Aradigm (ARDMQ) S-1/A20 Nov 13IPO registration (amended)Financial data

Company Profile

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information	Sep. 30, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'
Document Type	'S-1/A
Amendment Flag	'false
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13
Trading Symbol	'ARDM
Entity Registrant Name	'ARADIGM CORP
Entity Central Index Key	'0001013238
Entity Filer Category	'Smaller Reporting Company

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$38,693	$7,414	$2,148
Short-term investments	230	203	6,516
Receivables	13,111	41	36
Prepaid and other current assets	1,271	106	161
Total current assets	53,305	7,764	8,861
Property and equipment, net	461	727	1,113
Notes receivable	'	'	29
Other assets	389	475	553
Total assets	54,155	8,966	10,556
Current liabilities:	'	'	'
Accounts payable	572	330	196
Accrued clinical and cost of other studies	263	500	247
Accrued compensation	566	184	195
Deferred revenue	8,770	'	'
Facility lease exit obligation	162	144	120
Other accrued liabilities	263	127	86
Total current liabilities	10,596	1,285	844
Deferred rent	138	144	132
Facility lease exit obligation, non-current	340	465	609
Other non-current liabilities	'	'	75
Note payable and accrued interest	8,885	8,513	8,207
Total liabilities	19,959	10,407	9,867
Commitments and contingencies	'	'	'
Shareholders' equity (deficit):	'	'	'
Preferred stock, 5,000,000 shares authorized, none outstanding	'	'	'
Common stock, value	426,465	369,919	363,822
Accumulated other comprehensive income	'	'	1
Accumulated deficit	-392,269	-371,360	-363,134
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	34,196	-1,441	689
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity (deficit)	$54,155	$8,966	$10,556

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'	'
Preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	'	'	'
Common stock, par value	'	'	'
Common stock, shares authorized	1,001,830,627	297,527,214	213,527,214
Common stock, shares issued	586,375,325	251,346,385	198,831,216
Common stock, shares outstanding	586,375,325	251,346,385	198,831,216

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenue:	'	'	'	'	'	'
Collaboration revenue	$4,301	'	$4,301	'	'	'
Royalty revenue	251	262	778	784	1,007	791
Total revenues	4,552	262	5,079	784	'	'
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'	'	'
Research and development	1,593	818	5,000	2,304	3,781	5,007
General and administrative	1,463	1,013	3,801	3,009	3,896	4,274
Collaboration arrangement acquisition cost	15,943	'	15,943	'	'	'
Restructuring and asset impairment	7	8	21	26	34	39
Total operating expenses	19,006	1,839	24,765	5,339	7,711	9,320
Loss from operations	-14,454	-1,577	-19,686	-4,555	-6,704	-8,529
Interest income	1	2	4	9	10	14
Interest expense	-421	-383	-1,222	-1,135	-1,530	-798
Other income (expense) net	'	-4	-5	-2	-2	4
Net loss	-14,874	-1,962	-20,909	-5,683	-8,226	-9,309
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	'	'	'	-1	-1	1
Comprehensive loss	($14,874)	($1,962)	($20,909)	($5,684)	($8,227)	($9,308)
Basic and diluted net loss per common share	($0.04)	($0.01)	($0.07)	($0.03)	($0.04)	($0.05)
Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per common share	374,126	198,670	291,950	198,336	201,310	183,419

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'	'	'
Net loss	($20,909)	($5,683)	($8,226)	($9,309)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities:	'	'	'	'
Amortization and accretion of investments	29	14	14	70
Depreciation and amortization	277	297	391	445
Stock-based compensation expense	338	384	473	533
Amortization of note discount	67	41	59	35
Collaboration arrangement acquisition cost	15,943	'	'	'
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Receivables	-13,070	-22	-5	144
Prepaid and other current assets	-1,165	-46	55	19
Other assets	86	84	107	-413
Accounts payable	242	208	134	-61
Accrued compensation	382	63	-11	-132
Accrued liabilities	204	183	466	-1,035
Deferred rent	-6	12	12	33
Deferred revenue	8,770	'	'	'
Facility lease exit obligation	-107	-89	-120	-99
Net cash used in operating activities	-8,919	-4,554	-6,651	-9,770
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	-11	-5	-5	-5
Purchases of available-for-sale investments	-2,852	-2,299	-2,502	-9,354
Proceeds from sales and maturities of short-term investments	2,796	7,800	8,800	3,020
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	-67	5,496	6,293	-6,339
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from private offering of common stock, net	'	'	5,547	4,349
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	40,265	38	77	113
Proceeds from issuance of note payable, gross	'	'	'	8,500
Net cash provided by financing activities	40,265	38	5,624	12,962
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	31,279	980	5,266	-3,147
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	7,414	2,148	2,148	5,295
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	38,693	3,128	7,414	2,148
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:	'	'	'	'
Cash paid for interest	'	'	'	$17

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sha

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Deficit) (USD $)	Total	Common Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit
In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit
Beginning, Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$4,599	$358,424	'	($353,825)
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2010	'	172,304,235	'	'
Issuance of common stock in a private offering, net of issuance costs	4,349	4,349	'	'
Issuance of common stock in a private offering, net of issuance costs, Shares	25,000,000	25,000,000	'	'
Issuance of common stock under the employee stock purchase plan	113	113	'	'
Issuance of common stock under the employee stock purchase plan, Shares	'	885,533	'	'
Issuance of warrants for common stock	403	403	'	'
Stock-based compensation	533	533	'	'
Issuance of restricted stock awards, Shares	'	1,091,448	'	'
Reversal of restricted stock award due to cancellation and forfeiture, Shares	'	-450,000	'	'
Net loss	-9,309	'	'	-9,309
Unrealized gain/loss on available-for-sale investments	1	'	1	'
Ending, Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	689	363,822	1	-363,134
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2011	'	198,831,216	'	'
Issuance of common stock in a private offering, net of issuance costs	5,547	5,547	'	'
Issuance of common stock in a private offering, net of issuance costs, Shares	50,000,000	50,000,000	'	'
Issuance of common stock under the employee stock purchase plan	77	77	'	'
Issuance of common stock under the employee stock purchase plan, Shares	'	630,752	'	'
Stock-based compensation	473	473	'	'
Issuance of restricted stock awards, Shares	'	1,884,417	'	'
Net loss	-8,226	'	'	-8,226
Unrealized gain/loss on available-for-sale investments	-1	'	-1	'
Ending, Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	($1,441)	$369,919	'	($371,360)
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2012	'	251,346,385	'	'

Organization_and_Summary_of_Si

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'	'
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	'	'
	1. Organization, Basis of Presentation and Liquidity	1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Organization	Organization
	Aradigm Corporation (the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is a California corporation, incorporated in 1991, focused on the development and commercialization of drugs delivered by inhalation for the treatment of severe respiratory diseases. The Company’s principal activities to date have included conducting research and development and developing collaborations. Management does not anticipate receiving any revenues from the sale of products in the upcoming year, except for royalty revenue from Zogenix. The Company operates as a single operating segment.	Aradigm Corporation (the “Company”) is a California corporation, incorporated in 1991, focused on the development and commercialization of drugs delivered by inhalation for the prevention and treatment of severe respiratory diseases. The Company’s principal activities to date have included conducting research and development and developing collaborations. Management does not anticipate receiving revenues from the sale of any of its products in the upcoming year, except for the royalty revenue from Zogenix. The Company operates as a single operating segment.
	Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation and Consolidation
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In the opinion of management, the financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary for fair presentation. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, as filed with the SEC on March 27, 2013 (the “2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K”). The results of the Company’s consolidated operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of operating results for the full fiscal year or any future interim period.	The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
	The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2012 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. For further information, please refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.	Liquidity and Financial Condition
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.	The Company has incurred significant operating losses and negative cash flows from operations. At December 31, 2012, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $371.4 million, working capital of $6.5 million and shareholders’ deficit of $1.4 million. During 2012, the Company entered into a financing agreement which provided capital to fund operations. The agreement was for the sale of 50 million shares of common stock in a private placement for net proceeds of $5.5 million.
	Liquidity	Management believes that the cash resources as of December 31, 2012 are sufficient to meet its obligations and fund operations through 2013 since the Company continues to defer certain discretionary activities. The Company will require additional capital to fund its drug development and operating activities and is currently seeking additional financing, which may include a collaborative arrangement, an equity offering, or sale or licensing of non-core assets, in order to continue such activities. If the Company is unable to complete such a transaction or is unable to obtain sufficient financing on acceptable terms or otherwise, the Company may be required to further reduce, defer or discontinue its activities or may not be able to continue as a going concern.
	The Company has incurred significant operating losses and negative cash flows from operations. At September 30, 2013, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $392.3 million, working capital of $42.7 million and shareholders’ equity of $34.2 million. The Company believes that its cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaling $38.9 million as of September 30, 2013 will be sufficient to fund its operations at least through 2014. However, the Company’s business strategy may require it to, or it may otherwise determine to, raise additional capital at any time through equity financing(s), strategic transactions or otherwise. Such additional funding may be necessary to continue to develop the Company’s potential product candidates. In addition, the Company may determine to raise capital opportunistically.	Use of Estimates
		The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates include useful lives for property and equipment and related depreciation calculations, assumptions for valuing options and warrants, and income taxes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
		Cash Equivalents
		All highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase are classified as cash equivalents.
		Investments
		Management determines the appropriate classification of the Company’s marketable securities, which consist solely of debt securities, at the time of purchase. All marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale, carried at estimated fair value and reported in short-term investments. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and losses and are reported as a separate component in the statement of shareholders’ equity (deficit) until realized. Fair values of investments are based on quoted market prices where available. Investment income is recognized when earned and includes interest, dividends, amortization of purchase premiums and discounts and realized gains and losses on sales of securities. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. The Company regularly reviews all of its investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value. When the Company determines that the decline in fair value of an investment below the Company’s accounting basis is other-than-temporary, the Company reduces the carrying value of the securities held and records a loss in the amount of any such decline. No such reductions have been required during any of the periods presented.
		Property and Equipment
		The Company records property and equipment at cost and calculates depreciation using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Machinery and equipment includes external costs incurred for validation of the equipment. The Company does not capitalize internal validation expense. Computer equipment and software includes capitalized computer software. All of the Company’s capitalized software is purchased; the Company has not internally developed computer software. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the term of the lease or useful life of the improvement.
		The estimated useful lives of property and equipment are as follows:


		Computer equipment and software		3 to 5 years
		Furniture and fixtures		5 to 7 years
		Lab equipment		5 to 7 years
		Machinery and equipment		5 years
		Leasehold improvements		5 to 17 years
		Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
		In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360-10, Property Plant and Equipment – Overall, the Company reviews for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of property and equipment may not be recoverable. Determination of recoverability is based on an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. In the event that such cash flows are not expected to be sufficient to recover the carrying amount of the assets, the assets are written down to their estimated fair values and the loss is recognized in the statements of operations.
		Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities
		In accordance with ASC 420, Exit or Disposal Activities the Company recognizes a liability for the cost associated with an exit or disposal activity that is measured initially at its fair value in the period in which the liability is incurred. The Company accounted for the partial sublease of its headquarters building as an exit activity and recorded the sublease loss in its statement of operations (see Note 5).
		According to ASC 420, costs to terminate an operating lease or other contracts are (a) costs to terminate the contract before the end of its term or (b) costs that will continue to be incurred under the contract for its remaining term without economic benefit to the entity. In periods subsequent to initial measurement, changes to the liability are measured using the credit-adjusted risk-free rate that was used to measure the liability initially.
		Revenue Recognition
		Contract revenues consist of revenues from grants, collaboration agreements and feasibility studies. The Company recognizes revenue under the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 104, Topic 13, Revenue Recognition Revised and Updated (“SAB Topic 13”) and ASC 605-25, Revenue Recognition-Multiple Elements. Revenue for arrangements not having multiple deliverables, as outlined in ASC 605-25, is recognized once costs are incurred and collectability is reasonably assured.
		In accordance with contract terms, milestone payments from collaborative research agreements are considered reimbursements for costs incurred under the agreements and, accordingly, are recognized as revenue either upon completion of the milestone effort, when payments are contingent upon completion of the effort, or are based on actual efforts expended over the remaining term of the agreement when payments precede the required efforts. Refundable development payments are deferred until specific performance criteria are achieved. Refundable development payments are generally not refundable once specific performance criteria are achieved and accepted.
		Collaborative license and development agreements that require the Company to provide multiple deliverables, such as a license, research and product steering committee services and other performance obligations, are accounted for in accordance with ASC 605-25. Under ASC 605-25, delivered items are evaluated to determine whether such items have value to the Company’s collaborators on a stand-alone basis and whether objective reliable evidence of fair value of the undelivered items exists. Deliverables that meet these criteria are considered a separate unit of accounting. Deliverables that do not meet these criteria are combined and accounted for as a single unit of accounting. The appropriate revenue recognition criteria are identified and applied to each separate unit of accounting.
		Research and Development
		Research and development expenses consist of costs incurred for company-sponsored, collaborative and contracted research and development activities. These costs include direct and research-related overhead expenses. The Company expenses research and development costs as incurred.
		Stock-Based Compensation
		The Company accounts for share-based payment arrangements in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation and ASC 505-50, Equity-Equity Based Payments to Non-Employees which requires the recognition of compensation expense, using a fair-value based method, for all costs related to share-based payments including stock options and restricted stock awards and stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). These standards require companies to estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of the grant using an option-pricing model. See Note 9 for further discussion of the Company’s stock-based compensation plans.
		Income Taxes
		The Company makes certain estimates and judgments in determining income tax expense for financial statement purposes. These estimates and judgments occur in the calculation of certain tax assets and liabilities, which arise from differences in the timing of the recognition of revenue and expense for tax and financial statement purposes. As part of the process of preparing the financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates. This process involves the estimation of the current tax exposure under the most recent tax laws and assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities which are included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
		The Company assesses the likelihood that it will be able to recover its deferred tax assets. The Company considers all available evidence, both positive and negative, including its historical levels of income and losses, expectations and risks associated with estimates of future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. If the Company does not consider it more likely than not that it will recover its deferred tax assets, it will record a valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets that it estimates will not ultimately be recoverable. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company believed that the amount of its deferred income taxes would not be ultimately recovered. Accordingly, the Company recorded a full valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. However, should there be a change in the Company’s ability to recover its deferred tax assets, it would recognize a benefit to its tax provision in the period in which it determines that it is more likely than not that it will recover its deferred tax assets.
		Net Loss Per Common Share
		Basic net loss per common share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding less the weighted-average number of shares subject to repurchase. Unvested restricted stock awards subject to repurchase totaled 1,453,000 shares and 939,000 shares for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Potentially dilutive securities were not included in the net loss per share calculation for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 because the inclusion of such shares would have had an anti-dilutive effect.
		Potentially dilutive securities include the following (in thousands):


			Years Ended December 31,
			2012		2011
		Outstanding stock options		6,755		6,844
		Unvested restricted stock awards		1,453		939
		Outstanding warrants		2,841		3,591
		Significant Concentrations
		Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. Risks associated with these instruments are mitigated by banking with, and only purchasing commercial paper and corporate notes from, creditworthy institutions. The maximum amount of loss due to credit risk associated with these financial instruments is their respective fair values as stated in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
		Comprehensive Income (Loss)
		ASC 220, Comprehensive Income requires that an entity’s change in equity or net assets during a period from transactions and other events from non-owner sources be reported. The Company reports unrealized gains or losses on its available-for-sale securities as other comprehensive income (loss). Total comprehensive income (loss) has been disclosed on the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.
		Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
		In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholder’s equity and instead requires separate statements of comprehensive income. The amendment is effective for the fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. In December 2011, FASB issued ASU 2011-12, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassification of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05. ASU 2011-12 defers the changes in ASU 2011-05 that pertain to how, when and where reclassification adjustments are presented. The adoption of ASU 2011-05 did not have material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	'
	2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates include useful lives for property and equipment and related depreciation calculations, assumptions for valuing options and warrants, and income taxes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	All highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase are classified as cash equivalents.

	Investments
	Management determines the appropriate classification of the Company’s marketable securities, which consist solely of debt securities, at the time of purchase. All investments are classified as available-for-sale, carried at estimated fair value and reported in cash and cash equivalents or short-term investments. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and losses. Fair values of investments are based on quoted market prices where available. Investment income is recognized when earned and includes interest, dividends, amortization of purchase premiums and discounts, and realized gains and losses on sales of securities. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. The Company regularly reviews all of its investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value. When the Company determines that the decline in fair value of an investment below the Company’s accounting basis is other-than-temporary, the Company reduces the carrying value of the securities held and records a loss equal to the amount of any such decline. No such reductions were required during any of the periods presented.
	Property and Equipment
	The Company records property and equipment at cost and calculates depreciation using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Machinery and equipment includes external costs incurred for validation of the equipment. The Company does not capitalize internal validation expense. Computer equipment and software includes capitalized computer software. All of the Company’s capitalized software is purchased; the Company has not internally developed computer software. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the term of the lease or useful life of the improvement.
	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
	The Company reviews for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of property and equipment may not be recoverable. Determination of recoverability is based on an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. In the event that such cash flows are not expected to be sufficient to recover the carrying amount of the assets, the assets are written down to their estimated fair values and the loss is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.
	Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities
	The Company recognizes a liability for the cost associated with an exit or disposal activity that is measured initially at its fair value in the period in which the liability is incurred. The Company accounted for the partial sublease of its headquarters building as an exit activity and recorded the sublease loss in its statement of operations (see Note 5).
	Costs to terminate an operating lease or other contracts are (a) costs to terminate the contract before the end of its term or (b) costs that will continue to be incurred under the contract for its remaining term without economic benefit to the entity. In periods subsequent to initial measurement, changes to the liability are measured using the credit-adjusted risk-free rate that was used to measure the liability initially.
	Revenue Recognition
	Contract revenues consist of revenues from grants, collaboration agreements and feasibility studies. License and collaboration revenue is primarily generated through agreements with strategic partners for the development and commercialization of our product candidates. The terms of the agreements typically include non-refundable upfront fees, funding of research and development activities, payments based upon achievement of milestones and royalties on net product sales. The Company recognizes revenue under the provisions of the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 104, Topic 13, Revenue Recognition Revised and Updated and ASC 605-25, Revenue Recognition-Multiple Elements (“ASC 605-25”). Revenue for arrangements not having multiple deliverables, as outlined in ASC 605-25, is recognized once costs are incurred and collectability is reasonably assured.
	Collaborative license and development agreements that require the Company to provide multiple deliverables, such as a license, research and product steering committee service and other performance obligations, are accounted for in accordance with ASC 605-25. Under ASC 605-25, delivered items are evaluated to determine whether such items have value to the Company’s collaborators on a stand-alone basis and whether such objective reliable evidence of fair value of the undelivered item exists. The Company performs its analysis at the inception of each arrangement and as each product or service is delivered. Deliverables that meet these criteria are considered a separate unit of accounting. If a product or service is not separable, the combined deliverables are accounted for as a single unit of accounting and revenue is recognized over the performance obligation period. The appropriate revenue recognition criteria are identified and applied to each separate unit of accounting.

	Assuming the elements meet the revenue recognition guidelines, the revenue recognition methodology prescribed for each unit of accounting is summarized below:
	Upfront Fees—The Company defers recognition of non-refundable upfront fees if there are continuing performance obligations without which the technology licensed has no utility to the licensee. If the Company has continuing performance obligations through research and development services that are required because know-how and expertise related to the technology is proprietary to the Company, or can only be performed by the Company, then such up-front fees are deferred and recognized over the estimated period of the performance obligation. The Company bases the estimate of the period of performance on factors in the contract. Actual time frames could vary and could result in material changes to the results of operations. When the collaboration partners request the Company to continue performing the research and development services in collaboration beyond the initial period of performance the remaining unamortized deferred revenue and any new continuation or license fees are recognized over the extended period of performance.
	Funded Research and Development—Revenue from research and development services is recognized during the period in which the services are performed and is based upon the number of full-time-equivalent personnel working on the specific project at the agreed-upon rate. The full-time equivalent amount can vary each year if the contracts allow for a percentage increase determined by relevant salary surveys, if applicable. Reimbursements from collaborative partners for agreed upon direct costs including direct materials and outsourced, or subcontracted, pre-clinical studies are classified as revenue and recognized in the period the reimbursable expenses are incurred. Payments received in advance are recorded as deferred revenue until the research and development services are performed or costs are incurred.
	Milestones—Substantive milestone payments are considered to be performance bonuses that are recognized upon achievement of the milestone only if all of the following conditions are met: the milestone payments are non-refundable; achievement of the milestone involves a degree of risk and was not reasonably assured at the inception of the arrangement; substantive effort is involved in achieving the milestone; the amount of the milestone is reasonable in relation to the effort expended or the risk associated with achievement of the milestone; and a reasonable amount of time passes between the up-front license payment and the first milestone payment as well as between each subsequent milestone payment. If any of these conditions are not met, the milestone payments are deferred and recognized as revenue over the term of the arrangement as the Company completes its performance obligations.
	Royalties—The Company recognizes royalty revenues from licensed products upon the sale of the related products.
	Research and Development
	Research and development expenses consist of costs incurred for company-sponsored, collaborative and contracted research and development activities. These costs include direct and research-related overhead expenses. The Company expenses research and development costs as such costs are incurred.
	Stock-Based Compensation
	The Company accounts for share-based payment arrangements in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation and ASC 505-50, Equity-Equity Based Payments to Non-Employees which requires the recognition of compensation expense, using a fair-value based method, for all costs related to share-based payments including stock options and restricted stock awards and stock issued under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan. These standards require companies to estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. See Note 8 for further discussion of the Company’s stock-based compensation plans.
	Income Taxes
	The Company makes certain estimates and judgments in determining income tax expense for financial statement purposes. These estimates and judgments occur in the calculation of certain tax assets and liabilities, which arise from differences in the timing of recognition of revenue and expense for tax and financial statement purposes. As part of the process of preparing the financial statements, the Company is required to estimate income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates. This process involves the Company estimating its current tax exposure under the most recent tax laws and assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in the balance sheets.

	The Company assesses the likelihood that it will be able to recover its deferred tax assets. It considers all available evidence, both positive and negative, including the historical levels of income and losses, expectations and risks associated with estimates of future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. If the Company does not consider it more likely than not that it will recover its deferred tax assets, the Company records a valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets that it estimates will not ultimately be recoverable. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company believed that the amount of its deferred income taxes would not be ultimately recovered. Accordingly, the Company recorded a full valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. However, should there be a change in the Company’s ability to recover its deferred tax assets, the Company would recognize a benefit to its tax provision in the period in which it determines that it is more likely than not that it will recover its deferred tax assets.
	The Company entered into a financing transaction that will likely cause an ownership change under IRC Section 382. The precise impact of that ownership has not been calculated as of the quarter ended September 30, 2013. The Company will be calculating the impact in utilizing its net operating losses in the various taxing jurisdictions in which it files before filing tax returns.
	Net Loss Per Common Share
	Basic net loss per common share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period less the weighted-average number of restricted shares of common stock subject to repurchase. Diluted net income/(loss) per common share is based on the weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares, such as stock options and unvested restricted stock shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive securities were not included for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 because inclusion of such shares would have been anti-dilutive.
	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
	There have been no recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to the recent accounting pronouncements described in the Company’s recent 2012 Form 10-K that are of significance or potential significance to the Company.

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents_and_

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash And Cash Equivalents [Abstract]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments	'	'
	3. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	2. Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments
	At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the balance of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments approximated their fair values. All short-term investments at September 30, 2013 mature in less than one year. The Company invests its cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments in money market funds, commercial paper, certificates of deposit and corporate and government notes. All of these securities are classified as available-for-sale with the unrealized gain and loss being recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income.	A summary of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments, classified as available-for-sale and carried at fair value is as follows (in thousands):


			Amortized		Gross		Gross		Estimated
			Cost		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
					Gain		(Loss)		Value
		December 31, 2012
		Cash and cash equivalents	$	7,414	$	—	$	—	$	7,414

		Short-term investments:
		U.S. Treasury notes	$	203	$	—	$	—	$	203

		Total	$	7,617	$	—	$	—	$	7,617


		December 31, 2011
		Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,148	$	—	$	—	$	2,148

		Short-term investments:
		Commercial paper	$	799	$	—	$	—	$	799
		Certificates of deposit		730		—		—		730
		U.S. Treasury notes		4,986		1		—		4,987

		Total	$	6,515	$	1	$	—	$	6,516

		All short-term investments at December 31, 2012 and 2011 mature in less than one year. Unrealized holding gains and losses on securities classified as available-for-sale are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	9 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
Fair Value Measurements	Sep. 30, 2013									Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'									'
Fair Value Measurements	'									'
	4. Fair Value Measurements									3. Fair Value Measurements
	The Company follows ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements, which clarifies the definition of fair value, prescribes methods for measuring fair value, establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to measure fair value and expands disclosures about the use of fair value measurements. The fair value hierarchy has three levels based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine fair value. Level 1 values are based on quoted prices in active markets. Level 2 values are based on significant other observable inputs. Level 3 values are based on significant unobservable inputs. The following table presents the fair value level for the assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy. The Company does not have any liabilities that are measured at fair value.									The Company follows ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement which clarifies the definition of fair value, prescribes methods for measuring fair value, establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to measure fair value and requires certain disclosures about the use of fair value measurements. The fair value hierarchy has three levels based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine fair value. Level 1 values are based on quoted prices in active markets. Level 2 values are based on significant other observable inputs. Level 3 values are based on significant unobservable inputs. The following table presents the fair value level for the cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments which represents the assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy. The Company does not have any liabilities that are measured at fair value.


		Fair Value Measurements								Description	Balance		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	Description	Balance		(In thousands)		Significant		Significant			December 31,
		Sept 30,		Quoted Prices		Other		Unobservable			2012
		2013		in Active		Observable		Inputs			(In thousands)
				Markets for		Inputs		(Level 3)		Cash and cash equivalents	$	7,414	$	6,604	$	810	$	—
				Identical		(Level 2)				Short-term investments		203		—		203		—
				Assets
				(Level 1)						Total	$	7,617	$	6,604	$	1,013	$	—
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	38,693	$	38,693	$	—	$	—
										The Company’s cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2012 consist of cash, commercial paper, U.S. Treasury notes and money market funds. Money market funds are valued using quoted market prices. The Company’s short-term investments at December 31, 2012 consist of U.S. Treasury notes. The Company uses an independent third party pricing service to value these securities. The pricing service uses observable inputs such as new issue money market rates, adjustment spreads, corporate actions and other factors and applies a series of matrices pricing model. The Company performs a review of prices reported by the pricing service to determine if they are reasonable estimates of fair value. In addition, the Company performs a review of its securities to determine the proper classification in accordance with the fair value hierarchy.
	Short-term investments:
	Certificates of deposit	$	230	$	—	$	230	$	—


	The Company’s cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2013 consist of cash and money market funds. Money market funds are valued using quoted market prices. The Company’s short-term investments at September 30, 2013 consist of certificates of deposit. The Company uses an independent third party pricing service to value these securities. The pricing service uses observable inputs such as new issue money market rates, adjustment spreads, corporate actions and other factors and applies a series of matrices pricing model. The Company performs a review of prices reported by the pricing service to determine if they are reasonable estimates of fair value. In addition, the Company performs a review of its securities to determine the proper classification in accordance with the fair value hierarchy.

Sublease_Agreement_and_Lease_E

Sublease Agreement and Lease Exit Liability	9 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
Sublease Agreement and Lease Exit Liability	Sep. 30, 2013				Dec. 31, 2012
Restructuring And Related Activities [Abstract]	'				'
Sublease Agreement and Lease Exit Liability	'				'
	5. Sublease Agreement and Lease Exit Liability				5. Sublease Agreement and Lease Exit Liability:
	On July 18, 2007, the Company entered into a sublease agreement with Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. (“Mendel”) to lease approximately 48,000 square feet of the Company’s 72,000 square foot headquarters facility located in Hayward, CA. In April 2009, the Company entered into an amendment to its sublease agreement with Mendel to sublease an additional 1,550 square feet. In January 2012, the Company entered into a second amendment to the sublease with Mendel in which Mendel leased an additional 3,300 square feet and at this time Mendel waived their right to early termination. The sublease with Mendel now expires concurrently with the Company’s master lease for the Hayward facility in July of 2016.				On July 18, 2007, the Company entered into a sublease agreement with Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. (“Mendel”) to lease approximately 48,000 square feet of the Company’s 72,000 square foot headquarters facility located in Hayward, California. In April 2009, the Company entered into an amendment to its sublease agreement with Mendel to sublease an additional 1,550 square feet. The Company recorded an additional sublease loss on the amendment since the monthly payments the Company expects to receive are less than what the Company will owe the lessor for the subleased space. In January 2012, the Company entered into a second amendment to the sublease with Mendel in which Mendel leased an additional 3,300 square feet and at this time Mendel waived their right to early termination. The sublease with Mendel now expires concurrently with the Company’s master lease for the Hayward facility.
	During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company recorded a $2.1 million lease exit liability and related expense for the expected loss on the sublease, because the monthly payments the Company expects to receive under the sublease are less than the amounts that the Company will owe the lessor for the sublease space. The Company recorded an additional sublease loss on the subsequent amendment of the lease in April 2009. The fair value of the lease exit liability was determined using a credit-adjusted risk-free rate to discount the estimated future net cash flows, consisting of the minimum lease payments to the lessor for the sublease space and payments the Company will receive under the sublease. The sublease loss and ongoing accretion expense required to record the lease exit liability at its fair value using the interest method have been recorded as part of restructuring and asset impairment expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.				During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company recorded a $2.1 million lease exit liability and related expense for the expected loss on the sublease, in accordance with ASC 420 Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations, because the monthly payments the Company expects to receive under the sublease are less than the amounts that the Company will owe the lessor for the sublease space. The fair value of the lease exit liability was determined using a credit-adjusted risk-free rate to discount the estimated future net cash flows, consisting of the minimum lease payments to the lessor for the sublease space and payments the Company will receive under the sublease. The sublease loss and ongoing accretion expense required to record the lease exit liability at its fair value using the interest method have been recorded as part of restructuring and asset impairment expense in the consolidated statement of operations. The lease exit liability activity for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 are as follows (in thousands):
	The lease exit liability activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 is as follows (in thousands):

						Year Ended
		Nine Months Ended				December 31,
		30-Sep-13				2012			2011
	Balance at January 1, 2013	$	609		Balance at beginning of year	$	729		$	828
	Accretion expense		21		Accretion expense		34			39
	Lease payments		(128	)	Lease payments		(154	)		(138	)

	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	502		Balance at end of the year	$	609		$	729


					The Company classified $144,000 of the $609,000 lease exit liability in current liabilities and the remaining $465,000 in non-current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2012. At December 31, 2011, the Company classified $120,000 of the lease exit liability in current liabilities and $609,000 in non-current liabilities.

Collaboration_Agreement

Collaboration Agreement	9 Months Ended
Collaboration Agreement	Sep. 30, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Collaboration Agreement	'
	6. Collaboration Agreement
	Grifols License and Collaboration Agreement
	On May 20, 2013, the Company and Grifols, S.A., (“Grifols”) and certain other investors (the “Investors”) entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell a total of 209,774,558 shares of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”), to Grifols and an additional 124,193,546 shares of Common Stock to the Investors, for a total sale of 333,968,104 shares of Common Stock (the “Company Stock Sale”), for a purchase price of $0.124 per share. The aggregate gross consideration payable to the Company in the Company Stock Sale is approximately $41.4 million.
	In conjunction with signing the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company and Grifols agreed to enter into a License and Collaboration Agreement (the “License Agreement”) at the closing of the Company Stock Sale. The License Agreement would exclusively license the Company’s inhaled liposomal ciprofloxacin compounds for the indication of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and other indications (the “Program”) to Grifols on a worldwide basis. Grifols would fund development expenses and commercialize products from the Program (“Products”), and pay development milestones and royalties on future commercial sales of Products. The License Agreement is described further below.
	The Company held a special meeting of its shareholders on July 15, 2013 to (i) approve certain amendments to the Company’s charter, including amendments necessary to increase the total number of shares of Common Stock authorized to be issued by the Company to at least 706,830,627 shares, including the 333,968,104 shares to be sold in the Company Stock Sale (the “Charter Amendment”) and (ii) to approve the Company’s closing of the Company Stock Sale and entering into the License Agreement, Governance Agreement and other agreements described below and in the Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Transactions”). Shareholders of the Company holding more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock voted in favor of these proposals at the special meeting.
	The closing of the Transactions was subject to certain closing conditions, including, among others the Company’s entering into binding terms with a third party to commercially manufacture Products to permit the Company to satisfy its obligation to commercially supply Grifols with Products. All conditions to the closing of the Transactions were met as of August 27, 2013 and the Company Stock Sale was completed on August 27, 2013.
	Grifols paid approximately $26.0 million for the shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $0.124 per share, which reflected the contractual price for the Company’s common stock as stated in the Stock Purchase Agreement on May 20, 2013. Following the announcement of the collaboration, execution of a supply agreement and satisfaction of other conditions of closing, the stock price rose to $0.20 at the time of closing. Consequently, the contractual price of $0.124 per share resulted in a $0.076 per share discount from the August 27, 2013 closing price of $0.20 per share, or a discount of approximately $15.9 million from the fair market value of the common stock on the effective date of the Grifols License and Collaboration Agreement. The Company determined this transaction was not within the scope of ASC 605-25 and, accordingly, the Company recorded the sale of common stock to Grifols at fair value based on the closing price of the Company’s stock on August 27, 2013 of $0.20 per share. This discount, which is a non-cash charge, has been recorded as Collaboration Arrangement Acquisition Cost in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three and nine-month period ended September 30, 2013.
	License Agreement
	The License Agreement was signed simultaneously with the closing of the Company Stock Sale. Under the License Agreement, the Company granted to Grifols an exclusive license to the Program, the lead product candidate of which is named Pulmaquin^®. The license permits Grifols to commercialize Products throughout the world and grants Grifols a back-up manufacturing right to produce Products.
	The Company is responsible for developing the Product for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis or pulmonary infections associated with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, in accordance with an agreed upon development plan and pursuant to a Grifols-funded budget of $65 million (which includes allocations for the Company’s internal, fully-burdened expenses). Any excess expenses are the responsibility of the Company. The Company will develop the Product for additional indications at Grifols’ sole expense if Grifols elects to pursue such development.
	The Company is responsible for obtaining regulatory approval of the first indication for the Product in the United States and the European Union. Grifols is responsible for additional regulatory expenses, including the cost of obtaining approval outside the United States and European Union, and the cost of maintaining approvals globally. Grifols is responsible to use diligent efforts to commercialize the Product in countries where regulatory approval has been obtained.
	The Company is responsible for supplying Grifols’ requirements of the Product, and must establish primary and back-up suppliers acceptable to Grifols. Grifols will purchase Products from the Company on a cost pass-through basis plus a margin.
	The collaboration between Grifols and the Company is governed by a joint committee comprised of equal representation by the Company and Grifols and operated on a consensus basis. In the event that the parties do not agree, Grifols has deciding authority, except with respect to specific matters specified in the License Agreement. The Company has no obligation to participate in the joint committee after the first commercial sale of the product, but may do so at its discretion. Accordingly, the Company determined that it can separate performance obligations that occur over the development period from performance obligations that will occur during the commercialization period.
	With respect to the US and EU development and approval of Pulmaquin for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis management, Grifols will pay to Aradigm reimbursements of development costs up to $65 million and development milestone payments of up to $25 million. Additionally, royalty payments on a country-by-country basis on net sales at a rate of either 12.5% or 20% (depending on the amount of net sales) for so long as there is patent coverage or orphan drug designation (or, if longer, 10 years), except that payments will be reduced by half on a country-by-country basis in the event that another inhaled liposomal product containing ciprofloxacin is being sold for an indication for which the Aradigm product has regulatory approval. Royalty payments may also be reduced by 50% if Aradigm has no valid patent claim or orphan drug protection in that country.
	Revenue has been recognized under the License Agreement as follows at September 30, 2013: The Company has a deferred revenue balance of $8.8 million for the reimbursement of development expenses at the quarter ended September 30, 2013 as well as collaboration revenues of $4.3 million for the reimbursement of development expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2013.
	Option Agreement
	Simultaneously with execution of the License Agreement, Aradigm entered into an Option Agreement (the “Option Agreement”) with Grifols granting Grifols a limited term option to license Aradigm’s AERx^® pulmonary drug delivery platform for use with another molecule. The Option Agreement affords Grifols a limited period of time to conduct a diligence assessment. If Grifols elects to proceed with a license, Grifols will pay Aradigm a low single digit royalty on net sales but bear all costs associated with development and commercialization.

	Governance Agreement
	In connection with and simultaneously with the closing of the Company Stock Sale, the Company and Grifols entered into a Governance Agreement (the “Governance Agreement”), which sets forth certain rights and obligations of the Company and Grifols concerning, among other things, certain corporate governance matters, certain limitations on future acquisitions of shares of Common Stock by Grifols, and certain rights by Grifols to maintain a target level of ownership in the Company.
	On the date the Governance Agreement was executed, the Company’s board of directors was reconstituted to consist of its chief executive officer, three independent directors under the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules and two persons designated by Grifols. The number of persons Grifols is entitled to designate for consideration for election to the Company’s board of directors by the Company’s nominating committee will thereafter depend on the percentage of beneficial ownership of the Company held by Grifols.
	The Governance Agreement also provides that during the period beginning on the date of Closing and ending 12 months after the first commercial sale of a Product (the “Restricted Period”), Grifols will not directly or indirectly acquire or offer to acquire any shares of Common Stock except (i) with the approval of the Company’s board of directors and a majority of its independent directors, (ii) effected solely to the extent necessary to maintain the beneficial ownership of Grifols and its affiliates at an amount equal to 35% (the “Target Percentage”) of the shares of Common Stock on a Fully Diluted Basis (as defined in the Governance Agreement), or (iii) in order to maintain its ownership percentage in the event that the Company issues new securities, in accordance with the provisions of the Governance Agreement. The Restricted Period terminates upon the occurrence of certain events, including a change in control of the Company and a third party publicly proposing to acquire the Company. The Governance Agreement further imposes certain “standstill” obligations on Grifols during the Restricted Period, pursuant to which Grifols and certain related persons are prohibited from soliciting proxies from the Company’s shareholders, granting proxies or entering into voting agreements and seeking additional representation on the Company’s board of directors.
	The Governance Agreement provides Grifols with certain preemptive rights to participate in future issuances of Common Stock or equivalents of Common Stock by the Company, or the right to acquire shares of Common Stock from third parties or on the open market to maintain its Fully Diluted Ownership at the Target Percentage.
	The Governance Agreement requires the approval of Grifols for certain actions by the Company which would adversely affect Grifols’ rights under the Governance Agreement, and for the Company to terminate the employment of its Chief Executive Officer or to appoint any successor Chief Executive Officer.
	Registration Rights Agreements
	In connection with and concurrently with the closing of the Company Stock Sale, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with Grifols (the “Grifols Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to provide registration rights to Grifols with respect to the shares of Common Stock to be acquired in the Company Stock Sale. Under such agreement, Grifols will be entitled to require the Company to file with the SEC certain registration statements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the resale of the shares of Common Stock acquired by Grifols in the Company Stock Sale up to three times on Form S-1 and up to six times on Form S-3, and to include its shares of Common Stock in any registration the Company proposes for its own account or for the account of one or more of its shareholders.
	In connection with and concurrently with the closing of the Company Stock Sale, the Company and the Investors also entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Investors Registration Rights Agreement”). Pursuant to the Investors Registration Rights Agreement, the Company is required to file a registration statement to cover the resale of the shares of the Common Stock acquired by the investors in the Company Stock Sale. The failure on the part of the Company to satisfy the deadlines set forth in the Investors Registration Rights Agreement may subject the Company to payment of certain monetary penalties. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed, among other things, not to file any other registration statement (other than any registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8, and subject to certain other limitations and exclusions) until the Common Stock subject thereto is covered by an effective registration statement or freely salable under Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

Royalty_Agreement_Note_Payable

Royalty Agreement, Note Payable and Accrued Interest	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Royalty Agreement, Note Payable and Accrued Interest	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Text Block [Abstract]	'	'
Royalty Agreement, Note Payable and Accrued Interest	'	'
	7. Royalty Agreement, Note Payable and Accrued Interest	7. Royalty Agreement, Note Payable, and Accrued Interest
	Zogenix	Zogenix
	In August 2006, the Company sold all assets related to its needle-free injector technology platform and products, including 12 U.S. patents along with foreign counterparts, to Zogenix, Inc. In July 2009, Zogenix was granted approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) of the SUMAVEL* DosePro* (sumatriptan injection) needle-free delivery system for the treatment of acute migraine and cluster headache. The Company is entitled to quarterly royalty payments of 3% of net sales on all SUMAVEL DosePro sales. The Company recorded royalty revenue of $251,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2013.	In August 2006, the Company sold all of its assets related to the Intraject needle-free injector technology platform and products including 12 United States patents along with foreign counterparts, to Zogenix, Inc., for an initial payment of $4.0 million. Zogenix is responsible for further development and commercialization efforts of Intraject (now rebranded under the name DosePro). Under the terms of the asset sale agreement, the Company received a $4.0 million milestone payment in 2010 upon initial U.S. commercialization of the SUMAVEL DosePro needle-free delivery system. Under the terms of the asset sale agreement the Company is entitled to receive quarterly royalty payments from Zogenix in the amount of 3% of Net Sales of DosePro products. The Company recorded royalty revenue of approximately $1.0 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012.
	Royalty Financing	Royalty Financing
	On June 21, 2011, the Company entered into an $8.5 million royalty financing agreement with a syndicate of lenders. The agreement created a debt obligation (the “Term Loan”) that will be repaid through and secured by royalties from net sales of the SUMAVEL DosePro (sumatriptan injection) needle-free delivery system payable to the Company under its Asset Purchase Agreement (“APA”) with Zogenix.	In 2011, the Company entered into an $8.5 million royalty financing agreement with a syndicate of lenders. The agreement created a debt obligation (the “Term Loan”) that will be repaid through and secured by royalties from net sales of the SUMAVEL DosePro needle-free delivery system payable to the Company under its Asset Purchase Agreement (“APA”) with Zogenix.
	Under the terms of the royalty financing agreement, the Company received a loan of $8.5 million, less fees and expenses (approximately $473,000) and an additional $250,000 set aside for an Interest Reserve Account. The lenders are entitled to receive 100% of all royalties payable to the Company under the APA until the principal and accrued interest of the Term Loan are fully repaid, after which time the benefit of any further royalties made under the APA will accrue to Aradigm. The Term Loan will accrue interest at the rate equal to the greater of a) LIBOR or b) 1.50%, plus a margin of 14.5%. To the extent royalty payments are insufficient to pay accrued and unpaid interest under the financing the shortfall will be capitalized and added to the principal balance of the Term Loan. The lenders were granted a security interest in the assets of an Aradigm subsidiary, Aradigm Royalty Financing LLC, which holds Aradigm’s rights to receive royalty payments under the APA. The lenders have no recourse to other assets of Aradigm for repayment of the loan.	Under the terms of the royalty financing agreement, the Company received a loan of $8.5 million, less fees, transaction and legal expenses (approximately $473,000) and an additional $250,000 set aside for an Interest Reserve Account. The lenders are entitled to receive 100% of all royalties payable to the Company under the APA until the principal and accrued interest of the Term Loan are fully repaid, after which time the benefit of any further royalties made under the APA will accrue to Aradigm. The Term Loan will accrue interest at the rate equal to the greater of a) LIBOR or b) 1.50%, plus a margin of 14.5%. To the extent royalty payments are insufficient to pay accrued and unpaid interest under the financing, the shortfall will be funded from the Interest Reserve Account or, if the account is insufficient to pay all of the interest due, the shortfall will be capitalized and added to the principal balance of the Term Loan. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Interest Reserve Account was fully utilized and future shortfalls will be capitalized and added to the principal balance of the Term Loan. The lenders were granted a security interest in the assets of an Aradigm subsidiary, Aradigm Royalty Financing LLC, which holds Aradigm’s rights to receive royalty payments under the APA. The lenders have no recourse to other assets of Aradigm for repayment of the loan. Amortization of the Term Loan will occur to the extent that royalties payments received for any quarter exceed accrued interest due for that quarter.
	While the term loan is non-recourse to the assets of Aradigm Corporation, the term loan agreement contains a minimum royalty covenant. If the minimum royalty covenant is breached and the subsidiary does not cure the breach through a cash contribution to pay down the accrued principal and interest, then the lenders have the right to declare the agreement in default and obtain the right to all future royalties and payments due to Aradigm under the Zogenix asset purchase agreement. In 2012, the minimum royalty covenant was breached and the Company made cash payments of approximately $167,000 to the lenders for accrued interest in order to cure the breach. In the three months ended September 30, 2013 the covenant was again breached and the cumulative cash shortfall the Company would need to contribute to keep the agreement from default stands at $352,000. The Company has elected not to make this or any further cash contributions and is working with the lenders to transfer rights to the lenders for all future payments from Zogenix under the APA.	While the term loan is non-recourse to the assets of Aradigm Corporation, the term loan agreement contains a minimum royalty covenant. If the minimum royalty covenant is breached and the subsidiary does not cure the breach through a cash contribution to pay down the accrued principal and interest, then the lenders have the right to declare the agreement in default and obtain the right to all future royalties and payments due to Aradigm under the Zogenix asset purchase agreement. In the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, the minimum royalty covenant was breached and the Company made a cash payment of approximately $167,000 to the lenders for accrued interest in order to cure the breach.
	The Company capitalized the fees and expenses of approximately $473,000 and recorded this amount in other assets. The capitalized expenses were to be amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over a period of 48 months, but the full amount of the remaining capitalized fees and expenses will be recognized upon the completion of the transfer of payment rights to the lenders.
	In connection with the transaction, the Company issued to the lenders warrants to purchase a total of 2,840,909 shares of the Company’s common stock at a strike price of $0.22 per share, representing a 20% premium above the average closing price of the Company’s common stock for the ten trading days immediately preceding the closing of the transaction. The warrants expire on December 31, 2016. In accordance with Accounting Standards Topic 815 – Derivatives and Hedging, the warrants were accounted for as equity instruments and their fair value was determined to be approximately $390,000. The relative fair value of the warrants is considered a discount against the note and was recorded as a reduction of the note payable. The note discount is being amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method with an annual rate of 18.7% over a period of 48 months.	The Company has the right to prepay the Term Loan, subject to the payment of the principal balance plus a prepayment fee of 8% of the outstanding balance if prepaid in months 13-24 following the transaction closing date of June 21, 2011; 4% if prepaid in months 25-36; and 2% if prepaid in months 37-48. There will be no prepayment fee for prepaying the Term Loan after the forty-eight (48) month anniversary of the closing date. In addition, the Company has the right to make partial prepayments in an amount no less than the greater of (i) 10% of the principal balance of the Term Loan outstanding as of the applicable prepayment date or (ii) $1,000,000. Under no circumstances will the receipt of royalty payments from Zogenix in excess of the accrued interest then due be considered prepayments under the Term Loan.
		In accordance with Accounting Standards Topic 470 — Debt, the Company capitalized the fees, transaction and legal expenses of approximately $473,000 and recorded this amount in other assets. The capitalized expenses will be amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over a period of 48 months. The Interest Reserve account was recorded in prepaid and other current assets.
		In connection with the transaction, the Company issued to the lenders warrants to purchase a total of 2,840,909 shares of the Company’s common stock at a strike price of $0.22 per share, representing a 20% premium above the average closing price of the Company’s common stock for the ten trading days immediately preceding the closing of the transaction. The warrants expire on December 31, 2016. In accordance with Accounting Standards Topic 815 – Derivatives and Hedging, the warrants were accounted for as equity instruments and their fair value was determined to be approximately $390,000. The relative fair value of the warrants is considered a discount against the note and was recorded as a reduction of the note payable. The note discount is being amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method with an annual rate of 18.7% over a period of 48 months.

StockBased_Compensation_and_St

Stock-Based Compensation and Stock Options, Awards and Units	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'
Stock-Based Compensation and Stock Options, Awards and Units	'
	8. Stock-Based Compensation and Stock Options, Awards and Units
	The following table shows the stock-based compensation expense included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):


		Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
		September 30,					September 30,
		2013			2012		2013		2012
	Costs and expenses:
	Research and development	$	41		$	8	$	98	$	85
	General and administrative		93			97		240		299

	Total stock-based compensation expense	$	134		$	105	$	338	$	384


	There was no capitalized stock-based employee compensation cost for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012. Since the Company did not record a tax provision during the quarters ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, there was no recognized tax benefit associated with stock-based compensation expense.
	The total amount of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options and stock purchases, net of forfeitures, was $0.2 million as of September 30, 2013. This amount will be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.66 years.
	For restricted stock awards, the Company recognizes compensation expense over the vesting period for the fair value of the stock award on the measurement date. The total fair value of restricted stock awards that vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $283,000. The Company retained purchase rights with respect to 547,000 shares of unvested restricted stock awards issued pursuant to stock purchase agreements at no cost per share as of September 30, 2013. As of September 30, 2013, there was $0.1 million of total unrecognized compensation costs, net of forfeitures, related to non-vested stock awards which are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.64 years.
	Stock Option Plans: 1996 Equity Incentive Plan, 2005 Equity Incentive Plan and 1996 Non-Employee Directors’ Plan
	The 1996 Equity Incentive Plan (the “1996 Plan”) and the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”), which amended, restated and retitled the 1996 Plan, were adopted to provide a means by which selected officers, directors, scientific advisory board members and employees of and consultants to the Company and its affiliates could be given an opportunity to acquire an equity interest in the Company. All employees, directors, officers, scientific advisory board members and consultants of the Company are eligible to participate in the 2005 Plan. During 2000, the Board of Directors approved the termination of the 1996 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan (the “Directors’ Plan”). This termination had no effect on options already outstanding under the Directors’ Plan.
	Stock Option Activity
	The following is a summary of activity under the 1996 Plan, the 2005 Plan and the Directors’ Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2013:


		Shares Available for
		Future Grant
	Balance at January 1, 2013		2,954,024
	Options granted		(630,000	)
	Increase in authorized shares		40,000,000
	Options cancelled		40,900
	Restricted share awards granted		(713,333	)

	Balance at September 30, 2013		41,651,591



		Options Outstanding
		Number of			Exercise Price Range						Weighted
		Shares									Average
											Exercise
											Price
	Balance at January 1, 2013		6,755,200		$	0.12		—	$	12	$	0.83
	Options granted		630,000		$	0.12		—	$	0.15	$	0.15
	Options cancelled		(40,900	)	$	4.75		—	$	9.45	$	5.81

	Balance at September 30, 2013		7,344,300		$	0.12		—	$	12	$	0.78


	Aggregate intrinsic value is the sum of the amounts by which the quoted market price of the Company’s stock exceeded the exercise price of the stock options at September 30, 2013 for those stock options for which the quoted market price was in excess of the exercise price (“in-the-money options”). As of September 30, 2013, options to purchase 6,905,174 shares of common stock were exercisable and had an aggregate intrinsic value of approximately $125,000. No stock options were exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
	A summary of the Company’s unvested restricted stock and performance bonus stock awards as of September 30, 2013 is presented below representing the maximum number of shares that could be earned or vested under the 2005 Plan:


		Number			Weighted Average
		of			Grant Date Fair
		Shares			Value
	Balance at December 31, 2012		1,453,084		$	0.14
	Restricted share awards issued		713,333			0.15
	Restricted share awards vested		(1,619,417	)		0.14

	Balance at September 30, 2013		547,000		$	0.18

	In 2013, the non-employee members of the Board of Directors elected to forego all or a portion of their annual cash retainer in exchange for restricted stock awards.

Net_Loss_Per_Common_Share

Net Loss Per Common Share	9 Months Ended
Net Loss Per Common Share	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Net Loss Per Common Share	'
	9. Net Loss Per Common Share
	The Company computes basic net loss per common share using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period less the weighted-average number of shares of common stock subject to repurchase. The effects of including the incremental shares associated with options, warrants and unvested restricted stock are anti-dilutive, and are not included in the diluted weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.
	The Company excluded the following securities from the calculation of diluted net loss per common share for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, as their effect would be anti-dilutive (in thousands):


		Nine months ended
		Sep 30,
		2013		2012
	Outstanding stock options		7,344		6,844
	Unvested restricted stock		547		1,482
	Unvested restricted stock units		412		412

Comprehensive_Loss

Comprehensive Loss	9 Months Ended
Comprehensive Loss	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Comprehensive Loss	'
	10. Comprehensive Loss
	Comprehensive loss includes net loss and other comprehensive loss, which for the Company primarily comprised of unrealized holding gains and losses on the Company’s available-for-sale securities that are excluded from the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations in computing net loss and reported separately in shareholders’ equity (deficit). Comprehensive loss and its components are as follows (in thousands):


		Nine months ended
		September 30,
		2013			2012
	Net loss	$	(20,909	)	$	(5,683	)
	Other comprehensive loss:
	Change in unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities		—			(1	)

	Comprehensive loss	$	(20,909	)	$	(5,684	)

Property_and_Equipment

Property and Equipment	12 Months Ended
Property and Equipment	Dec. 31, 2012
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property and Equipment	'
	4. Property and Equipment
	Property and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):


		December 31,
		2012			2011
	Machinery and equipment	$	4,385		$	4,402
	Furniture and fixtures		1,138			1,138
	Lab equipment		2,138			2,138
	Computer equipment and software		2,640			2,635
	Leasehold improvements		1,839			1,839

	Property and equipment		12,140			12,152
	Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		(11,413	)		(11,039	)

	Property and equipment, net	$	727		$	1,113

	Depreciation expense was $391,000 and $445,000 for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Other_Liabilities

Other Liabilities	12 Months Ended
Other Liabilities	Dec. 31, 2012
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Other Liabilities	'
	6. Other Liabilities
	At December 31, 2012, other accrued liabilities consisted of accrued expenses for services of $103,000 and payroll withholding liabilities of $24,000. At December 31, 2011, other accrued liabilities consisted of accrued expenses for services of $53,000 and payroll withholding liabilities of $33,000.

Leases_Commitments_and_Conting

Leases, Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Leases, Commitments and Contingencies	Dec. 31, 2012
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Leases, Commitments and Contingencies	'
	8. Leases, Commitments and Contingencies
	The Company has a lease for a building containing offices, laboratory and manufacturing facilities, which expires in 2016. A portion of this lease obligation was offset by a sublease to Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. (“Mendel”). Future minimum non-cancelable lease payments at December 31, 2012 are as follows (in thousands):


		Operating		Mendel			Net
		Leases		Sub-Lease			Operating
							Lease
							Payments
	Year ending December 31:
	2013	$	1,774	$	(1,133	)	$	641
	2014		1,844		(1,167	)		677
	2015		1,917		(1,201	)		716
	2016		1,020		(640	)		380

	Total minimum lease payments	$	6,555	$	(4,141	)	$	2,414

	In July 2007, the Company entered into a sublease agreement with Mendel to lease approximately 48,000 square feet of its 72,000 square foot headquarters located in Hayward, California. In April 2009, the Company entered into an amendment to its sublease agreement with Mendel to sublease an additional 1,550 square feet. In January 2012, the Company entered into a second amendment to the sublease agreement with Mendel to sublease an additional 3,300 square feet during April 2012.
	The sublease commenced in July 2007 and expires concurrently with the master lease in July 2016. Under the sublease and amendment, Mendel will make monthly base rent payments until the end of the term totaling $4.8 million that will offset a portion of the Company’s existing building lease obligation. Under the terms of the second amendment to the sublease entered into in January 2012 Mendel has waived their right to early termination. Mendel will also pay the Company for its share of all pass through costs such as taxes, operating expenses and utilities based on the percentage of the facility space occupied by them.

	The Company’s monthly rent payments fluctuate under the master lease. In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, the Company recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis. The Company records deferred rent for the difference between the amounts paid and recorded as expense. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company had $144,000 and $132,000 of deferred rent, respectively.
	For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, building rent expense under operating leases totaled $600,000 and $675,000, respectively.
	Indemnification
	The Company from time to time enters into contracts that contingently require the Company to indemnify parties against third party claims. These contracts primarily relate to: (i) real estate leases, under which the Company may be required to indemnify property owners for environmental and other liabilities, and other claims arising from the Company’s use of the applicable premises, and (ii) agreements with the Company’s officers, directors and employees, under which the Company may be required to indemnify such persons from certain liabilities arising out of such persons’ relationships with the Company. To date, the Company has made no payments related to such indemnifications and no liabilities have been recorded for these obligations on the balance sheets at December 31, 2012 or 2011.
	Legal Matters
	From time to time, the Company is involved in litigation arising out of the ordinary course of its business. Currently there are no known claims or pending litigation expected to have a material effect on the Company’s overall financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.

Shareholders_Equity_Deficit

Shareholders' Equity (Deficit)	12 Months Ended
Shareholders' Equity (Deficit)	Dec. 31, 2012
Equity [Abstract]	'
Shareholders' Equity (Deficit)	'
	9. Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)
	On December 11, 2012, the Company entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of 50 million shares of common stock to two existing shareholders in a private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of $6.0 million (the “December 2012 Private Placement”). On December 13, 2012, the Company closed the December 2012 Private Placement. After deducting for fees and expenses, the net proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock were approximately $5.5 million.
	On July 5, 2011, the Company entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of 25 million shares of common stock to three existing shareholders in a private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of $4.75 million (the “July 2011 Private Placement”). On July 7, 2011, the Company closed the July 2011 Private Placement. After deducting for fees and expenses, the net proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock were approximately $4.3 million.
	Reserved Shares
	At December 31, 2012, the Company had 6,755,200 shares reserved for future issuance upon exercise of options under all stock option plans and 2,954,024 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance of new option grants. The Company had 1,053,725 shares available for future issuances under the ESPP. Additionally, the Company had 2,840,909 shares reserved for outstanding warrants at December 31, 2012.
	Shareholder Rights Plan
	In September 2008, the Company adopted an amended and restated shareholder rights plan, which replaced the rights plan originally adopted in August 1998. Pursuant to the rights plan, as amended and restated, the Company distributes rights to purchase shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as a dividend at the rate of one right for each share of common stock outstanding. Until the rights are distributed, the rights trade with, and are not separable from, the Company’s common stock and are not exercisable. The rights are designed to guard against partial tender offers and other abusive and coercive tactics that might be used in an attempt to gain control of the Company or to deprive the Company’s shareholders of their interest in the Company’s long-term value. The shareholder rights plan seeks to achieve these goals by encouraging a potential acquirer to negotiate with the Company’s Board of Directors. The rights will expire at the close of business on September 8, 2018.
	Stock Option Plans: 1996 Equity Incentive Plan, 2005 Equity Incentive Plan and 1996 Non-Employee Directors’ Plan
	The 1996 Equity Incentive Plan (the “1996 Plan”) and the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”), which amended, restated and retitled the 1996 Plan, were adopted to provide a means by which officers, non-employee directors, scientific advisory board members and employees of and consultants to the Company and its affiliates could be given an opportunity to acquire an equity interest in the Company. All officers, non-employee directors, scientific advisory board members and employees of and consultants to the Company are eligible to participate in the 2005 Plan.
	In April 1996, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted and the Company’s shareholders approved the 1996 Plan, which amended and restated an earlier stock option plan. The 1996 Plan reserved 960,000 shares for future grants. During May 2001, the Company’s shareholders approved an amendment to the Plan to include an evergreen provision. In 2003, the 1996 Plan was amended to increase the maximum number of shares available for issuance under the evergreen feature of the 1996 Plan by 400,000 shares to 2,000,000 shares. The evergreen provision automatically increased the number of shares reserved under the 1996 Plan, subject to certain limitations, by 6% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or such lesser number of shares as determined by the Board of Directors on the date of the annual meeting of shareholders of each fiscal year beginning in 2001 and ending 2005. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had 153,900 options outstanding and no shares were available for future grants under the 1996 Plan.
	In March 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted and in May 2005 the Company’s shareholders approved the 2005 Plan, which amended, restated and retitled the 1996 Plan. All outstanding awards granted under the 1996 Plan remain subject to the terms of the 1996 Plan. All stock awards granted on or after the adoption date are subject to the terms of the 2005 Plan. No shares were added to the share reserve under the 2005 Plan other than the shares available for future issuance under the 1996 Plan. Pursuant to the 2005 Plan, the Company had 2,918,638 shares of common stock authorized for issuance. Options (net of canceled or expired options) covering an aggregate of 1,999,252 shares of the Company’s common stock had been granted under the 1996 Plan, and 919,386 shares became available for future grant under the 2005 Plan. In March 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors amended, and in May 2006 the Company’s shareholders approved, the amendment to the 2005 Plan, increasing the shares of common stock authorized for issuance by 2,000,000. In April 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors amended, and in June 2007, the Company’s shareholders approved the amendment to the 2005 Plan, increasing the shares of common stock authorized for issuance by 1,600,000 shares. In March 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors amended, and in May 2008 the Company shareholder’s approved, the amendment to the 2005 Plan, increasing the shares of common stock authorized by 2,700,000. In March 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors amended, and in May 2010, the Company shareholder’s approved the amendment to the 2005 Plan, increasing the shares of common stock authorized by 4,000,000. In March 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors amended, and in May 2012, the Company shareholder’s approved the amendment to the 2005 Plan, increasing the shares of common stock authorized by 4,000,000. Shares available for future grants totaled 2,954,024 as of December 31, 2012 for the 2005 Plan.
	Options granted under the 2005 Plan expire no later than 10 years from the date of grant. Options granted under the 2005 Plan may be either incentive or non-statutory stock options. For incentive and non-statutory stock option grants, the option price shall be at least 100% and 85%, respectively, of the fair value on the date of grant, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. If at any time the Company grants an option, and the optionee directly or by attribution owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, the option price shall be at least 110% of the fair value and shall not be exercisable more than five years after the date of grant.
	Options granted under the 2005 Plan may be immediately exercisable if permitted in the specific grant approved by the Board of Directors and, if exercised early may be subject to repurchase provisions. The shares acquired generally vest over a period of four years from the date of grant. The 2005 Plan also provides for a transition from employee to consultant status without termination of the vesting period as a result of such transition. Under the 2005 Plan, employees may exercise options in exchange for a note payable to the Company, if permitted under the applicable grant. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, there were no outstanding notes receivable from shareholders. Any unvested stock issued is subject to repurchase agreements whereby the Company has the option to repurchase unvested shares upon termination of employment at the original issue price. The common stock subject to repurchase has voting rights, but cannot be resold prior to vesting. No grants with early exercise provisions have been made under the 2005 Plan and no shares have been repurchased. The Company granted options to purchase 560,000 shares and 743,000 shares during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, under the 2005 Plan, which included option grants to the Company’s non-employee directors in the amount of 560,000 shares and 400,000 shares during 2012 and 2011, respectively. The 2005 Plan had 6,601,300 option shares outstanding as of December 31, 2012.
	The 1996 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan (the “Directors’ Plan”) had 45,000 shares of common stock authorized for issuance. Options granted under the Directors’ Plan expire no later than 10 years from date of grant. The option price shall be at 100% of the fair value on the date of grant as determined by the Board of Directors. The options generally vest quarterly over a period of one year. During 2000, the Board of Directors approved the termination of the Directors’ Plan. No more options can be granted under the plan after its termination. The termination of the Directors’ Plan had no effect on the options already outstanding. As of December 31, 2012, there were no outstanding options in this plan and there were no additional shares available for grant.
	The following is a summary of activity under the 1996 Plan, the 2005 Plan and the Directors’ Plan as of December 31, 2012:


							Options Outstanding
			Shares Available				Number of			Price per Share						Weighted
			for Grant of				Shares									Average
			Option or Award													Exercise
																Price
	Balance at December 31, 2010			1,959,278				6,354,758		$	0.12		—	$	64.69	$	1.32
	Options granted			(743,000	)			743,000		$	0.17		—	$	0.19	$	0.18
	Restricted stock awards granted			(1,091,448	)			—			—		—		—		—
	Restricted stock units granted			(78,947	)			—			—		—		—		—
	Options cancelled			254,250				(254,250	)	$	0.25		—	$	64.69	$	5.19
	Restricted share awards cancelled			450,000				—			—		—				—

	Balance at December 31, 2011			750,133				6,843,508		$	0.12		—	$	24.1	$	1.05
	Options granted			(560,000	)			560,000		$	0.15		—	$	0.15	$	0.15
	Increase in authorized shares			4,000,000				—			—		—		—		—
	Options cancelled			648,308				(648,308	)	$	0.13		—	$	24.1	$	2.52
	Restricted stock awards granted			(1,884,417	)			—		$	—		—	$	—	$	—

	Balance at December 31, 2012			2,954,024				6,755,200		$	0.12		—	$	12	$	0.83


	The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2012:


			Options Outstanding									Options Exercisable
	Exercise Price Range		Number				Weighted			Weighted		Number of		Weighted
			Of				Average			Average		Shares		Average
			Shares				Remaining			Exercise				Exercise
							Contractual			Price				Price
							Life (In Years)
	$0.12 – $0.15			916,000				8.64		$	0.14		634,500	$	0.14
	$0.16 – $0.17			743,000				6.82			0.16		689,375		0.16
	$0.18 – $0.18			1,344,000				7.72			0.18		1,344,000		0.18
	$0.19 – $0.23			450,000				8.13			0.19		450,000		0.19
	$0.25 – $0.25			721,500				6.06			0.25		677,654		0.25
	$0.39 – $1.37			734,300				4.88			0.98		734,300		0.98
	$1.41 – $1.70			966,500				4.38			1.63		966,500		1.63
	$1.80 – $3.77			711,900				3.58			2.03		711,900		2.03
	$4.20 – $10.80			146,000				1.38			5.93		146,000		5.93
	$12.00 – $12.00			22,000				1.16			12		22,000		12

				6,755,200				6.21		$	0.83		6,376,229	$	0.87

	Aggregate intrinsic value is the sum of the amounts by which the quoted market price of the Company’s stock exceeded the exercise price of the stock options at December 31, 2012 and 2011 for those stock options for which the quoted market price was in excess of the exercise price (“in-the-money options”). As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding was $3,000 and zero, respectively. As of December 31, 2012, options to purchase 6,376,229 shares of common stock were exercisable and had an aggregate intrinsic value of $3,000. No stock options were exercised in 2012 or 2011.
	A summary of the activity of the Company’s unvested restricted stock and performance bonus stock award activities for the years ending December 31, 2012 and 2011 is presented below. The ending balances represent the maximum number of shares that could be earned or vested under the 2005 Plan:


		Number of				Weighted Average
		Shares				Grant Date Fair Value
Balance at December 31, 2010			2,448,273			$	0.44
Restricted stock awards granted			1,091,448				0.18
Restricted share awards vested			(2,150,745	)			0.17
Restricted share awards cancelled			(450,000	)			1.6

Balance at December 31, 2011			938,976				0.19
Restricted stock awards granted			1,884,417				0.14
Restricted share awards vested			(1,370,309	)			0.16

Balance at December 31, 2012			1,453,084				0.14

For restricted stock awards, the Company recognizes compensation expense over the vesting period for the fair value of the stock award on the measurement date. The total fair value of restricted stock awards that did vest during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $185,000 and $373,000, respectively. The Company retained purchase rights to 1,453,000 and 939,000 shares of unvested restricted stock awards issued pursuant to stock purchase agreements at no cost per share as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Total employee stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock awards was $236,000 and $103,000 for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company issued 78,947 shares of restricted stock units with no exercise price to non-employee members of its Board of Directors. The units will vest on the earlier of either a change in control of the Company or upon the grantee’s termination of service as a Board member. In both 2012 and 2011, the non-employee members of the Board of Directors elected to forego all or a portion of their cash compensation in exchange for the aforementioned restricted stock unit grants and restricted stock awards.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Employees generally are eligible to participate in the ESPP if they have been continuously employed by the Company for at least 10 days prior to the first day of the offering period and are customarily employed at least 20 hours per week and at least five months per calendar year and are not a 5% or greater shareholder. Shares may be purchased under the ESPP at 85% of the lesser of the fair market value of the common stock on the grant date or purchase date. Employee contributions, through payroll deductions, are limited to the lesser of 15% of earnings or $25,000.
As of December 31, 2012, a total of 3,496,275 shares had been issued under the ESPP. In April 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors amended, and in May 2008 the Company’s shareholder approved, the amendment to the ESPP increasing the shares of common stock authorized by 1,000,000. In April 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors amended, and in May 2009 the Company’s shareholders approved, the amendment to the ESPP increasing the number of shares of common stock authorized by 2,500,000. As of December 31, 2012, there was a balance of 1,053,725 available authorized shares. Compensation expense was $57,000 and $98,000 for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The fair value of employee stock purchase rights under the ESPP is determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the following weighted average assumptions:


		Years Ended
		December 31,
		2012				2011
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Dividend yield			0	%			0	%
Volatility factor			105.3	%			105.3	%
Risk-free interest rate			1	%			1	%
Expected life (years)			2				2
Weighted-average fair value of purchase rights granted during the period		$	0.12			$	0.12
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense based on the fair value of that portion of stock options and restricted stock awards that are ultimately expected to vest during the period. Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss includes compensation expense for stock-based awards based on the estimated grant date fair value over the requisite service period.
The following table shows stock-based compensation expense included in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively (in thousands, except per share amounts):


		2012				2011
Costs and Expenses
Research and development		$	102			$	160
General and administrative			371				373

Total stock-based employee compensation expense		$	473			$	533

Impact on basic and diluted net loss per common share		$	(0.00	)		$	(0.00	)


There was no capitalized stock-based compensation cost as of December 31, 2012. Since the Company has cumulative net losses through December 31, 2012, there was no tax benefit associated with stock-based compensation expense.
The total amount of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options and stock purchases net of forfeitures was $43,000 as of December 31, 2012. This amount will be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.45 years. As of December 31, 2012, $121,000 of total unrecognized compensation costs, net of forfeitures, related to non-vested awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.66 years.
Valuation Assumptions
The fair value of options was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock for similar terms. The expected term was estimated using a lattice model prior to 2010, and the simplified method was used starting in 2010 as permitted under SAB No. 110, since the Company’s recent exercise and forfeiture history was not representative of the expected term of options granted during the year. The expected term represents the estimated period of time that stock options are expected to be outstanding, which is less than the contractual term which is generally ten years. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield. The expected dividend yield is zero, as the Company does not anticipate paying dividends in the near future. The weighted average assumptions for employee and non-employee options are as follows:


		Years Ended December 31
		2012				2011
Dividend yield			0	%			0	%
Volatility factor			172	%			124.5	%
Risk-free interest rate			0.8	%			1.7	%
Expected term (years)			5.3				5.5
Weighted-average fair value of options granted during the periods		$	0.14			$	0.15
Stock-Based Compensation for Non-Employees
The Company accounts for options issued to non-employees under ASC 505-50, Equity – Equity Based Payments to Non-Employees, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The value of such non-employee options are periodically re-measured over their vesting terms.

Royalty_Agreement

Royalty Agreement	12 Months Ended
Royalty Agreement	Dec. 31, 2012
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Royalty Agreement	'
	10. Royalty Agreement
	Zogenix
	In August 2006, the Company sold all of its assets related to the Intraject needle-free injector technology platform and products, including 12 United States patents along with foreign counterparts, to Zogenix, Inc for an initial payment of $4.0 million. Zogenix is responsible for further development and commercialization efforts of Intraject (now rebranded under the name DosePro). Under the terms of the asset sale agreement, the Company received a $4.0 million milestone payment in 2010 upon initial U.S. commercialization of the SUMAVEL DosePro needle-free delivery system.
	The Company received from Zogenix recurring quarterly royalty payments of approximately $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The Company received recurring royalty payments totaling approximately $0.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2011.

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
Employee Benefit Plans	Dec. 31, 2012
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Employee Benefit Plans	'
	11. Employee Benefit Plans
	The Company provides a 401(k) Plan for all full-time employees. Employees can contribute on a pretax basis up to the 2012 statutory limit of $16,500 (plus an additional $5,500 for employees that are 50 years and older). The Company matches employees’ contributions up to a maximum of three percent of an employee’s contribution. The Company’s employer matching contribution expense was $10,000 and $30,000 in 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	12. Income Taxes
	In 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of zero. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and the amounts used for tax purposes as well as net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards.
	Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows (in thousands):


		December 31,
		2012			2011
	Net operating loss carryforwards	$	14,332		$	11,280
	Research and development credits		6,509			6,472
	Federal orphan drug credits		7,228			5,666
	Other		1,881			1,497

	Total deferred tax assets		29,950			24,915
	Valuation allowance		(29,950	)		(24,915	)

	Net deferred tax assets	$	—		$	—

	The Company considers all available evidence, both positive and negative, including historical levels of taxable income, expectations and risks associated with estimates of future taxable income, and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, based on the Company’s analysis of all available evidence, both positive and negative, it was considered more likely than not that the Company’s deferred tax assets would not be realized, and as a result, the Company recorded a valuation allowance for its deferred tax assets. The valuation allowance increased by $5.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2012 and increased by $4.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2011. In accordance with ASC 718 Compensation-Stock Compensation, the Company has excluded from deferred tax assets those tax benefits attributable to employee stock option exercises.
	The difference between the income tax benefit and the amount computed by applying the federal statutory income tax rate to loss before income taxes is as follows (in thousands):


		Year Ended December 31,
		2012			2011
	Income tax benefit at federal statutory rate	$	(2,878	)	$	(3,259	)
	State taxes (net of federal)		(648	)		(617	)
	Credits		(662	)		(1,081	)
	Other		(842	)		191
	Change in valuation allowance		5,030			4,766

	Total	$	—		$	—

	As of December 31, 2012, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $34.5 million and federal orphan drug credit carryforwards of approximately $7.3 million, which expire in the years 2013 through 2032. The Company also had California net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $39.2 million, which expire in the years 2013 through 2032, and California research and development tax credit carryforwards of approximately $9.9 million, which do not expire. None of the federal and state net operating loss carryforwards represent stock option deductions arising from activity under the Company’s stock option plan.
	The Company’s federal and state net operating loss (NOL’s) and tax credit carryforwards are subject to substantial annual limitations as a result of certain ownership changes that occurred in 2010 and prior years. Federal net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards totaling $34.5 million will be available from 2013 to 2032, subject to the annual limitations. Federal tax credit carryforwards totaling $7.3 million will be available from 2028 to 2032, subject to the annual limitations. State operating loss carryforwards totaling $39.5 million will be available from 2013 to 2032, subject to annual limitations. State tax credit carryforwards totaling $9.9 million will be available commencing in 2033. The Company’s use of its net operating loss and credit carryforwards may be subject to further annual limitations for ownership changes occurring after December 31, 2012. The annual limitations or any future limitations could result in the expiration of the net operating loss and credit carryforwards before utilization.
	The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. The Company is subject to U.S. federal and state income tax examinations by tax authorities for tax years after 1999 due to net operating losses that are being carried forward for tax purposes.
	The Company does not have any unrecognized tax benefits, or interest and penalties accrued on unrecognized tax benefits, at December 31, 2012, or during the two years then ended. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense.

Quarterly_Results_of_Operation

Quarterly Results of Operations (unaudited)	12 Months Ended
Quarterly Results of Operations (unaudited)	Dec. 31, 2012
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Quarterly Results of Operations (unaudited)	'
	13. Quarterly Results of Operations (unaudited)
	Following is a summary of the quarterly results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands, except per share amounts):


		March 31,			June 30,			September 30,			December 31,
		2012			2012			2012			2012
	Total revenue	$	282		$	240		$	262		$	223

	Operating expenses:
	Research and development		786			700			818			1,477
	General and administrative		1,083			913			1,013			887
	Restructuring and asset impairment		9			9			8			8

	Total expenses		1,878			1,622			1,839			2,372

	Loss from operations		(1,596	)		(1,382	)		(1,577	)		(2,149	)
	Interest expense, net		(366	)		(379	)		(381	)		(394	)
	Other income (expense), including extinguishment of debt		2			—			(4	)		—

	Loss before income taxes		(1,960	)		(1,761	)		(1,962	)		(2,543	)
	Income tax provision		(1	)		—			—			—

	Net loss	$	(1,960	)	$	(1,761	)	$	(1,962	)	$	(2,543	)

	Basic and diluted net loss per common share	$	(0.01	)	$	(0.01	)	$	(0.01	)	$	(0.01	)

	Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per common share		197,923			198,406			198,670			201,137


		March 31,			June 30,			September 30,			December 31,
		2011			2011			2011			2011
	Total revenues	$	182		$	184		$	242		$	183

	Operating expenses:
	Research and development		1,480			1,584			1,292			651
	General and administrative		1,135			1,440			1,020			679
	Restructuring and asset impairment		10			10			10			9

	Total expenses		2,625			3,034			2,322			1,339

	Loss from operations		(2,443	)		(2,850	)		(2,080	)		(1,156	)
	Interest expense, net		(5	)		(45	)		(369	)		(365	)
	Other income		1			1			—			2

	Loss before income taxes		(2,447	)		(2,894	)		(2 ,449	)		(1,519	)
	Income tax benefit (provision)		—			—			—			—

	Net loss	$	(2,447	)	$	(2,894	)	$	(2,449	)	$	(1,519	)

	Basic and diluted net loss per common share	$	(0.01	)	$	(0.02	)	$	(0.01	)	$	(0.01	)

	Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per common share		170,135			170,731			194,549			197,833

Subsequent_Events

Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Subsequent Events	Dec. 31, 2012
Subsequent Events [Abstract]	'
Subsequent Events	'
	14. Subsequent Events
	The Company has evaluated subsequent events that have occurred after December 31, 2012 and determined that there were no events or transactions occurring during this reporting period which require recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'	'
Use of Estimates	'	'
	Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates include useful lives for property and equipment and related depreciation calculations, assumptions for valuing options and warrants, and income taxes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.	The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates include useful lives for property and equipment and related depreciation calculations, assumptions for valuing options and warrants, and income taxes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	'	'
	Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash Equivalents
	All highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase are classified as cash equivalents.	All highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase are classified as cash equivalents.
Investments	'	'
	Investments	Investments
	Management determines the appropriate classification of the Company’s marketable securities, which consist solely of debt securities, at the time of purchase. All investments are classified as available-for-sale, carried at estimated fair value and reported in cash and cash equivalents or short-term investments. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and losses. Fair values of investments are based on quoted market prices where available. Investment income is recognized when earned and includes interest, dividends, amortization of purchase premiums and discounts, and realized gains and losses on sales of securities. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. The Company regularly reviews all of its investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value. When the Company determines that the decline in fair value of an investment below the Company’s accounting basis is other-than-temporary, the Company reduces the carrying value of the securities held and records a loss equal to the amount of any such decline. No such reductions were required during any of the periods presented.	Management determines the appropriate classification of the Company’s marketable securities, which consist solely of debt securities, at the time of purchase. All marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale, carried at estimated fair value and reported in short-term investments. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and losses and are reported as a separate component in the statement of shareholders’ equity (deficit) until realized. Fair values of investments are based on quoted market prices where available. Investment income is recognized when earned and includes interest, dividends, amortization of purchase premiums and discounts and realized gains and losses on sales of securities. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. The Company regularly reviews all of its investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value. When the Company determines that the decline in fair value of an investment below the Company’s accounting basis is other-than-temporary, the Company reduces the carrying value of the securities held and records a loss in the amount of any such decline. No such reductions have been required during any of the periods presented.
Property and Equipment	'	'
	Property and Equipment	Property and Equipment
	The Company records property and equipment at cost and calculates depreciation using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Machinery and equipment includes external costs incurred for validation of the equipment. The Company does not capitalize internal validation expense. Computer equipment and software includes capitalized computer software. All of the Company’s capitalized software is purchased; the Company has not internally developed computer software. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the term of the lease or useful life of the improvement.	The Company records property and equipment at cost and calculates depreciation using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Machinery and equipment includes external costs incurred for validation of the equipment. The Company does not capitalize internal validation expense. Computer equipment and software includes capitalized computer software. All of the Company’s capitalized software is purchased; the Company has not internally developed computer software. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the term of the lease or useful life of the improvement.
		The estimated useful lives of property and equipment are as follows:


		Computer equipment and software		3 to 5 years
		Furniture and fixtures		5 to 7 years
		Lab equipment		5 to 7 years
		Machinery and equipment		5 years
		Leasehold improvements		5 to 17 years
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets	'	'
	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
	The Company reviews for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of property and equipment may not be recoverable. Determination of recoverability is based on an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. In the event that such cash flows are not expected to be sufficient to recover the carrying amount of the assets, the assets are written down to their estimated fair values and the loss is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.	In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360-10, Property Plant and Equipment – Overall, the Company reviews for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of property and equipment may not be recoverable. Determination of recoverability is based on an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. In the event that such cash flows are not expected to be sufficient to recover the carrying amount of the assets, the assets are written down to their estimated fair values and the loss is recognized in the statements of operations.
Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities	'	'
	Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities	Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities
	The Company recognizes a liability for the cost associated with an exit or disposal activity that is measured initially at its fair value in the period in which the liability is incurred. The Company accounted for the partial sublease of its headquarters building as an exit activity and recorded the sublease loss in its statement of operations (see Note 5).	In accordance with ASC 420, Exit or Disposal Activities the Company recognizes a liability for the cost associated with an exit or disposal activity that is measured initially at its fair value in the period in which the liability is incurred. The Company accounted for the partial sublease of its headquarters building as an exit activity and recorded the sublease loss in its statement of operations (see Note 5).
	Costs to terminate an operating lease or other contracts are (a) costs to terminate the contract before the end of its term or (b) costs that will continue to be incurred under the contract for its remaining term without economic benefit to the entity. In periods subsequent to initial measurement, changes to the liability are measured using the credit-adjusted risk-free rate that was used to measure the liability initially.	According to ASC 420, costs to terminate an operating lease or other contracts are (a) costs to terminate the contract before the end of its term or (b) costs that will continue to be incurred under the contract for its remaining term without economic benefit to the entity. In periods subsequent to initial measurement, changes to the liability are measured using the credit-adjusted risk-free rate that was used to measure the liability initially.
Revenue Recognition	'	'
	Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition
	Contract revenues consist of revenues from grants, collaboration agreements and feasibility studies. License and collaboration revenue is primarily generated through agreements with strategic partners for the development and commercialization of our product candidates. The terms of the agreements typically include non-refundable upfront fees, funding of research and development activities, payments based upon achievement of milestones and royalties on net product sales. The Company recognizes revenue under the provisions of the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 104, Topic 13, Revenue Recognition Revised and Updated and ASC 605-25, Revenue Recognition-Multiple Elements (“ASC 605-25”). Revenue for arrangements not having multiple deliverables, as outlined in ASC 605-25, is recognized once costs are incurred and collectability is reasonably assured.	Contract revenues consist of revenues from grants, collaboration agreements and feasibility studies. The Company recognizes revenue under the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 104, Topic 13, Revenue Recognition Revised and Updated (“SAB Topic 13”) and ASC 605-25, Revenue Recognition-Multiple Elements. Revenue for arrangements not having multiple deliverables, as outlined in ASC 605-25, is recognized once costs are incurred and collectability is reasonably assured.
	Collaborative license and development agreements that require the Company to provide multiple deliverables, such as a license, research and product steering committee service and other performance obligations, are accounted for in accordance with ASC 605-25. Under ASC 605-25, delivered items are evaluated to determine whether such items have value to the Company’s collaborators on a stand-alone basis and whether such objective reliable evidence of fair value of the undelivered item exists. The Company performs its analysis at the inception of each arrangement and as each product or service is delivered. Deliverables that meet these criteria are considered a separate unit of accounting. If a product or service is not separable, the combined deliverables are accounted for as a single unit of accounting and revenue is recognized over the performance obligation period. The appropriate revenue recognition criteria are identified and applied to each separate unit of accounting.	In accordance with contract terms, milestone payments from collaborative research agreements are considered reimbursements for costs incurred under the agreements and, accordingly, are recognized as revenue either upon completion of the milestone effort, when payments are contingent upon completion of the effort, or are based on actual efforts expended over the remaining term of the agreement when payments precede the required efforts. Refundable development payments are deferred until specific performance criteria are achieved. Refundable development payments are generally not refundable once specific performance criteria are achieved and accepted.
		Collaborative license and development agreements that require the Company to provide multiple deliverables, such as a license, research and product steering committee services and other performance obligations, are accounted for in accordance with ASC 605-25. Under ASC 605-25, delivered items are evaluated to determine whether such items have value to the Company’s collaborators on a stand-alone basis and whether objective reliable evidence of fair value of the undelivered items exists. Deliverables that meet these criteria are considered a separate unit of accounting. Deliverables that do not meet these criteria are combined and accounted for as a single unit of accounting. The appropriate revenue recognition criteria are identified and applied to each separate unit of accounting.
	Assuming the elements meet the revenue recognition guidelines, the revenue recognition methodology prescribed for each unit of accounting is summarized below:
	Upfront Fees—The Company defers recognition of non-refundable upfront fees if there are continuing performance obligations without which the technology licensed has no utility to the licensee. If the Company has continuing performance obligations through research and development services that are required because know-how and expertise related to the technology is proprietary to the Company, or can only be performed by the Company, then such up-front fees are deferred and recognized over the estimated period of the performance obligation. The Company bases the estimate of the period of performance on factors in the contract. Actual time frames could vary and could result in material changes to the results of operations. When the collaboration partners request the Company to continue performing the research and development services in collaboration beyond the initial period of performance the remaining unamortized deferred revenue and any new continuation or license fees are recognized over the extended period of performance.
	Funded Research and Development—Revenue from research and development services is recognized during the period in which the services are performed and is based upon the number of full-time-equivalent personnel working on the specific project at the agreed-upon rate. The full-time equivalent amount can vary each year if the contracts allow for a percentage increase determined by relevant salary surveys, if applicable. Reimbursements from collaborative partners for agreed upon direct costs including direct materials and outsourced, or subcontracted, pre-clinical studies are classified as revenue and recognized in the period the reimbursable expenses are incurred. Payments received in advance are recorded as deferred revenue until the research and development services are performed or costs are incurred.
	Milestones—Substantive milestone payments are considered to be performance bonuses that are recognized upon achievement of the milestone only if all of the following conditions are met: the milestone payments are non-refundable; achievement of the milestone involves a degree of risk and was not reasonably assured at the inception of the arrangement; substantive effort is involved in achieving the milestone; the amount of the milestone is reasonable in relation to the effort expended or the risk associated with achievement of the milestone; and a reasonable amount of time passes between the up-front license payment and the first milestone payment as well as between each subsequent milestone payment. If any of these conditions are not met, the milestone payments are deferred and recognized as revenue over the term of the arrangement as the Company completes its performance obligations.
	Royalties—The Company recognizes royalty revenues from licensed products upon the sale of the related products.
Research and Development	'	'
	Research and Development	Research and Development
	Research and development expenses consist of costs incurred for company-sponsored, collaborative and contracted research and development activities. These costs include direct and research-related overhead expenses. The Company expenses research and development costs as such costs are incurred.	Research and development expenses consist of costs incurred for company-sponsored, collaborative and contracted research and development activities. These costs include direct and research-related overhead expenses. The Company expenses research and development costs as incurred.
Stock-Based Compensation	'	'
	Stock-Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation
	The Company accounts for share-based payment arrangements in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation and ASC 505-50, Equity-Equity Based Payments to Non-Employees which requires the recognition of compensation expense, using a fair-value based method, for all costs related to share-based payments including stock options and restricted stock awards and stock issued under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan. These standards require companies to estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. See Note 8 for further discussion of the Company’s stock-based compensation plans.	The Company accounts for share-based payment arrangements in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation and ASC 505-50, Equity-Equity Based Payments to Non-Employees which requires the recognition of compensation expense, using a fair-value based method, for all costs related to share-based payments including stock options and restricted stock awards and stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). These standards require companies to estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of the grant using an option-pricing model. See Note 9 for further discussion of the Company’s stock-based compensation plans.
Income Taxes	'	'
	Income Taxes	Income Taxes
	The Company makes certain estimates and judgments in determining income tax expense for financial statement purposes. These estimates and judgments occur in the calculation of certain tax assets and liabilities, which arise from differences in the timing of recognition of revenue and expense for tax and financial statement purposes. As part of the process of preparing the financial statements, the Company is required to estimate income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates. This process involves the Company estimating its current tax exposure under the most recent tax laws and assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in the balance sheets.	The Company makes certain estimates and judgments in determining income tax expense for financial statement purposes. These estimates and judgments occur in the calculation of certain tax assets and liabilities, which arise from differences in the timing of the recognition of revenue and expense for tax and financial statement purposes. As part of the process of preparing the financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates. This process involves the estimation of the current tax exposure under the most recent tax laws and assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities which are included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
		The Company assesses the likelihood that it will be able to recover its deferred tax assets. The Company considers all available evidence, both positive and negative, including its historical levels of income and losses, expectations and risks associated with estimates of future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. If the Company does not consider it more likely than not that it will recover its deferred tax assets, it will record a valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets that it estimates will not ultimately be recoverable. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company believed that the amount of its deferred income taxes would not be ultimately recovered. Accordingly, the Company recorded a full valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. However, should there be a change in the Company’s ability to recover its deferred tax assets, it would recognize a benefit to its tax provision in the period in which it determines that it is more likely than not that it will recover its deferred tax assets.
	The Company assesses the likelihood that it will be able to recover its deferred tax assets. It considers all available evidence, both positive and negative, including the historical levels of income and losses, expectations and risks associated with estimates of future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. If the Company does not consider it more likely than not that it will recover its deferred tax assets, the Company records a valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets that it estimates will not ultimately be recoverable. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company believed that the amount of its deferred income taxes would not be ultimately recovered. Accordingly, the Company recorded a full valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. However, should there be a change in the Company’s ability to recover its deferred tax assets, the Company would recognize a benefit to its tax provision in the period in which it determines that it is more likely than not that it will recover its deferred tax assets.
	The Company entered into a financing transaction that will likely cause an ownership change under IRC Section 382. The precise impact of that ownership has not been calculated as of the quarter ended September 30, 2013. The Company will be calculating the impact in utilizing its net operating losses in the various taxing jurisdictions in which it files before filing tax returns.
Net Loss Per Common Share	'	'
	Net Loss Per Common Share	Net Loss Per Common Share
	Basic net loss per common share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period less the weighted-average number of restricted shares of common stock subject to repurchase. Diluted net income/(loss) per common share is based on the weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares, such as stock options and unvested restricted stock shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive securities were not included for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 because inclusion of such shares would have been anti-dilutive.	Basic net loss per common share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding less the weighted-average number of shares subject to repurchase. Unvested restricted stock awards subject to repurchase totaled 1,453,000 shares and 939,000 shares for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Potentially dilutive securities were not included in the net loss per share calculation for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 because the inclusion of such shares would have had an anti-dilutive effect.
		Potentially dilutive securities include the following (in thousands):


			Years Ended December 31,
			2012		2011
		Outstanding stock options		6,755		6,844
		Unvested restricted stock awards		1,453		939
		Outstanding warrants		2,841		3,591
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	'	'
	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
	There have been no recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to the recent accounting pronouncements described in the Company’s recent 2012 Form 10-K that are of significance or potential significance to the Company.	In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholder’s equity and instead requires separate statements of comprehensive income. The amendment is effective for the fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. In December 2011, FASB issued ASU 2011-12, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassification of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05. ASU 2011-12 defers the changes in ASU 2011-05 that pertain to how, when and where reclassification adjustments are presented. The adoption of ASU 2011-05 did not have material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.
Organization	'	'
		1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
		Organization
		Aradigm Corporation (the “Company”) is a California corporation, incorporated in 1991, focused on the development and commercialization of drugs delivered by inhalation for the prevention and treatment of severe respiratory diseases. The Company’s principal activities to date have included conducting research and development and developing collaborations. Management does not anticipate receiving revenues from the sale of any of its products in the upcoming year, except for the royalty revenue from Zogenix. The Company operates as a single operating segment.
Basis of Presentation and Consolidation	'	'
		Basis of Presentation and Consolidation
		The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Liquidity and Financial Condition	'	'
		Liquidity and Financial Condition
		The Company has incurred significant operating losses and negative cash flows from operations. At December 31, 2012, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $371.4 million, working capital of $6.5 million and shareholders’ deficit of $1.4 million. During 2012, the Company entered into a financing agreement which provided capital to fund operations. The agreement was for the sale of 50 million shares of common stock in a private placement for net proceeds of $5.5 million.
		Management believes that the cash resources as of December 31, 2012 are sufficient to meet its obligations and fund operations through 2013 since the Company continues to defer certain discretionary activities. The Company will require additional capital to fund its drug development and operating activities and is currently seeking additional financing, which may include a collaborative arrangement, an equity offering, or sale or licensing of non-core assets, in order to continue such activities. If the Company is unable to complete such a transaction or is unable to obtain sufficient financing on acceptable terms or otherwise, the Company may be required to further reduce, defer or discontinue its activities or may not be able to continue as a going concern.
Significant Concentrations	'	'
		Significant Concentrations
		Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. Risks associated with these instruments are mitigated by banking with, and only purchasing commercial paper and corporate notes from, creditworthy institutions. The maximum amount of loss due to credit risk associated with these financial instruments is their respective fair values as stated in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'	'
		Comprehensive Income (Loss)
		ASC 220, Comprehensive Income requires that an entity’s change in equity or net assets during a period from transactions and other events from non-owner sources be reported. The Company reports unrealized gains or losses on its available-for-sale securities as other comprehensive income (loss). Total comprehensive income (loss) has been disclosed on the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	9 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	Sep. 30, 2013									Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'									'
Summary of Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis	'									'
	The following table presents the fair value level for the assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy. The Company does not have any liabilities that are measured at fair value.									The following table presents the fair value level for the cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments which represents the assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy. The Company does not have any liabilities that are measured at fair value.


		Fair Value Measurements								Description	Balance		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	Description	Balance		(In thousands)		Significant		Significant			December 31,
		Sept 30,		Quoted Prices		Other		Unobservable			2012
		2013		in Active		Observable		Inputs			(In thousands)
				Markets for		Inputs		(Level 3)		Cash and cash equivalents	$	7,414	$	6,604	$	810	$	—
				Identical		(Level 2)				Short-term investments		203		—		203		—
				Assets
				(Level 1)						Total	$	7,617	$	6,604	$	1,013	$	—
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	38,693	$	38,693	$	—	$	—

	Short-term investments:
	Certificates of deposit	$	230	$	—	$	230	$	—

Sublease_Agreement_and_Lease_E1

Sublease Agreement and Lease Exit Liability (Tables)	9 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
Sublease Agreement and Lease Exit Liability (Tables)	Sep. 30, 2013				Dec. 31, 2012
Restructuring And Related Activities [Abstract]	'				'
Schedule of Lease Exit Liability Activity	'				'
	The lease exit liability activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 is as follows (in thousands):				expense in the consolidated statement of operations. The lease exit liability activity for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 are as follows (in thousands):


		Nine Months Ended				Year Ended
		30-Sep-13				December 31,
	Balance at January 1, 2013	$	609			2012			2011
	Accretion expense		21		Balance at beginning of year	$	729		$	828
	Lease payments		(128	)	Accretion expense		34			39
					Lease payments		(154	)		(138	)
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	502
					Balance at end of the year	$	609		$	729

Shareholders_Equity_Deficit_Ta

Shareholders' Equity (Deficit) (Tables)	9 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
Shareholders' Equity (Deficit) (Tables)	Sep. 30, 2013												Dec. 31, 2012
Equity [Abstract]	'												'
Schedule of Stock Based Compensation Expenses	'												'
	The following table shows the stock-based compensation expense included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):												The following table shows stock-based compensation expense included in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively (in thousands, except per share amounts):


		Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended							2012			2011
		September 30,					September 30,						Costs and Expenses
		2013			2012		2013		2012				Research and development	$	102		$	160
	Costs and expenses:												General and administrative		371			373
	Research and development	$	41		$	8	$	98	$	85
	General and administrative		93			97		240		299			Total stock-based employee compensation expense	$	473		$	533

	Total stock-based compensation expense	$	134		$	105	$	338	$	384			Impact on basic and diluted net loss per common share	$	(0.00	)	$	(0.00	)

Schedule of Activity Under Stock Option plan	'												'
	Stock Option Activity												The following is a summary of activity under the 1996 Plan, the 2005 Plan and the Directors’ Plan as of December 31, 2012:
	The following is a summary of activity under the 1996 Plan, the 2005 Plan and the Directors’ Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2013:

																	Options Outstanding
		Shares Available for												Shares Available			Number of			Price per Share						Weighted
		Future Grant												for Grant of			Shares									Average
	Balance at January 1, 2013		2,954,024											Option or Award												Exercise
	Options granted		(630,000	)																						Price
	Increase in authorized shares		40,000,000										Balance at December 31, 2010		1,959,278			6,354,758		$	0.12		—	$	64.69	$	1.32
	Options cancelled		40,900										Options granted		(743,000	)		743,000		$	0.17		—	$	0.19	$	0.18
	Restricted share awards granted		(713,333	)									Restricted stock awards granted		(1,091,448	)		—			—		—		—		—
													Restricted stock units granted		(78,947	)		—			—		—		—		—
	Balance at September 30, 2013		41,651,591										Options cancelled		254,250			(254,250	)	$	0.25		—	$	64.69	$	5.19
													Restricted share awards cancelled		450,000			—			—		—				—

													Balance at December 31, 2011		750,133			6,843,508		$	0.12		—	$	24.1	$	1.05
		Options Outstanding											Options granted		(560,000	)		560,000		$	0.15		—	$	0.15	$	0.15
		Number of			Exercise Price Range						Weighted		Increase in authorized shares		4,000,000			—			—		—		—		—
		Shares									Average		Options cancelled		648,308			(648,308	)	$	0.13		—	$	24.1	$	2.52
											Exercise		Restricted stock awards granted		(1,884,417	)		—		$	—		—	$	—	$	—
											Price
	Balance at January 1, 2013		6,755,200		$	0.12		—	$	12	$	0.83	Balance at December 31, 2012		2,954,024			6,755,200		$	0.12		—	$	12	$	0.83
	Options granted		630,000		$	0.12		—	$	0.15	$	0.15
	Options cancelled		(40,900	)	$	4.75		—	$	9.45	$	5.81

	Balance at September 30, 2013		7,344,300		$	0.12		—	$	12	$	0.78

Summary of Stock Options Outstanding and Exercisable	'												'
													The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2012:


														Options Outstanding								Options Exercisable
													Exercise Price Range	Number			Weighted			Weighted		Number of		Weighted
														Of			Average			Average		Shares		Average
														Shares			Remaining			Exercise				Exercise
																	Contractual			Price				Price
																	Life (In Years)
													$0.12 – $0.15		916,000			8.64		$	0.14		634,500	$	0.14
													$0.16 – $0.17		743,000			6.82			0.16		689,375		0.16
													$0.18 – $0.18		1,344,000			7.72			0.18		1,344,000		0.18
													$0.19 – $0.23		450,000			8.13			0.19		450,000		0.19
													$0.25 – $0.25		721,500			6.06			0.25		677,654		0.25
													$0.39 – $1.37		734,300			4.88			0.98		734,300		0.98
													$1.41 – $1.70		966,500			4.38			1.63		966,500		1.63
													$1.80 – $3.77		711,900			3.58			2.03		711,900		2.03
													$4.20 – $10.80		146,000			1.38			5.93		146,000		5.93
													$12.00 – $12.00		22,000			1.16			12		22,000		12

															6,755,200			6.21		$	0.83		6,376,229	$	0.87

Schedule of Unvested Restricted Stock and Performance Bonus Stock Award	'												'
													A summary of the activity of the Company’s unvested restricted stock and performance bonus stock award activities for the years ending December 31, 2012 and 2011 is presented below. The ending balances represent the maximum number of shares that could be earned or vested under the 2005 Plan:


														Number of			Weighted Average
														Shares			Grant Date Fair Value
													Balance at December 31, 2010		2,448,273		$	0.44
													Restricted stock awards granted		1,091,448			0.18
													Restricted share awards vested		(2,150,745	)		0.17
													Restricted share awards cancelled		(450,000	)		1.6

													Balance at December 31, 2011		938,976			0.19
													Restricted stock awards granted		1,884,417			0.14
													Restricted share awards vested		(1,370,309	)		0.16

													Balance at December 31, 2012		1,453,084			0.14

Employee Stock Purchase Plan	'												'
													$98,000 for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The fair value of employee stock purchase rights under the ESPP is determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the following weighted average assumptions:


														Years Ended
														December 31,
														2012			2011
													Employee Stock Purchase Plan
													Dividend yield		0	%		0	%
													Volatility factor		105.3	%		105.3	%
													Risk-free interest rate		1	%		1	%
													Expected life (years)		2			2
													Weighted-average fair value of purchase rights granted during the period	$	0.12		$	0.12
Schedule of Stock Based Compensation Valuation Assumption	'												'
													paying dividends in the near future. The weighted average assumptions for employee and non-employee options are as follows:


														Years Ended December 31
														2012			2011
													Dividend yield		0	%		0	%
													Volatility factor		172	%		124.5	%
													Risk-free interest rate		0.8	%		1.7	%
													Expected term (years)		5.3			5.5
													Weighted-average fair value of options granted during the periods	$	0.14		$	0.15

StockBased_Compensation_and_St1

Stock-Based Compensation and Stock Options, Awards and Units (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Unvested Restricted Stock and Performance Bonus Stock Award	'
	A summary of the Company’s unvested restricted stock and performance bonus stock awards as of September 30, 2013 is presented below representing the maximum number of shares that could be earned or vested under the 2005 Plan:


		Number			Weighted Average
		of			Grant Date Fair
		Shares			Value
	Balance at December 31, 2012		1,453,084		$	0.14
	Restricted share awards issued		713,333			0.15
	Restricted share awards vested		(1,619,417	)		0.14

	Balance at September 30, 2013		547,000		$	0.18

Net_Loss_Per_Common_Share_Tabl

Net Loss Per Common Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
Net Loss Per Common Share (Tables)	Sep. 30, 2013					Dec. 31, 2012
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'					'
Schedule of Securities Excluded from the Calculation of Diluted Net Loss Per Common Share	'					'
	The Company excluded the following securities from the calculation of diluted net loss per common share for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, as their effect would be anti-dilutive (in thousands):					Potentially dilutive securities include the following (in thousands):


		Nine months ended					Years Ended December 31,
		Sep 30,					2012		2011
		2013		2012		Outstanding stock options		6,755		6,844
	Outstanding stock options		7,344		6,844	Unvested restricted stock awards		1,453		939
	Unvested restricted stock		547		1,482	Outstanding warrants		2,841		3,591
	Unvested restricted stock units		412		412

Comprehensive_Loss_Tables

Comprehensive Loss (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Comprehensive Loss (Tables)	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Comprehensive Loss and its Components	'
	Comprehensive loss and its components are as follows (in thousands):


		Nine months ended
		September 30,
		2013			2012
	Net loss	$	(20,909	)	$	(5,683	)
	Other comprehensive loss:
	Change in unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities		—			(1	)

	Comprehensive loss	$	(20,909	)	$	(5,684	)

Organization_and_Summary_of_Si1

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Summary of estimated useful lives of property and equipment	'
	The estimated useful lives of property and equipment are as follows:


	Computer equipment and software	3 to 5 years
	Furniture and fixtures	5 to 7 years
	Lab equipment	5 to 7 years
	Machinery and equipment	5 years
	Leasehold improvements	5 to 17 years

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents_and_1

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash And Cash Equivalents [Abstract]	'
Summary of Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	'
	A summary of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments, classified as available-for-sale and carried at fair value is as follows (in thousands):


		Amortized		Gross		Gross		Estimated
		Cost		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
				Gain		(Loss)		Value
	December 31, 2012
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	7,414	$	—	$	—	$	7,414

	Short-term investments:
	U.S. Treasury notes	$	203	$	—	$	—	$	203

	Total	$	7,617	$	—	$	—	$	7,617


	December 31, 2011
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,148	$	—	$	—	$	2,148

	Short-term investments:
	Commercial paper	$	799	$	—	$	—	$	799
	Certificates of deposit		730		—		—		730
	U.S. Treasury notes		4,986		1		—		4,987

	Total	$	6,515	$	1	$	—	$	6,516

Property_and_Equipment_Tables

Property and Equipment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Property and Equipment (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2012
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	Property and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):


		December 31,
		2012			2011
	Machinery and equipment	$	4,385		$	4,402
	Furniture and fixtures		1,138			1,138
	Lab equipment		2,138			2,138
	Computer equipment and software		2,640			2,635
	Leasehold improvements		1,839			1,839

	Property and equipment		12,140			12,152
	Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		(11,413	)		(11,039	)

	Property and equipment, net	$	727		$	1,113

Leases_Commitments_and_Conting1

Leases, Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Leases, Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2012
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Future Minimum Non-Cancellable Lease Payments	'
	Future minimum non-cancelable lease payments at December 31, 2012 are as follows (in thousands):


		Operating		Mendel			Net
		Leases		Sub-Lease			Operating
							Lease
							Payments
	Year ending December 31:
	2013	$	1,774	$	(1,133	)	$	641
	2014		1,844		(1,167	)		677
	2015		1,917		(1,201	)		716
	2016		1,020		(640	)		380

	Total minimum lease payments	$	6,555	$	(4,141	)	$	2,414

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Significant Components of the Company's Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	'
	Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows (in thousands):


		December 31,
		2012			2011
	Net operating loss carryforwards	$	14,332		$	11,280
	Research and development credits		6,509			6,472
	Federal orphan drug credits		7,228			5,666
	Other		1,881			1,497

	Total deferred tax assets		29,950			24,915
	Valuation allowance		(29,950	)		(24,915	)

	Net deferred tax assets	$	—		$	—

Schedule of Difference Between Income Tax Benefit and Computation Amount of Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate	'
	The difference between the income tax benefit and the amount computed by applying the federal statutory income tax rate to loss before income taxes is as follows (in thousands):


		Year Ended December 31,
		2012			2011
	Income tax benefit at federal statutory rate	$	(2,878	)	$	(3,259	)
	State taxes (net of federal)		(648	)		(617	)
	Credits		(662	)		(1,081	)
	Other		(842	)		191
	Change in valuation allowance		5,030			4,766

	Total	$	—		$	—

Quarterly_Results_of_Operation1

Quarterly Results of Operations (unaudited) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Quarterly Results of Operations (unaudited) (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2012
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Summary of the Quarterly Results of Operations	'
	Following is a summary of the quarterly results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands, except per share amounts):


		March 31,			June 30,			September 30,			December 31,
		2012			2012			2012			2012
	Total revenue	$	282		$	240		$	262		$	223

	Operating expenses:
	Research and development		786			700			818			1,477
	General and administrative		1,083			913			1,013			887
	Restructuring and asset impairment		9			9			8			8

	Total expenses		1,878			1,622			1,839			2,372

	Loss from operations		(1,596	)		(1,382	)		(1,577	)		(2,149	)
	Interest expense, net		(366	)		(379	)		(381	)		(394	)
	Other income (expense), including extinguishment of debt		2			—			(4	)		—

	Loss before income taxes		(1,960	)		(1,761	)		(1,962	)		(2,543	)
	Income tax provision		(1	)		—			—			—

	Net loss	$	(1,960	)	$	(1,761	)	$	(1,962	)	$	(2,543	)

	Basic and diluted net loss per common share	$	(0.01	)	$	(0.01	)	$	(0.01	)	$	(0.01	)

	Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per common share		197,923			198,406			198,670			201,137


		March 31,			June 30,			September 30,			December 31,
		2011			2011			2011			2011
	Total revenues	$	182		$	184		$	242		$	183

	Operating expenses:
	Research and development		1,480			1,584			1,292			651
	General and administrative		1,135			1,440			1,020			679
	Restructuring and asset impairment		10			10			10			9

	Total expenses		2,625			3,034			2,322			1,339

	Loss from operations		(2,443	)		(2,850	)		(2,080	)		(1,156	)
	Interest expense, net		(5	)		(45	)		(369	)		(365	)
	Other income		1			1			—			2

	Loss before income taxes		(2,447	)		(2,894	)		(2 ,449	)		(1,519	)
	Income tax benefit (provision)		—			—			—			—

	Net loss	$	(2,447	)	$	(2,894	)	$	(2,449	)	$	(1,519	)

	Basic and diluted net loss per common share	$	(0.01	)	$	(0.02	)	$	(0.01	)	$	(0.01	)

	Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per common share		170,135			170,731			194,549			197,833

Organization_Basis_of_Presenta

Organization Basis of Presentation and Liquidity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
	Segment	Segment	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Number of operating segment	1	1	'	'
Accumulated deficit	($392,269,000)	($371,360,000)	($363,134,000)	'
Working capital	42,700,000	6,500,000	'	'
Shareholders' equity (deficit)	34,196,000	-1,441,000	689,000	4,599,000
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$38,900,000	'	'	'

Cash_Cash_Equivalents_and_Shor

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments - Additional Information (Detail) (Maximum [Member])	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]	'	'	'
Short term investment maturity period	'1 year	'1 year	'1 year

Summary_of_Assets_Measured_at_

Summary of Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis (Detail) (USD $)

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Certificates of deposit [Member]

Recurring [Member]

Certificates of deposit [Member]

Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]

Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]

Certificates of deposit [Member]

Summary of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis

Cash and cash equivalents

$38,693

$7,414

$38,693

$6,604

$810

Short-term investments

7,617

6,516

730

203

230

203

230

Total

$7,617

$6,604

$1,013

Sublease_Agreement_and_Lease_E2

Sublease Agreement and Lease Exit Liability - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2007	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jan. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2009	Jul. 18, 2007	Jul. 18, 2007
						Mendel [Member]	Mendel [Member]	Mendel [Member]	3929 Point Eden Way, Hayward, CA [Member]
						sqft	sqft	sqft	sqft
Sublease Agreement and Lease Exit Liability (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of square feet	'	'	'	'	'	3,300	1,550	48,000	72,000
Lease agreement initiation date	18-Jul-07	18-Jul-07	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Impairment expense related to the sublease	'	'	$2,100,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Lease exit current liability	162,000	144,000	'	120,000	'	'	'	'	'
Lease exit liability	502,000	609,000	'	729,000	828,000	'	'	'	'
Lease exit non- current liability	$340,000	$465,000	'	$609,000	'	'	'	'	'

Sublease_Agreement_and_Lease_E3

Sublease Agreement and Lease Exit Liability (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Leases [Abstract]	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of year	$609	$729	$828
Accretion expense	21	34	39
Lease payments	-128	-154	-138
Balance at end of the year	$502	$609	$729

Collaboration_Agreement_Additi

Collaboration Agreement - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Jul. 15, 2013

20-May-13

Sep. 30, 2013

Aug. 27, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

20-May-13

License Agreement with Grifols [Member]

Governance Agreement [Member]

Grifols [Member]

Investor [Member]

December 31, 2013 [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Person

Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]

Stock Purchase Agreement

20-May-13

Common stock, shares issued and sell

586,375,325

251,346,385

198,831,216

333,968,104

209,774,558

124,193,546

Common stock, purchase price per share

$0.12

Proceed from common stock shares

$426,465,000

$369,919,000

$363,822,000

$41,400,000

Common Stock authorized shares

1,001,830,627

297,527,214

213,527,214

706,830,627

Shareholders holding percentage

50.00%

Payment received from investors and related party

40,265,000

38,000

77,000

113,000

26,000,000

Closing price of common stock

$0.20

Common stock discount per share

$0.08

Common stock discount on shares

15,900,000

Future reimbursable research and development expenses by partner

65,000,000

Payments for development milestones by partner

25,000,000

Royalty payments on net sales rate

12.50%

20.00%

Patent coverage or orphan drug designation period

'10 years

Percentage of reduction on royalty payment

50.00%

Deferred revenue balance

8,800,000

Collaboration revenues

$4,301,000

$4,300,000

Number of independent directors

Number of directors designated by partner

Number of chief executive officer

Period to be consider after the first commercial sale for restriction to acquire and sale of stock by Grifols

'12 months

Minimum target percentage of beneficial ownership to be maintain under governance agreement

35.00%

Royalty_Agreement_Note_Payable1

Royalty Agreement, Note Payable and Accrued Interest - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Jun. 21, 2011

Aug. 31, 2006

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Mar. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2011

Jun. 30, 2011

Mar. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Patents

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

United States patents along with foreign counterparts

Quarterly royalty payments rate

3.00%

Recurring royalty revenue

$251,000

$223,000

$262,000

$240,000

$282,000

$183,000

$242,000

$184,000

$182,000

$778,000

$784,000

$1,007,000

$791,000

Royalty financing agreement with a syndicate of lenders

8,500,000

8,885,000

8,513,000

8,207,000

8,885,000

8,513,000

8,207,000

Royalty financing agreement fees and expenses

473,000

Additional Interest Reserve Account

250,000

Royalties payable rate

100.00%

Term Loan accrue interest to LIBOR or plus

'A) LIBOR or b) 1.50%, plus a margin of 14.5%

Accrued interest paid to cure the breach

167,000

Cumulative cash shortfall agreement from default stands

352,000

Number of trading days for the average closing price

'10 days

Warrants expiration date

31-Dec-16

Discount Interest Rate

18.70%

Capital expenses amortized to interest expense for how many months

'48 months

Initial payment for asset sale agreement

4,000,000

Milestone payment for royalty payments upon commercialization

4,000,000

Percentage of principal balance of the term loan outstanding

10.00%

Right to make partial prepayment on term loan of outstanding

1,000,000

Warrants [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Lender warrants to purchase common stock

2,840,909

Class of warrant or right, exercise price of warrants or rights

$0.22

Common stock premium rate

20.00%

Warrants accounted for equity instruments, fair value, discount against note

$390,000

Prepayment Fee Outstanding 13-24 Months [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Prepayment fee rate

8.00%

Prepayment Fee Outstanding 25-36 Months [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Prepayment fee rate

4.00%

Prepayment Fee Outstanding 37-48 Months [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Prepayment fee rate

2.00%

Prepayment Fee Outstanding After 48 Months [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Prepayment fee rate

0.00%

StockBased_Compensation_and_St2

Stock-Based Compensation and Stock Options, Awards and Units - Schedule of Stock Based Compensation Expense (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Costs and Expenses	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total stock-based compensation expense	$134,000	$105,000	$338,000	$384,000	$473,000	$533,000
Impact on basic and diluted net loss per common share	'	'	'	'	$0	$0
Research and development [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Costs and Expenses	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total stock-based compensation expense	41,000	8,000	98,000	85,000	102,000	160,000
General and administrative [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Costs and Expenses	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total stock-based compensation expense	$93,000	$97,000	$240,000	$299,000	$371,000	$373,000

StockBased_Compensation_and_St3

Stock-Based Compensation and Stock Options, Awards and Units - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Non-vested stock options and stock purchases [Member]

Stock Options [Member]

Non-vested stock awards [Member]

Restricted Stock [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]

Capitalized stock-based employee compensation cost

Tax provision related to stock-based compensation

Recognized tax benefit associated with stock-based compensation expense

Total amount of unrecognized compensation cost

121,000

200,000

100,000

Weighted average period expected to be recognized, total unrecognized compensation cost, in years

'7 months 28 days

'7 months 21 days

Total fair value of restricted stock awards

283,000

Company retained purchase rights on unvested restricted stock awards, shares

547,000

1,453,084

938,976

2,448,273

Stock options of common stock exercisable, shares

6,905,174

Stock options, aggregate intrinsic value

$125,000

Stock options exercised during the period

StockBased_Compensation_and_St4

Stock-Based Compensation and Stock Options, Awards and Units - Schedule of Activity Under Stock Option Plan (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended			9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	31-May-10	31-May-08	Jun. 30, 2007	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Shares Available for Future Grant, Beginning balance	'	'	'	2,954,024	750,133	1,959,278
Options granted, Shares Available for Future Grant	'	'	'	-630,000	-560,000	-743,000
Increase in authorized shares, Shares Available for Grant of Option or Award	4,000,000	2,700,000	1,600,000	40,000,000	4,000,000	'
Options cancelled, Shares Available for Future Grant	'	'	'	40,900	648,308	254,250
Restricted share awards granted, Shares Available for Future Grant	'	'	'	-713,333	'	'
Restricted share awards cancelled, Shares Available for Grant of Options or Award	'	'	'	'	'	450,000
Shares Available for Future Grant, Ending balance	'	'	'	41,651,591	2,954,024	750,133
Number of Shares, Beginning balance	'	'	'	6,755,200	6,843,508	6,354,758
Options granted, Number of Shares	'	'	'	630,000	560,000	743,000
Options cancelled, Number of Shares	'	'	'	-40,900	-648,308	-254,250
Number of Shares, Ending balance	'	'	'	7,344,300	6,755,200	6,843,508
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Beginning balance	'	'	'	$0.83	$1.05	$1.32
Options granted, Weighted Average Exercise Price	'	'	'	$0.15	$0.15	$0.18
Options cancelled, Weighted Average Exercise Price	'	'	'	$5.81	$2.52	$5.19
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Ending balance	'	'	'	$0.78	$0.83	$1.05
Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted share awards granted, Shares Available for Future Grant	'	'	'	-713,333	-1,884,417	-1,091,448
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted share awards granted, Shares Available for Future Grant	'	'	'	'	'	-78,947
Maximum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Beginning Balance	'	'	'	$12	$24.10	$64.69
Options granted, Exercise Price Range	'	'	'	$0.15	$0.15	$0.19
Options cancelled, Exercise Price Range	'	'	'	$9.45	$24.10	$64.69
Exercise Price Range, Ending Balance	'	'	'	$12	$12	$24.10
Minimum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Beginning Balance	'	'	'	$0.12	$0.12	$0.12
Options granted, Exercise Price Range	'	'	'	$0.12	$0.15	$0.17
Options cancelled, Exercise Price Range	'	'	'	$4.75	$0.13	$0.25
Exercise Price Range, Ending Balance	'	'	'	$0.12	$0.12	$0.12

StockBased_Compensation_and_St5

Stock-Based Compensation and Stock Options, Awards and Units - Schedule of Unvested Restricted Stock and Performance Bonus Stock Award (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restricted share awards issued, Number of Shares	713,333	'	'
Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Beginning Balance, Number of Shares	1,453,084	938,976	2,448,273
Restricted share awards issued, Number of Shares	713,333	1,884,417	1,091,448
Restricted share awards vested, Number of shares	-1,619,417	-1,370,309	-2,150,745
Restricted share awards cancelled, Number of shares	'	'	-450,000
Ending Balance, Number of Shares	547,000	1,453,084	938,976
Beginning Balance, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$0.14	'	$0.44
Restricted share awards issued, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$0.15	$0.14	$0.18
Restricted share awards vested	$0.14	$0.16	$0.17
Ending Balance, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$0.18	$0.14	'
Restricted share awards cancelled	'	'	$1.60
Ending Balance, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	'	$0.14	$0.19

Net_Loss_Per_Common_Share_Sche

Net Loss Per Common Share - Schedule of Securities Excluded from Calculation of Diluted Net Loss per Common Share (Detail)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Outstanding stock options [Member]	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'
Securities excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per common share	7,344	6,844
Unvested restricted stock [Member]	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'
Securities excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per common share	547	1,482
Unvested restricted stock units [Member]	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'
Securities excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per common share	412	412

Comprehensive_Loss_Schedule_of

Comprehensive Loss - Schedule of Comprehensive Loss and its Components (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Mar. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2011

Jun. 30, 2011

Mar. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax [Abstract]

Net loss

($14,874)

($2,543)

($1,962)

($1,761)

($1,960)

($1,519)

($2,449)

($2,894)

($2,447)

($20,909)

($5,683)

($8,226)

($9,309)

Other comprehensive loss:

Change in unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities

-1

Comprehensive loss

($14,874)

($1,962)

($20,909)

($5,684)

($8,227)

($9,308)

Organization_and_Summary_of_Si2

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
	Segment	Segment	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Number of operating segment	1	1	'	'
Accumulated deficit	($392,269,000)	($371,360,000)	($363,134,000)	'
Working capital	42,700,000	6,500,000	'	'
Shareholders' deficit	34,196,000	-1,441,000	689,000	4,599,000
Common stock, Shares	'	50,000,000	25,000,000	'
Net Proceeds	'	$5,547,000	$4,349,000	'
Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'	'	'
Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Unvested restricted stock awards	'	1,453,000	939,000	'

Organization_and_Summary_of_Si3

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Computer equipment and software [Member] \| Minimum [Member]	'
Schedule estimated lives of property and equipment	'
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	'3 years
Computer equipment and software [Member] \| Maximum [Member]	'
Schedule estimated lives of property and equipment	'
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	'5 years
Furniture and fixtures [Member] \| Minimum [Member]	'
Schedule estimated lives of property and equipment	'
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	'5 years
Furniture and fixtures [Member] \| Maximum [Member]	'
Schedule estimated lives of property and equipment	'
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	'7 years
Lab equipment [Member] \| Minimum [Member]	'
Schedule estimated lives of property and equipment	'
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	'5 years
Lab equipment [Member] \| Maximum [Member]	'
Schedule estimated lives of property and equipment	'
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	'7 years
Machinery and equipment [Member] \| Maximum [Member]	'
Schedule estimated lives of property and equipment	'
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	'5 years
Leasehold improvements [Member] \| Minimum [Member]	'
Schedule estimated lives of property and equipment	'
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	'5 years
Leasehold improvements [Member] \| Maximum [Member]	'
Schedule estimated lives of property and equipment	'
Property, Plant and Equipment Useful Life	'17 years

Summary_of_Potentially_Dilutiv

Summary of Potentially Dilutive Securities (Detail)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Stock Option [Member]	'	'
Summary of potentially dilutive securities	'	'
Securities excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per common share	6,755	6,844
Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'
Summary of potentially dilutive securities	'	'
Securities excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per common share	1,453	939
Warrants [Member]	'	'
Summary of potentially dilutive securities	'	'
Securities excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per common share	2,841	3,591

Summary_of_Cash_and_Cash_Equiv

Summary of Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Summary of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments	'	'
Amortized Cost	$7,617	$6,515
Gross Unrealized Gain	'	1
Gross Unrealized (Loss)	'	'
Estimated Fair Value	7,617	6,516
Cash and cash equivalents [Member]	'	'
Summary of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments	'	'
Amortized Cost	7,414	2,148
Gross Unrealized (Loss)	'	'
Estimated Fair Value	7,414	2,148
Commercial paper [Member]	'	'
Summary of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments	'	'
Amortized Cost	'	799
Gross Unrealized (Loss)	'	'
Estimated Fair Value	'	799
Certificates of deposit [Member]	'	'
Summary of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments	'	'
Amortized Cost	'	730
Gross Unrealized (Loss)	'	'
Estimated Fair Value	'	730
U.S. Treasury notes [Member]	'	'
Summary of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments	'	'
Amortized Cost	203	4,986
Gross Unrealized Gain	'	1
Gross Unrealized (Loss)	'	'
Estimated Fair Value	$203	$4,987

Schedule_of_Property_Plant_and

Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of property, plant and equipment	'	'	'
Property and equipment	'	$12,140	$12,152
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	'	-11,413	-11,039
Property and equipment, net	461	727	1,113
Machinery and equipment [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of property, plant and equipment	'	'	'
Property and equipment	'	4,385	4,402
Furniture and fixtures [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of property, plant and equipment	'	'	'
Property and equipment	'	1,138	1,138
Lab equipment [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of property, plant and equipment	'	'	'
Property and equipment	'	2,138	2,138
Computer equipment and software [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of property, plant and equipment	'	'	'
Property and equipment	'	2,640	2,635
Leasehold improvements [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of property, plant and equipment	'	'	'
Property and equipment	'	$1,839	$1,839

Property_and_Equipment_Additio

Property and Equipment - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Property And Equipment Textual [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Depreciation expense	$277	$297	$391	$445

Other_Liabilities_Additional_I

Other Liabilities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Accrued Liabilities And Other Liabilities [Abstract]	'	'
Accrued expenses	$103,000	'
Payroll withholding liabilities	24,000	33,000
Accrued expenses for services	'	$53,000

Future_minimum_noncancelable_l

Future minimum non-cancelable lease payments (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012
Future minimum non-cancellable lease payments	'
2013, Operating Leases	$1,774
2014, Operating Leases	1,844
2015, Operating Leases	1,917
2016, Operating Leases	1,020
Total minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	6,555
2013, Mendel Sub-Lease	-1,133
2014, Mendel Sub-Lease	-1,167
2015, Mendel Sub-Lease	-1,201
2016, Mendel Sub-Lease	-640
Total minimum lease payments, Mendel Sub-Lease	-4,141
2013, Net Operating Lease Payments	641
2014, Net Operating Lease Payments	677
2015, Net Operating Lease Payments	716
2016, Net Operating Lease Payments	380
Total minimum lease payments, Net Operating Lease Payments	$2,414

Leases_Commitments_and_Conting2

Leases, Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2007	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2009
	sqft	LegalMatter	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013	sqft	sqft
Leases Commitments And Contingencies Textual [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Area of facility rented to Mendel	48,000	'	'	'	'	'
Total area of headquarters	72,000	'	'	'	'	'
Additional rented area	'	'	'	'	3,300	1,550
Total monthly base rent payments by Mendel	'	$4,800,000	'	'	'	'
Deferred rent	'	144,000	132,000	138,000	'	'
Building rent expense	'	600,000	675,000	'	'	'
Payments related to indemnification	'	0	0	'	'	'
Liabilities related to indemnification obligation	'	$0	$0	'	'	'
Claims or pending litigation	'	0	'	'	'	'

Shareholders_Equity_Deficit_Ad

Shareholders' Equity (Deficit) - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

31-May-10

31-May-08

Jun. 30, 2007

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2003

Apr. 30, 2008

Apr. 30, 2009

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 1996

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2012

Stock Option [Member]

Restricted Stock [Member]

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]

Warrants [Member]

One Nine Nine Six Plan

2005 Plan

1996 Non-Employee Directors Plan

One Nine Nine Six Non Employee Directors Plan [Member]

Schedule Of Stockholders Equity [Line Items]

Issuance of common stock in a private offering, net of issuance costs, Shares

50,000,000

25,000,000

Proceeds from issuance of private placement gross

$6,000,000

$4,750,000

Proceeds from private offering of common stock, net

5,547,000

4,349,000

Common stock reserves

6,755,200

1,053,725

2,840,909

Shares reserved for future grants

41,651,591

2,954,024

750,133

1,959,278

960,000

2,954,024

919,386

Max. Number of shares available for issuance

400,000

2,000,000

Options outstanding

7,344,300

6,755,200

6,843,508

6,354,758

153,900

6,601,300

Percentage of issued and outstanding shares of common stock

6.00%

Common stock authorized for issuance

2,918,638

Options, net of cancelled or expired options

1,999,252

Number of shares of common stock authorized

4,000,000

2,700,000

1,600,000

40,000,000

4,000,000

1,000,000

2,500,000

2,000,000

45,000

Options granted expiration

'7 months 28 days

'7 months 21 days

'10 years

'5 months 12 days

'10 years

Incentive and non-statutory stock option grants option price

110.00%

85.00%

100.00%

Shares acquired vest period

'5 years

'1 year

Combined voting power

10.00%

Non-statutory stock option grants option price

85.00%

Purchase of granted options

713,333

1,884,417

1,091,448

78,947

560,000

743,000

560,000

400,000

Outstanding notes receivables

Number of shares repurchased

Option price, fair value

100.00%

Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding

3,000

Shares of common stock exercisable

6,905,174

6,376,229

Common stock aggregate intrinsic value

125,000

3,000

Stock options exercised

Total fair value of restricted stock awards vested

185,000

373,000

Company retained purchase rights on unvested restricted stock awards, shares

547,000

1,453,084

938,976

2,448,273

Employee stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock awards

134,000

105,000

338,000

384,000

473,000

533,000

236,000

103,000

Number of days employees have to continuously employed to participate in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan

'10 days

Condition given to employees to participate in ESPP

5.00%

Percentage of limitation of Employee contributions, through payroll deductions to lessor

15.00%

Limitation of Employee contributions, through payroll deductions to lessor

16,500

25,000

Number of Shares issued under the ESPP

3,496,275

Compensation expense

57,000

98,000

Capitalized stock-based employee compensation cost

Tax benefit associated with stock-based compensation expense

Unrecognized compensation cost, stock options

43,000

Unrecognized compensation cost

$121,000

Expected term of options granted

'10 years

Expected dividend yield

0.00%

Summary_of_Stock_Option_Outsta

Summary of Stock Option Outstanding and Exercisable (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Number Of Shares	6,755,200
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (In Years)	'6 years 2 months 16 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price	$0.83
Options Exercisable, Number of shares	6,376,229
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$0.87
Range One [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Exercise Price Range Lower Limit	$0.12
Exercise Price Range Upper Limit	$0.15
Number Of Shares	916,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (In Years)	'8 years 7 months 21 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price	$0.14
Options Exercisable, Number of shares	634,500
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$0.14
Range Two [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Exercise Price Range Lower Limit	$0.16
Exercise Price Range Upper Limit	$0.17
Number Of Shares	743,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (In Years)	'6 years 9 months 26 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price	$0.16
Options Exercisable, Number of shares	689,375
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$0.16
Range Three [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Exercise Price Range Lower Limit	$0.18
Exercise Price Range Upper Limit	$0.18
Number Of Shares	1,344,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (In Years)	'7 years 8 months 19 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price	$0.18
Options Exercisable, Number of shares	1,344,000
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$0.18
Range Four [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Exercise Price Range Lower Limit	$0.19
Exercise Price Range Upper Limit	$0.23
Number Of Shares	450,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (In Years)	'8 years 1 month 17 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price	$0.19
Options Exercisable, Number of shares	450,000
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$0.19
Range Five [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Exercise Price Range Lower Limit	$0.25
Exercise Price Range Upper Limit	$0.25
Number Of Shares	721,500
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (In Years)	'6 years 22 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price	$0.25
Options Exercisable, Number of shares	677,654
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$0.25
Range Six [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Exercise Price Range Lower Limit	$0.39
Exercise Price Range Upper Limit	$1.37
Number Of Shares	734,300
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (In Years)	'4 years 10 months 17 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price	$0.98
Options Exercisable, Number of shares	734,300
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$0.98
Range Seven [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Exercise Price Range Lower Limit	$1.41
Exercise Price Range Upper Limit	$1.70
Number Of Shares	966,500
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (In Years)	'4 years 4 months 17 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price	$1.63
Options Exercisable, Number of shares	966,500
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$1.63
Range Eight [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Exercise Price Range Lower Limit	$1.80
Exercise Price Range Upper Limit	$3.77
Number Of Shares	711,900
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (In Years)	'3 years 6 months 29 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price	$2.03
Options Exercisable, Number of shares	711,900
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$2.03
Range Nine [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Exercise Price Range Lower Limit	$4.20
Exercise Price Range Upper Limit	$10.80
Number Of Shares	146,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (In Years)	'1 year 4 months 17 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price	$5.93
Options Exercisable, Number of shares	146,000
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$5.93
Range Ten [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Exercise Price Range Lower Limit	$12
Exercise Price Range Upper Limit	$12
Number Of Shares	22,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (In Years)	'1 year 1 month 28 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price	$12
Options Exercisable, Number of shares	22,000
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$12

Fair_Value_of_Employee_Stock_P

Fair Value of Employee Stock Purchase Plan Using Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model and weighted Average Assumptions (Detail) (Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	'	'
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	'	'
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%
Volatility factor	105.30%	105.30%
Risk-free interest rate	1.00%	1.00%
Expected life (years)	'2 years	'2 years
Weighted-average fair value of purchase rights granted during the period	$0.12	$0.12

Weighted_Average_Assumption_fo

Weighted Average Assumption for Employee and Non-Employee Option (Detail) (Stock Option [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Stock Option [Member]	'	'
Valuation assumption	'	'
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%
Volatility factor	172.00%	124.50%
Risk-free interest rate	0.80%	1.70%
Expected term (years)	'5 years 3 months 18 days	'5 years 6 months
Weighted-average fair value of options granted during the periods	$0.14	$0.15

Royalty_Agreement_Additional_I

Royalty Agreement - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2006

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Mar. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2011

Jun. 30, 2011

Mar. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Patents

Payables And Accruals [Abstract]

United States patents along with foreign counterparts

Initial payment for asset sale agreement

$4,000,000

Milestone payment upon initial U.S commercialization

4,000,000

Recurring royalty revenue

$251,000

$223,000

$262,000

$240,000

$282,000

$183,000

$242,000

$184,000

$182,000

$778,000

$784,000

$1,007,000

$791,000

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Additio

Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Employee's contribution on pretax basis	$16,500	'
Additional contribution of employees above 50 years	5,500	'
Employer matching contribution expense	$10,000	$30,000
Percentage of employees' matching contributions	3.00%	'

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax [Line Items]	'	'	'
Income Tax Benefit	($1,000)	$0	$0
Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets	'	5,030,000	4,766,000
California research and development tax credit carryforwards	'	6,509,000	6,472,000
Unrecognized tax benefits	'	0	'
Interest and penalties accrued on unrecognized tax benefits	'	0	'
General Business Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]	'	'	'
Income Tax [Line Items]	'	'	'
Federal orphan drug credit carryforwards	'	7,300,000	'
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]	'	'	'
Income Tax [Line Items]	'	'	'
Federal net operating loss carryforward	'	34,500,000	'
CALIFORNIA	'	'	'
Income Tax [Line Items]	'	'	'
California net operating loss carryforwards	'	39,200,000	'
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]	'	'	'
Income Tax [Line Items]	'	'	'
California net operating loss carryforwards	'	39,500,000	'
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] \| Research Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]	'	'	'
Income Tax [Line Items]	'	'	'
California research and development tax credit carryforwards	'	$9,900,000	'

Deferred_Tax_Assets_Detail

Deferred Tax Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Net operating loss carryforwards	$14,332	$11,280
Research and development credits	6,509	6,472
Federal orphan drug credits	7,228	5,666
Other	1,881	1,497
Total deferred tax assets	29,950	24,915
Valuation allowance	-29,950	-24,915
Net deferred tax assets	'	'

Difference_Between_The_Income_

Difference Between The Income Tax Benefit and The Amount Computed by Applying The Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'
Income tax benefit at federal statutory rate	'	($2,878)	($3,259)
State taxes (net of federal)	'	-648	-617
Credits	'	-662	-1,081
Other	'	-842	191
Change in valuation allowance	'	5,030	4,766
Total	($1)	$0	$0

Quarterly_Results_of_Operation2

Quarterly Results of Operations (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended									9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	$251	$223	$262	$240	$282	$183	$242	$184	$182	$778	$784	$1,007	$791
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Research and development	1,593	1,477	818	700	786	651	1,292	1,584	1,480	5,000	2,304	3,781	5,007
General and administrative	1,463	887	1,013	913	1,083	679	1,020	1,440	1,135	3,801	3,009	3,896	4,274
Restructuring and asset impairment	7	8	8	9	9	9	10	10	10	21	26	34	39
Total operating expenses	19,006	2,372	1,839	1,622	1,878	1,339	2,322	3,034	2,625	24,765	5,339	7,711	9,320
Loss from operations	-14,454	-2,149	-1,577	-1,382	-1,596	-1,156	-2,080	-2,850	-2,443	-19,686	-4,555	-6,704	-8,529
Interest expense, net	'	-394	-381	-379	-366	-365	-369	-45	-5	'	'	'	'
Other income (expense), including extinguishment of debt	'	'	-4	'	2	2	'	1	1	-5	-2	-2	4
Loss before income taxes	'	-2,543	-1,962	-1,761	-1,960	-1,519	-2,449	-2,894	-2,447	'	'	'	'
Income tax benefit (provision)	'	'	'	'	-1	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0
Net loss	($14,874)	($2,543)	($1,962)	($1,761)	($1,960)	($1,519)	($2,449)	($2,894)	($2,447)	($20,909)	($5,683)	($8,226)	($9,309)
Basic and diluted net loss per common share	($0.04)	($0.01)	($0.01)	($0.01)	($0.01)	($0.01)	($0.01)	($0.02)	($0.01)	($0.07)	($0.03)	($0.04)	($0.05)
Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per common share	374,126	201,137	198,670	198,406	197,923	197,833	194,549	170,731	170,135	291,950	198,336	201,310	183,419