Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual)

v2.4.0.6
Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual)
 3 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2013
Vancouver Canada and Bothell Washington offices [Member]
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2012
Vancouver Canada and Bothell Washington offices [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2009
TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. [Member]
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2013
TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. [Member]
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2013
Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. and University of British Columbia [Member]
USD ($)
Rate
Mar. 31, 2013
Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. and University of British Columbia [Member]
CAD
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]                
Collaboration agreement aggregate amount         $ 50,000,000      
Maximum amount receivable         370,000,000      
Equity investment 15,000 15,000       10,000,000    
Direct and indirect development costs           30,000,000    
Milestone payment due             20,000,000  
Period of milestone payment             21 days 21 days
Amount receivable by Isis from TEVA as a milestone payment             30.00% 30.00%
Reserve for contingency of non payment of non-royalty milestone amount             20,000,000  
Milestone payment made             10,000,000  
Balance amount of milestone payment             10,000,000  
Percentage of un-spent portion to be paid             30.00% 30.00%
Percentage of unspent portion to be paid             30.00% 30.00%
Proceeds from introduction of new agreement             800,000 100,000
Obligation to pay patent costs and license maintenance fees               8,000
Expiry period of agreement of patented license             20 years 20 years
Milestone payment             7,750,000 1,600,000
Other long term assets     500,000          
Consolidated rent expense     700,000 700,000        
Letter of credit     300,000          
Lease liability     4,400,000          
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]                
Direct and indirect cost incurred by OncoGenex   $ 30,000,000            
Range of each product line 10 years              
Expiration of operating lease agreement 2014-09              
Expiration of non cancellable operating lease agreement 2017