Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) 10-Q 4 May 15 2015 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Apr. 24, 2015
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC / MA
Entity Central Index Key	875320
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-15
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		243,752,247

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Product revenues, net	$130,875	$103,461
Royalty revenues	6,792	10,733
Collaborative revenues	842	4,257
Total revenues	138,509	118,451
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product revenues	9,381	8,572
Royalty expenses	2,926	6,904
Research and development expenses	215,599	238,617
Sales, general and administrative expenses	85,860	74,212
Restructuring (income) expenses	-3,272	6,188
Total costs and expenses	310,494	334,493
Loss from operations	-171,985	-216,042
Interest expense, net	-21,307	-15,717
Other (expense) income, net	-5,113	451
Loss from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	-198,405	-231,308
Provision for income taxes	299	803
Loss from continuing operations	-198,704	-232,111
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit of $0	0	-346
Net loss	-198,704	-232,457
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	98	0
Net loss attributable to Vertex	-198,606	-232,457
Loss from continuing operations	-198,606	-232,111
Loss from discontinued operations	$0	($346)
Net loss from continuing operations:
Net loss per share from continuing operations, basic (usd per share)	($0.83)	($1)
Net loss per share from continuing operations, diluted (usd per share)	($0.83)	($1)
Net loss from discontinued operations:
Net loss from discontinued operations, basic (usd per share)	$0	$0
Net loss from discontinued operations, diluted (usd per share)	$0	$0
Net loss:
Basic (usd per share)	($0.83)	($1)
Diluted (usd per share)	($0.83)	($1)
Shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (in shares)	239,493	232,887
Diluted (in shares)	239,493	232,887

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Tax effect of discontinued operations	$0	$0

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Net loss	($198,704)	($232,457)
Changes in other comprehensive loss:
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on marketable securities	176	-27
Unrealized gains (losses) on foreign currency forward contracts	306	-36
Foreign currency translation adjustment	-608	72
Total changes in other comprehensive loss	-126	9
Comprehensive loss	-198,830	-232,448
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	98	0
Comprehensive loss attributable to Vertex	($198,732)	($232,448)

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$664,879	$625,259
Marketable securities, available for sale	516,255	761,847
Accounts receivable, net	80,332	75,964
Inventories	34,089	30,848
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	62,648	52,593
Total current assets	1,358,203	1,546,511
Property and equipment, net	708,616	715,812
Intangible assets	29,000	29,000
Goodwill	39,915	39,915
Restricted cash	22,141	176
Other assets	7,952	3,265
Total assets	2,165,827	2,334,679
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	43,524	71,194
Accrued expenses	176,981	209,676
Deferred revenues, current portion	15,918	17,468
Accrued restructuring expenses, current portion	13,133	33,107
Capital lease obligations, current portion	19,672	17,806
Senior secured term loan, current portion	28,527	14,206
Other liabilities, current portion	4,683	4,797
Total current liabilities	302,438	368,254
Deferred revenues, excluding current portion	24,000	27,808
Accrued restructuring expenses, excluding current portion	8,355	12,748
Capital lease obligations, excluding current portion	46,471	39,293
Deferred tax liability	15,093	15,044
Fan Pier lease obligation, excluding current portion	472,971	473,073
Senior secured term loan, excluding current portion	266,266	280,569
Other liabilities, excluding current portion	32,696	21,707
Total liabilities	1,168,290	1,238,496
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014	0	0
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014; 243,580,032 and 241,764,398 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	2,399	2,385
Additional paid-in capital	5,877,324	5,777,154
Accumulated other comprehensive income	791	917
Accumulated deficit	-4,904,056	-4,705,450
Total Vertex shareholders' equity	976,458	1,075,006
Noncontrolling interest	21,079	21,177
Total shareholders’ equity	997,537	1,096,183
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$2,165,827	$2,334,679

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Preferred stock, par value (usd per share)	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized (shares)	1,000,000	1,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (shares)	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value (usd per share)	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (shares)	300,000,000	300,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (shares)	243,580,032	241,764,398
Common stock, shares outstanding (shares)	243,580,032	241,764,398

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interest (USD $)	Total	Total Vertex Shareholders' Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit	Noncontrolling Interest
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$1,356,405	$1,356,405	$2,320	$5,321,286	($306)	($3,966,895)	$0
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2013			233,789
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	9	9			9
Net loss	-232,457	-232,457				-232,457	0
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)			2,412
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	60,134	60,134	14	60,120
Stock-based compensation	46,787	46,787		46,787
Balance at Mar. 31, 2014	1,230,878	1,230,878	2,334	5,428,193	-297	-4,199,352	0
Balance (shares) at Mar. 31, 2014			236,201
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	1,096,183	1,075,006	2,385	5,777,154	917	-4,705,450	21,177
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014			241,764
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	-126	-126			-126
Net loss	-198,704	-198,606				-198,606	-98
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)			1,816
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	41,916	41,916	14	41,902
Stock-based compensation	58,268	58,268		58,268
Balance at Mar. 31, 2015	$997,537	$976,458	$2,399	$5,877,324	$791	($4,904,056)	$21,079
Balance (shares) at Mar. 31, 2015			243,580

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	($198,704)	($232,457)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	16,363	15,788
Stock-based compensation expense	57,384	46,580
Other non-cash items, net	629	-173
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	-5,863	25,237
Inventories	-2,635	2,488
Prepaid expenses and other assets	-15,233	-17,937
Accounts payable	-23,556	978
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	-5,866	-13,536
Accrued restructuring expense	-24,367	-4,486
Deferred revenues	-5,333	1,756
Net cash used in operating activities	-207,181	-175,762
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of marketable securities	-125,655	-380,949
Sales and maturities of marketable securities	371,423	376,544
Expenditures for property and equipment	-10,558	-15,526
Increase in restricted cash and cash equivalents	-21,971	0
Decrease (increase) in other assets	799	-476
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	214,038	-20,407
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuances of common stock from employee benefit plans	41,616	60,134
Payments on capital lease obligations	-4,497	-2,622
Proceeds from capital lease financing	13,386	0
Payments on Fan Pier lease obligation	-15,146	-15,146
Payments returned related to Fan Pier lease obligation	0	8,050
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	35,359	50,416
Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash	-2,596	499
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	39,620	-145,254
Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period	625,259	569,299
Cash and cash equivalents—end of period	664,879	424,045
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	6,483	15,970
Cash paid for income taxes	60	140
Capitalization of costs related to Fan Pier lease obligation	0	25,564
Assets acquired under capital lease	0	3,619
Issuances of common stock exercises from employee benefit plans receivable	$964	$0

Basis_of_Presentation_and_Acco

Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies	Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies
	Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated ("Vertex" or the "Company") in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").
	The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the operations of (i) the Company, (ii) its wholly-owned subsidiaries and (iii) consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs). In addition, the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q reflect direct expenses Vertex incurred as a result of the Company's collaboration with a former variable interest entity as discontinued operations. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The Company operates in one segment, pharmaceuticals.
	Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Company's annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted. These interim financial statements, in the opinion of management, reflect all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the interim periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.
	The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full fiscal year. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, which are contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 13, 2015 (the "2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K").
	Use of Estimates and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, and the amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported periods. Significant estimates in these condensed consolidated financial statements have been made in connection with the calculation of revenues, inventories, research and development expenses, stock-based compensation expense, restructuring expense, the fair value of intangible assets, noncontrolling interest, the consolidation of VIEs, leases and the provision for or benefit from income taxes. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions, including in certain circumstances future projections that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in estimates are reflected in reported results in the period in which they become known.
	The Company's significant accounting policies are described in Note A, "Nature of Business and Accounting Policies," in the 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	For a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements please refer to Note A, “Nature of Business and Accounting Policies—Recent Accounting Pronouncements,” in the 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company did not adopt any new accounting pronouncements during the three months ended March 31, 2015 that had a material effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Product_Revenues_Net

Product Revenues, Net	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Product Revenues [Abstract]
Product Revenues, Net	Product Revenues, Net
	The Company sells its products principally to a limited number of specialty pharmacy providers and selected regional wholesalers in North America as well as government-owned and supported customers in international markets (collectively, its “Customers”). The Company's Customers in North America subsequently resell the products to patients and health care providers. The Company recognizes net revenues from product sales upon delivery to the Customer as long as (i) there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists between the Company and the Customer, (ii) collectibility is reasonably assured and (iii) the price is fixed or determinable.
	In order to conclude that the price is fixed or determinable, the Company must be able to (i) calculate its gross product revenues from sales to Customers and (ii) reasonably estimate its net product revenues upon delivery to its Customer's locations. The Company calculates gross product revenues based on the price that the Company charges its Customers. The Company estimates its net product revenues by deducting from its gross product revenues (a) trade allowances, such as invoice discounts for prompt payment and Customer fees, (b) estimated government and private payor rebates, chargebacks and discounts, (c) estimated reserves for expected product returns and (d) estimated costs of incentives offered to certain indirect customers, including patients. The Company makes significant estimates and judgments that materially affect the Company's recognition of net product revenues. In certain instances, the Company may be unable to reasonably conclude that the price is fixed or determinable at the time of delivery, in which case it defers the recognition of revenues. Once the Company is able to determine that the price is fixed or determinable, it recognizes the revenues associated with the units in which revenue recognition was deferred.
	The following table summarizes activity in each of the product revenue allowance and reserve categories for the three months ended March 31, 2015:
		Trade			Rebates,			Product			Other			Total
		Allowances			Chargebacks			Returns			Incentives
					and Discounts
		(in thousands)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	1,463		$	29,102		$	4,713		$	745		$	36,023
	Provision related to current period sales	1,297			9,027			79			830			11,233
	Adjustments related to prior period sales	(87		)	(1,128		)	(410		)	—			(1,625		)
	Credits/payments made	(1,366		)	(7,162		)	(2,788		)	(763		)	(12,079		)
	Balance at March 31, 2015	$	1,307		$	29,839		$	1,594		$	812		$	33,552

Collaborative_Arrangements

Collaborative Arrangements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Collaborative Arrangements
Collaborative Arrangements	Collaborative Arrangements
	Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Incorporated
	In April 2011, the Company entered into an amendment (the “April 2011 Amendment”) to its existing collaboration agreement with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Incorporated (“CFFT”) pursuant to which CFFT agreed to provide financial support for (i) development activities for VX-661, a corrector compound discovered under the collaboration, and (ii) additional research and development activities directed at discovering new corrector compounds.
	Under the April 2011 Amendment, CFFT agreed to provide the Company with up to $75.0 million in funding over approximately five years for corrector-compound research and development activities. The Company retains the right to develop and commercialize KALYDECO (ivacaftor), lumacaftor, VX-661 and any other compounds discovered during the course of the research collaboration with CFFT. The Company recognized no collaborative revenues from this collaboration during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and $2.9 million of collaborative revenues from this collaboration during the three months ended March 31, 2014.
	In the original agreement, as amended prior to the April 2011 Amendment, the Company agreed to pay CFFT tiered royalties calculated as a percentage, ranging from single digits to sub-teens, of annual net sales of any approved drugs discovered during the research term that ended in 2008, including KALYDECO, lumacaftor and VX-661. The April 2011 Amendment provides for a tiered royalty in the same range on net sales of corrector compounds discovered during the research term that began in 2011 and ended in February 2014. In each of the third quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013, CFFT earned a commercial milestone payment of $9.3 million from the Company upon achievement of certain sales levels for KALYDECO. These milestones were reflected in the Company's cost of product revenues. There are no additional commercial milestone payments payable by the Company to CFFT related to sales levels for KALYDECO. The Company also is obligated to make up to two one-time commercial milestone payments to CFFT upon achievement of certain sales levels for corrector compounds such as lumacaftor or VX-661.
	The Company began marketing KALYDECO in the United States and certain countries in the European Union in 2012. The Company has royalty obligations to CFFT for each compound commercialized pursuant to this collaboration until the expiration of patents covering that compound. The Company has patents in the United States and European Union covering the composition-of-matter of ivacaftor that expire in 2027 and 2025, respectively, subject to potential patent life extensions. The Company has patents in the United States and European Union covering the composition-of-matter of lumacaftor that expire in 2030 and 2026, respectively, subject to potential patent life extensions. CFFT may terminate its funding obligations under the collaboration, as amended, in certain circumstances, in which case there will be a proportional adjustment to the royalty rates and commercial milestone payments for certain corrector compounds. The collaboration also may be terminated by either party for a material breach by the other, subject to notice and cure provisions.
	Janssen Pharmaceutica NV
	The Company has a collaboration agreement (the “Janssen HCV Agreement”) with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV (“Janssen NV”) for the development, manufacture and commercialization of telaprevir, which Janssen NV began marketing under the brand name INCIVO in certain of its territories in September 2011. Pursuant to the Janssen HCV Agreement, as amended, Janssen NV has a fully-paid license to manufacture and commercialize INCIVO in its territories including Europe, South America, the Middle East, Africa and Australia, subject to the payment of third-party royalties on net sales of INCIVO.
	During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company recognized $0.6 million and $1.4 million, respectively, as collaborative revenues based on net reimbursements provided by Janssen NV to the Company related to telaprevir development costs.
	In addition to the collaborative revenues, the Company recorded royalty revenues and corresponding royalty expenses related to third-party royalties that Janssen NV remains responsible for based on INCIVO net sales. During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company recognized royalty revenues and related royalty expenses related to the Janssen HCV collaboration of $1.5 million and $4.9 million, respectively.
	Alios BioPharma, Inc.
	In June 2011, the Company entered into a license and collaboration agreement (the “Alios Agreement”) with Alios BioPharma, Inc. (“Alios”), a privately-held biotechnology company. Pursuant to the Alios Agreement, the Company and Alios collaborated on the research, development and commercialization of HCV nucleotide analogues discovered by Alios through April 2014. In April 2014, Vertex and Alios amended the Alios Agreement to eliminate the Company's obligations to conduct further development activities with respect to VX-135. In December 2014, the Alios Agreement terminated in accordance with its terms pursuant to a termination notice delivered by the Company in October 2014. As of September 30, 2014, the Company concluded that it no longer had significant continuing involvement with Alios due to its intent and ability to terminate the Alios Agreement, among other factors; therefore, the operations of Alios are presented as discontinued operations in these condensed consolidated financial statements.
	BioAxone Biosciences, Inc.
	In October 2014, the Company entered into a license and collaboration agreement (the “BioAxone Agreement”) with BioAxone Biosciences, Inc. (“BioAxone”), a privately-held biotechnology company. The Company has determined that BioAxone is a VIE. Accordingly, the Company consolidated BioAxone’s financial statements with the Company’s consolidated financial statements beginning on October 1, 2014 as a business combination. The Company paid BioAxone initial payments of $10.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.
	BioAxone has the potential to receive up to $90.0 million in milestones and fees, including development, regulatory and milestone payments and a license continuation fee. In addition, BioAxone would receive royalties and commercial milestones on future net product sales of VX-210 if any. As of December 31, 2014, the Company recorded $8.4 million of cash and cash equivalents, which were included in prepaid and other current assets, an in-process research and development intangible asset of $29.0 million for VX-210 and a corresponding deferred tax liability of $11.5 million, goodwill of $8.9 million, and noncontrolling interest of $21.2 million related to the BioAxone collaboration. As of March 31, 2015, BioAxone's cash and cash equivalents were $7.7 million, which represented the only balance included in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet related to the BioAxone collaboration that changed significantly compared to December 31, 2014. Vertex has no rights to BioAxone’s cash and accordingly this cash does not affect Vertex’s liquidity or cash position. Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest related to BioAxone for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was not material.
	Vertex holds an option to purchase BioAxone at a predetermined price. The option expires on the earliest of (a) the day the FDA accepts the Biologics License Application submission for VX-210, (b) the day the Company elects to continue the license instead of exercising the option to purchase BioAxone and (c) March 15, 2018, subject to the Company’s option to extend this date by one year.
	The Company uses present-value models to determine the estimated fair value of the contingent milestone and royalty payments, based on assumptions regarding the probability of achieving the relevant milestones, estimates regarding the time to develop drug candidates, estimates of future product sales and the appropriate discount rates. The Company bases its estimate of the probability of achieving the relevant milestones on industry data for similar assets and its own experience. The discount rates used in the valuation model represent a measure of credit risk and market risk associated with settling the liability. Significant judgment is used in determining the appropriateness of these assumptions at each reporting period. Changes in these assumptions could have a material effect on the fair value of the contingent milestone and royalty payments.
	Outlicense Arrangements
	In the ordinary course of the Company's business, the Company has entered into various agreements pursuant to which it has outlicensed rights to certain drug candidates to third-party collaborators. Although, the Company does not consider any of these outlicense arrangements to be material, the most notable of these outlicense arrangements is described below. Pursuant to these outlicense arrangements, our collaborators become responsible for all costs related to the continued development of such drug candidates. Depending on the terms of the arrangements, the Company's collaborators may be required to make upfront payments, milestone payments upon the achievement of certain product research and development objectives and/or pay royalties on future sales, if any, of commercial products resulting from the collaboration.
	Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
	In June 2014, the Company entered into an agreement (the “Janssen Influenza Agreement”) with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Janssen Inc.”), which was amended in October 2014 to clarify certain roles and responsibilities of the parties.
	Pursuant to the Janssen Influenza Agreement, Janssen Inc. has an exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize certain drug candidates for the treatment of influenza, including VX-787. The Company received non-refundable payments of $35.0 million from Janssen Inc. in 2014, which were recorded as collaborative revenue. The Company has the potential to receive development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments as well as royalties on future product sales, if any.
	Janssen Inc. is responsible for costs related to the development and commercialization of the compounds. During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded reimbursement for these development activities of $7.6 million and zero, respectively, as a reduction to development expense in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations primarily due to the fact that Janssen Inc. directs the activities and selects the suppliers associated with these activities. Janssen Inc. may terminate the Janssen Influenza Agreement, subject to certain exceptions, upon six months' notice.

Earnings_Per_Share

Earnings Per Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	Earnings Per Share
	Basic net loss per share attributable to Vertex common shareholders is based upon the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, excluding restricted stock and restricted stock units that have been issued but are not yet vested. Diluted net loss per share attributable to Vertex common shareholders is based upon the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus additional weighted-average common equivalent shares outstanding during the period when the effect is dilutive.
	The Company did not include the securities described in the following table in the computation of the net loss from continuing operations per share attributable to Vertex common shareholder calculations because the effect would have been anti-dilutive during each period:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015	2014
		(in thousands)
	Stock options	12,682	16,078
	Unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units	3,474	2,842

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	Fair Value Measurements
	The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reflects the Company’s estimate of amounts that it would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from sources independent from the Company) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (the Company’s assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:
	Level 1:	Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
	Level 2:	Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
	Level 3:	Unobservable inputs based on the Company’s assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.
	The Company’s investment strategy is focused on capital preservation. The Company invests in instruments that meet the credit quality standards outlined in the Company’s investment policy. This policy also limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issue or type of instrument. As of March 31, 2015, the Company’s investments were in money market funds, government-sponsored enterprise securities, corporate debt securities and commercial paper.
	As of March 31, 2015, all of the Company’s financial assets that were subject to fair value measurements were valued using observable inputs. The Company’s financial assets valued based on Level 1 inputs consisted of money market funds and government-sponsored enterprise securities. The Company’s financial assets valued based on Level 2 inputs consisted of corporate debt securities and commercial paper, which consist of investments in highly-rated investment-grade corporations.
	The following table sets forth the Company’s financial assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurements:
		Fair Value Measurements as of March 31, 2015
					Fair Value Hierarchy
		Total			Level 1		Level 2			Level 3
		(in thousands)
	Financial assets carried at fair value:
	Cash equivalents:
	Money market funds	$	286,581		$	286,581	$	—		$	—
	Marketable securities:
	Government-sponsored enterprise securities	284,115			284,115		—			—
	Corporate debt securities	172,395			—		172,395			—
	Commercial paper	59,745			—		59,745			—
	Prepaid and other current assets:
	Foreign currency forward contracts	2,934			—		2,934			—
	Total financial assets	$	805,770		$	570,696	$	235,074		$	—
	Financial liabilities carried at fair value:
	Other liabilities, current portion:
	Foreign currency forward contracts	$	(282	)	$	—	$	(282	)	$	—
	Other liabilities, excluding current portion:
	Foreign currency forward contracts	(335		)	—		(335		)	—
	Total financial liabilities	$	(617	)	$	—	$	(617	)	$	—
	BioAxone’s cash equivalents of $7.7 million as of March 31, 2015 consisted of money market funds, which are valued based on Level 1 inputs, are not included in the table above. The Company’s noncontrolling interest related to BioAxone includes the fair value of the contingent payments, which are valued based on Level 3 inputs. Please refer to Note C, “Collaborative Arrangements,” for further information.
	As of March 31, 2015, the fair value and carrying value of the Company's Term Loan was $294.8 million, which was recorded on its condensed consolidated balance sheet based on Level 3 inputs computed using the effective interest rate of the Term Loan. The effective interest rate considers the timing and amount of estimated future interest payments. Please refer to Note K, "Long-term Obligations" for further information regarding the Company's Term Loan.

Marketable_Securities

Marketable Securities	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Marketable Securities	Marketable Securities
	A summary of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities is shown below:
		Amortized Cost		Gross		Gross			Fair Value
				Unrealized		Unrealized
				Gains		Losses
		(in thousands)
	As of March 31, 2015
	Cash and cash equivalents:
	Cash and money market funds	$	664,879	$	—	$	—		$	664,879
	Total cash and cash equivalents	$	664,879	$	—	$	—		$	664,879
	Marketable securities:
	Government-sponsored enterprise securities (due within 1 year)	$	284,126	$	5	$	(16	)	$	284,115
	Commercial paper (due within 1 year)	59,688		57		—			59,745
	Corporate debt securities (due within 1 year)	148,958		18		(24		)	148,952
	Corporate debt securities (due after 1 year through 5 years)	23,430		13		—			23,443
	Total marketable securities	$	516,202	$	93	$	(40	)	$	516,255
	Total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities	$	1,181,081	$	93	$	(40	)	$	1,181,134
	As of December 31, 2014
	Cash and cash equivalents:
	Cash and money market funds	$	625,259	$	—	$	—		$	625,259
	Total cash and cash equivalents	$	625,259	$	—	$	—		$	625,259
	Marketable securities:
	Government-sponsored enterprise securities (due within 1 year)	$	463,788	$	14	$	(52	)	$	463,750
	Commercial paper (due within 1 year)	51,674		72		—			51,746
	Corporate debt securities (due within 1 year)	196,065		2		(66		)	196,001
	Corporate debt securities (due after 1 year through 5 years)	50,443		—		(93		)	50,350
	Total marketable securities	$	761,970	$	88	$	(211	)	$	761,847
	Total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities	$	1,387,229	$	88	$	(211	)	$	1,387,106
	The Company has a limited number of marketable securities in insignificant loss positions as of March 31, 2015, which the Company does not intend to sell and has concluded it will not be required to sell before recovery of the amortized costs for the investment at maturity. There were no charges recorded for other-than-temporary declines in fair value of marketable securities nor gross realized gains or losses recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Equity [Abstract]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	A summary of the Company's changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component is shown below:
		Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			Unrealized Holding Gains (Losses) on Marketable Securities			Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Foreign Currency Forward Contracts			Total
		(in thousands)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	(971	)	$	(123	)	$	2,011		$	917
	Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	(608		)	176			2,004			1,572
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	—			—			(1,698		)	(1,698		)
	Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income	$	(608	)	$	176		$	306		$	(126	)
	Balance at March 31, 2015	$	(1,579	)	$	53		$	2,317		$	791
		Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			Unrealized Holding Gains (Losses) on Marketable Securities			Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Foreign Currency Forward Contracts			Total
		(in thousands)
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	(325	)	$	42		$	(23	)	$	(306	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	72			(27		)	(39		)	6
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	—			—			3			3
	Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	$	72		$	(27	)	$	(36	)	$	9
	Balance at March 31, 2014	$	(253	)	$	15		$	(59	)	$	(297	)

Hedging

Hedging	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Hedging	Hedging
	The Company maintains a hedging program intended to mitigate the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates for a portion of the Company’s forecasted product revenues denominated in certain foreign currencies. The program includes foreign currency forward contracts that are designated as cash flow hedges under GAAP having contractual durations from one to eighteen months. To date, the existence of operational sites in countries outside the United States has generally minimized the degree to which the Company has sought to hedge its revenues in certain foreign currencies.
	The Company formally documents the relationship between foreign currency forward contracts (hedging instruments) and forecasted product revenues (hedged items), as well as the Company's risk management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedging activities, which includes matching all foreign currency forward contracts that are designated as cash flow hedges to forecasted transactions. The Company also formally assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the foreign currency forward contracts are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items on a prospective and retrospective basis. If the Company determines that (i) a foreign currency forward contract is not highly effective as a cash flow hedge, (ii) it has ceased to be a highly effective hedge or (iii) a forecasted transaction is no longer probable of occurring, the Company would discontinue hedge accounting treatment prospectively. The Company measures effectiveness based on the change in fair value of the forward contracts and the fair value of the hypothetical foreign currency forward contracts with terms that match the critical terms of the risk being hedged. As of March 31, 2015, all hedges were determined to be highly effective and the Company has not recorded any ineffectiveness related to the hedging program.
	The following table summarizes the notional amount of the Company’s outstanding foreign currency forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges:
		As of March 31, 2015				As of December 31, 2014
	Foreign Currency	(in thousands)
	Euro	$	34,749			$	20,209
	British pound sterling	33,696				13,515
	Australian dollar	20,494				—
	Total foreign currency forward contracts	$	88,939			$	33,724
	The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company's outstanding foreign currency forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges under GAAP included on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets:
	As of March 31, 2015
	Assets						Liabilities
	Classification		Fair Value				Classification		Fair Value
	(in thousands)
	Prepaid and other current assets		$	2,934			Other liabilities, current portion		$	(282	)
	Other assets		—				Other liabilities, excluding current portion		(335		)
	Total assets		$	2,934			Total liabilities		$	(617	)
	As of December 31, 2014
	Assets						Liabilities
	Classification		Fair Value				Classification		Fair Value
	(in thousands)
	Prepaid and other current assets		$	2,011			Other liabilities, current portion		$	—
	Total assets		$	2,011			Total liabilities		$	—
	The following table summarizes the potential effect of offsetting derivatives by type of financial instrument on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets:
		As of March 31, 2015
		Gross Amounts Recognized			Gross Amounts Offset			Gross Amount Presented			Gross Amount Not Offset		Legal Offset
	Foreign currency forward contracts	(in thousands)
	Total assets	2,934			—			2,934			(617	)	2,317
	Total liabilities	(617	)		—			(617	)		617		—
		As of December 31, 2014
		Gross Amounts Recognized			Gross Amounts Offset			Gross Amount Presented			Gross Amount Not Offset		Legal Offset
	Foreign currency forward contracts	(in thousands)
	Total assets	2,011			—			2,011			—		2,011

Inventories

Inventories	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Inventories	Inventories
	Inventories consisted of the following:
		As of March 31, 2015		As of December 31, 2014
		(in thousands)
	Raw materials	$	7,833	$	8,506
	Work-in-process	22,564		20,508
	Finished goods	3,692		1,834
	Total	$	34,089	$	30,848
	As of March 31, 2015, the Company has capitalized $14.1 million of inventory costs related to ORKAMBI, the brand name under which the Company expects to market lumacaftor in combination with ivacaftor, manufactured in preparation for the potential product launch of ORKAMBI in mid-2015 based on its evaluation of, among other factors, information regarding the safety and efficacy of ORKAMBI. In periods prior to July 1, 2014, the Company expensed costs associated with such raw materials and work-in-process as a development expense. In November 2014, the Company submitted a New Drug Application ("NDA") to the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") and a Marketing Authorization Application ("MAA") to the European Medicines Agency for ORKAMBI. The FDA has granted the Company priority review of the NDA. The FDA has scheduled a Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee meeting for May 12, 2015 to discuss the NDA. The target date for the FDA to complete its review of the NDA for the combination under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act is July 5, 2015. The Company plans to continue to monitor the status of these regulatory processes and the other factors used to determine whether or not to capitalize the inventory and, if there are significant negative developments regarding ORKAMBI, the Company could be required to impair previously capitalized costs.

Intangible_Assets_and_Goodwill

Intangible Assets and Goodwill	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill	Intangible Assets and Goodwill
	Intangible Assets
	In October 2014, the Company recorded $29.0 million of an in-process research and development intangible asset on its condensed consolidated balance sheet based on the Company’s estimate of the fair value of VX-210, a drug candidate for patients with spinal cord injuries that is licensed by the Company from BioAxone. The Company used a 7.5% discount rate in the present-value models used to estimate the fair value of the in-process research and development asset. The Company also conducted an evaluation of BioAxone’s other programs and determined that market participants would not have ascribed value to those assets because of the stage of development of those assets. As of March 31, 2015, the Company did not have any additional intangible assets recorded on its condensed consolidated balance sheet.
	Goodwill
	As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, goodwill of $39.9 million was recorded on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets. There were no changes to goodwill recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2015 or 2014.

Longterm_Obligations

Long-term Obligations	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Abstract]
Long-term Obligations	Long-term Obligations
	Fan Pier Leases
	In 2011, the Company entered into two lease agreements, pursuant to which the Company leases approximately 1.1 million square feet of office and laboratory space in two buildings (the “Buildings”) at Fan Pier in Boston, Massachusetts (the “Fan Pier Leases”). The Company commenced lease payments in December 2013, and will make lease payments pursuant to the Fan Pier Leases through December 2028. The Company has an option to extend the term of the Fan Pier Leases for an additional ten years.
	Because the Company was involved in the construction project, the Company was deemed for accounting purposes to be the owner of the Buildings during the construction period and recorded project construction costs incurred by the landlord as an asset and a related financing obligation during the construction period. Upon completion of the Buildings, the Company evaluated the Fan Pier Leases and determined that the Fan Pier Leases did not meet the criteria for “sale-leaseback” treatment. Accordingly, the Company began depreciating the asset and incurring interest expense related to the financing obligation in 2013. The Company bifurcates its lease payments pursuant to the Fan Pier Leases into (i) a portion that is allocated to the Buildings and (ii) a portion that is allocated to the land on which the Buildings were constructed. The portion of the lease obligations allocated to the land is treated as an operating lease that commenced in 2011.
	Property and equipment, net, included $512.3 million and $515.0 million as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, related to construction costs for the Buildings. The carrying value of the Company's lease agreement for the Buildings was $473.3 million and $473.4 million as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.
	Term Loan
	On July 9, 2014, the Company entered into a credit agreement with the lenders party thereto, and Macquarie US Trading LLC ("Macquarie"), as administrative agent. The credit agreement provides for a $300.0 million senior secured term loan ("Term Loan"). The credit agreement also provides that, subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, the Company may request that the lenders establish an incremental senior secured term loan facility in an aggregate amount not to exceed $200.0 million.
	The Term Loan initially bears interest at a rate of 7.2% per annum but shall be reduced to 6.2% per annum on the later to occur of (i) FDA approval in the United States of a product with a label claim for treating patients with cystic fibrosis 12 years of age and older who are homozygous with the F508del mutation ("FDA Approval"), and (ii) the one year anniversary of the closing, in each case, until the second anniversary of the closing. On and after the second anniversary of the closing, the Term Loan will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus 5.0% to 7.5% depending on the receipt of FDA Approval.
	The maturity date of all loans under the facilities is July 9, 2017. Interest is payable quarterly and on the maturity date. The Company is required to repay principal on the Term Loan in installments of $15.0 million per quarter from October 1, 2015 through July 1, 2016 and in installments of $60.0 million per quarter from October 1, 2016 through the maturity date. The Company may prepay the Term Loan, in whole or in part, at any time; provided that prepayments prior to the second anniversary of the closing are subject to a make-whole premium to ensure Macquarie receives approximately the present value of two years of interest payments over the life of the loan.
	The Company's obligations under the facilities are unconditionally guaranteed by certain of its domestic subsidiaries. All obligations under the facilities, and the guarantees of those obligations, are secured, subject to certain exceptions, by substantially all of the Company's assets and the assets of all guarantors, including the pledge of all or a portion of the equity interests of certain of its subsidiaries.
	The credit agreement requires that the Company maintain, on a quarterly basis, a minimum level of KALYDECO net revenues. Further, the credit agreement includes negative covenants, subject to exceptions, restricting or limiting the Company's ability and the ability of its subsidiaries to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, grant liens, engage in certain investment, acquisition and disposition transactions, pay dividends, repurchase capital stock and enter into transactions with affiliates. The credit agreement also contains customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants and events of default, including payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, covenant defaults and cross defaults. If an event of default occurs, the administrative agent would be entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of amounts due under outstanding loans. There have been no events of default as of or during the period ended March 31, 2015.
	Based on the Company's evaluation of the Term Loan, the Company determined that the Term Loan contains several embedded derivatives. These embedded derivatives are clearly and closely related to the host instrument because they relate to the Company's credit risk; therefore, they do not require bifurcation from the host instrument, the Term Loan.
	The Company incurred $5.3 million in fees paid to Macquarie that were recorded as a discount on the Term Loan and are being recorded as interest expense using the effective interest method over the term of the loan in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. As of March 31, 2015, the unamortized discount associated with the Term Loan that was embedded in the senior secured term loan caption on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet was $5.2 million.

Stockbased_Compensation_Expens

Stock-based Compensation Expense	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Stock-based Compensation Expense	Stock-based Compensation Expense
	The Company issues stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units with service conditions, which are generally the vesting periods of the awards. The Company also has issued, to certain members of senior management, restricted stock and restricted stock units that vest upon the earlier of the satisfaction of (i) a performance condition or (ii) a service condition, stock options that vest upon the earlier of the satisfaction of (a) performance conditions or (b) a service condition and restricted stock and restricted stock units that vest upon the satisfaction of (i) a performance condition and (ii) a service condition. In addition, the Company issued pursuant to a retention program restricted stock awards to certain members of senior management that will vest upon the satisfaction of both (i) a performance condition and (ii) a service condition. In addition, the Company issues shares pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan ("ESPP").
	Effective for equity awards granted on or after February 5, 2014, the Company provides to employees who have rendered significant service to the Company and meet certain age requirements, partial or full acceleration of vesting of these equity awards, subject to certain conditions, upon a termination of employment other than for cause.  Less than 5% of the Company’s employees were eligible for partial or full acceleration of any of their equity awards as of March 31, 2015.  The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense related to these awards over the service period from the date of grant until the qualified employees become eligible for partial or full acceleration of vesting.
	During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company recognized the following stock-based compensation expense included in loss from continuing operations:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
		(in thousands)
	Stock-based compensation expense by type of award:
	Stock options	$	28,959		$	25,127
	Restricted stock and restricted stock units	27,169			18,993
	ESPP share issuances	2,140			2,667
	Less stock-based compensation expense capitalized to inventories	(884		)	(207		)
	Total stock-based compensation included in costs and expenses	$	57,384		$	46,580
	Stock-based compensation expense by line item:
	Research and development expenses	$	38,217		$	32,900
	Sales, general and administrative expenses	19,167			13,680
	Total stock-based compensation included in costs and expenses	$	57,384		$	46,580
	The following table sets forth the Company's unrecognized stock-based compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, by type of award and the weighted-average period over which that expense is expected to be recognized:
		As of March 31, 2015
		Unrecognized Expense,			Weighted-average
		Net of			Recognition
		Estimated Forfeitures			Period
		(in thousands)			(in years)
	Type of award:
	Stock options	$	199,256		2.31
	Restricted stock and restricted stock units	$	201,465		2.88
	ESPP share issuances	$	2,205		0.45
	The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2015:
			Options Outstanding						Options Exercisable
	Range of Exercise Prices		Number		Weighted-average		Weighted-average		Number	Weighted-average
			Outstanding		Remaining		Exercise Price		Exercisable	Exercise Price
					Contractual Life
			(in thousands)		(in years)		(per share)		(in thousands)	(per share)
	$17.16–$20.00		165		2.51		$	18.69	165	$	18.69
	$20.01–$40.00		3,207		4.24		$	34.97	2,711	$	34.73
	$40.01–$60.00		3,339		7.33		$	48.55	1,499	$	50.27
	$60.01–$80.00		1,837		8.59		$	76.07	492	$	74.88
	$80.01–$100.00		2,232		8.7		$	90.29	542	$	86.07
	$100.01–$120.00		1,898		9.84		$	109.23	1	$	110.59
	$120.01–$125.63		4		9.82		$	125.63	—	$	—
	Total		12,682		7.28		$	65.17	5,410	$	47.36

Other_Arrangements

Other Arrangements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]
Other Arrangements	Other Arrangements
	Sale of HIV Protease Inhibitor Royalty Stream
	In 2008, the Company sold to a third party its rights to receive royalty payments from GlaxoSmithKline plc, net of royalty amounts to be earned by and due to a third party, for a one-time cash payment of $160.0 million. These royalty payments relate to net sales of HIV protease inhibitors, which had been developed pursuant to a collaboration agreement between the Company and GlaxoSmithKline plc. As of March 31, 2015, the Company had $39.2 million in deferred revenues related to the one-time cash payment, which it is recognizing over the life of the collaboration agreement with GlaxoSmithKline plc based on the units-of-revenue method. In addition, the Company continues to recognize royalty revenues equal to the amount of the third-party subroyalty and an offsetting royalty expense for the third-party subroyalty payment.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes
	The Company is subject to U.S. federal, state, and foreign income taxes. For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded a provision for income taxes of $0.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively, related to state income taxes and income earned in various foreign jurisdictions.
	As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had unrecognized tax benefits of $0.9 million. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to income taxes as a component of income tax expense. As of March 31, 2015, no interest and penalties have been accrued. The Company does not expect that its unrecognized tax benefits will materially increase within the next twelve months. The Company did not recognize any material interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014. In 2015, it is reasonably possible that the Company will reduce the balance of its unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $0.5 million due to the application of statute of limitations and settlements with taxing authorities, all of which would reduce the Company’s effective tax rate.
	The Company continues to maintain a valuation allowance against certain deferred tax assets where it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized because of its extended history of annual losses.
	The Company files U.S. federal income tax returns and income tax returns in various state, local and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to any tax assessment from an income tax examination in the United States before 2010 or any other major taxing jurisdiction for years before 2009, except where the Company has net operating losses or tax credit carryforwards that originated before 2009. The Company is currently under examination by Revenue Quebec for the year ended December 31, 2013 and the Internal Revenue Service, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania for the year ended December 31, 2011. No adjustments have been reported. The Company is not under examination by any other jurisdictions for any tax year. The Company concluded audits with the Canada Revenue Agency and Revenue Quebec during 2014 with no material adjustments.
	The Company currently intends to reinvest the total amount of its unremitted earnings. At March 31, 2015, foreign earnings, which were not significant, have been retained indefinitely by foreign subsidiary companies for reinvestment; therefore, no provision has been made for income taxes that would be payable upon the distribution of such earnings, and it would not be practicable to determine the amount of the related unrecognized deferred income tax liability. Upon repatriation of those earnings, in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company would be subject to U.S. federal income taxes (subject to an adjustment for foreign tax credits) and withholding taxes payable to the various foreign countries.

Restructuring_Liabilities

Restructuring Liabilities	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Restructuring Liabilities	Restructuring Liabilities
	2003 Kendall Restructuring
	In 2003, the Company adopted a plan to restructure its operations to coincide with its increasing internal emphasis on advancing drug candidates through clinical development to commercialization. The restructuring liability relates to specialized laboratory and office space that is leased to the Company pursuant to a 15-year lease that terminates in 2018. The Company has not used more than 50% of this space since it adopted the plan to restructure its operations in 2003. This unused laboratory and office space currently is subleased to third parties.
	The activities related to the restructuring liability for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
		(in thousands)
	Liability, beginning of the period	$	11,596		$	19,115
	Cash payments	(3,985		)	(3,862		)
	Cash received from subleases	2,476			2,689
	Restructuring (income) expense	(581		)	382
	Liability, end of the period	$	9,506		$	18,324
	Fan Pier Move Restructuring
	In connection with the relocation of its Massachusetts operations to Fan Pier in Boston, Massachusetts, which commenced in 2013, the Company is incurring restructuring charges related to its remaining lease obligations at its facilities in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The majority of these restructuring charges were recorded in the third quarter of 2014 upon decommissioning three facilities in Cambridge. During the first quarter of 2015, the Company terminated two of these lease agreements resulting in a credit to restructuring expense equal to the difference between the Company’s estimated future cash flows related to its lease obligations for these facilities and the termination payment paid to the Company’s landlord on the effective date of the termination. The third major facility included in this restructuring activity is 120,000 square feet of the Kendall Square Facility that the Company continued to use for its operations following its 2003 Kendall Restructuring. The rentable square footage in this portion of the Kendall Square Facility was subleased to a third party in February 2015. The Company will continue to incur charges through April 2018 related to the difference between the Company’s estimated future cash flows related to this portion of the Kendall Square Facility, which include an estimate for sublease income to be received from the Company's sublessee and its actual cash flows. The Company discounted the estimated cash flows related to this restructuring activity at a discount rate of 9%.
	The activities related to the restructuring liability for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
		(in thousands)
	Liability, beginning of the period	$	33,390		$	1,079
	Cash payments	(19,256		)	(2,516		)
	Restructuring (income) expense	(2,997		)	5,159
	Liability, end of the period	$	11,137		$	3,722
	Other Restructuring Activities
	The Company has incurred several other restructuring activities that are unrelated to its 2003 Kendall Restructuring and the Fan Pier Move Restructuring. The most significant activity commenced in October 2013 when the Company adopted a restructuring plan that included (i) a workforce reduction primarily related to the commercial support of INCIVEK following the continued and rapid decline in the number of patients being treated with INCIVEK as new medicines for the treatment of HCV infection neared approval and (ii) the write-off of certain assets. This action resulted from the Company's decision to focus its investment on future opportunities in cystic fibrosis and other research and development programs.
	The activities related to the Company's other restructuring liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
		(in thousands)
	Liability, beginning of the period	$	869		$	8,441
	Cash payments	(330		)	(7,267		)
	Restructuring expense	306			647
	Liability, end of the period	$	845		$	1,821

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies
	Financing Arrangements
	As of March 31, 2015, the Company had irrevocable stand-by letters of credit outstanding that were issued in connection with property leases and other similar agreements that were supported by an unsecured credit facility that expired in April 2015. The Company cash collateralized the letters of credit totaling $21.9 million in April 2015. The cash used to support these letters of credit is included in restricted cash as of March 31, 2015 on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet.
	Litigation
	On May 28, 2014, a purported shareholder class action Local No. 8 IBEW Retirement Plan & Trust v. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, et al. was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, naming the Company and certain of the Company's current and former officers and directors as defendants. The lawsuit alleged that the Company made material misrepresentations and/or omissions of material fact in the Company's disclosures during the period from May 7, 2012 through May 29, 2012, all in violation of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. The purported class consists of all persons (excluding defendants) who purchased the Company’s common stock between May 7, 2012 and May 29, 2012. The plaintiffs seek unspecified monetary damages, costs and attorneys’ fees as well as disgorgement of the proceeds from certain individual defendants’ sales of the Company’s stock. On October 8, 2014, the Court approved Local No. 8 IBEW Retirement Fund as lead plaintiff, and Scott and Scott LLP as lead counsel for the plaintiff and the putative class. On February 23, 2015, the Company filed a reply to the plaintiffs’ opposition to its motion to dismiss.  The court heard oral argument on the motion to dismiss on March 6, 2015 and took the motion under advisement. The Company believes the claims to be without merit and intends to vigorously defend the litigation. As of March 31, 2015, the Company has not recorded any reserves for this purported class action.
	Guaranties and Indemnifications
	As permitted under Massachusetts law, the Company’s Articles of Organization and By-laws provide that the Company will indemnify certain of its officers and directors for certain claims asserted against them in connection with their service as an officer or director. The maximum potential amount of future payments that the Company could be required to make under these indemnification provisions is unlimited. However, the Company has purchased directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies that could reduce its monetary exposure and enable it to recover a portion of any future amounts paid. No indemnification claims currently are outstanding, and the Company believes the estimated fair value of these indemnification arrangements is minimal.
	The Company customarily agrees in the ordinary course of its business to indemnification provisions in agreements with clinical trial investigators and sites in its drug development programs, sponsored research agreements with academic and not-for-profit institutions, various comparable agreements involving parties performing services for the Company, and its real estate leases. The Company also customarily agrees to certain indemnification provisions in its drug discovery, development and commercialization collaboration agreements. With respect to the Company’s clinical trials and sponsored research agreements, these indemnification provisions typically apply to any claim asserted against the investigator or the investigator’s institution relating to personal injury or property damage, violations of law or certain breaches of the Company’s contractual obligations arising out of the research or clinical testing of the Company’s compounds or drug candidates. With respect to lease agreements, the indemnification provisions typically apply to claims asserted against the landlord relating to personal injury or property damage caused by the Company, to violations of law by the Company or to certain breaches of the Company’s contractual obligations. The indemnification provisions appearing in the Company’s collaboration agreements are similar to those for the other agreements discussed above, but in addition provide some limited indemnification for its collaborator in the event of third-party claims alleging infringement of intellectual property rights. In each of the cases above, the indemnification obligation generally survives the termination of the agreement for some extended period, although the Company believes the obligation typically has the most relevance during the contract term and for a short period of time thereafter. The maximum potential amount of future payments that the Company could be required to make under these provisions is generally unlimited. The Company has purchased insurance policies covering personal injury, property damage and general liability that reduce its exposure for indemnification and would enable it in many cases to recover all or a portion of any future amounts paid. The Company has never paid any material amounts to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification provisions. Accordingly, the Company believes the estimated fair value of these indemnification arrangements is minimal.
	Other Contingencies
	The Company has certain contingent liabilities that arise in the ordinary course of its business activities. The Company accrues a reserve for contingent liabilities when it is probable that future expenditures will be made and such expenditures can be reasonably estimated. There were no material contingent liabilities accrued as of March 31, 2015 or December 31, 2014.

Basis_of_Presentation_and_Acco1

Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated ("Vertex" or the "Company") in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").
	The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the operations of (i) the Company, (ii) its wholly-owned subsidiaries and (iii) consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs). In addition, the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q reflect direct expenses Vertex incurred as a result of the Company's collaboration with a former variable interest entity as discontinued operations. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The Company operates in one segment, pharmaceuticals.
	Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Company's annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted. These interim financial statements, in the opinion of management, reflect all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the interim periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.
	The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full fiscal year. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, which are contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 13, 2015 (the "2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K").
Use of Estimates and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Use of Estimates and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, and the amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported periods. Significant estimates in these condensed consolidated financial statements have been made in connection with the calculation of revenues, inventories, research and development expenses, stock-based compensation expense, restructuring expense, the fair value of intangible assets, noncontrolling interest, the consolidation of VIEs, leases and the provision for or benefit from income taxes. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions, including in certain circumstances future projections that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in estimates are reflected in reported results in the period in which they become known.
	The Company's significant accounting policies are described in Note A, "Nature of Business and Accounting Policies," in the 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	For a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements please refer to Note A, “Nature of Business and Accounting Policies—Recent Accounting Pronouncements,” in the 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company did not adopt any new accounting pronouncements during the three months ended March 31, 2015 that had a material effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Product_Revenues_Net_Tables

Product Revenues, Net (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Product Revenues [Abstract]
Schedule of product revenue allowances and reserve categories	The following table summarizes activity in each of the product revenue allowance and reserve categories for the three months ended March 31, 2015:
		Trade			Rebates,			Product			Other			Total
		Allowances			Chargebacks			Returns			Incentives
					and Discounts
		(in thousands)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	1,463		$	29,102		$	4,713		$	745		$	36,023
	Provision related to current period sales	1,297			9,027			79			830			11,233
	Adjustments related to prior period sales	(87		)	(1,128		)	(410		)	—			(1,625		)
	Credits/payments made	(1,366		)	(7,162		)	(2,788		)	(763		)	(12,079		)
	Balance at March 31, 2015	$	1,307		$	29,839		$	1,594		$	812		$	33,552

Earnings_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Potential gross common equivalent shares	The Company did not include the securities described in the following table in the computation of the net loss from continuing operations per share attributable to Vertex common shareholder calculations because the effect would have been anti-dilutive during each period:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015	2014
		(in thousands)
	Stock options	12,682	16,078
	Unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units	3,474	2,842

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Financial assets subject to fair value measurements (excluding restricted cash and cash equivalents (Alios))	The following table sets forth the Company’s financial assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurements:
		Fair Value Measurements as of March 31, 2015
					Fair Value Hierarchy
		Total			Level 1		Level 2			Level 3
		(in thousands)
	Financial assets carried at fair value:
	Cash equivalents:
	Money market funds	$	286,581		$	286,581	$	—		$	—
	Marketable securities:
	Government-sponsored enterprise securities	284,115			284,115		—			—
	Corporate debt securities	172,395			—		172,395			—
	Commercial paper	59,745			—		59,745			—
	Prepaid and other current assets:
	Foreign currency forward contracts	2,934			—		2,934			—
	Total financial assets	$	805,770		$	570,696	$	235,074		$	—
	Financial liabilities carried at fair value:
	Other liabilities, current portion:
	Foreign currency forward contracts	$	(282	)	$	—	$	(282	)	$	—
	Other liabilities, excluding current portion:
	Foreign currency forward contracts	(335		)	—		(335		)	—
	Total financial liabilities	$	(617	)	$	—	$	(617	)	$	—

Marketable_Securities_Tables

Marketable Securities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Summary of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities	A summary of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities is shown below:
		Amortized Cost		Gross		Gross			Fair Value
				Unrealized		Unrealized
				Gains		Losses
		(in thousands)
	As of March 31, 2015
	Cash and cash equivalents:
	Cash and money market funds	$	664,879	$	—	$	—		$	664,879
	Total cash and cash equivalents	$	664,879	$	—	$	—		$	664,879
	Marketable securities:
	Government-sponsored enterprise securities (due within 1 year)	$	284,126	$	5	$	(16	)	$	284,115
	Commercial paper (due within 1 year)	59,688		57		—			59,745
	Corporate debt securities (due within 1 year)	148,958		18		(24		)	148,952
	Corporate debt securities (due after 1 year through 5 years)	23,430		13		—			23,443
	Total marketable securities	$	516,202	$	93	$	(40	)	$	516,255
	Total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities	$	1,181,081	$	93	$	(40	)	$	1,181,134
	As of December 31, 2014
	Cash and cash equivalents:
	Cash and money market funds	$	625,259	$	—	$	—		$	625,259
	Total cash and cash equivalents	$	625,259	$	—	$	—		$	625,259
	Marketable securities:
	Government-sponsored enterprise securities (due within 1 year)	$	463,788	$	14	$	(52	)	$	463,750
	Commercial paper (due within 1 year)	51,674		72		—			51,746
	Corporate debt securities (due within 1 year)	196,065		2		(66		)	196,001
	Corporate debt securities (due after 1 year through 5 years)	50,443		—		(93		)	50,350
	Total marketable securities	$	761,970	$	88	$	(211	)	$	761,847
	Total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities	$	1,387,229	$	88	$	(211	)	$	1,387,106

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Equity [Abstract]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	A summary of the Company's changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component is shown below:
		Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			Unrealized Holding Gains (Losses) on Marketable Securities			Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Foreign Currency Forward Contracts			Total
		(in thousands)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	(971	)	$	(123	)	$	2,011		$	917
	Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	(608		)	176			2,004			1,572
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	—			—			(1,698		)	(1,698		)
	Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income	$	(608	)	$	176		$	306		$	(126	)
	Balance at March 31, 2015	$	(1,579	)	$	53		$	2,317		$	791
		Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			Unrealized Holding Gains (Losses) on Marketable Securities			Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Foreign Currency Forward Contracts			Total
		(in thousands)
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	(325	)	$	42		$	(23	)	$	(306	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	72			(27		)	(39		)	6
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	—			—			3			3
	Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	$	72		$	(27	)	$	(36	)	$	9
	Balance at March 31, 2014	$	(253	)	$	15		$	(59	)	$	(297	)

Hedging_Tables

Hedging (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Cash Flow Hedging Instruments	The following table summarizes the notional amount of the Company’s outstanding foreign currency forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges:
		As of March 31, 2015				As of December 31, 2014
	Foreign Currency	(in thousands)
	Euro	$	34,749			$	20,209
	British pound sterling	33,696				13,515
	Australian dollar	20,494				—
	Total foreign currency forward contracts	$	88,939			$	33,724
Schedule of Foreign Exchange Contracts	The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company's outstanding foreign currency forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges under GAAP included on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets:
	As of March 31, 2015
	Assets						Liabilities
	Classification		Fair Value				Classification		Fair Value
	(in thousands)
	Prepaid and other current assets		$	2,934			Other liabilities, current portion		$	(282	)
	Other assets		—				Other liabilities, excluding current portion		(335		)
	Total assets		$	2,934			Total liabilities		$	(617	)
	As of December 31, 2014
	Assets						Liabilities
	Classification		Fair Value				Classification		Fair Value
	(in thousands)
	Prepaid and other current assets		$	2,011			Other liabilities, current portion		$	—
	Total assets		$	2,011			Total liabilities		$	—
Derivatives Offsetting	The following table summarizes the potential effect of offsetting derivatives by type of financial instrument on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets:
		As of March 31, 2015
		Gross Amounts Recognized			Gross Amounts Offset			Gross Amount Presented			Gross Amount Not Offset		Legal Offset
	Foreign currency forward contracts	(in thousands)
	Total assets	2,934			—			2,934			(617	)	2,317
	Total liabilities	(617	)		—			(617	)		617		—
		As of December 31, 2014
		Gross Amounts Recognized			Gross Amounts Offset			Gross Amount Presented			Gross Amount Not Offset		Legal Offset
	Foreign currency forward contracts	(in thousands)
	Total assets	2,011			—			2,011			—		2,011

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Inventories by Type	Inventories consisted of the following:
		As of March 31, 2015		As of December 31, 2014
		(in thousands)
	Raw materials	$	7,833	$	8,506
	Work-in-process	22,564		20,508
	Finished goods	3,692		1,834
	Total	$	34,089	$	30,848

Stockbased_Compensation_Expens1

Stock-based Compensation Expense (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Stock-based compensation expense by line item	During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company recognized the following stock-based compensation expense included in loss from continuing operations:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
		(in thousands)
	Stock-based compensation expense by type of award:
	Stock options	$	28,959		$	25,127
	Restricted stock and restricted stock units	27,169			18,993
	ESPP share issuances	2,140			2,667
	Less stock-based compensation expense capitalized to inventories	(884		)	(207		)
	Total stock-based compensation included in costs and expenses	$	57,384		$	46,580
	Stock-based compensation expense by line item:
	Research and development expenses	$	38,217		$	32,900
	Sales, general and administrative expenses	19,167			13,680
	Total stock-based compensation included in costs and expenses	$	57,384		$	46,580
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures	The following table sets forth the Company's unrecognized stock-based compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, by type of award and the weighted-average period over which that expense is expected to be recognized:
		As of March 31, 2015
		Unrecognized Expense,			Weighted-average
		Net of			Recognition
		Estimated Forfeitures			Period
		(in thousands)			(in years)
	Type of award:
	Stock options	$	199,256		2.31
	Restricted stock and restricted stock units	$	201,465		2.88
	ESPP share issuances	$	2,205		0.45
Stock options outstanding and exercisable	The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2015:
			Options Outstanding						Options Exercisable
	Range of Exercise Prices		Number		Weighted-average		Weighted-average		Number	Weighted-average
			Outstanding		Remaining		Exercise Price		Exercisable	Exercise Price
					Contractual Life
			(in thousands)		(in years)		(per share)		(in thousands)	(per share)
	$17.16–$20.00		165		2.51		$	18.69	165	$	18.69
	$20.01–$40.00		3,207		4.24		$	34.97	2,711	$	34.73
	$40.01–$60.00		3,339		7.33		$	48.55	1,499	$	50.27
	$60.01–$80.00		1,837		8.59		$	76.07	492	$	74.88
	$80.01–$100.00		2,232		8.7		$	90.29	542	$	86.07
	$100.01–$120.00		1,898		9.84		$	109.23	1	$	110.59
	$120.01–$125.63		4		9.82		$	125.63	—	$	—
	Total		12,682		7.28		$	65.17	5,410	$	47.36

Restructuring_Liabilities_Tabl

Restructuring Liabilities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Activity related to the restructuring liability	The activities related to the restructuring liability for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
		(in thousands)
	Liability, beginning of the period	$	11,596		$	19,115
	Cash payments	(3,985		)	(3,862		)
	Cash received from subleases	2,476			2,689
	Restructuring (income) expense	(581		)	382
	Liability, end of the period	$	9,506		$	18,324
Fan Pier Move Restructuring
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges and related liability	The activities related to the restructuring liability for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
		(in thousands)
	Liability, beginning of the period	$	33,390		$	1,079
	Cash payments	(19,256		)	(2,516		)
	Restructuring (income) expense	(2,997		)	5,159
	Liability, end of the period	$	11,137		$	3,722
Other Restructuring
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges and related liability	The activities related to the Company's other restructuring liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
		(in thousands)
	Liability, beginning of the period	$	869		$	8,441
	Cash payments	(330		)	(7,267		)
	Restructuring expense	306			647
	Liability, end of the period	$	845		$	1,821

Basis_of_Presentation_and_Acco2

Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
	segment
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Number of operating segments	1

Product_Revenues_Net_Details

Product Revenues, Net (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Product Revenue Allowance and Reserve [Roll Forward]
Product revenue allowance and reserve, beginning balance	$36,023
Provision related to current period sales	11,233
Adjustments related to prior period sales	-1,625
Credits/payments made	-12,079
Product revenue allowance and reserve, ending balance	33,552
Trade Allowances
Product Revenue Allowance and Reserve [Roll Forward]
Product revenue allowance and reserve, beginning balance	1,463
Provision related to current period sales	1,297
Adjustments related to prior period sales	-87
Credits/payments made	-1,366
Product revenue allowance and reserve, ending balance	1,307
Rebates, Chargebacks and Discounts
Product Revenue Allowance and Reserve [Roll Forward]
Product revenue allowance and reserve, beginning balance	29,102
Provision related to current period sales	9,027
Adjustments related to prior period sales	-1,128
Credits/payments made	-7,162
Product revenue allowance and reserve, ending balance	29,839
Product Returns
Product Revenue Allowance and Reserve [Roll Forward]
Product revenue allowance and reserve, beginning balance	4,713
Provision related to current period sales	79
Adjustments related to prior period sales	-410
Credits/payments made	-2,788
Product revenue allowance and reserve, ending balance	1,594
Other Incentives
Product Revenue Allowance and Reserve [Roll Forward]
Product revenue allowance and reserve, beginning balance	745
Provision related to current period sales	830
Adjustments related to prior period sales	0
Credits/payments made	-763
Product revenue allowance and reserve, ending balance	$812

Collaborative_Arrangements_Det

Collaborative Arrangements (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Schedule of Collaborative Arrangements
Collaborative revenues	$842,000	$4,257,000
Noncontrolling interest	21,079,000			21,177,000	21,177,000
BioAxone Biosciences Inc
Schedule of Collaborative Arrangements
Up-front license payment				10,000,000
License fees and milestone payments (up to)			90,000,000
Goodwill acquired					8,900,000
Noncontrolling interest				21,200,000	21,200,000
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Incorporated
Schedule of Collaborative Arrangements
Collaborative funding						75,000,000
Number of years over which funding will be made (in years)						5 years
Collaborative revenues	0	2,900,000
Milestone payment made							9,300,000	9,300,000
Number of commercial milestone payments for achievement of certain sales levels for corrector compound such as VX-809 or VX-661 (in payments)	2
Janssen
Schedule of Collaborative Arrangements
Net reimbursement for telaprevir development costs	600,000	1,400,000
Royalty Expense	1,500,000	4,900,000
Up-front license payment					35,000,000
Reimbursement Revenue	7,600,000	0
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | BioAxone Biosciences Inc
Schedule of Collaborative Arrangements
Cash and cash equivalents	7,700,000			8,400,000	8,400,000
In-process research and development intangible asset				29,000,000	29,000,000
Deferred tax liability				$11,500,000	$11,500,000

Earnings_Per_Share_Details

Earnings Per Share (Details)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Stock options
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	12,682	16,078
Unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	3,474	2,842

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail

Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Level 3
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Term loan fair value	$294,800,000
Recurring basis
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Total financial assets	805,770,000
Total financial liabilities	-617,000
Recurring basis | Money market funds
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents:	286,581,000
Recurring basis | Government-sponsored enterprise securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Marketable securities:	284,115,000
Recurring basis | Corporate debt securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Marketable securities:	172,395,000
Recurring basis | Commercial paper
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Marketable securities:	59,745,000
Recurring basis | Level 1
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Total financial assets	570,696,000
Total financial liabilities	0
Recurring basis | Level 1 | Money market funds
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents:	286,581,000
Recurring basis | Level 1 | Government-sponsored enterprise securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Marketable securities:	284,115,000
Recurring basis | Level 1 | Corporate debt securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Marketable securities:	0
Recurring basis | Level 1 | Commercial paper
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Marketable securities:	0
Recurring basis | Level 2
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Total financial assets	235,074,000
Total financial liabilities	-617,000
Recurring basis | Level 2 | Money market funds
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents:	0
Recurring basis | Level 2 | Government-sponsored enterprise securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Marketable securities:	0
Recurring basis | Level 2 | Corporate debt securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Marketable securities:	172,395,000
Recurring basis | Level 2 | Commercial paper
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Marketable securities:	59,745,000
Recurring basis | Level 3
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Total financial assets	0
Total financial liabilities	0
Recurring basis | Level 3 | Money market funds
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents:	0
Recurring basis | Level 3 | Government-sponsored enterprise securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Marketable securities:	0
Recurring basis | Level 3 | Corporate debt securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Marketable securities:	0
Recurring basis | Level 3 | Commercial paper
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Marketable securities:	0
Prepaid and other current assets | Foreign currency forward contracts | Recurring basis
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	2,934,000
Prepaid and other current assets | Foreign currency forward contracts | Recurring basis | Level 1
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	0
Prepaid and other current assets | Foreign currency forward contracts | Recurring basis | Level 2
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	2,934,000
Prepaid and other current assets | Foreign currency forward contracts | Recurring basis | Level 3
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	0
Other liabilities, current portion | Foreign currency forward contracts | Recurring basis
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	-282,000
Other liabilities, current portion | Foreign currency forward contracts | Recurring basis | Level 1
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	0
Other liabilities, current portion | Foreign currency forward contracts | Recurring basis | Level 2
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	-282,000
Other liabilities, current portion | Foreign currency forward contracts | Recurring basis | Level 3
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	0
Other liabilities, excluding current portion | Foreign currency forward contracts | Recurring basis
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	-335,000
Other liabilities, excluding current portion | Foreign currency forward contracts | Recurring basis | Level 1
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	0
Other liabilities, excluding current portion | Foreign currency forward contracts | Recurring basis | Level 2
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	-335,000
Other liabilities, excluding current portion | Foreign currency forward contracts | Recurring basis | Level 3
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	0
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | BioAxone Biosciences Inc
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash and cash equivalents	7,700,000	8,400,000
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | BioAxone Biosciences Inc | Level 1
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash and cash equivalents	$7,700,000

Marketable_Securities_Details

Marketable Securities (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Summary of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
Amortized Cost	$1,181,081	$1,387,229
Gross Unrealized Gains	93	88
Gross Unrealized Losses	-40	-211
Fair Value	1,181,134	1,387,106
Total cash and cash equivalents
Summary of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
Amortized Cost	664,879	625,259
Gross Unrealized Gains	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Fair Value	664,879	625,259
Cash and money market funds
Summary of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
Amortized Cost	664,879	625,259
Gross Unrealized Gains	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Fair Value	664,879	625,259
Total marketable securities
Summary of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
Amortized Cost	516,202	761,970
Gross Unrealized Gains	93	88
Gross Unrealized Losses	-40	-211
Fair Value	516,255	761,847
Government-sponsored enterprise securities (due within 1 year)
Summary of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
Amortized Cost	284,126	463,788
Gross Unrealized Gains	5	14
Gross Unrealized Losses	-16	-52
Fair Value	284,115	463,750
Commercial paper (due within 1 year)
Summary of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
Amortized Cost	59,688	51,674
Gross Unrealized Gains	57	72
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Fair Value	59,745	51,746
Corporate debt securities (due within 1 year)
Summary of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
Amortized Cost	148,958	196,065
Gross Unrealized Gains	18	2
Gross Unrealized Losses	-24	-66
Fair Value	148,952	196,001
Corporate debt securities (due after 1 year through 5 years)
Summary of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
Amortized Cost	23,430	50,443
Gross Unrealized Gains	13	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	-93
Fair Value	$23,443	$50,350

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at balance sheet date	$917	($306)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	1,572	6
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	-1,698	3
Total changes in other comprehensive loss	-126	9
Balance at balance sheet date	791	-297
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at balance sheet date	-971	-325
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	-608	72
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	0	0
Total changes in other comprehensive loss	-608	72
Balance at balance sheet date	-1,579	-253
Unrealized Holding Gains (Losses) on Marketable Securities
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at balance sheet date	-123	42
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	176	-27
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	0	0
Total changes in other comprehensive loss	176	-27
Balance at balance sheet date	53	15
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Foreign Currency Forward Contracts
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at balance sheet date	2,011	-23
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	2,004	-39
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	-1,698	3
Total changes in other comprehensive loss	306	-36
Balance at balance sheet date	$2,317	($59)

Hedging_Details

Hedging (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedge Derivative at Fair Value [Abstract]
Fair value - assets	$2,934	$2,011
Fair value - liabilities	-617	0
Offsetting Derivative Assets [Abstract]
Gross Amounts Recognized	2,934	2,011
Gross Amounts Offset	0	0
Gross Amount Presented	2,934	2,011
Gross Amount Not Offset	-617	0
Legal Offset	2,317	2,011
Offsetting Derivative Liabilities [Abstract]
Gross Amounts Recognized	-617
Gross Amounts Offset	0
Gross Amount Presented	617
Gross Amount Not Offset	617
Legal Offset	0
Foreign Currency Forward Contract | Cash Flow Hedging
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount of foreign currency forward contract	88,939	33,724
Euro | Foreign Currency Forward Contract | Cash Flow Hedging
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount of foreign currency forward contract	34,749	20,209
British pound sterling | Foreign Currency Forward Contract | Cash Flow Hedging
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount of foreign currency forward contract	33,696	13,515
Australian dollar | Foreign Currency Forward Contract | Cash Flow Hedging
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount of foreign currency forward contract	20,494	0
Prepaid and other current assets
Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedge Derivative at Fair Value [Abstract]
Fair value - assets	2,934	2,011
Other liabilities, current portion
Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedge Derivative at Fair Value [Abstract]
Fair value - liabilities	-282	0
Other assets
Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedge Derivative at Fair Value [Abstract]
Fair value - assets	0
Other liabilities, excluding current portion
Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedge Derivative at Fair Value [Abstract]
Fair value - liabilities	($335)

Inventories_Schedule_of_Invent

Inventories - Schedule of Inventories (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Raw materials	$7,833	$8,506
Work-in-process	22,564	20,508
Finished goods	3,692	1,834
Total	$34,089	$30,848

Inventories_By_Product_Details

Inventories - By Product (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory [Line Items]
Inventory, Net	$34,089	$30,848
Orkambi [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Inventory, Net	$14,100

Intangible_Assets_and_Goodwill1

Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill	$39,915,000			$39,915,000
Goodwill, period increase (decrease)	0	0
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | BioAxone Biosciences Inc
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
In-process research and development intangible asset				$29,000,000
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | BioAxone Biosciences Inc
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Fair value inputs, discount rate (percent)			7.50%

Longterm_Obligations_Fan_Pier_

Long-term Obligations - Fan Pier Leases (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
	building
	lease
	sqft
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Number of leases	2
Area of real estate property (in square feet)	1,100,000
Number of buildings under lease agreement	2
Optional term of lease agreement (in years)	10 years
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net		$708,616,000	$715,812,000
Construction financing lease obligation, current and noncurrent		473,300,000	473,400,000
Building [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net		$512,300,000	$515,000,000

Longterm_Obligations_Term_Loan

Long-term Obligations - Term Loan (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended
	Jul. 09, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Jul. 09, 2014
Senior Secured Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount of term loan	$300,000,000		$300,000,000
Interest rate, stated percentage	7.20%		7.20%
Contingent interest rate (percent)	6.20%
Minimum age of patients (in years)	12 years
Amount of principal repayment on quarterly installment payments through July 2016	15,000,000
Amount of principal repayment on quarterly installment payments from October 2016	60,000,000
Unamortized discount on term loan	5,300,000	5,200,000	5,300,000
Senior Secured Term Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$200,000,000		$200,000,000
Minimum | Senior Secured Term Loan | LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (percent)	5.00%
Maximum | Senior Secured Term Loan | LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (percent)	7.50%

Stockbased_Compensation_Expens2

Stock-based Compensation Expense (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Stock-based compensation expense:
Less stock-based compensation expense capitalized to inventories	($884)	($207)
Total stock-based compensation included in costs and expenses	57,384	46,580
Stock options
Stock-based compensation expense:
Stock-based compensation expense by type of award	28,959	25,127
Type of award:
Unrecognized Expense, Net of Estimated Forfeitures	199,256
Weighted-average Recognition Period (in years)	2 years 3 months 22 days
Restricted stock and restricted stock units
Stock-based compensation expense:
Stock-based compensation expense by type of award	27,169	18,993
Type of award:
Unrecognized Expense, Net of Estimated Forfeitures	201,465
Weighted-average Recognition Period (in years)	2 years 10 months 17 days
ESPP share issuances
Stock-based compensation expense:
Stock-based compensation expense by type of award	2,140	2,667
Type of award:
Unrecognized Expense, Net of Estimated Forfeitures	2,205
Weighted-average Recognition Period (in years)	5 months 12 days
Research and development expenses
Stock-based compensation expense:
Total stock-based compensation included in costs and expenses	38,217	32,900
Sales, general and administrative expenses
Stock-based compensation expense:
Total stock-based compensation included in costs and expenses	$19,167	$13,680
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Maximum percent of employees eligible for partial or full acceleration of equity awards	5.00%

Stockbased_Compensation_Expens3

Stock-based Compensation Expense (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Exercise price range, options outstanding (in shares)	12,682
Exercise price range, options outstanding, weighted-average remaining contractual life (in years)	7 years 3 months 11 days
Exercise price range, options outstanding, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$65.17
Exercise price range, options exercisable (in shares)	5,410
Exercise price range, options exercisable, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$47.36
$17.16 to $20.00
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Exercise price, low end of range (usd per share)	$17.16
Exercise price, high end of range (usd per share)	$20
Exercise price range, options outstanding (in shares)	165
Exercise price range, options outstanding, weighted-average remaining contractual life (in years)	2 years 6 months 4 days
Exercise price range, options outstanding, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$18.69
Exercise price range, options exercisable (in shares)	165
Exercise price range, options exercisable, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$18.69
$20.01 to $40.00
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Exercise price, low end of range (usd per share)	$20.01
Exercise price, high end of range (usd per share)	$40
Exercise price range, options outstanding (in shares)	3,207
Exercise price range, options outstanding, weighted-average remaining contractual life (in years)	4 years 2 months 27 days
Exercise price range, options outstanding, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$34.97
Exercise price range, options exercisable (in shares)	2,711
Exercise price range, options exercisable, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$34.73
$40.01 to $60.00
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Exercise price, low end of range (usd per share)	$40.01
Exercise price, high end of range (usd per share)	$60
Exercise price range, options outstanding (in shares)	3,339
Exercise price range, options outstanding, weighted-average remaining contractual life (in years)	7 years 3 months 29 days
Exercise price range, options outstanding, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$48.55
Exercise price range, options exercisable (in shares)	1,499
Exercise price range, options exercisable, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$50.27
$60.01 to $80.00
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Exercise price, low end of range (usd per share)	$60.01
Exercise price, high end of range (usd per share)	$80
Exercise price range, options outstanding (in shares)	1,837
Exercise price range, options outstanding, weighted-average remaining contractual life (in years)	8 years 7 months 2 days
Exercise price range, options outstanding, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$76.07
Exercise price range, options exercisable (in shares)	492
Exercise price range, options exercisable, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$74.88
$80.01 to $100.00
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Exercise price, low end of range (usd per share)	$80.01
Exercise price, high end of range (usd per share)	$100
Exercise price range, options outstanding (in shares)	2,232
Exercise price range, options outstanding, weighted-average remaining contractual life (in years)	8 years 8 months 12 days
Exercise price range, options outstanding, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$90.29
Exercise price range, options exercisable (in shares)	542
Exercise price range, options exercisable, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$86.07
$100.01 to $120.00
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Exercise price, low end of range (usd per share)	$100
Exercise price, high end of range (usd per share)	$120
Exercise price range, options outstanding (in shares)	1,898
Exercise price range, options outstanding, weighted-average remaining contractual life (in years)	9 years 10 months 2 days
Exercise price range, options outstanding, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$109.23
Exercise price range, options exercisable (in shares)	1
Exercise price range, options exercisable, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$110.59
$120.01 to $125.63
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Exercise price, low end of range (usd per share)	$120
Exercise price, high end of range (usd per share)	$126
Exercise price range, options outstanding (in shares)	4
Exercise price range, options outstanding, weighted-average remaining contractual life (in years)	9 years 9 months 26 days
Exercise price range, options outstanding, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$125.63
Exercise price range, options exercisable (in shares)	0
Exercise price range, options exercisable, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$0

Other_Arrangements_Details

Other Arrangements (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2008	Mar. 31, 2015
Sale of HIV Protease Inhibitor Royalty Stream
Gross proceeds from sale of royalty rights receivable from GlaxoSmithKline	$160
Deferred revenue royalty purchase agreement		$39.20

Income_Taxes_Details

Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Provision for income taxes	$299,000	$803,000
Unrecognized tax benefits	900,000		900,000
Estimated reduction in unrecognized tax benefits in next fiscal year	$500,000

Restructuring_Liabilities_Deta

Restructuring Liabilities (Details)	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2003	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2011
		lease	sqft
		sqft
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Area of real estate property (in square feet)			1,100,000
Kendall Restructuring
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Lease term (in years)	15 years
Restructuring and related activities, leased office space, maximum percentage used - not more than	50.00%
Fan Pier Move Restructuring
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of leases terminated		2
Area of real estate property (in square feet)		120,000
Discount rate related to leases (percent)		9.00%

Restructuring_Liabilities_Deta1

Restructuring Liabilities (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Restructuring activities
Restructuring (income) expense	($3,272)	$6,188
Kendall Restructuring
Restructuring activities
Liability, beginning of the period	11,596	19,115
Cash payments	-3,985	-3,862
Cash received from subleases	2,476	2,689
Restructuring (income) expense	-581	382
Liability, end of the period	9,506	18,324
Fan Pier Move Restructuring
Restructuring activities
Liability, beginning of the period	33,390	1,079
Cash payments	-19,256	-2,516
Restructuring (income) expense	-2,997	5,159
Liability, end of the period	11,137	3,722
Other Restructuring
Restructuring activities
Liability, beginning of the period	869	8,441
Cash payments	-330	-7,267
Restructuring (income) expense	306	647
Liability, end of the period	$845	$1,821

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (Subsequent Event, USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	$21.90