Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitment and Contingencies (Details Textual)

v2.4.0.6
Commitment and Contingencies (Details Textual)
 1 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2009
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Vancouver Canada and Bothell Washington offices [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Vancouver Canada and Bothell Washington offices [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2009
TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries [Member]
USD ($)
Compound
Jun. 30, 2012
Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc and University of British Columbia [Member]
USD ($)
Rate
Jun. 30, 2012
Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc and University of British Columbia [Member]
CAD
Jun. 30, 2012
Bayer Health Care LLC [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2008
Bayer Health Care LLC [Member]
USD ($)
Commitment and Contingencies (Textual)                      
Collaboration agreement aggregate amount           $ 50,000,000          
Maximum amount receivable           370,000,000          
Equity investment   14,000 10,000       10,000,000        
Direct and Indirect Development Costs             30,000,000        
Direct and indirect cost incurred by OncoGenex   14,600,000                  
Deferred collaboration revenue             15,400,000        
Number of compounds for which exclusive rights are granted for development             2        
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      
Balance in advanced reimbursement of development activities               30,000,000      
Percentage of Unspent Portion to be Paid               30.00% 30.00%    
Amount not to be paid as penalty               3,500,000      
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    
Upfront license fee                   500,000  
Anniversary Payments                     100,000
Annual increment in Anniversary payments                   25,000  
Proceeds from obligation of license agreement               7,750,000 1,600,000 14,000,000  
Other long term assets       500,000              
Letter of credit       300,000              
Lease liability       6,700,000              
Consolidated rent expense       1,300,000 1,300,000            
Range of Each Product Line   10 years                  
Written Notice of option terminated contract   60 days                  
Expiration of Operating Lease Agreement   2014-09                  
Expiration of non cancellable operating lease agreement   2017                  
Common stock acquired at premium 10,000,000                    
Development cost incurred by entity   $ 15,100,000