Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Collaboration Agreement (Details)

v2.4.0.6
Collaboration Agreement (Details) (USD $)
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2009
Mar. 31, 2013
Mar. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2012
Collaboration Agreement (Textual) [Abstract]        
Equity investment   $ 15,000   $ 15,000
Research and development   10,855,000 5,082,000  
Collaboration Agreement (Additional Textual) [Abstract]        
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    
Period of authorization change   90 days    
Royalties at percentage rates ranging   Mid-teens to mid-twenties on net sales    
Expiration of royalties   10 years    
Expected royalty receipt in current year   0    
Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. and University of British Columbia [Member]
       
Collaboration Agreement (Textual) [Abstract]        
Expected royalty payment in current year   0    
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]
       
Collaboration Agreement (Textual) [Abstract]        
Receivables for unbilled expense reimbursement   5,100,000    
Collaboration Agreement [Member] | TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. [Member]
       
Collaboration Agreement (Textual) [Abstract]        
Maximum amount receivable 370,000,000      
Equity investment 10,000,000      
Share premium 20.00%      
Common shares, purchase price 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
Revenue   $ 5,100,000 $ 1,300,000  
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%