Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Common Stock (Details Textual)

v2.4.0.6
Common Stock (Details Textual) (USD $)
 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2012
Right
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Mar. 27, 2012
Mar. 21, 2012
Oct. 22, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Common Stock (Textual) [Abstract]                
Equity investment   $ 15,000 $ 10,000          
Common shares, purchase price           $ 12.00 $ 15.75  
Common shares reserved for options currently outstanding   804,781 766,328 744,913       802,871
Black-Scholes value of the warrant on an assumed risk-free rate   0.96% 1.70% 2.73%        
Black-Scholes value of the warrant on Volatility   95.00% 76.00% 75.00%        
Black-Scholes value of the warrant expected life   5 years 10 months 24 days 5 years 10 months 24 days 6 years 9 months 18 days        
Stock-based compensation expense   2,200,000 1,200,000 600,000        
Common Stock (Additional Textual) [Abstract]                
Common stock, shares authorized   25,000,000 25,000,000          
Common stock, par value   $ 0.001 $ 0.001          
Preferred stock, shares authorized   5,000,000            
Preferred stock, par value   $ 0.001            
Share base compensation by share base payment awards expiration dates   expiring in October 2015            
Issuance of common stock   14,656,916 14,656,916     4,165,000 3,174,602  
Public offering, unit description Each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s common stock and one-half (1/2) of one warrant              
Unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options granted   2,700,000            
Exercise price warrants exercised outstanding   $ 20         $ 20  
Net proceeds to OncoGenex, from the sale of the units 46,700,000     14,338,000        
Allocation to common shares 32,300,000              
Allocation to Warrant Liability 15,400,000              
Underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses allocated to the value of Warrants 1,000,000              
Warrants exercised outstanding   1,587,301            
Weighted average fair value of stock options granted   $ 9.86 $ 10.70 $ 11.08        
Stock-based compensation expense   2,175,000 1,188,000 642,000        
Estimated grant date fair value of stock options vested   1,600,000 1,100,000 700,000        
Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised   1,200,000 600,000 2,400,000        
Aggregate intrinsic value of the outstanding options   2,900,000            
Aggregate intrinsic value of the exercisable outstanding options   2,900,000            
Percentage of acquisition of company's common stock   15.00%            
Effect on diluted per share on options, restricted stock units and warrants   2,600,000 2,400,000 2,300,000        
Warrants exercised   0 0 0        
Expected expense recognized over period   2 years 4 months 24 days            
Additional issuance of common stock           624,750    
Additional issuance of common stock per share           $ 12.00    
Gross offering amount from the public offering   57,500,000            
Net amount received from public offering         53,800,000   50,000,000  
Reverse stock split   one-for-eighteen reverse stock split            
Number of rights associated with per share of common stock   18            
Stock Option [Member]
                
Common Stock (Textual) [Abstract]                
Common shares reserved for issuance under various plans   1,265,857            
Common shares reserved for options currently outstanding   804,781            
Common shares available for future option grants   461,076 799,624          
Minimum [Member]
                
Common Stock (Textual) [Abstract]                
Options expiry period   7 years            
Maximum [Member]
                
Common Stock (Textual) [Abstract]                
Options expiry period   10 years            
Series A preferred stock [Member]
                
Common Stock (Textual) [Abstract]                
Junior Participating Preferred Stock at an exercise price   140            
Common Stock (Additional Textual) [Abstract]                
Junior Participating Preferred Stock at an exercise price   140            
Stock Warrants [Member]
                
Common Stock (Textual) [Abstract]                
Black-Scholes value of the warrant on an assumed risk-free rate 1.17%              
Black-Scholes value of the warrant on Volatility 75.00%              
Black-Scholes value of the warrant expected life 5 years              
Common Stock (Additional Textual) [Abstract]                
Effect on diluted per share on options, restricted stock units and warrants       2,300,000        
2010 Performance Incentive Plan [Member]
                
Common Stock (Textual) [Abstract]                
Options vesting period for employees   over three or four years            
2010 Performance Incentive Plan [Member] | Minimum [Member]
                
Common Stock (Textual) [Abstract]                
Options vesting period for directors   1 year            
Stock available for issuance under Performance incentive plan   450,000            
2010 Performance Incentive Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member]
                
Common Stock (Textual) [Abstract]                
Options vesting period for directors   3 years            
Stock available for issuance under Performance incentive plan   1,050,000            
Restricted Stock [Member]
                
Common Stock (Textual) [Abstract]                
Options vesting period for employees   over a four year            
Restricted stock awards granted   180,085 0          
Total unrecognized compensation expense related to the Company's restricted stock awards   1,400,000            
Weighted-average period, Restricted Stock Awards   3 years            
Stock-based compensation expense   $ 600,000