Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Assets Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value Restricted cash Restricted Investments Current Restricted investment Other Restricted Assets Current Restricted letter of credit Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current Prepaid expenses and other current assets Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current, Total Assets, Current Total current assets Goodwill (Note 2) Goodwill, Ending Balance Goodwill, Beginning Balance Goodwill Goodwill, Total Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, which is the fair value of the acquired in-process technology, adjusted for any amortization recognized after market feasibility has been achieved and for any impairment charges. In-process research and development In-process research and development Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures Investment in China JV (Note 1) Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures, Total Property and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total Other assets (Note 4) Other assets Other Assets, Noncurrent, Total Total Assets Total assets Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current, Total Management transition plan liability, current Management Transition Plan Liability, Current Management transition plan liability (Note 2) Current portion of long-term debt (Notes 3, 4) Debt Long-term Debt, Current Maturities, Total Convertible Notes Payable Current Convertible notes Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of cash and other consideration due within one year to acquired business shareholders in connection with the business combination. Cash and the monetary equivalent of the other consideration will be released pursuant to the terms of the associated escrow agreement. Escrow holdback Escrow holdback Accrued expenses Accrued Liabilities, Current, Total Accrued expenses (Note 7) Accrued Income Taxes, Current Income taxes payable Employee Related Liabilities Current Accrued compensation and related expenses Employee-related Liabilities, Current, Total Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Deferred tax liability (Note 2) Deferred tax liability Long-term debt, less current portion (Notes 3, 4) Long-term debt, less current portion Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities, Total Total Liabilities Total liabilities Commitments and contingencies (Note 9) Commitments and contingencies (Note 10) Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 500,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009; no shares outstanding at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 500,000 authorized (250,000 Series A designated; 220,000 Convertible Series B designated and 30,000 undesignated) at September 30, 2011 and 500,000 authorized (250,000 Series A designated and 250,000 undesignated) at December 31, 2010; no shares outstanding at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Total Common stock, $0.001 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009; 12,469,214 and 12,172,510 shares issued at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, and 12,425,479 and 12,122,217 shares outstanding at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common stock, $0.001 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010; 15,327,615 and 12,482,867 shares issued at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, and 15,288,015 and 12,439,132 shares outstanding at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Beginning Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Total Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total Treasury stock, at cost; 43,735 shares at September 30, 2010 and 50,293 shares at December 31, 2009 Treasury stock, at cost; 39,600 shares at September 30, 2011 and 43,735 shares at December 31, 2010 Treasury Stock, Value, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning Balance Treasury stock, at cost; 41,909 shares at June 30, 2011 and 43,735 shares at December 31, 2010 Deficit accumulated during the development stage Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance Total stockholders' equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Class of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Domain] Series A Preferred Stock [Member] Convertible Series B Preferred Stock [Member] Statement, Scenario [Axis] Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] Designated [Member]. Designated Member Designated [Member] Undesignated [Member]. Undesignated Member Undesignated [Member] Preferred stock, par value Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred stock, shares outstanding Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Beginning Balance Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Common stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beginning Balance Treasury stock, shares Treasury Stock, Shares, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Shares, Beginning Balance Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Abstract] Revenues, Total Revenues Revenues, Total Operating expenses: Cost of revenues Cost of Revenue, Total Research and development Research and Development Expense, Total General and administrative General and Administrative Expense, Total Operating Expenses Total operating expenses Operating Income (Loss) Operating loss Debt Related Commitment Fees and Debt Issuance Costs Debt related credit/(charge) Debt related credit/(charge) Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments Impairment charge on investment securities Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments, Total Foreign exchange gain/(loss) Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax, Total Other expense Other expense Other Nonoperating Expense, Total Interest expense Interest expense Interest Expense, Total Other income Income Tax Expense Benefit Income taxes Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total Net loss Net loss Accretion to redemption value of redeemable convertible preferred stock Accretion to redemption value of redeemable convertible preferred stock Accretion to redemption value of redeemable convertible preferred stock The deemed dividend on the Series C Preferred Stock is the aggregate difference between the estimated fair value of the underlying common stock and the Series C Preferred Stock conversion price per share. The deemed dividend increased the net loss applicable to common shareholders in the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per common share. Deemed dividend resulting from convertible preferred stock Deemed dividend resulting from beneficial conversion feature on Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock Deemed dividend resulting from beneficial conversion feature on Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic Net loss applicable to common stockholders Basic and diluted net loss per common share Basic and diluted net loss per common share Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, Total The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating basic and diluted EPS. Weighted Average Number of Share Outstanding, Basic and Diluted Shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per common share Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract] Operating activities: Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Non-cash stock-based compensation Share-based Compensation, Total Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Total Amortization of premium or discount on investment securities, accretion of convertible notes to fair market value and amortization of debt discount and issuance costs. Amortization of premium/discount on investment securities, convertible notes and debt discount and issuance costs Amortization of premium/discount on investment securities, convertible notes and debt discount and issuance costs Provision for Doubtful Accounts WriteOffOfDeferredDebtIssuanceCost Write-off of debt related costs Write-off of debt related costs Impairment charge or (gain), net on trading investment securities and ARS put based on fair market value as determined on a Level 3 basis pursuant to a discounted cash flow model. Impairment charge/(gain), net on investment securities and ARS put Impairment charge/(gain), net on investment securities and ARS put Impairment charge/(gain), net on investment securities and ARS put Loss on disposal of assets (Gain)/loss on disposal of assets (Gain)/loss on disposal of assets Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets, Total Impairment (write-down) of tenant improvements of sublet office space due to non-utility. Impairment of sublease Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Prepaid expenses and other assets Prepaid expenses and other assets Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid, Deferred Expense and Other Assets, Total The net change during the reporting period in the aggregate amount of accounts payable, accrued expenses, income taxes payable , deferred rent, and other similar obligations and liabilities. Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable Accrued Expenses Income Taxes Payable And Deferred Rent Accounts payable, accrued expenses and income taxes payable Accrued compensation and related expenses Accrued compensation and related expenses Increase (Decrease) in Employee Related Liabilities, Total Restricted assets Restricted assets Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash used in operating activities Investing activities: Cash paid for acquired business, net of acquired cash Cash paid for acquired business, net of acquired cash Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired, Total Purchases of investment securities Purchases of investment securities Payments to Acquire Investments, Total Maturities or sales of investment securities Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Marketable Securities, Total Acquisition of property and equipment Acquisition of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Proceeds from sales of property and equipment Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities Financing activities: Net proceeds from the sale of common stock Proceeds from Issuance of Warrants Net proceeds from the sale of warrants Sale of preferred stock, net of issuance costs The cash inflow related to the procurement of the investment securities loan. Proceeds from ARS Loan Proceeds from ARS loan The net cash outflow related to the repayment of the investment securities loan. Repayments Of Ars Loan Repayments of ARS loan Repayments of ARS loan Proceeds from (Repayments of) Debt Proceeds from (Repayments of) Debt, Total Proceeds from debt issuance, net Repayments of Debt Repayments of debt Repayments of debt Proceeds from the conversion of convertible notes into common stock. Proceeds from conversion of convertible notes Purchase of treasury stock, net of employee stock purchases Purchase of treasury stock, net of employee stock purchases Purchase of treasury stock, net of employee stock purchases Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash provided by financing activities Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities: Conversion of convertible preferred stock into common stock upon IPO Conversion of convertible preferred stock into common stock upon IPO Investment in joint venture. Investment in Joint Venture China JV investment Supplemental disclosure related to the amount of cash unrestricted upon conversion of convertible notes and fractional share payout. The cash inflow from the convertible notes conversion is reflecting in financing activities above. Restricted assets, cash unrestricted upon conversion of convertible notes Restricted assets, cash unrestricted upon conversion of convertible notes Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information [abstract] Supplemental Disclosures Of Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: Income taxes paid Interest paid Interest Paid, Total Interim Financial Information [Abstract] Quarterly Financia lInformation Text Block Interim Financial Information Avigen Transaction [Abstract] Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Avigen Transaction Fair Value Measurements-Other Than Intangibles And Goodwill [Abstract] Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Measurements-Other Than Intangibles And Goodwill Debt [Abstract] Long Term Debt [Text Block] Debt Net Loss Per Share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Net Loss Per Share Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract] Comprehensive Income Note [Text Block] Comprehensive Income (Loss) Balance Sheet Detail [Abstract] Supplemental Balance Sheet Disclosures [Text Block] Balance Sheet Detail Share-Based Payments [Abstract] Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments [Text Block] Share-Based Payments Income Taxes [Abstract] Income Tax Disclosure Text Block Income Taxes Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments And Contingencies Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Stockholders Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Stockholders' Equity Subsequent Events [Abstract] Schedule Of Subsequent Events [Text Block] Subsequent Events