Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Collaboration Agreement (Details Textual)

v2.4.0.8
Collaboration Agreement (Details Textual) (USD $)
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2009
Jun. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2012
Collaboration Agreement (Textual) [Abstract]            
Equity investment   $ 15,000   $ 15,000   $ 15,000
Research and development   13,263,000 6,326,000 24,118,000 11,408,000  
Amounts receivable   6,439,000   6,439,000   714,000
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   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    
Amounts receivable   6,439,000   6,439,000    
Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. and University of British Columbia [Member]
           
Collaboration Agreement (Textual) [Abstract]            
Research and development 10,000,000          
Expected royalty payment in current year   0   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    
Collaborative Arrangement [Member]
           
Collaboration Agreement (Textual) [Abstract]            
Receivables for unbilled expense reimbursement   6,300,000   6,300,000    
Collaborative Arrangement [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          
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   $ 6,300,000   $ 11,400,000    
Collaborative Arrangement [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%    
Collaborative Arrangement [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%