XML 89 R59.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.7.0.1

Property, Plant and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) SFr in Millions, $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2016 CHF (SFr) | Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Accumulated depreciation |  |  | $ 1,438.1 | $ 1,439.3
Solothurn, Switzerland |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Construction in progress |  |  | 609.8 | $ 481.5
Contractual commitments for the construction of the facility |  |  | $ 216.0 |
Solothurn, Switzerland | Land |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Land purchase | SFr 64.4 | $ 62.5 |  |

X
- Definition Amount of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization for physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.14) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of structure or a modification to a structure under construction. Includes recently completed structures or modifications to structures that have not been placed into service. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGross
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Minimum amount of other commitment not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Excludes commitments explicitly modeled in the taxonomy, including but not limited to, long-term and short-term purchase commitments, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, supply commitments, registration payment arrangements, leases, debt, product warranties, guarantees, environmental remediation obligations, and pensions. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherCommitment
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of acquisition of long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAdditions
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | biib_FacilityLocationAxis=biib_SolothurnSwitzerlandMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_LandMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |