$VRTX
VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC / MA Stock $vrtx

$vrtx Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2020 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000087532021000006 Filed on February 11, 2021

Income Statement

Concept	2020 Q4	2020 Q3	2020 Q2
Revenue	$1.628B	$1.538B	$1.524B
YoY Change	15.18%	61.95%	61.96%
Cost Of Revenue	$203.1M	$186.2M	$184.5M
YoY Change	9.78%	41.14%	35.94%
Gross Profit	$1.425B	$1.352B	$1.340B
YoY Change	16.0%	65.31%	66.34%
Gross Profit Margin	87.52%	87.9%	87.9%
Selling, General & Admin	$211.8M	$184.6M	$191.8M
YoY Change	8.48%	15.58%	22.56%
% of Gross Profit	14.87%	13.65%	14.31%
Research & Development	$466.6M	$493.5M	$420.9M
YoY Change	-2.8%	-11.23%	11.04%
% of Gross Profit	32.75%	36.5%	31.41%
Depreciation & Amortization	$29.30M	$26.70M	$26.70M
YoY Change	11.83%	3.09%	-3.61%
% of Gross Profit	2.06%	1.97%	1.99%
Operating Expenses	$678.4M	$678.0M	$612.7M
YoY Change	0.46%	-5.25%	14.4%
Operating Profit	$745.8M	$672.2M	$718.0M
YoY Change	35.24%	576.75%	165.98%
Interest Expense	$16.29M	$13.86M	$13.87M
YoY Change	14.31%	-4.76%	-6.51%
% of Operating Profit	2.18%	2.06%	1.93%
Other Income/Expense, Net	$156.8M	$84.39M	$116.4M
YoY Change	23.1%	-365.81%	115.73%
Pretax Income	$888.6M	$745.9M	$824.8M
YoY Change	31.27%	955.49%	152.12%
Income Tax	$284.4M	$78.44M	-$12.50M
% Of Pretax Income	32.01%	10.52%	-1.52%
Net Earnings	$604.2M	$667.4M	$837.3M
YoY Change	3.59%	1060.39%	213.08%
Net Earnings / Revenue	37.12%	43.39%	54.92%
Basic Earnings Per Share	$2.32	$2.56	$3.22
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$2.30	$2.53	$3.18
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	260.0M shares	260.4M shares	259.6M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding	263.1M shares	264.1M shares	263.4M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2020 Q4	2020 Q3	2020 Q2
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$6.659B	$6.151B	$5.451B
YoY Change	74.87%	53.93%	37.97%
Cash & Equivalents	$5.988B	$5.358B	$4.831B
Short-Term Investments	$671.0M	$793.0M	$619.0M
Other Short-Term Assets	$79.70M	$270.0M	$233.0M
YoY Change	-62.76%	54.29%	53.29%
Inventory	$280.8M	$245.5M	$219.2M
Prepaid Expenses
Receivables	$885.4M	$791.9M	$791.8M
Other Receivables	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total Short-Term Assets	$8.133B	$7.458B	$6.694B
YoY Change	68.64%	56.13%	42.1%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$1.284B	$920.9M	$728.4M
YoY Change	72.33%	25.55%	-0.38%
Goodwill	$1.000B	$1.002B	$1.002B
YoY Change	0.0%	123.93%	1889.04%
Intangibles	$400.0M	$400.0M	$400.0M
YoY Change	0.0%
Long-Term Investments	$21.00M	$21.00M	$47.00M
YoY Change
Other Assets	$49.30M	$372.3M	$176.6M
YoY Change	-28.94%	365.45%	205.65%
Total Long-Term Assets	$3.618B	$3.843B	$3.522B
YoY Change	3.51%	40.39%	51.65%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$8.133B	$7.458B	$6.694B
Total Long-Term Assets	$3.618B	$3.843B	$3.522B
Total Assets	$11.75B	$11.30B	$10.22B
YoY Change	41.27%	50.4%	45.25%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$155.1M	$107.8M	$101.5M
YoY Change	77.03%	16.49%	31.68%
Accrued Expenses	$1.405B	$1.704B	$1.545B
YoY Change	25.79%	45.15%	44.56%
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$42.00M
YoY Change	40.0%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$1.878B	$2.004B	$1.799B
YoY Change	40.65%	44.29%	42.84%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$539.0M	$547.0M	$522.0M
YoY Change	0.0%	0.92%	-5.43%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$108.4M	$428.5M	$189.1M
YoY Change	9.47%	5507.43%	2259.85%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$108.4M	$428.5M	$189.1M
YoY Change	9.47%	5507.43%	2259.85%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$1.878B	$2.004B	$1.799B
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$108.4M	$428.5M	$189.1M
Total Liabilities	$3.065B	$3.168B	$2.697B
YoY Change	37.25%	40.11%	37.36%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$858.7M	$254.5M	-$413.0M
YoY Change	-146.34%	-110.45%	-83.44%
Common Stock	$7.897B	$7.920B	$7.946B
YoY Change	-0.55%	3.25%	5.01%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$8.687B	$8.133B	$7.519B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$11.75B	$11.30B	$10.22B
YoY Change	41.27%	50.4%	45.25%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2020 Q4	2020 Q3	2020 Q2
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$604.2M	$667.4M	$837.3M
YoY Change	3.59%	1060.39%	213.08%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$29.30M	$26.70M	$26.70M
YoY Change	11.83%	3.09%	-3.61%
Cash From Operating Activities	$491.5M	$907.8M	$1.039B
YoY Change	10.2%	171.15%	123.96%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$47.70M	-$174.8M	-$17.80M
YoY Change	183.93%	619.34%	8.54%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	$291.4M	-$73.10M	$89.80M
YoY Change	-133.1%	-67.47%	-365.68%
Cash From Investing Activities	$243.8M	-$248.0M	$71.90M
YoY Change	-127.18%	-0.4%	-243.23%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	-125.2M	-140.7M	120.0M
YoY Change	-177.57%	-789.71%	-1023.08%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	491.5M	907.8M	1.039B
Cash From Investing Activities	243.8M	-248.0M	71.90M
Cash From Financing Activities	-125.2M	-140.7M	120.0M
Net Change In Cash	610.1M	519.1M	1.230B
YoY Change	-310.67%	388.79%	207.22%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$491.5M	$907.8M	$1.039B
Capital Expenditures	-$47.70M	-$174.8M	-$17.80M
Free Cash Flow	$539.2M	$1.083B	$1.056B
YoY Change	16.51%	201.48%	120.02%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2020	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC / MA
CY2020	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0000875320
CY2020	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2020
CY2020	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
CY2020	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2017	us-gaap	Accounting Standards Update Extensible List AccountingStandardsUpdateExtensibleList	us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201602Member
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	us-gaap:PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndFinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAfterAccumulatedDepreciationAndAmortization
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	us-gaap:PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndFinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAfterAccumulatedDepreciationAndAmortization
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Current Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List FinanceLeaseLiabilityCurrentStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	us-gaap:OtherLiabilitiesCurrent
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Current Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List FinanceLeaseLiabilityCurrentStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	us-gaap:OtherLiabilitiesCurrent
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrentStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	us-gaap:OtherLiabilitiesCurrent
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrentStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	us-gaap:OtherLiabilitiesCurrent
CY2020	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2020	dei	Document Annual Report DocumentAnnualReport	true
CY2020	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2020-12-31
CY2020	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
CY2020	dei	Document Transition Report DocumentTransitionReport	false
CY2020	dei	Entity File Number EntityFileNumber	000-19319
CY2020	dei	Entity Incorporation State Country Code EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode	MA
CY2020	dei	Entity Address Address Line1 EntityAddressAddressLine1	50 Northern Avenue
CY2020	dei	Entity Address City Or Town EntityAddressCityOrTown	Boston
CY2020	dei	Entity Address State Or Province EntityAddressStateOrProvince	MA
CY2020	dei	Entity Tax Identification Number EntityTaxIdentificationNumber	04-3039129
CY2020	dei	Entity Address Postal Zip Code EntityAddressPostalZipCode	02210
CY2020	dei	City Area Code CityAreaCode	617
CY2020	dei	Local Phone Number LocalPhoneNumber	341-6100
CY2020	dei	Security12b Title Security12bTitle	Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value Per Share
CY2020	dei	Trading Symbol TradingSymbol	VRTX
CY2020	dei	Security Exchange Name SecurityExchangeName	NASDAQ
CY2020	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	Yes
CY2020	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2020	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2020	dei	Entity Interactive Data Current EntityInteractiveDataCurrent	Yes
CY2020	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2020	dei	Entity Small Business EntitySmallBusiness	false
CY2020	dei	Entity Emerging Growth Company EntityEmergingGrowthCompany	false
CY2020	dei	Icfr Auditor Attestation Flag IcfrAuditorAttestationFlag	true
CY2020	dei	Entity Shell Company EntityShellCompany	false
CY2020Q2	dei	Entity Public Float EntityPublicFloat	74800000000	USD
CY2021Q1	dei	Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding	259960062	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	6205683000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	4162821000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	3047597000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	736300000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	547758000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	409539000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	1829537000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	1754540000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	1416476000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	770456000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	658498000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	557616000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	13100000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	4459000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	-184000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Indefinitelived Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Indefinitelived Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Indefinitelived Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill	29000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	3349393000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	2965255000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	2412447000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	2856290000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	1197566000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	635150000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	22239000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	63678000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	38352000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	58151000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	58502000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	72471000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	296420000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	192177000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	-790000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss After Reclassification Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossAfterReclassificationTax	14300000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss After Reclassification Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossAfterReclassificationTax	7000000.0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	3116798000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1394919000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	600241000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	405151000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	218109000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-1486862000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	2711647000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	1176810000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	2087103000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	-9793000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	2711647000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1176810000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	2096896000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	10.44
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss After Reclassification Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossAfterReclassificationTax	-7100000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss After Reclassification And Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossAfterReclassificationAndTax	-51555000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss After Reclassification And Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossAfterReclassificationAndTax	-14003000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss After Reclassification And Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossAfterReclassificationAndTax	27438000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-14783000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	10332000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	8855000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	4.58
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CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	10.29
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	4.51
CY2018	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	8.09
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	259841000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	256728000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	254292000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	263396000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	260673000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	259185000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	2711647000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	1176810000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	2087103000	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	1039000	USD
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CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-66507000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-2632000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	36351000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	2645140000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	1174178000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	2123454000	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	-9793000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	2645140000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	1174178000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	2133247000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	5988187000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	3109322000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Current MarketableSecuritiesCurrent	670710000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Current MarketableSecuritiesCurrent	698972000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	4822829000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment And Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset After Accumulated Depreciation And Amortization PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndFinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAfterAccumulatedDepreciationAndAmortization	958534000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	885352000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	633518000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	280777000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	167502000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	308353000	USD
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CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	8133379000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment And Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset After Accumulated Depreciation And Amortization PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndFinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAfterAccumulatedDepreciationAndAmortization	745080000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	1002158000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	1002158000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	400000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	400000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Assets Net DeferredIncomeTaxAssetsNet	882779000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Assets Net DeferredIncomeTaxAssetsNet	1190815000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	325564000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	88202000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	49394000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	69381000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	11751808000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	8318465000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	155139000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	87610000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	1404971000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	1116912000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	317423000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	130305000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	1877533000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	1334827000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Noncurrent FinanceLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	539042000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Noncurrent FinanceLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	538576000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	350463000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	84292000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Liability Noncurrent BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiabilityNoncurrent	189600000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Liability Noncurrent BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiabilityNoncurrent	176500000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	108355000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	99026000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	3064993000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	2233221000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	1000000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	1000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding PreferredStockSharesOutstanding	0	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	0	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding PreferredStockSharesOutstanding	0	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	0	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value PreferredStockValue	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value PreferredStockValue	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	500000000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	500000000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	259890000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	259890000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	258993000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	258993000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	2599000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	2589000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	7894027000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	7937606000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-68480000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-1973000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	858669000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	-1852978000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	8686815000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	6085244000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	11751808000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	8318465000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	2042306000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	36351000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	2087103000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	350043000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Employee Benefit Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeBenefitPlan	288535000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	325656000	USD
CY2018	vrtx	Noncontrolling Interest Increase Decrease From Deconsolidation Variable Interest Entity NoncontrollingInterestIncreaseDecreaseFromDeconsolidationVariableInterestEntity	-3540000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Other StockholdersEquityOther	394000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4435203000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-2632000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	1176810000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	186020000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Adjustments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	5995000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Employee Benefit Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeBenefitPlan	345979000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	362209000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	6085244000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-66507000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	2711647000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	539136000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Adjustments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	200271000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Employee Benefit Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeBenefitPlan	262768000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	433070000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	8686815000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	2711647000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	1176810000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	2087103000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	429461000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	360489000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	325047000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	109515000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	106941000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	72420000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Deferred Liability IncreaseDecreaseInOtherDeferredLiability	277341000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Deferred Liability IncreaseDecreaseInOtherDeferredLiability	167387000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Deferred Liability IncreaseDecreaseInOtherDeferredLiability	-1512325000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni Unrealized Gain Loss EquitySecuritiesFvNiUnrealizedGainLoss	311937000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni Unrealized Gain Loss EquitySecuritiesFvNiUnrealizedGainLoss	197597000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni Unrealized Gain Loss EquitySecuritiesFvNiUnrealizedGainLoss	2558000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	13100000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	4459000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Indefinitelived Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Indefinitelived Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Indefinitelived Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill	29000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	-78832000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	-16942000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	-33579000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	223444000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	225587000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	108152000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	132014000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	64047000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	31965000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	297562000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	-35440000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	-16684000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	51276000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	-22785000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	36554000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	122198000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	172881000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	302755000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities	425092000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities	37997000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities	22144000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	3253505000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	1569330000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	1270286000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	1154212000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities Debt PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	431396000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities Debt PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	537196000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities Debt PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	431918000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	372342000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	475924000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	431576000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Trading Securities Heldforinvestment ProceedsFromSaleOfTradingSecuritiesHeldforinvestment	437567000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Trading Securities Heldforinvestment ProceedsFromSaleOfTradingSecuritiesHeldforinvestment	94936000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Trading Securities Heldforinvestment ProceedsFromSaleOfTradingSecuritiesHeldforinvestment	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	259798000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	75451000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	95449000	USD
CY2020	vrtx	Paymentto Acquire Preferred Stock PaymenttoAcquirePreferredStock	19327000	USD
CY2019	vrtx	Paymentto Acquire Preferred Stock PaymenttoAcquirePreferredStock	39319000	USD
CY2018	vrtx	Paymentto Acquire Preferred Stock PaymenttoAcquirePreferredStock	83471000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Notes Receivable PaymentsToAcquireNotesReceivable	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-202158000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	264946000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Notes Receivable PaymentsToAcquireNotesReceivable	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Notes Receivable PaymentsToAcquireNotesReceivable	15000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Restricted Cash And Investments IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCashAndInvestments	7896000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	99388000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-1235318000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	343244000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	289293000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	539136000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	186020000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	350043000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	200271000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	5995000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finance Lease Principal Payments FinanceLeasePrincipalPayments	42275000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Finance Lease Principal Payments FinanceLeasePrincipalPayments	39185000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Finance Lease Principal Payments FinanceLeasePrincipalPayments	33388000	USD
CY2020	vrtx	Proceeds On Construction Capital Lease Obligations ProceedsOnConstructionCapitalLeaseObligations	13251000	USD
CY2019	vrtx	Proceeds On Construction Capital Lease Obligations ProceedsOnConstructionCapitalLeaseObligations	10046000	USD
CY2018	vrtx	Proceeds On Construction Capital Lease Obligations ProceedsOnConstructionCapitalLeaseObligations	20840000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-1796000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	4683000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	2079000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-505281000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	126773000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-71219000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	20552000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1643000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	-6182000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	2868164000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	462428000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	990727000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	3120681000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	2658253000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1667526000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	5988845000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	3120681000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	2658253000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	54520000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	55554000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	66458000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	191776000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	24730000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	12402000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Fixed Assets Acquired1 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionFixedAssetsAcquired1	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Fixed Assets Acquired1 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionFixedAssetsAcquired1	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Fixed Assets Acquired1 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionFixedAssetsAcquired1	3389000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	1700000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Conversion Of Stock Amount Issued1 ConversionOfStockAmountIssued1	642000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Conversion Of Stock Amount Issued1 ConversionOfStockAmountIssued1	2820000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Conversion Of Stock Amount Issued1 ConversionOfStockAmountIssued1	86000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Cash Cash Equivalents And Marketable Securities CashCashEquivalentsAndMarketableSecurities	6700000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Number Of Operating Segments NumberOfOperatingSegments	1	segment
CY2020	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	<div style="margin-bottom:9pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Use of Estimates</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:9pt;text-indent:18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. 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 consolidated financial statements, and the amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported periods. Significant estimates in these consolidated financial statements have been made in connection with (i) determining the transaction price of revenues, (ii) accounting for acquisitions, including intangible assets, goodwill and contingent consideration and (iii) evaluating deferred tax asset valuation allowances and the provision for 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.</span></div>
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability ContractWithCustomerLiability	191500000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability ContractWithCustomerLiability	62300000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	62300000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	24900000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Concentration Risk Credit Risk ConcentrationRiskCreditRisk	<div style="margin-bottom:9pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Concentration of Credit Risk</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:9pt;text-indent:18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist principally of money market funds and marketable securities. The Company places these investments with highly rated financial institutions, and, by policy, limits the amounts of credit exposure to any one financial institution. These amounts at times may exceed federally insured limits. The Company also maintains a foreign currency hedging program that includes foreign currency forward contracts with several counterparties. The Company has not experienced any credit losses related to these financial instruments and does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk related to these instruments. </span></div>The Company also is subject to credit risk from its accounts receivable related to its product sales and collaborators. The Company evaluates the creditworthiness of each of its customers and has determined that all of its material customers are creditworthy. To date, the Company has not experienced significant losses with respect to the collection of its accounts receivable. The Company believes that its allowances, which are not significant to its consolidated financial statements, are adequate at December 31, 2020.
CY2020	vrtx	Percentageofemployeeseligibleforaccelerationofequityawards Percentageofemployeeseligibleforaccelerationofequityawards	0.05
CY2020	us-gaap	Number Of Operating Segments NumberOfOperatingSegments	1	segment
CY2020	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	-16100000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	-5200000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	-1100000	USD
CY2020	vrtx	Collaborative Arrangement Investmentin Collaborative Partner Amount CollaborativeArrangementInvestmentinCollaborativePartnerAmount	84600000	USD
CY2019	vrtx	Collaborative Arrangement Investmentin Collaborative Partner Amount CollaborativeArrangementInvestmentinCollaborativePartnerAmount	63300000	USD
CY2018	vrtx	Collaborative Arrangement Investmentin Collaborative Partner Amount CollaborativeArrangementInvestmentinCollaborativePartnerAmount	46900000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	2711647000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1176810000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	2096896000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Undistributed Earnings Loss Allocated To Participating Securities Basic UndistributedEarningsLossAllocatedToParticipatingSecuritiesBasic	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Undistributed Earnings Loss Allocated To Participating Securities Basic UndistributedEarningsLossAllocatedToParticipatingSecuritiesBasic	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Undistributed Earnings Loss Allocated To Participating Securities Basic UndistributedEarningsLossAllocatedToParticipatingSecuritiesBasic	501000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	2711647000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	1176810000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	2096395000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	259841000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	256728000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	254292000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	10.44
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	4.58
CY2018	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	8.24
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	2711647000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1176810000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	2096896000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Undistributed Earnings Diluted UndistributedEarningsDiluted	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Undistributed Earnings Diluted UndistributedEarningsDiluted	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Undistributed Earnings Diluted UndistributedEarningsDiluted	492000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	2711647000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	1176810000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	2096404000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	259841000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	256728000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	254292000	shares
CY2020	vrtx	Incremental Common Shares Attributableto Dilutive Effect Other IncrementalCommonSharesAttributabletoDilutiveEffectOther	13000	shares
CY2019	vrtx	Incremental Common Shares Attributableto Dilutive Effect Other IncrementalCommonSharesAttributabletoDilutiveEffectOther	14000	shares
CY2018	vrtx	Incremental Common Shares Attributableto Dilutive Effect Other IncrementalCommonSharesAttributabletoDilutiveEffectOther	17000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	263396000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	260673000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	259185000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	10.29
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	4.51
CY2018	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	8.09
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash	2800000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash	2300000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Liability BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability	176500000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	13100000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Liability BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability	189600000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash	2800000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash	2300000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni Cost EquitySecuritiesFvNiCost	51427000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni Unrealized Gain EquitySecuritiesFvNiUnrealizedGain	144354000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni Unrealized Loss EquitySecuritiesFvNiUnrealizedLoss	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni EquitySecuritiesFvNi	195781000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni Cost EquitySecuritiesFvNiCost	113829000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni Unrealized Gain EquitySecuritiesFvNiUnrealizedGain	168255000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni Unrealized Loss EquitySecuritiesFvNiUnrealizedLoss	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni EquitySecuritiesFvNi	282084000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Debtand Equity Securities Cost DebtandEquitySecuritiesCost	526022000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Debtand Equity Securities Unrealized Gain DebtandEquitySecuritiesUnrealizedGain	144767000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Debtand Equity Securities Unrealized Loss DebtandEquitySecuritiesUnrealizedLoss	79000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Debtand Equity Securities Fair Value DebtandEquitySecuritiesFairValue	670710000	USD
CY2019Q4	vrtx	Debtand Equity Securities Cost DebtandEquitySecuritiesCost	530216000	USD
CY2019Q4	vrtx	Debtand Equity Securities Unrealized Gain DebtandEquitySecuritiesUnrealizedGain	168811000	USD
CY2019Q4	vrtx	Debtand Equity Securities Unrealized Loss DebtandEquitySecuritiesUnrealizedLoss	55000	USD
CY2019Q4	vrtx	Debtand Equity Securities Fair Value DebtandEquitySecuritiesFairValue	698972000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	3615982000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	1243469000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue	3526185000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue	1137942000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Through Five Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsFairValue	89797000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Through Five Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsFairValue	105527000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	3615982000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	1243469000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Impairment Of Investments ImpairmentOfInvestments	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Impairment Of Investments ImpairmentOfInvestments	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Impairment Of Investments ImpairmentOfInvestments	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Investments UnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments	136167000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Investments UnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments	143175000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Investments UnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments	2558000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Before Reclassifications Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax	34577000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Net Of Tax ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax	-1774000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	36351000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Before Reclassifications Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax	22884000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Net Of Tax ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax	25516000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-2632000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment And Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Accumulated Depreciation And Amortization PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndFinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAccumulatedDepreciationAndAmortization	790580000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment And Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Accumulated Depreciation And Amortization PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndFinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAccumulatedDepreciationAndAmortization	692540000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Before Reclassifications Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax	-69419000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Net Of Tax ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax	-2912000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-66507000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	296420000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	192177000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	-790000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	46232000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	26247000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	161324000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	107021000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	73221000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	34234000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	280777000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	167502000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment And Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Before Accumulated Depreciation And Amortization PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndFinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetBeforeAccumulatedDepreciationAndAmortization	1749114000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment And Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Before Accumulated Depreciation And Amortization PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndFinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetBeforeAccumulatedDepreciationAndAmortization	1437620000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	72400000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment And Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset After Accumulated Depreciation And Amortization PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndFinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAfterAccumulatedDepreciationAndAmortization	958534000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment And Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset After Accumulated Depreciation And Amortization PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndFinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAfterAccumulatedDepreciationAndAmortization	745080000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	109500000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	106900000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets OtherIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssets	400000000.0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets OtherIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssets	400000000.0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	1000000000.00	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	1000000000.00	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Product Sales Accrued Liabilities ProductSalesAccruedLiabilities	781903000	USD
CY2019Q4	vrtx	Product Sales Accrued Liabilities ProductSalesAccruedLiabilities	641368000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	169387000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	159464000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Accrued Research Development And Commercial Contract Costs AccruedResearchDevelopmentAndCommercialContractCosts	136704000	USD
CY2019Q4	vrtx	Accrued Research Development And Commercial Contract Costs AccruedResearchDevelopmentAndCommercialContractCosts	105663000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Royalties Current AccruedRoyaltiesCurrent	165404000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Royalties Current AccruedRoyaltiesCurrent	98578000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Taxes Payable Current TaxesPayableCurrent	104173000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Taxes Payable Current TaxesPayableCurrent	72293000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	47400000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	39546000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	1404971000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	1116912000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Flow Hedge Derivative Instrument Liabilities At Fair Value CashFlowHedgeDerivativeInstrumentLiabilitiesAtFairValue	5533000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1665412000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Other Contract Liabilities Current OtherContractLiabilitiesCurrent	191519000	USD
CY2019Q4	vrtx	Other Contract Liabilities Current OtherContractLiabilitiesCurrent	62332000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Flow Hedge Derivative Instrument Liabilities At Fair Value CashFlowHedgeDerivativeInstrumentLiabilitiesAtFairValue	59184000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Current FinanceLeaseLiabilityCurrent	42434000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Current FinanceLeaseLiabilityCurrent	38794000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Current OtherSundryLiabilitiesCurrent	24286000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Current OtherSundryLiabilitiesCurrent	23646000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	317423000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	130305000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	5988187000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	3109322000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	2650134000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	5988845000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	3120681000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	2658253000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1667526000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Sublease Income SubleaseIncome	4021000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	23128000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	11972000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Amortization FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAmortization	51223000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Amortization FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAmortization	49778000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finance Lease Interest Expense FinanceLeaseInterestExpense	50188000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Finance Lease Interest Expense FinanceLeaseInterestExpense	52839000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	30776000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	27997000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	88202000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Sublease Income SubleaseIncome	6391000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	151294000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	136195000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Gross FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetGross	431193000	USD
CY2019Q4	vrtx	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Gross FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetGross	445336000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAsset	431193000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAsset	445336000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Finance Leases Other Current Liabilities FinanceLeasesOtherCurrentLiabilities	42434000	USD
CY2019Q4	vrtx	Finance Leases Other Current Liabilities FinanceLeasesOtherCurrentLiabilities	38795000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Noncurrent FinanceLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	539042000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Noncurrent FinanceLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	538576000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability FinanceLeaseLiability	581476000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability FinanceLeaseLiability	577371000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	325564000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	88202000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	325564000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	10521000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	11504000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	350463000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	84292000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	360984000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	95796000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	85470000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	15266000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Finance Lease And Operating Lease Liability Payment Due Next Twelve Months FinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentDueNextTwelveMonths	100736000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	90020000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	34119000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Finance Lease And Operating Lease Liability Payment Due Year Two FinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentDueYearTwo	124139000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	88185000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	34663000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Finance Lease And Operating Lease Liability Payment Due Year Three FinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentDueYearThree	122848000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	93434000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	34113000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Finance Lease And Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four FinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	127547000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	93421000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	31564000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Finance Lease And Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five FinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	124985000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	416455000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	320684000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Finance Lease And Operating Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five FinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	737139000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	866985000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	470409000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Finance Lease And Operating Lease Liability Payments Due FinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	1337394000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Finance Lease Liability Tenant Allowance FinanceLeaseLiabilityTenantAllowance	0	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Tenant Allowance LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityTenantAllowance	36051000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Finance Lease And Operating Lease Liability Tenant Allowance FinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseLiabilityTenantAllowance	36051000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount FinanceLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	285509000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	73374000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Finance Lease And Operating Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount FinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	358883000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability FinanceLeaseLiability	581476000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	360984000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Finance Lease And Operating Lease Liability FinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseLiability	942460000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P11Y6M29D
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P9Y8M26D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P14Y1M6D
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P9Y8M12D
CY2020	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Operating Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability	293604000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.0836
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.0904
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.0228
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.0375
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	16254000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	10650000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finance Lease Interest Payment On Liability FinanceLeaseInterestPaymentOnLiability	48908000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Finance Lease Interest Payment On Liability FinanceLeaseInterestPaymentOnLiability	50527000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finance Lease Principal Payments FinanceLeasePrincipalPayments	42275000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Finance Lease Principal Payments FinanceLeasePrincipalPayments	39185000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Finance Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForFinanceLeaseLiability	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Operating Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability	34605000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Finance Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForFinanceLeaseLiability	33128000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	17300000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	500000000	shares
CY2020	vrtx	Common Stock Votes Per Each Share CommonStockVotesPerEachShare	1	vote
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	1000000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding PreferredStockSharesOutstanding	0	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	0	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding PreferredStockSharesOutstanding	0	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	0	shares
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOutstandingNumber	7615677	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Available For Grant ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant	13385321	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	6272000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	134.92
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod	23000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	286.27
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	1883000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	121.42
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod	174000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	165.39
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Expirations In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriod	0	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Expirations In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	4238000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	140.47
CY2020	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P6Y4M2D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	397211000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber	2894000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice	125.83
CY2020	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P5Y8M23D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1	313936000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	255000000.0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	325900000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	258200000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	228200000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	317800000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	263400000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Number Of Outstanding Options ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfOutstandingOptions	4238000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Outstanding Options Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeOutstandingOptionsWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P6Y4M2D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Outstanding Options Weighted Average Exercise Price Beginning Balance1 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeOutstandingOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePriceBeginningBalance1	140.47
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Number Of Exercisable Options ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfExercisableOptions	2894000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Exercisable Options Weighted Average Exercise Price1 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePrice1	125.83
CY2020	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs Capitalized Amount EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount	3609000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	429461000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee Percent DefinedContributionPlanMaximumAnnualContributionsPerEmployeePercent	0.60
CY2020	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	19200000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	15800000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	13900000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs Capitalized Amount EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount	1720000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs Capitalized Amount EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount	585000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Compensation Cost1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardCompensationCost1	429461000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Compensation Cost1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardCompensationCost1	360489000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Compensation Cost1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardCompensationCost1	325047000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	146959000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	124225000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	282502000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	236264000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	325047000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	360489000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	325047000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod	22636	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod	1520743	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod	2297328	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	71377000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	2885423000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	1263379000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	812086000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	231375000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	131540000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	-211845000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	3116798000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1394919000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	600241000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	772000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	37582000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	37194000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	15600000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	18851000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	13528000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	9018000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	127810000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	50722000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	25390000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	510220000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	184312000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-1105053000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-239579000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-24797000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-364919000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	6700000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	7872000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-42280000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	277341000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	167387000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-1512252000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	405151000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	218109000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-1486862000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	3116798000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1394919000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	600241000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	654528000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	292933000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	126051000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	18596000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	101235000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	5433000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	6178000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	23427000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	8478000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	8680000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Credits IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCredits	55824000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Credits IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCredits	59459000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Credits IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCredits	52629000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	17384000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-2672000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-1563169000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	-37688000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Share Based Compensation Cost IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost	-70628000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Share Based Compensation Cost IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost	-56324000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Share Based Compensation Cost IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost	-49044000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount	13079000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount	10666000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount	8310000	USD
CY2020	vrtx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Intercompany Receivable Write Off Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationIntercompanyReceivableWriteOffAmount	-53821000	USD
CY2019	vrtx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Intercompany Receivable Write Off Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationIntercompanyReceivableWriteOffAmount	0	USD
CY2018	vrtx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Intercompany Receivable Write Off Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationIntercompanyReceivableWriteOffAmount	0	USD
CY2020	vrtx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Deconsolidation Of Variable Interest Entity Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeconsolidationOfVariableInterestEntityAmount	0	USD
CY2019	vrtx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Deconsolidation Of Variable Interest Entity Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeconsolidationOfVariableInterestEntityAmount	0	USD
CY2018	vrtx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Deconsolidation Of Variable Interest Entity Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeconsolidationOfVariableInterestEntityAmount	9390000	USD
CY2020	vrtx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Uncertian Tax Positions Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationUncertianTaxPositionsAmount	39808000	USD
CY2019	vrtx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Uncertian Tax Positions Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationUncertianTaxPositionsAmount	14070000	USD
CY2018	vrtx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Uncertian Tax Positions Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationUncertianTaxPositionsAmount	15431000	USD
CY2020	vrtx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Inter Entity Transfer Of Intellectual Property Rights Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationInterEntityTransferOfIntellectualPropertyRightsAmount	-209000000	USD
CY2019	vrtx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Inter Entity Transfer Of Intellectual Property Rights Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationInterEntityTransferOfIntellectualPropertyRightsAmount	0	USD
CY2018	vrtx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Inter Entity Transfer Of Intellectual Property Rights Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationInterEntityTransferOfIntellectualPropertyRightsAmount	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	4160000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	5407000	USD
CY2020	vrtx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Us Deemed Dividend Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationUSDeemedDividendAmount	71727000	USD
CY2019	vrtx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Us Deemed Dividend Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationUSDeemedDividendAmount	79000	USD
CY2018	vrtx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Us Deemed Dividend Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationUSDeemedDividendAmount	64000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	11557000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	405151000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	218109000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-1486862000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.13
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.16
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-209000000.0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	140563000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	512256000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards	406120000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards	549543000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Deferred Tax Assets Intangibles DeferredTaxAssetsIntangibles	507484000	USD
CY2019Q4	vrtx	Deferred Tax Assets Intangibles DeferredTaxAssetsIntangibles	275290000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Deferred Income DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredIncome	20962000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Deferred Income DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredIncome	18833000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	89203000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	33920000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	19549000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	75800000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	85199000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Deferred Tax Assets Accrued Expenses And Other DeferredTaxAssetsAccruedExpensesAndOther	47326000	USD
CY2019Q4	vrtx	Deferred Tax Assets Accrued Expenses And Other DeferredTaxAssetsAccruedExpensesAndOther	44367000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Deferred Tax Assets Lease Obligation DeferredTaxAssetsLeaseObligation	118749000	USD
CY2019Q4	vrtx	Deferred Tax Assets Lease Obligation DeferredTaxAssetsLeaseObligation	119160000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Lease Assets DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLeaseAssets	65046000	USD
CY2019Q4	vrtx	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Lease Assets DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLeaseAssets	13114000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	987000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	8596000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	1396440000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	1626358000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	213750000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	205192000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	1182690000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	1421166000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	116955000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets	87025000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets	87160000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Investments DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInvestments	17553000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Investments DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInvestments	28838000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Leasing Arrangements DeferredTaxLiabilitiesLeasingArrangements	63310000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Leasing Arrangements DeferredTaxLiabilitiesLeasingArrangements	13118000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	15068000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	882779000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	1190815000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	33920000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	19549000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	3814000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	26653000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	14407000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	9704000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	26732000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	598000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	6031000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	156000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	478000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	657000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	86648000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	33900000	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Indemnification Claims IndemnificationClaims	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	19500000	USD
CY2020	vrtx	Number Of Credit Agreements NumberOfCreditAgreements	2	credit_agreement
CY2019Q4	vrtx	Contingent Liabilities ContingentLiabilities	0	USD
CY2020Q4	vrtx	Contingent Liabilities ContingentLiabilities	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Number Of Operating Segments NumberOfOperatingSegments	1	segment
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	6205683000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	4162821000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	3047597000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Noncurrent Assets NoncurrentAssets	1284098000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Noncurrent Assets NoncurrentAssets	833282000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	1515107000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	1524485000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	1538271000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	1627820000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	162497000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	184520000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	186182000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	203101000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	448528000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	420928000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	493497000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	466584000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	182258000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	191804000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	184551000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	211843000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	1600000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	9200000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	1800000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	500000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	794883000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	806452000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	866030000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	882028000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	720224000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	718033000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	672241000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	745792000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	12576000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	4243000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	3100000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	2320000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	14136000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	13871000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	13856000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	16288000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	-61130000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	116365000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	84386000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	156799000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	657534000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	824770000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	745871000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	888623000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	54781000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-12500000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	78437000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	284433000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	602753000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	837270000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	667434000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	604190000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.32
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	3.22
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.56
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.32
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.29
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	3.18
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.53
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.30
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	259815000	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	259637000	shares
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	260392000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	260038000	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	263515000	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	263403000	shares
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	264079000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	263106000	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	858435000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	941293000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	949828000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	1413265000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	95092000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	135740000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	131914000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	185012000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	339490000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	379091000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	555948000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	480011000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	147045000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	156502000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	159674000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	195277000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	0	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	0	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	2959000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	1500000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	581627000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	671333000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	850495000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	861800000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	276808000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	269960000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	99333000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	551465000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	15615000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	18076000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	17628000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	12359000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	14868000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	14837000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	14548000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	14249000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	42610000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	53939000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	-31747000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	127375000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	320165000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	327138000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	70666000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	676950000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	51534000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	59711000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	13148000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	93716000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	268631000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	267427000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	57518000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	583234000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.05
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.04
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.22
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.26
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.03
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.03
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.22
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.23
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	255695000	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	256154000	shares
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	256946000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	258003000	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	260175000	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	259822000	shares
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	260473000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	262108000	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-209000000.0	USD

Files In Submission

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$VRTX
VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC / MA Stock $vrtx

2020 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000087532021000006 Filed on February 11, 2021

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$VRTX VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC / MA Stock $vrtx

2020 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000087532021000006 Filed on February 11, 2021

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$VRTX
VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC / MA Stock $vrtx