Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued Or Issuable, Trading Day Period

No definition available.

Name:	ptct_BusinessAcquisitionEquityInterestIssuedOrIssuableTradingDayPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	ptct_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Business Acquisition, Numerator For Calculation Of Number Of Shares Of Equity Interests Issued To Acquire Entity

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ptct_BusinessAcquisitionNumeratorForCalculationOfNumberOfSharesOfEquityInterestsIssuedToAcquireEntity
Namespace Prefix:	ptct_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Cash consideration payment under Rights Exchange Agreement

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ptct_CashconsiderationpaymentunderRightsExchangeAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	ptct_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contingent Liability, Milestone, Potential Achievements, Net Sales Milestone And Regulatory Approval

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ptct_ContingentLiabilityMilestonePotentialAchievementsNetSalesMilestone
Namespace Prefix:	ptct_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contingent Liability, Milestone, Potential Achievements, Priority Review Voucher Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ptct_ContingentLiabilityMilestonePotentialAchievementsPriorityReviewVoucherAmount
Namespace Prefix:	ptct_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contingent Liability, Milestone, Potential Achievements, Priority Review Voucher Amount, Net of Cancellation and Forfeiture

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ptct_ContingentLiabilityMilestonePotentialAchievementsPriorityReviewVoucherAmountNetofCancellationandForfeiture
Namespace Prefix:	ptct_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contingent Liability, Milestone, Potential Achievements, Product Sales Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ptct_ContingentLiabilityMilestonePotentialAchievementsProductSalesPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	ptct_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the development milestones payments which the entity is obligated to pay under certain contractual agreements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ptct_DevelopmentMilestonePaymentObligationsDueOnSecondAnniversaryYearOfMergerClosing
Namespace Prefix:	ptct_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Development Milestone Payment Obligations, net of cancellation and forfeiture

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ptct_DevelopmentMilestonePaymentObligationsNetofCancellationandForfeiture
Namespace Prefix:	ptct_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Shares to issue under Rights Exchange Agreement

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ptct_SharestoissueunderRightsExchangeAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	ptct_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of shares of equity interests issued or issuable to acquire entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionEquityInterestsIssuedOrIssuableNumberOfSharesIssued
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- 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_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cumulative amount of the reporting entity's undistributed earnings or deficit.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(30)(a)(3))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(23)(a)(4))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=ptct_RightsExchangeAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ptct_ConvertibleSeniorNotes1.5DueSeptember152026Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ptct_ConvertibleSeniorNotes3.0PercentDue2022Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=us-gaap_NoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=ptct_MarathonPharmaceuticalsLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ptct_AgilisMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

The Company - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			6 Months Ended
The Company - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 29, 2020	Aug. 23, 2018	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 29, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Apr. 20, 2017	Aug. 31, 2015
Long-term debt
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)			$ (1,484,831)		$ (1,190,499)
Rights Exchange Agreement [Member]
Long-term debt
Shares to issue under Rights Exchange Agreement	2,821,176
Cash consideration payment under Rights Exchange Agreement	$ 36,900
Convertible debt \| 1.50% Convertible senior notes due 2026
Long-term debt
Interest rate ( as a percent )			1.50%		1.50%
Convertible debt \| 3.00% Convertible senior notes due 2022
Long-term debt
Interest rate ( as a percent )							3.00%
Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions \| Marathon Pharmaceuticals, LLC
Long-term debt
Development milestone payments which the entity is obligated to pay						$ 50,000
Agilis
Long-term debt
Cash consideration		$ 49,200
Equity Interest Issued, number of shares (in shares)		3,500,907
Numerator for calculation of number of shares of equity interests issued to acquire entity		$ 150,000
Trading day period		10 days
Development milestone payments which the entity is obligated to pay	40,000		$ 40,000
Development Milestone Payment Obligations, Net of Cancellation and Forfeiture			$ 22,400
Net sales amount	$ 150,000
Agilis \| Minimum
Long-term debt
Development milestone payments which the entity is obligated to pay				$ 37,600
Product sales	2.00%		2.00%
Agilis \| Maximum
Long-term debt
Development milestone payments which the entity is obligated to pay			$ 60,000	$ 40,000
Priority review voucher amount			535,000
Net sales amount			$ 150,000
Product sales	6.00%		6.00%
Agilis \| Rights Exchange Agreement [Member]
Long-term debt
Priority review voucher amount	$ 174,000
Development Milestone Payment Obligations, Net of Cancellation and Forfeiture	22,400
Contingent Liability, Milestone, Potential Achievements, Priority Review Voucher Amount, Net of Cancellation and Forfeiture	$ 361,000
Agilis \| Rights Exchange Agreement [Member] \| Maximum
Long-term debt
Contingent Liability, Milestone, Potential Achievements, Priority Review Voucher Amount, Net of Cancellation and Forfeiture			$ 361,000
Agilis \| Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions
Long-term debt
Development milestone payments which the entity is obligated to pay			$ 40,000