Registration of securities issued in business combination transactions

Common Stock - Additional Information (Detail)

v3.7.0.1
Common Stock - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)
 3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2015
Apr. 27, 2015
Jul. 02, 2014
Mar. 31, 2017
Mar. 31, 2016
Aug. 13, 2015
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
May 21, 2015
May 20, 2015
May 29, 2014
May 28, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
May 24, 2013
May 23, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Common stock, shares authorized       75,000,000     75,000,000 75,000,000                  
Common stock, par value       $ 0.001     $ 0.001 $ 0.001                  
Preferred stock, shares authorized       5,000,000     5,000,000                    
Preferred stock, par value       $ 0.001     $ 0.001                    
Stock option exercises, Shares       0 0   0 5,359 10,000                
Restricted stock unit settlements       93,175 101,228   217,296 269,401 203,148                
Common shares reserved for options currently outstanding             1,378,805                    
Number of warrants exercised       0 0   0                    
Common stock, shares issued       30,121,478     30,059,514 29,846,991                  
Gross proceeds                 $ 22,372,000                
Offering expenses   $ 100,000                              
Net proceeds received from offering after deducting underwriting discount and offering expenses     $ 22,400,000                            
Net proceeds to OncoGenex, from the sale of the units     24,000,000                            
Warrant issuance costs     $ 1,600,000           $ 531,000                
2010 Performance Incentive Plan [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Common shares reserved for issuance under various plans       2,050,534     2,002,032 3,876,151   4,300,000 2,800,000 2,800,000 2,050,000     2,050,000 1,050,000
Minimum [Member] | 2010 Performance Incentive Plan [Member] | Employees and Consultants [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Award vesting period       3 years     3 years                    
Minimum [Member] | 2010 Performance Incentive Plan [Member] | Board of Directors [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Award vesting period       1 year     1 year                    
Maximum [Member] | 2010 Performance Incentive Plan [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Award expiration period       10 years     10 years                    
Maximum [Member] | 2010 Performance Incentive Plan [Member] | Employees and Consultants [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Award vesting period       4 years     4 years                    
Maximum [Member] | 2010 Performance Incentive Plan [Member] | Board of Directors [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Award vesting period       3 years     3 years                    
Series A [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Common stock shares issued in financing     5,559,866                            
Registered Offering, price per unit     $ 3.48                            
Common stock purchase right description             Each Series A unit consisted of one share of common stock and a Series A warrant to purchase up to one-half of one share of common stock at an initial exercise price of $4.00 per share.                    
Series B [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Common stock purchase right description             Each Series B unit consisted of a Pre-Funded Series B warrant to purchase up to one share of common stock at an initial exercise price of $0.01 per share and a Series B warrant to purchase up to one-half of one share of common stock at an initial exercise price of $4.00 per share.                    
Series B Pre-Funded Common Stock Warrants [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Common stock shares issued in financing     1,340,538                            
Registered Offering, price per unit     $ 3.47                            
Net proceeds to OncoGenex, from the sale of the units     $ 3,387,000                            
Warrant issuance costs     $ 213,000                            
Series B Pre-Funded Common Stock Warrants [Member] | Series B [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Strike price of warrants     $ 0.01                            
Warrant exercisable period             5 years                    
Series A Warrants [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Number of warrants exercised               0                  
Net proceeds to OncoGenex, from the sale of the units     $ 5,261,000                            
Warrant issuance costs     $ 428,000                            
Exercise price per unit of warrant       $ 4.00     $ 4.00                    
Series A Warrants [Member] | Series A [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Strike price of warrants     $ 4.00                            
Warrant exercisable period     5 years                            
Series B Warrants [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Number of warrants exercised               0                  
Net proceeds to OncoGenex, from the sale of the units     $ 1,268,000                            
Warrant issuance costs     $ 103,000                            
Exercise price per unit of warrant       $ 4.00     $ 4.00                    
Series B Warrants [Member] | Series B [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Strike price of warrants     $ 4.00                            
Warrant exercisable period             5 years                    
Series A and Series B Warrants issued in July 2014 Financing [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Number of warrants exercised               0                  
MLV [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Common stock sales agreement aggregate offering amount                             $ 25,000,000    
Common stock sales agreement aggregate commission in percentage                             3.00%    
Common stock, shares issued   809,214                              
Gross proceeds   $ 3,000,000                              
LPC [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Common stock, par value $ 0.001                                
Common stock, shares issued 126,582         6,814,980                      
Gross proceeds $ 0         $ 18,000,000                      
Offering expenses           400,000                      
Common stock value right to sell, maximum 18,000,000                                
Additional common stock value right to sell, maximum $ 16,000,000                                
Additional purchase of common stock, maximum 125,000                                
Common stock available for sale under offering           $ 0                      
LPC [Member] | Minimum [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Common stock, purchase price $ 1.50                                
LPC [Member] | Series A-1 Units [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Initial purchase of common stock 956,938                                
Common stock, purchase price $ 2.09                                
Purchase agreement, description             Series A-1 Unit consisting of (a) one share of Common Stock and (b) one warrant to purchase one-quarter of a share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $2.40 per share, or Series A-1 Warrant. Each Series A-1 Warrant is exercisable six months following the issuance date until the date that is five years and six months after the issuance date and is subject to customary adjustments.                    
Exercise price per unit of warrant $ 2.40                                
Initial purchase of units consisting of common stock and warrants issued $ 2,000,000                                
LPC [Member] | Other Than Series A-1 Units [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Number of warrants issued 0                                
Stock Options [Member] | Employees and Consultants [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Award vesting period       4 years                          
Stock Options [Member] | 2010 Performance Incentive Plan [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Common shares reserved for issuance under various plans       3,531,437     3,634,058                    
Common shares reserved for options currently outstanding       1,339,186     1,378,805                    
Stock Options [Member] | Minimum [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Award expiration period       7 years     7 years                    
Stock Options [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Employees and Consultants [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Award vesting period             3 years                    
Stock Options [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Board of Directors [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Award vesting period       1 year     1 year                    
Stock Options [Member] | Maximum [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Award expiration period       10 years     10 years                    
Stock Options [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Employees and Consultants [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Award vesting period             4 years                    
Stock Options [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Board of Directors [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Award vesting period       3 years     3 years                    
Restricted Stock Unit [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Common shares reserved for awards currently outstanding       141,717     253,221 640,759 680,201         356,589      
Award vesting period       4 years     4 years                    
Restricted Stock Unit [Member] | 2010 Performance Incentive Plan [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Common shares reserved for awards currently outstanding       141,717     253,221                    
Pre-Funded Series B Warrants [Member]                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                                  
Common stock shares issued in financing               1,340,538                  
Exercise price per unit of warrant               $ 0.01                  
Common shares purchased, value               $ 13,405