offering							96.80%