Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Collaboration Agreement (Details)

v2.4.0.6
Collaboration Agreement (Details) (USD $)
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2009
Dec. 31, 2012
Sep. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2012
Mar. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Sep. 30, 2011
Jun. 30, 2011
Mar. 31, 2011
Jun. 30, 2010
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Mar. 21, 2012
Oct. 22, 2010
Collaboration Agreement (Textual) [Abstract]                              
Maximum amount receivable                     $ 370,000,000        
Equity investment   15,000       10,000         15,000 10,000      
Common shares, purchase price                           $ 12.00 $ 15.75
Research and development   15,645,000 12,895,000 6,326,000 5,082,000 7,477,000 3,814,000 5,409,000 4,853,000   39,948,000 21,553,000 18,483,000    
Royalties at percentage rates ranging                     Mid-teens to mid-twenties on net sales        
Income tax recovery                   3,000,000     (3,000,000)    
Collaboration Agreement (Additional Textual) [Abstract]                              
Royalty Expense                     0        
Average premium period 30 days                            
TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. [Member]
                              
Collaboration Agreement (Textual) [Abstract]                              
Collaboration agreement aggregate amount 50,000,000                            
Maximum amount receivable 370,000,000                            
Equity investment   10,000,000                 10,000,000        
Period of authorization change                     90 days        
Royalties at percentage rates ranging                     Mid-teens to mid-twenties on net sales        
Expiration of royalties                     10 years        
Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. and University of British Columbia [Member]
                              
Collaboration Agreement (Textual) [Abstract]                              
Milestone payment due                     20,000,000        
Period of milestone payment                     21 days        
Reserve for contingency of non payment of non-royalty milestone amount   20,000,000                 20,000,000        
Milestone payment made   10,000,000                 10,000,000        
Balance amount of milestone payment   10,000,000                 10,000,000        
Balance in advanced reimbursement of development activities   30,000,000                 30,000,000        
Minimum [Member] | TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. [Member]
                              
Collaboration Agreement (Textual) [Abstract]                              
Terminate of collaboration agreement                     3 months        
Maximum [Member] | TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. [Member]
                              
Collaboration Agreement (Textual) [Abstract]                              
Terminate of collaboration agreement                     6 months        
Collaboration Agreement [Member] | TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. [Member]
                              
Collaboration Agreement (Textual) [Abstract]                              
Collaboration agreement aggregate amount                     50,000,000        
Maximum amount receivable                     370,000,000        
Equity investment   10,000,000                 10,000,000        
Share premium                     20.00%        
Common shares, purchase price   $ 37.38                 $ 37.38        
Common shares purchased                     267,531        
Research and development                     10,000,000        
Payment related to license agreement                     300,000        
Percentage of milestone payments required to be paid to third party                     31.00%        
Direct and indirect development costs                     30,000,000        
Contribution to the development of custirsen   30,000,000                 30,000,000        
Revenue                     20,100,000 5,500,000      
Potential withholdings tax obligation                     3,000,000        
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   3,000,000                 3,000,000        
Amount released from escrow                     3,000,000        
Liability released                     $ 3,000,000        
Collaboration Agreement [Member] | Minimum [Member] | TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. [Member]
                              
Collaboration Agreement (Textual) [Abstract]                              
Percentage of net sales required to be paid as royalty to third party                     4.88%        
Collaboration Agreement [Member] | Maximum [Member] | TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. [Member]
                              
Collaboration Agreement (Textual) [Abstract]                              
Percentage of net sales required to be paid as royalty to third party                     8.00%