Aradigm (ARDMQ) 10-K 18 Mar 15 2014 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 06, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-14
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	ARDM
Entity Registrant Name	ARADIGM CORP
Entity Central Index Key	1013238
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		14,726,960
Entity Public Float			$48,304,849

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$47,990	$48,131
Restricted cash	250
Receivables	1,058	92
Prepaid and other current assets	1,207	1,448
Total current assets	50,505	49,671
Property and equipment, net	502	400
Other assets	2,956	353
Total assets	53,963	50,424
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	2,706	619
Accrued clinical and cost of other studies	2,070	1,831
Accrued compensation	819	198
Deferred revenue	790	4,379
Facility lease exit obligation	193	168
Other accrued liabilities	191	82
Total current liabilities	6,769	7,277
Accrued clinical and cost of other studies, non-current	33
Deferred rent, non-current	97	132
Facility lease exit obligation, non-current	104	297
Deferred revenue, non-current	7,845
Note payable and accrued interest		9,035
Total liabilities	14,848	16,741
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, 5,000,000 shares authorized, none outstanding	0	0
Common stock, no par value; authorized shares: 25,045,765 at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013; issued and outstanding shares: 14,726,960 at December 31, 2014; 14,681,274 at December 31, 2013	427,387	426,607
Accumulated deficit	-388,272	-392,924
Total shareholders' equity	39,115	33,683
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$53,963	$50,424

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value	$0	$0
Common stock, shares authorized	25,045,765	25,045,765
Common stock, shares issued	14,726,960	14,681,274
Common stock, shares outstanding	14,726,960	14,681,274

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ope

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenue:
Contract revenue - related party	$33,038	$8,672
Grant revenue	323
Royalty revenue	200	1,045
Total revenues	33,561	9,717
Operating expenses:
Research and development	31,172	8,884
General and administrative	6,226	4,775
Collaboration arrangement acquisition cost		15,943
Restructuring and asset impairment	19	27
Total operating expenses	37,417	29,629
Loss from operations	-3,856	-19,912
Interest income	17	6
Interest expense	-288	-1,649
Other expense, net	-85	-9
Gain on assignment of royalty interests	5,823
Gain from extinguishment of debt	3,041
Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)	$4,652	($21,564)
Basic net income (loss) per common share	$0.32	($2.36)
Diluted net income (loss) per common share	$0.32	($2.36)
Shares used in computing basic net income (loss) per common share	14,700	9,154
Shares used in computing diluted net income (loss) per common share	14,726	9,154

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sha

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]
In Thousands, except Share data
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	($1,441)	$369,919	($371,360)
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2012		6,283,622
Issuance of common stock in a private offering, net of issuance costs	40,227	40,227
Issuance of common stock in a private offering, net of issuance costs, Shares		8,349,201
Issuance of common stock under the employee stock purchase plan	95	95
Issuance of common stock under the employee stock purchase plan, Shares		21,618
Issuance of restricted stock awards	0	0	0
Issuance of restricted stock awards, Shares		30,333
Cancellation of restricted stock awards	0	0	0
Cancellation of restricted stock awards, Shares		-3,750
Exercise of options	2	2
Exercise of options, Shares		250
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense for stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units	421	421
Stock discount on Grifols arrangement	15,943	15,943
Net income (loss)	-21,564		-21,564
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	33,683	426,607	-392,924
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2013		14,681,274
Issuance of common stock under the employee stock purchase plan	157	157
Issuance of common stock under the employee stock purchase plan, Shares		33,161
Issuance of restricted stock awards	0	0	0
Issuance of restricted stock awards, Shares		11,250
Exercise of options	7	7
Exercise of options, Shares		1,275
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense for stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units	616	616
Net income (loss)	4,652		4,652
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$39,115	$427,387	($388,272)
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2014		14,726,960

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$4,652	($21,564)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization and accretion of investments		29
Depreciation and amortization	310	370
Stock-based compensation expense	616	421
Collaboration arrangement acquisition cost		15,943
Gain on assignment of royalty interests	-5,823
Gain from extinguishment of debt	-3,041
Amortization of note discount	19	94
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables	-966	-49
Restricted cash	-250
Prepaid and other current assets	241	-1,342
Other assets	-2,840	121
Accounts payable	2,087	289
Accrued compensation	621	14
Current deferred revenue	-3,589	4,379
Accrued liabilities	395	1,714
Accrued clinical and cost of other studies, non-current	33
Deferred rent, non-current	-35	-12
Deferred revenue, non-current	7,845
Facility lease exit obligation	-168	-143
Net cash provided by operating activities	107	264
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	-412	-43
Purchases of available-for-sale investments		-2,852
Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale investments		3,026
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	-412	131
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from private offering of common stock, net		40,227
Proceeds from issuance of common stock to Employee Stock Purchase Plan	164	95
Net cash provided by financing activities	164	40,322
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-141	40,717
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	48,131	7,414
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	47,990	48,131
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Non cash reduction in other assets from extinguishment of debt and assignment of royalty interests	-237
Non cash reduction in note payable from extinguishment of debt and assignment of royalty interests	($9,101)

Organization_and_Summary_of_Si

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	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. The Company operates as a single operating segment.
	Basis of Presentation and Consolidation
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
	Liquidity and Financial Condition
	The Company has incurred significant operating losses and negative cash flows from operations. At December 31, 2014, the Company had an accumulated deficit of approximately $388.3 million, working capital of approximately $43.7 million and shareholders’ equity of approximately $39.1 million. The Company believes that its cash and cash equivalents totaling approximately $48.0 million as of December 31, 2014 will be sufficient to fund its operations at least through 2015. 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 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.
	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 no 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
	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.
	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 agreement 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 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.
	Revenue is recognized when there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the price is fixed and determinable and collection is reasonably assured. Multiple-deliverable arrangements, such as license and development agreements, are analyzed to determine whether the deliverables can be separated or whether they must be accounted for as a single unit of accounting. When deliverables are separable, consideration received is allocated to the separate units of accounting based on the relative selling price method and the appropriate revenue recognition principles are applied to each unit. When the Company determines that an arrangement should be accounted for as a single unit of accounting, it must determine the period over which the performance obligations will be performed and revenue will be recognized.
	The Company estimates its performance period used for revenue recognition based on the specific terms of each agreement, and adjusts the performance periods, if appropriate, based on the applicable facts and circumstances. Significant management judgment may be required to determine the level of effort required under an arrangement and the period over which the Company is expected to complete its performance obligations under the arrangement. If the Company cannot reasonably estimate when its performance obligations either are completed or become inconsequential, then revenue recognition is deferred until the Company can reasonably make such estimates. Revenue is then recognized over the remaining estimated period of performance using the cumulative catch-up method.
	The Company prospectively adopted the provisions of Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-13, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605); Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements (“ASU 2009-13”) for new and materially modified arrangements originating on or after January 1, 2010. ASU 2009-13 provides updated guidance on how the deliverables in an arrangement should be separated, and how consideration should be allocated, and it changes the level of evidence of standalone selling price required to separate deliverables by allowing a vendor to make its best estimate of the standalone selling price of deliverables when vendor-specific objective evidence or third-party evidence of selling price is not available.
	The Company allocates non-contingent consideration to each stand-alone deliverable based upon the relative selling price of each element. When applying the relative selling price method, the Company determines the selling price for each deliverable using vendor-specific objective evidence, or VSOE, of selling price, if it exists, or third-party evidence, or TPE, of selling price, if it exists. If neither VSOE nor TPE of selling price exist for a deliverable, the Company uses best estimated selling price, or BESP, for that deliverable.
	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 and Grant Revenue—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 and grants 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 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 consolidated 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, 2014 and 2013, 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.
	During the twelve months ended December 31, 2014, the Company had pre-tax income of $4.7 million. The provision for Federal and state income taxes related to such pre-tax income has been offset by the utilization of available net operating loss carryovers.
	Net Income/(Loss) Per Common Share
	Basic net income/(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 shares 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. Unvested restricted stock awards subject to repurchase totaled 300 shares and 19,217 shares for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Potentially dilutive securities were included for the year ended December 31, 2014 but were excluded for the year ended December 31, 2013 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,
		2014		2013
	Outstanding stock options		515		194
	Unvested restricted stock awards		—		19
	Unvested stock units		10		10
	Outstanding warrants		71		71
	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 Income (Loss).
	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
	In April 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity (“ASU 2014-08”) which raises the threshold for a disposal to qualify as a discontinued operation and requires new disclosures of both discontinued operations and certain other disposals that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation. ASU 2014-08 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014. Early adoption is permitted but only for disposals that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”). The standard provides companies with a single model for use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific revenue guidance. The core principle of the model is to recognize revenue when control of the goods or services transfers to the customer, as opposed to recognizing revenue when the risks and rewards transfer to the customer under the existing revenue guidance. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The guidance permits companies to either apply the requirements retrospectively to all prior periods presented, or apply the requirements in the year of adoption, through a cumulative adjustment. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements.
	In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. (“ASU 2014-12”). The standard provides guidance that a performance target that affects vesting of a share-based payment and that could be achieved after the requisite service condition is a performance condition. As a result, the target is not reflected in the estimation of the award’s grant date fair value. Compensation cost for such award would be recognized over the required service period, if it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved. ASU 2014-12 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance should be applied on a prospective basis to awards that are granted or modified on or after the effective date. Companies also have the option to apply the amendments on a modified retrospective basis for performance targets outstanding on or after the beginning of the first annual period presented as of the adoption date. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements.
	In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. (“ASU 2014-15”). This ASU provides guidance about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about the organization’s ability to continue as a going concern and provides principles and definitions that are intended to reduce diversity in the timing and content of disclosures that are commonly provided by organizations today in the financial statement footnotes. ASU 2014-15 is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early application is permitted for annual or interim reporting periods for which the financial statements have not previously been issued. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements.
	In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-01, Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items. (“ASU 2015-01”). This ASU eliminates from U.S. GAAP the concept of Extraordinary Items. ASU 2015-01 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, provided that the guidance is applied from the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The guidance may be applied prospectively or retrospectively. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents	2. Cash and Cash Equivalents
	At December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the amortized cost of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents approximated their fair values. The Company currently invests its cash and cash equivalents in money market funds.

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	3. Fair Value Measurements
	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 Company’s cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 consist of cash and money market funds. Money market funds are valued using quoted market prices.

Property_and_Equipment

Property and Equipment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property and Equipment	4. Property and Equipment
	Property and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Machinery and equipment	$	4,792		$	4,412
	Furniture and fixtures		1,139			1,138
	Lab equipment		2,138			2,138
	Computer equipment and software		2,682			2,651
	Leasehold improvements		1,844			1,844
	Property and equipment		12,595			12,183
	Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		(12,093	)		(11,783	)
	Property and equipment, net	$	502		$	400
	Depreciation expense was $310,000 and $370,000 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Sublease_Agreement_and_Lease_E

Sublease Agreement and Lease Exit Liability	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
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, 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, 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 were recorded as part of restructuring and asset impairment expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss in the year ended December 31, 2007. The lease exit liability activity for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014			2013
	Balance at beginning of year	$	465		$	609
	Accretion expense		19			26
	Lease payments		(187	)		(170	)
	Balance at end of the year	$	297		$	465
	The Company classified $193,000 of the $297,000 lease exit liability in current liabilities and the remaining $104,000 in non-current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2014.

Collaboration_Agreement

Collaboration Agreement	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [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 5,244,363 shares of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”) (209,774,558 shares prior to the 1-for-40 Reverse Split), to Grifols and an additional 3,104,838 shares of Common Stock (124,193,546 shares prior to the 1-for-40 Reverse Split) to the Investors, for a total sale of 8,349,201 shares of Common Stock (the “Company Stock Sale”) (333,968,104 shares prior to the 1-for-40 Reverse Split), for a purchase price of $4.96 per share ($0.124 per share prior to the 1-for-40 Reverse Split). The aggregate gross consideration paid to the Company in August 2013 in the Company Stock Sale was 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; Grifols and the Company are considered to be related parties and as a result, all transactions between the two entities will be recognized as related party transactions. The License Agreement exclusively licenses 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 funds development expenses and will 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.
	On July 15, 2013 shareholders of the Company (i) approved 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 17,670,765 shares (706,830,627 shares prior to the 1-for-40 Reverse Split), including the 8,349,201 shares (333,968,104 shares prior to the 1-for- 40 Reverse Split) to be sold in the Company Stock Sale (the “Charter Amendment”) and (ii) approved 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 a 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.
	In August of 2013 Grifols paid approximately $26.0 million for the shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $4.96 per share ($0.124 per share prior to the 1-for-40 Reverse Split), 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 the other conditions of closing, the stock price rose to $8.00 per share at the time of closing ($0.20 per share prior to the 1-for-40 Reverse Split). Consequently, the contractual price of $4.96 per share ($0.124 per share prior to the 1-for-40 Reverse Split) resulted in a $3.04 per share ($0.076 per share prior to the 1-for-40 Reverse Split) discount from the August 27, 2013 closing price of $8.00 per share ($0.20 per share prior to the 1-for-40 Reverse Split), 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 at $8.00 per share ($0.20 per share price prior to the 1-for-40 Reverse Split). This discount, which is a non-cash charge, has been recorded as Collaboration Arrangement Acquisition Cost in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the year ended December 31, 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. Pursuant to the License Agreement, the Company recognized reimbursements of development costs from Grifols as Contract revenue – related party totaling $8.1 million and $33.0 million for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2014, respectively. The Company recognized $8.7 million from Grifols as Contract revenue – related party for the year ended December 31, 2013 for the reimbursement of fully burdened development expenses for collaboration services performed and costs incurred related to the development of Pulmaquin for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis prior to the execution of the License Agreement on August 27, 2013 and through December 31, 2013.
	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.
	The Company’s deliverables include an exclusive license for inhaled ciprofloxacin compounds for the indication of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and other indications, payment of development costs over $65 million for the non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis indication and participation on a Joint Steering Committee (“JSC”). Having determined that both the development and JSC do not have standalone value from the license, the Company combined these deliverables into a single unit of accounting. The Company is recognizing reimbursements of development expenses as collaboration services are performed and costs are incurred. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recognized $33.0 million in contract revenue – related party relating to services performed and costs incurred during the period under the License Agreement. Contract revenue- related party of $8.1 million has been recognized for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 for the reimbursement of fully burdened development expenses for collaboration services performed and costs incurred related to the development of Pulmaquin for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. In addition, the Company has a current deferred revenue balance at December 31, 2014 of $0.8 million and a long-term deferred revenue balance of $7.8 million. The long-term deferred revenue balance consists of: (i) a $5 million milestone received upon the dosing of the first patient in a Phase III clinical trial and (ii) reimbursements billed in advance of collaboration services to be performed beyond a one year period. The $5 million milestone payment will be recognized as revenue upon receiving the first regulatory approval. Finally, the Company has an accounts receivable balance of $1.0 million for unreimbursed fourth quarter expenses for the Pulmaquin project and $43,000 of the accounts payable balance is for board of director expenses for fourth quarter with Grifols as of December 31, 2014.
	Costs incurred under the Grifols License Agreement in the quarters ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 are $8.1 million and $4.4 million, respectively. Costs incurred under the Grifols License Agreement for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 are $33.0 million and $8.7 million, respectively. Expenses reimbursed in the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 include services performed and costs incurred in the year ended December 31, 2012 of $1.1 million and in the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 of $7.6 million. Development expenses are fully burdened and include direct costs reported as research and development expenses and collaboration-related general and administrative expenses.
	Governance Agreement
	The Governance Agreement 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	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Text Block [Abstract]
Royalty Agreement, Note Payable, and Accrued Interest	7. Royalty Agreement, Note Payable, and Accrued Interest
	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 was entitled to quarterly royalty payments of 3% of net sales on all SUMAVEL DosePro sales. The Company recorded royalty revenue of approximately $1.0 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013.
	Royalty Financing
	In June 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.
	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, however, the full amount of the remaining capitalized fees and expenses were recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2014, which was the accounting period following the completion of the transfer of payment rights to the lenders as described below.
	In connection with the original royalty financing transaction, the Company issued to the lenders warrants to purchase a total of 71,022 shares of the Company’s common stock (2,840,909 shares prior to the 1-for-40 Reverse Split) at a strike price of $8.80 per share ($0.22 per share prior to the 1-for-40 Reverse Split), 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 royalty financing 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 was being amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method with an annual rate of 18.7% over a period of 48 months, however, the full amount of the remaining note discount was recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2014, which was the accounting period following the completion of the transfer of payment rights to the lenders as described below.
	While the term loan was non-recourse to the assets of Aradigm Corporation, the term loan agreement contained a minimum royalty covenant. If the minimum royalty covenant was breached and the subsidiary did not cure the breach through a cash contribution to pay down the accrued principal and interest, then the lenders had 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 twelve months ended December 31, 2013, the covenant was again breached and the cumulative cash shortfall the Company would need to contribute to keep the agreement from default stood at $525,000. In the first quarter of 2014, the Company elected not to make this or any future contributions.
	On March 4, 2014, the Company and the other parties executed an Assignment Agreement that transferred the rights to the lenders, effective February 28, 2014, for all future royalty payments from Zogenix under the APA in full and complete satisfaction of the Company’s obligations under the loan agreement and the other agreements entered into in connection with the royalty financing. Under the Assignment Agreement, the parties agreed that the value of the Assigned Interest is $5.8 million. Zogenix consented to the Assignment. The Company valued the assignment of the royalty rights at $5.8 million in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) in accordance with the Assignment Agreement which was recorded as a gain on fair value of assigned royalty rights in the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The balance of the note payable and accrued interest extinguished in the transaction offset by deferred loan costs and unamortized debt discount as of the assignment date less the fair value of the royalty rights resulted in a gain from debt extinguishment of $3.0 million which was recognized in the quarter ended March 31, 2014 in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). All debts and obligations of Aradigm and its subsidiary are considered to be paid and satisfied in full.

Leases_Commitments_and_Conting

Leases, Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
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, 2014 are as follows (in thousands):
			Operating		Mendel			Net Operating
			Leases		Sub-Lease			Lease Payments
	Year ending December 31:
	2015			1,918		(1,202	)		716
	2016			1,020		(640	)		380
	Total minimum lease payments		$	2,938	$	(1,842	)	$	1,096
	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 amendments, Mendel will make monthly base rent payments until the end of the term totaling $3.0 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 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, 2014 and 2013, the Company had $97,000 and $132,000 of deferred rent, respectively.
	For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, building rent expense under operating leases totaled $593,000 and $594,000, 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, 2014 or 2013.
	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

Shareholders' Equity	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Equity [Abstract]
Shareholders' Equity	9. Shareholders’ Equity
	On May 20, 2013, the Company and Grifols and certain other investors (the “Investors”) entered into a 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 5,244,363 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (209,774,558 shares prior to the 1-for-40 Reverse Split), to Grifols and an additional 3,104,838 shares of Common Stock (124,193,546 shares prior to the 1-for-40 Reverse Split) to the Investors, for a total sale of 8,349,201 shares of Common Stock (333,968,104 shares prior to the 1-for-40 Reverse Split), for a purchase price of $4.96 per share ($0.124 per share prior to the 1-for-40 Reverse Split). The aggregate gross consideration paid to the Company in August 2013 in the Company Stock Sale was approximately $41.4 million.
	Reserved Shares
	At December 31, 2014, the Company had 515,366 shares reserved for future issuance upon exercise of options under all stock option plans and 688,001 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance of new option grants. The Company had 35,184 shares available for future issuances under the ESPP. Additionally, the Company had 71,022 shares reserved for outstanding warrants and 12,500 shares reserved for issuance to an executive officer pursuant to a stand-alone non-statutory stock option agreement at December 31, 2014.
	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 24,000 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 10,000 shares to 50,000 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, 2014, the Company had 944 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 72,965 shares of common stock authorized for issuance. Options (net of canceled or expired options) covering an aggregate of 49,981 shares of the Company’s common stock had been granted under the 1996 Plan, and 22,984 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 50,000. 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 40,000 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 67,500. 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 100,000. 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 100,000. In May 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors amended, and in July 2013, the Company’s shareholder’s approved the amendment to the 2005 Plan, increasing the shares of common stock authorized by 1,000,000. Shares available for future grants totaled 688,001 as of December 31, 2014 for the 2005 Plan.
	On March 13, 2015, the Board of Directors adopted the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (“2015” Plan”), subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders at the 2015 Annual Meeting. The 2015 Plan would replace the existing 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (“2005 Plan”) which expires by its terms in March 2015. The Company is submitting the 2015 Plan to its shareholders for approval. The Company is not requesting that shareholders authorize any new shares of Common Stock in connection with the approval of the 2015 Plan; rather, the remaining shares authorized under the 2005 Plan will be available for issuance under the 2015 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, 2014 and 2013, 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 338,121 shares and 29,250 shares during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, under the 2005 Plan, which included option grants to the Company’s non-employee directors in the amount of 21,875 shares and 14,000 shares during 2014 and 2013, respectively. The 2005 Plan had 514,422 option shares outstanding as of December 31, 2014.
	The 1996 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan (the “Directors’ Plan”) had 1,125 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, 2014, 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, 2014:
	Stock Options	Number of			Weighted			Weighted		Aggregate
		Shares			Average			Average		Intrinsic
					Exercise			Remaining		Value
					Price			Contractual
								Term
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013		194,147		$	28.46
	Options granted		338,121		$	9.34
	Options cancelled		(15,627	)	$	42.21
	Options exercised		(1,275	)	$	5.63
	Outstanding at December 31, 2014		515,366		$	15.55			7.69	$	101,580
	Ending Vested + Expected To Vest		495,347		$	15.8			7.63	$	101,272
	Ending Exercisable		199,661		$	25.5			5.27	$	94,288
	The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the years 2014 and 2013 was $7.57 and $5.28 respectively. The intrinsic value of exercised stock options is calculated based on the difference between the exercise price and the quoted market price of our common stock as the of close of the exercise date. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised in fiscal years 2014 and 2013 was $3,500 and $200.
	A summary of the activity of the Company’s unvested restricted stock and performance bonus stock award activities for the year ending December 31, 2014 is presented below. The ending balance represents the maximum number of shares that could be earned or vested under the 2005 Plan:
	Restricted Stock Awards
		Number of			Weighted Average
		Shares			Grant Date Fair Value
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013		19,217			7.33
	Restricted stock awards granted		11,250			9.6
	Restricted share awards vested		(30,167	)		7.67
	Outstanding at December 31, 2014		300			57.6
	As of December 31, 2014, there was $0 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock award arrangements granted under the Plan. Recipients of restricted stock do not pay cash consideration for the shares and have the right to vote all shares subject to the grant. Stock compensation expense for the awards has been recognized in the appropriate period. The total fair value of restricted stock awards vested during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $247,000 and $246,000 respectively.
	The Company retained purchase rights to 300 and 19,217 shares of unvested restricted stock awards issued pursuant to stock purchase agreements at no cost per share as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Restricted Stock Units
		Number of			Weighted Average
		Shares			Grant Date Fair Value
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013		10,306			5.34
	Restricted stock units granted		0			0
	Restricted share units vested		0			0
	Outstanding at December 31, 2014		10,306			5.34
	As of December 31, 2014, there was zero of total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock unit arrangements granted under the Plan. The total fair value of shares vested during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $0 for both years.
	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, 2014, a total of 141,066 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 25,000. 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 62,500. In March 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors amended, and in May 2013 the Company’s shareholders approved, the amendment to the ESPP increasing the number of shares of common stock authorized by 62,500. As of December 31, 2014, there was a balance of 35,184 available authorized shares. Compensation expense was $67,000 and $106,000 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, 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,
		2014			2013
	Employee Stock Purchase Plan
	Dividend yield		0	%		0	%
	Volatility factor		65.1	%		107.1	%
	Risk-free interest rate		0.07	%		0.2	%
	Expected life (years)		0.5			2
	Weighted-average fair value of purchase rights granted during the period	$	3.2		$	3.65
	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 income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		2014			2013
	Costs and Expenses
	Research and development	$	197		$	138
	General and administrative		419			283
Total employee stock-based compensation expense	$	616		$	421
Impact on basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share	$	0.04		$	(0.05	)
There was no capitalized stock-based compensation cost as of December 31, 2014. Since the Company has cumulative net losses through December 31, 2014, there was no tax benefit associated with stock-based compensation expense.
The total amount of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options and stock purchases net of forfeitures was $1,030,000 as of December 31, 2014. This amount will be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.93 years. As of December 31, 2014, there is no total unrecognized compensation costs, net of forfeitures, related to unvested awards that is expected to be recognized.
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 options (which for purposes of this table includes members of the board of directors) are as follows:
	Years Ended December 31
	2014			2013
Dividend yield		0	%		0	%
Volatility factor		110	%		112.7	%
Risk-free interest rate		1.8	%		1.4	%
Expected term (years)		6			5.7
Weighted-average fair value of options granted during the periods	$	7.57		$	5.28
The weighted average assumptions for non-employee options, except for members of the board of directors which are reflected above, are as follows:
	Years Ended December 31
	2014			2013
Dividend yield		N/A			0	%
Volatility factor		N/A			116	%
Risk-free interest rate		N/A			9.8	%
Expected term (years)		N/A			9.84
Weighted-average fair value of options granted during the periods		N/A		$	5.92
Except for grants to members of the board of directors no options were granted to non-employees in the year ended December 31, 2014.
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.

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Employee Benefit Plans	10. 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 2014 statutory limit of $17,500 (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 annual salary based upon the employee’s contribution and certain other limitations. The Company’s employer matching contribution expense was $55,000 and $40,000 in 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	11. Income Taxes
	In 2014 and 2013, 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,
		2014			2013
	Net operating loss carryforwards	$	14,955		$	16,739
	Research and development credits		6,509			6,509
	Federal orphan drug credits		7,217			7,228
	Other		1,152			1,210
	Total deferred tax assets		29,833			31,686
	Valuation allowance		(29,833	)		(31,686	)
	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, 2014 and 2013, 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 decreased by $1.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2014 and increased by $1.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2013. 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,
		2014			2013
	Income tax benefit at federal statutory rate	$	1,657		$	(7,544	)
	State taxes (net of federal)		11			186
	Credits		—			—
	Other		129			43
	Collaboration arrangement acquisition cost		—			5,580
	Change in valuation allowance		(1,797	)		1,735
	Total	$	—		$	—
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $36.3 million and federal orphan drug credit carryforwards of approximately $7.2 million, which expire in the years 2019 through 2033. The Company also had California net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $39.1 million, which expire in the years 2015 through 2033, 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 $36.3 million will begin to expire from 2019 to 2033, subject to the annual limitations. Federal tax credit carryforwards totaling $7.3 million will begin to expire from 2028 to 2032, subject to the annual limitations. State operating loss carryforwards totaling $39.1 million will begin to expire from 2015 to 2033, subject to annual limitations. State tax credit carryforwards may be subject to further annual limitations for ownership changes occurring after December 31, 2014.
	During the twelve months ended December 31, 2014, the Company had pre-tax income of $4.7 million. The provision for Federal and state income taxes related to such pre-tax income has been offset by the utilization of available net operating loss carryovers. Utilization of the Company’s NOL and credit carryforwards may be subject to additional annual limitations based on future stock issuances or ownership changes. Such future limitations could result in the expiration of the net operating loss and credit carryforwards before utilization. Based on the analyses performed on ownership changes that have occurred from inception through December 31, 2014, the Company expects to be able to use the NOL and tax credit carryforwards as noted above.
	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 from 1998 due to net operating losses and tax credits 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, 2014, 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	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Quarterly Results of Operations	12. Quarterly Results of Operations (unaudited)
	Following is a summary of the quarterly results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		March 31,			June 30,			September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2014			2014			2014
	Total revenue	$	6,631		$	12,245		$	6,617		$	8,068
	Operating expenses:
	Research and development		5,796			11,656			6,047			7,673
	General and administrative		1,651			1,931			1,443			1,201
	Restructuring and asset impairment		6			5			4			4
	Total expenses		7,453			13,592			7,494			8,878
	Loss from operations		(822	)		(1,347	)		(877	)		(810	)
	Interest income/(expense), net		(286	)		1			5			9
	Other expense		(1	)		(12	)		(42	)		(30	)
	Gain on assignment of royalty interests		5,823			—			—			—
	Gain from extinguishment of debt		3,041			—			—			—
	Income (loss) before income taxes		7,755			(1,358	)		(914	)		(831	)
	Income tax provision		—			—			—			—
	Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)	$	7,755		$	(1,358	)	$	(,914	)	$	(831	)
	Basic net income (loss) per common share	$	0.53		$	(0.09	)	$	(0.06	)	$	(0.06	)
	Diluted net income (loss) per common share	$	0.53		$	(0.09	)	$	(0.06	)	$	(0.06	)
	Shares used in computing basic net income (loss) per common share		14,669			14,697			14,706			14,726
	Shares used in computing diluted net income (loss) per common share		14,713			14,697			14,706			14,726
		March 31,			June 30,			September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2013			2013			2013
	Total revenues	$	279		$	248		$	4,552		$	4,638
	Operating expenses:
	Research and development		1,984			1,423			1,593			3,884
	General and administrative		1,220			1,118			1,463			974
	Collaboration arrangement acquisition cost		—			—			15,943			—
	Restructuring and asset impairment		7			7			7			6
	Total expenses		3,211			2,548			19,006			4,864
	Loss from operations		(2,932	)		(2,300	)		(14,454	)		(226	)
	Interest expense, net		(392	)		(406	)		(420	)		(425	)
	Other income (expense)		(1	)		(4	)		—			(4	)
	Loss before income taxes		(3,325	)		(2,710	)		(14,874	)		(655	)
	Income tax provision		—			—			—			—
	Net loss	$	(3,325	)	$	(2,710	)	$	(14,874	)	$	(655	)
	Basic and diluted net loss per common share	$	(0.53	)	$	(0.43	)	$	(1.59	)	$	(0.04	)
	Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per common share		6,249			6,260			9,352			14,660

Subsequent_Events

Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	13. Subsequent Events
	The Company has evaluated subsequent events that have occurred after December 31, 2014 and determined that there were no events or transactions occurring during this reporting period which require recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

Organization_and_Summary_of_Si1

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
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 subsidiaries. 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, 2014, the Company had an accumulated deficit of approximately $388.3 million, working capital of approximately $43.7 million and shareholders’ equity of approximately $39.1 million. The Company believes that its cash and cash equivalents totaling approximately $48.0 million as of December 31, 2014 will be sufficient to fund its operations at least through 2015. 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 develop the Company’s potential product candidates. In addition, the Company may determine to raise capital opportunistically.
Use of Estimates	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	Cash Equivalents
	All highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase are classified as cash equivalents.
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 no 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
	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	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.
	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
	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 agreement 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 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.
	Revenue is recognized when there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the price is fixed and determinable and collection is reasonably assured. Multiple-deliverable arrangements, such as license and development agreements, are analyzed to determine whether the deliverables can be separated or whether they must be accounted for as a single unit of accounting. When deliverables are separable, consideration received is allocated to the separate units of accounting based on the relative selling price method and the appropriate revenue recognition principles are applied to each unit. When the Company determines that an arrangement should be accounted for as a single unit of accounting, it must determine the period over which the performance obligations will be performed and revenue will be recognized.
	The Company estimates its performance period used for revenue recognition based on the specific terms of each agreement, and adjusts the performance periods, if appropriate, based on the applicable facts and circumstances. Significant management judgment may be required to determine the level of effort required under an arrangement and the period over which the Company is expected to complete its performance obligations under the arrangement. If the Company cannot reasonably estimate when its performance obligations either are completed or become inconsequential, then revenue recognition is deferred until the Company can reasonably make such estimates. Revenue is then recognized over the remaining estimated period of performance using the cumulative catch-up method.
	The Company prospectively adopted the provisions of Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-13, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605); Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements (“ASU 2009-13”) for new and materially modified arrangements originating on or after January 1, 2010. ASU 2009-13 provides updated guidance on how the deliverables in an arrangement should be separated, and how consideration should be allocated, and it changes the level of evidence of standalone selling price required to separate deliverables by allowing a vendor to make its best estimate of the standalone selling price of deliverables when vendor-specific objective evidence or third-party evidence of selling price is not available.
	The Company allocates non-contingent consideration to each stand-alone deliverable based upon the relative selling price of each element. When applying the relative selling price method, the Company determines the selling price for each deliverable using vendor-specific objective evidence, or VSOE, of selling price, if it exists, or third-party evidence, or TPE, of selling price, if it exists. If neither VSOE nor TPE of selling price exist for a deliverable, the Company uses best estimated selling price, or BESP, for that deliverable.
	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 and Grant Revenue—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 and grants 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 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	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	Income Taxes
	The Company makes certain estimates and judgments in determining income tax expense for consolidated 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, 2014 and 2013, 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.
	During the twelve months ended December 31, 2014, the Company had pre-tax income of $4.7 million. The provision for Federal and state income taxes related to such pre-tax income has been offset by the utilization of available net operating loss carryovers.
Net Income/(Loss) Per Common Share	Net Income/(Loss) Per Common Share
	Basic net income/(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 shares 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. Unvested restricted stock awards subject to repurchase totaled 300 shares and 19,217 shares for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Potentially dilutive securities were included for the year ended December 31, 2014 but were excluded for the year ended December 31, 2013 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,
		2014		2013
	Outstanding stock options		515		194
	Unvested restricted stock awards		—		19
	Unvested stock units		10		10
	Outstanding warrants		71		71
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 Income (Loss).
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
	In April 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity (“ASU 2014-08”) which raises the threshold for a disposal to qualify as a discontinued operation and requires new disclosures of both discontinued operations and certain other disposals that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation. ASU 2014-08 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014. Early adoption is permitted but only for disposals that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”). The standard provides companies with a single model for use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific revenue guidance. The core principle of the model is to recognize revenue when control of the goods or services transfers to the customer, as opposed to recognizing revenue when the risks and rewards transfer to the customer under the existing revenue guidance. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The guidance permits companies to either apply the requirements retrospectively to all prior periods presented, or apply the requirements in the year of adoption, through a cumulative adjustment. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements.
	In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. (“ASU 2014-12”). The standard provides guidance that a performance target that affects vesting of a share-based payment and that could be achieved after the requisite service condition is a performance condition. As a result, the target is not reflected in the estimation of the award’s grant date fair value. Compensation cost for such award would be recognized over the required service period, if it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved. ASU 2014-12 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance should be applied on a prospective basis to awards that are granted or modified on or after the effective date. Companies also have the option to apply the amendments on a modified retrospective basis for performance targets outstanding on or after the beginning of the first annual period presented as of the adoption date. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements.
	In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. (“ASU 2014-15”). This ASU provides guidance about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about the organization’s ability to continue as a going concern and provides principles and definitions that are intended to reduce diversity in the timing and content of disclosures that are commonly provided by organizations today in the financial statement footnotes. ASU 2014-15 is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early application is permitted for annual or interim reporting periods for which the financial statements have not previously been issued. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements.
	In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-01, Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items. (“ASU 2015-01”). This ASU eliminates from U.S. GAAP the concept of Extraordinary Items. ASU 2015-01 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, provided that the guidance is applied from the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The guidance may be applied prospectively or retrospectively. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Organization_and_Summary_of_Si2

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule 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
Summary of Potentially Dilutive Securities	Potentially dilutive securities include the following (in thousands):
		Years Ended December 31,
		2014			2013
	Outstanding stock options		515			194
	Unvested restricted stock awards		—			19
	Unvested stock units		10			10
	Outstanding warrants		71			71
Property and Equipment [Member]
Schedule of Property and Equipment	Property and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Machinery and equipment	$	4,792		$	4,412
	Furniture and fixtures		1,139			1,138
	Lab equipment		2,138			2,138
	Computer equipment and software		2,682			2,651
	Leasehold improvements		1,844			1,844
	Property and equipment		12,595			12,183
	Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		(12,093	)		(11,783	)
	Property and equipment, net	$	502		$	400

Sublease_Agreement_and_Lease_E1

Sublease Agreement and Lease Exit Liability (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Schedule of Lease Exit Liability Activity	The lease exit liability activity for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014			2013
	Balance at beginning of year	$	465		$	609
	Accretion expense		19			26
	Lease payments		(187	)		(170	)
	Balance at end of the year	$	297		$	465

Leases_Commitments_and_Conting1

Leases, Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Future Minimum Non-Cancelable Lease Payments	Future minimum non-cancelable lease payments at December 31, 2014 are as follows (in thousands):
		Operating		Mendel			Net Operating
		Leases		Sub-Lease			Lease Payments
	Year ending December 31:
	2015		1,918		(1,202	)		716
	2016		1,020		(640	)		380
	Total minimum lease payments	$	2,938	$	(1,842	)	$	1,096

Shareholders_Equity_Tables

Shareholders' Equity (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Activity Under Stock Option Plan	The following is a summary of activity under the 1996 Plan, the 2005 Plan and the Directors’ Plan as of December 31, 2014:
	Stock Options	Number of			Weighted			Weighted		Aggregate
		Shares			Average			Average		Intrinsic
					Exercise			Remaining		Value
					Price			Contractual
								Term
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013		194,147		$	28.46
	Options granted		338,121		$	9.34
	Options cancelled		(15,627	)	$	42.21
	Options exercised		(1,275	)	$	5.63
	Outstanding at December 31, 2014		515,366		$	15.55			7.69	$	101,580
	Ending Vested + Expected To Vest		495,347		$	15.8			7.63	$	101,272
	Ending Exercisable		199,661		$	25.5			5.27	$	94,288
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	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,
		2014			2013
	Employee Stock Purchase Plan
	Dividend yield		0	%		0	%
	Volatility factor		65.1	%		107.1	%
	Risk-free interest rate		0.07	%		0.2	%
	Expected life (years)		0.5			2
	Weighted-average fair value of purchase rights granted during the period	$	3.2		$	3.65
Schedule of Stock-Based Compensation Expense	The following table shows stock-based compensation expense included in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		2014			2013
	Costs and Expenses
	Research and development	$	197		$	138
	General and administrative		419			283
	Total employee stock-based compensation expense	$	616		$	421
	Impact on basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share	$	0.04		$	(0.05	)
Employee Options [Member]
Schedule of Stock Based Compensation Valuation Assumption	The weighted average assumptions for employee options (which for purposes of this table includes members of the board of directors) are as follows:
		Years Ended December 31
		2014			2013
	Dividend yield		0	%		0	%
	Volatility factor		110	%		112.7	%
	Risk-free interest rate		1.8	%		1.4	%
	Expected term (years)		6			5.7
	Weighted-average fair value of options granted during the periods	$	7.57		$	5.28
Non-Employee Options [Member]
Schedule of Stock Based Compensation Valuation Assumption	The weighted average assumptions for non-employee options, except for members of the board of directors which are reflected above, are as follows:
		Years Ended December 31
		2014			2013
	Dividend yield		N/A			0	%
	Volatility factor		N/A			116	%
	Risk-free interest rate		N/A			9.8	%
	Expected term (years)		N/A			9.84
	Weighted-average fair value of options granted during the periods		N/A		$	5.92
Restricted Stock Awards [Member]
Schedule of Unvested Restricted Stock and Performance Bonus Stock Awards	A summary of the activity of the Company’s unvested restricted stock and performance bonus stock award activities for the year ending December 31, 2014 is presented below. The ending balance represents the maximum number of shares that could be earned or vested under the 2005 Plan:
	Restricted Stock Awards
		Number of			Weighted Average
		Shares			Grant Date Fair Value
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013		19,217			7.33
	Restricted stock awards granted		11,250			9.6
	Restricted share awards vested		(30,167	)		7.67
	Outstanding at December 31, 2014		300			57.6
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Schedule of Unvested Restricted Stock and Performance Bonus Stock Awards	Restricted Stock Units
		Number of			Weighted Average
		Shares			Grant Date Fair Value
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013		10,306			5.34
	Restricted stock units granted		0			0
	Restricted share units vested		0			0
	Outstanding at December 31, 2014		10,306			5.34

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Significant Components of 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,
		2014			2013
	Net operating loss carryforwards	$	14,955		$	16,739
	Research and development credits		6,509			6,509
	Federal orphan drug credits		7,217			7,228
	Other		1,152			1,210
	Total deferred tax assets		29,833			31,686
	Valuation allowance		(29,833	)		(31,686	)
	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,
		2014			2013
	Income tax benefit at federal statutory rate	$	1,657		$	(7,544	)
	State taxes (net of federal)		11			186
	Credits		—			—
	Other		129			43
	Collaboration arrangement acquisition cost		—			5,580
	Change in valuation allowance		(1,797	)		1,735
	Total	$	—		$	—

Quarterly_Results_of_Operation1

Quarterly Results of Operations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Quarterly Results of Operations	Following is a summary of the quarterly results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		March 31,			June 30,			September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2014			2014			2014
	Total revenue	$	6,631		$	12,245		$	6,617		$	8,068
	Operating expenses:
	Research and development		5,796			11,656			6,047			7,673
	General and administrative		1,651			1,931			1,443			1,201
	Restructuring and asset impairment		6			5			4			4
	Total expenses		7,453			13,592			7,494			8,878
	Loss from operations		(822	)		(1,347	)		(877	)		(810	)
	Interest income/(expense), net		(286	)		1			5			9
	Other expense		(1	)		(12	)		(42	)		(30	)
	Gain on assignment of royalty interests		5,823			—			—			—
	Gain from extinguishment of debt		3,041			—			—			—
	Income (loss) before income taxes		7,755			(1,358	)		(914	)		(831	)
	Income tax provision		—			—			—			—
	Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)	$	7,755		$	(1,358	)	$	(,914	)	$	(831	)
	Basic net income (loss) per common share	$	0.53		$	(0.09	)	$	(0.06	)	$	(0.06	)
	Diluted net income (loss) per common share	$	0.53		$	(0.09	)	$	(0.06	)	$	(0.06	)
	Shares used in computing basic net income (loss) per common share		14,669			14,697			14,706			14,726
	Shares used in computing diluted net income (loss) per common share		14,713			14,697			14,706			14,726
		March 31,			June 30,			September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2013			2013			2013
	Total revenues	$	279		$	248		$	4,552		$	4,638
	Operating expenses:
	Research and development		1,984			1,423			1,593			3,884
	General and administrative		1,220			1,118			1,463			974
	Collaboration arrangement acquisition cost		—			—			15,943			—
	Restructuring and asset impairment		7			7			7			6
	Total expenses		3,211			2,548			19,006			4,864
	Loss from operations		(2,932	)		(2,300	)		(14,454	)		(226	)
	Interest expense, net		(392	)		(406	)		(420	)		(425	)
	Other income (expense)		(1	)		(4	)		—			(4	)
	Loss before income taxes		(3,325	)		(2,710	)		(14,874	)		(655	)
	Income tax provision		—			—			—			—
	Net loss	$	(3,325	)	$	(2,710	)	$	(14,874	)	$	(655	)
	Basic and diluted net loss per common share	$	(0.53	)	$	(0.43	)	$	(1.59	)	$	(0.04	)
	Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per common share		6,249			6,260			9,352			14,660

Organization_and_Summary_of_Si3

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012
									Segment
Summary Of Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Number of operating segment									1
Accumulated deficit	($388,272,000)				($392,924,000)				($388,272,000)
Working capital	43,700,000								43,700,000
Shareholders' equity	39,115,000				33,683,000				39,115,000	-1,441,000
Cash and cash equivalents	47,990,000				48,131,000				47,990,000	7,414,000
Pre-tax income	($831,000)	($914,000)	($1,358,000)	$7,755,000	($655,000)	($14,874,000)	($2,710,000)	($3,325,000)	$4,700,000
Unvested restricted stock [Member]
Summary Of Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Unvested restricted stock awards	300				19,217				300

Organization_and_Summary_of_Si4

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Summary of Estimated Useful Lives of Property and Equipment (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Minimum [Member] | Computer equipment and software [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Furniture and fixtures [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Lab equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Leasehold improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Computer equipment and software [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Furniture and fixtures [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life	7 years
Maximum [Member] | Lab equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life	7 years
Maximum [Member] | Machinery and equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Leasehold improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life	17 years

Organization_and_Summary_of_Si5

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Summary of Potentially Dilutive Securities (Detail)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
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	515	194
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		19
Unvested 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	10	10
Warrants [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Securities excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per common share	71	71

Property_and_Equipment_Schedul

Property and Equipment - Schedule of Property and Equipment (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$12,595	$12,183
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	-12,093	-11,783
Property and equipment, net	502	400
Machinery and equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	4,792	4,412
Furniture and fixtures [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	1,139	1,138
Lab equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	2,138	2,138
Computer equipment and software [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	2,682	2,651
Leasehold improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$1,844	$1,844

Property_and_Equipment_Additio

Property and Equipment - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Depreciation expense	$310	$370

Sublease_Agreement_and_Lease_E2

Sublease Agreement and Lease Exit Liability - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2007	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jul. 18, 2007	Jan. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2009
					sqft	sqft	sqft
Lease Rental Expenses [Line Items]
Lease agreement initiation date	18-Jul-07
Sublease agreement, number of square feet					72,000
Impairment expense related to the sublease		$2,100,000
Lease exit current liability	193,000		168,000
Lease exit non-current liability	104,000		297,000
Lease exit liability	$297,000		$465,000	$609,000
Mendel [Member]
Lease Rental Expenses [Line Items]
Sublease agreement, number of square feet					48,000
Amendment to sublease agreement, number of square feet						3,300	1,550

Sublease_Agreement_and_Lease_E3

Sublease Agreement and Lease Exit Liability - Schedule of Lease Exit Liability Activity (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Leases [Abstract]
Balance at beginning of year	$465	$609
Accretion expense	19	26
Lease payments	-187	-170
Balance at end of the year	$297	$465

Collaboration_Agreement_Grifol

Collaboration Agreement - Grifols License and Collaboration Agreement - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	23-May-14	Dec. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Jul. 15, 2013	20-May-13	31-May-13
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued and sell		14,681,274		14,726,960			333,968,104
Common stock, purchase price per share							$0.12
Sale of common stock		$426,607,000		427,387,000	$41,400,000
Common stock, shares authorized		25,045,765		25,045,765		17,670,765
Shareholders holding percentage						50.00%
Common stock discount on share	15,943,000	15,943,000
Before Stock Split [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued and sell							8,349,201
Common stock, purchase price per share							$4.96
Common stock, shares authorized						706,830,627
Common Stock [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Reverse stock split ratio				1-for-40
Reverse stock split conversion ratio			0.025
Common stock discount on share		15,943,000
Common Stock [Member] | Before Stock Split [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Common stock, purchase price per share								$4.96
Grifols [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Stock Purchase Agreement				20-May-13
Common stock, shares issued and sell							209,774,558
Payment received from investors and related party					26,000,000
Closing price of common stock					$8
Common stock discount per share					$3.04
Common stock discount on share					$15,900,000
Grifols [Member] | Before Stock Split [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Stock Purchase Agreement				20-May-13
Common stock, shares issued and sell							5,244,363
Closing price of common stock					$0.20
Common stock discount per share					$0.08
Investors [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued and sell							124,193,546
Investors [Member] | Before Stock Split [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued and sell							3,104,838

Collaboration_Agreement_Licens

Collaboration Agreement - License Agreement - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Contract revenue - related party	$8,100,000		$33,038,000	$8,672,000
Deferred revenue	790,000	4,379,000	790,000	4,379,000
Long-term deferred revenue	7,845,000		7,845,000
Long term deferred Revenue, milestone payment received			5,000,000
Milestone payment will be recognized as revenue upon receiving the first regulatory approval	5,000,000		5,000,000
Accounts receivables	1,058,000	92,000	1,058,000	92,000
Accounts payable	2,706,000	619,000	2,706,000	619,000
Grifols [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Accounts payable	43,000		43,000
License Agreement with Grifols [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Future reimbursable research and development expenses by partner			65,000,000
Contract revenue - related party				8,700,000
Payments for development milestones by partner			25,000,000
Patent coverage or orphan drug designation period			10 years
Percentage of reduction on royalty payment			50.00%
Fully burdened development expenses	8,100,000	4,400,000	33,000,000	8,700,000
Reimbursed amount of costs incurred				7,600,000
License Agreement with Grifols [Member] | Prior Fiscal Year [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Reimbursed amount of costs incurred				1,100,000
License Agreement with Grifols [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Royalty payments on net sales rate			12.50%
License Agreement with Grifols [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Royalty payments on net sales rate			20.00%
Pulmaquin [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Accounts receivables	$1,000,000		$1,000,000

Collaboration_Agreement_Govern

Collaboration Agreement - Governance Agreement - Additional Information (Detail) (Governance Agreement [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
	Person
Governance Agreement [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Number of independent directors	3
Number of directors designated by partner	2
Number of chief executive officer	1
Period to be consider after the first commercial sale for restriction to acquire and sale of stock	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		12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2006	Mar. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	23-May-14
	Patents
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
U.S. patents along with foreign counterparts	12
Quarterly royalty payments rate					3.00%
Royalty revenue				$200,000	$1,045,000
Royalty financing agreement with a syndicate of lenders			8,500,000
Capitalization of fees expenses			473,000
Lender warrants to purchase common stock			71,022
Lender warrants to purchase common stock, before stock split			2,840,909
Class of warrant or right, exercise price of warrants or rights			$8.80
Class of warrant or right, exercise price of warrants or rights, before stock split			$0.22
Common stock premium rate			20.00%
Number of trading days for the average closing price			10 days
Warrants expiration date			31-Dec-16
Warrants account for as equity instrument, fair value			390,000
Discount interest rate			18.70%
Capitalized expenses amortization period			48 months
Cash payments to lenders for accrued interest						167,000
Cumulative cash shortfall agreement from default stands					525,000
Transferred rights, effective date				28-Feb-14
Gain from fair value of assigned interests		5,823,000		5,823,000
Gain from extinguishment of debt		$3,041,000		$3,041,000
Common Stock [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Reverse stock split ratio				1-for-40
Reverse stock split conversion ratio							0.025

Leases_Commitments_and_Conting2

Leases, Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jul. 18, 2007	Jan. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2009
	LegalMatter		sqft	sqft	sqft
Future Minimum Lease Payments Under Noncancellable Operating Leases [Line Items]
Lease expiration year	2016
Number of square feet			72,000
Sublease commencement period	2007-07
Total monthly base rent payments by Mendel	$3,000,000
Deferred rent	97,000	132,000
Building rent expense	593,000	594,000
Payments related to indemnifications	0	0
Liabilities related to indemnifications obligation	$0	$0
Claims or pending litigation	0
Mendel [Member]
Future Minimum Lease Payments Under Noncancellable Operating Leases [Line Items]
Number of square feet			48,000
Amendment to sublease agreement, number of square feet				3,300	1,550

Leases_Commitments_and_Conting3

Leases, Commitments and Contingencies - Future Minimum Non-Cancelable Lease Payments (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
2015, Operating Leases	$1,918
2016, Operating Leases	1,020
Total minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	2,938
2015, Mendel Sub-Lease	-1,202
2016, Mendel Sub-Lease	-640
Total minimum lease payments, Mendel Sub-Lease	-1,842
2015, Net Operating Lease Payments	716
2016, Net Operating Lease Payments	380
Total minimum lease payments, Net Operating Lease Payments	$1,096

Shareholders_Equity_Additional

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

1 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2013

31-May-10

31-May-08

Jul. 30, 2007

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

31-May-13

Apr. 30, 2008

Dec. 31, 2011

Aug. 31, 2013

20-May-13

Dec. 31, 2010

31-May-05

Dec. 31, 1996

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Common stock issued on reverse stock split basis

14,726,960

14,681,274

333,968,104

Common stock, purchase price per share

$0.12

Sale of common stock

$427,387,000

$426,607,000

$41,400,000

Common stock reserves

515,366

Shares reserved for future grants

688,001

Number of right for each share of common stock outstanding

1

Rights expiration date

8-Sep-18

Percentage of issued and outstanding shares of common stock

6.00%

Common stock authorized for issuance

72,965

Options, net of cancelled or expired options

49,981

Number of shares of common stock authorized

100,000

100,000

67,500

40,000

1,000,000

Incentive and non-statutory stock option grants option price

110.00%

Combined voting power

10.00%

Shares acquired vest period

5 years

Weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted

$7.57

$5.28

intrinsic value of stock options exercised

3,500

200

Limitation of Employee contributions, through payroll deductions to lessor

17,500

Capitalized stock-based employee compensation cost

0

Tax benefit associated with stock-based compensation expense

0

Expected term of options granted

10 years

Expected dividend yield

0.00%

Before Stock Split [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Common stock issued on reverse stock split basis

8,349,201

Common stock, purchase price per share

$4.96

Common Stock [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Price per share on reverse split basis

0.124

Reverse stock split ratio

1-for-40

Common Stock [Member] | Before Stock Split [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Common stock, purchase price per share

4.96

Executive Officer [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Common stock reserves

12,500

Stock Option [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Shares acquired vest period

4 years

Stock options [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Common stock reserves

35,184

Common stock authorized for issuance

35,184

Number of shares of common stock authorized

50,000

62,500

25,000

Incentive and non-statutory stock option grants option price

85.00%

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

10 days

Customary employment weekly period required to participate in the ESPP

20 hours

Minimum period employee required to work per calendar year to participate in ESPP

5 months

Condition given to employees to participate in ESPP

5.00%

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

15.00%

Number of Shares issued under the ESPP

141,066

Compensation expense

67,000

106,000

Unvested stock options and stock purchases [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Options granted expiration

2 years 11 months 5 days

Unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock award arrangements granted

1,030,000

Unrecognized compensation cost

0

Restricted Stock Awards [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Total fair value of restricted stock awards vested

247,000

246,000

Company retained purchase rights on unvested restricted stock awards, shares

300

19,217

Restricted Stock Units [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Total fair value of restricted stock awards vested

0

0

Company retained purchase rights on unvested restricted stock awards, shares

10,306

10,306

Unvested restricted stock [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Company retained purchase rights on unvested restricted stock awards, shares

300

19,217

Non-Employee Options [Member] | Stock Option [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Options granted

0

Grifols [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Stock Purchase Agreement

20-May-13

Common stock issued on reverse stock split basis

209,774,558

Grifols [Member] | Before Stock Split [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Stock Purchase Agreement

20-May-13

Common stock issued on reverse stock split basis

5,244,363

Investors [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Common stock issued on reverse stock split basis

124,193,546

Investors [Member] | Before Stock Split [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Common stock issued on reverse stock split basis

3,104,838

2005 [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Shares reserved for future grants

688,001

22,984

0

Options outstanding

514,422

Plan expiration date

2015-03

Options granted expiration

10 years

Outstanding notes receivables

0

0

Options granted

338,121

29,250

Number of shares repurchased

0

2005 [Member] | Restricted Stock Awards [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock award arrangements granted

0

2005 [Member] | Restricted Stock Units [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock award arrangements granted

0

1996 Non-Employee Directors Plan [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Shares reserved for future grants

0

Options outstanding

0

Number of shares of common stock authorized

1,125

Options granted expiration

10 years

Incentive and non-statutory stock option grants option price

100.00%

Non-statutory stock option grants option price

85.00%

Shares acquired vest period

1 year

Options granted

21,875

14,000

Option price, fair value

100.00%

Warrants [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Common stock reserves

71,022

1996 Plan [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Shares reserved for future grants

24,000

Options outstanding

944

1996 Plan [Member] | Stock Option [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Shares reserved for future grants

0

Maximum [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Sale of common stock

41,400,000

Number of shares available for issuance

50,000

Maximum [Member] | Stock options [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Limitation of Employee contributions, through payroll deductions to lessor

$25,000

Minimum [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Number of shares available for issuance

10,000

Shareholders_Equity_Schedule_o

Shareholders' Equity - Schedule of Activity Under Stock Option Plan (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	10 years
Stock options [Member]
Number of Shares
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	194,147
Options granted	338,121
Options cancelled	-15,627
Options exercised	-1,275
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	515,366
Ending Vested + Expected To Vest	495,347
Ending Exercisable	199,661
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	28.46
Options granted	9.34
Options cancelled	42.21
Options exercised	5.63
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	15.55
Ending Vested + Expected To Vest	15.8
Ending Exercisable	25.5
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	7 years 8 months 9 days
Ending Vested + Expected To Vest	7 years 7 months 17 days
Ending Exercisable	5 years 3 months 7 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	101,580
Ending Vested + Expected To Vest	101,272
Ending Exercisable	94,288

Shareholders_Equity_Schedule_o1

Shareholders' Equity - Schedule of Unvested Restricted Stock and Performance Bonus Stock Awards (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Restricted Stock Awards [Member]
Number of Shares
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	19,217
Number of Shares, granted	11,250
Number of Shares, vested	-30,167
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	300
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	$7.33
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, granted	$9.60
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, vested	$7.67
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	$57.60
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Number of Shares
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	10,306
Number of Shares, granted	0
Number of Shares, vested	0
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	10,306
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	$5.34
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, granted	$0
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, vested	$0
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	$5.34

Shareholders_Equity_Employee_S

Shareholders' Equity - Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Dividend yield	0.00%
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%
Volatility factor	65.10%	107.10%
Risk-free interest rate	0.07%	0.20%
Expected life (years)	6 months	2 years
Weighted-average fair value of purchase rights granted during the period	$3.20	$3.65

Shareholders_Equity_Schedule_o2

Shareholders' Equity - Schedule of Stock-Based Compensation Expense (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Costs and Expenses
Total employee stock-based compensation expense	$616	$421
Impact on basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share	$0.04	($0.05)
Research and development [Member]
Costs and Expenses
Total employee stock-based compensation expense	197	138
General and administrative [Member]
Costs and Expenses
Total employee stock-based compensation expense	$419	$283

Shareholders_Equity_Schedule_o3

Shareholders' Equity - Schedule of Stock Based Compensation Valuation Assumption (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Valuation assumption
Dividend yield	0.00%
Weighted-average fair value of options granted during the periods	$7.57	$5.28
Stock Option [Member] | Employee Options [Member] | Members of Board of Directors [Member]
Valuation assumption
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%
Volatility factor	110.00%	112.70%
Risk-free interest rate	1.80%	1.40%
Expected term (years)	6 years	5 years 8 months 12 days
Weighted-average fair value of options granted during the periods	$7.57	$5.28
Stock Option [Member] | Non-Employee Options [Member]
Valuation assumption
Dividend yield		0.00%
Volatility factor		116.00%
Risk-free interest rate		9.80%
Expected term (years)	0 years	9 years 10 months 2 days
Weighted-average fair value of options granted during the periods		$5.92

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Additio

Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Employee's contribution on pretax basis	$17,500
Additional contribution of employees above 50 years	5,500
Employer matching contribution expense	$55,000	$40,000
Maximum [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Percentage of employees' matching contributions	3.00%

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax [Line Items]
Income Tax Benefit	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance on deferred tax assets									-1,797,000	1,735,000
California research and development tax credit carryforwards	6,509,000				6,509,000				6,509,000	6,509,000
Pre-tax income	-831,000	-914,000	-1,358,000	7,755,000	-655,000	-14,874,000	-2,710,000	-3,325,000	4,700,000
Unrecognized tax benefits	0								0
Interest and penalties accrued on unrecognized tax benefits	0								0
General Business Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]
Income Tax [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforward, amount	7,200,000								7,200,000
CALIFORNIA
Income Tax [Line Items]
California net operating loss carryforwards expiration period									2015 through 2033
California net operating loss carryforwards	39,100,000								39,100,000
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Income Tax [Line Items]
California net operating loss carryforwards	39,100,000								39,100,000
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | Research Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]
Income Tax [Line Items]
California research and development tax credit carryforwards	9,900,000								9,900,000
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]
Income Tax [Line Items]
Federal net operating loss carryforwards	36,300,000								36,300,000
Tax credit carryforward, amount	$7,300,000								$7,300,000
California net operating loss carryforwards expiration period									2019 through 2033

Income_Taxes_Significant_Compo

Income Taxes - Significant Components of Company's Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforwards	$14,955	$16,739
Research and development credits	6,509	6,509
Federal orphan drug credits	7,217	7,228
Other	1,152	1,210
Total deferred tax assets	29,833	31,686
Valuation allowance	-29,833	-31,686
Net deferred tax assets	$0	$0

Income_Taxes_Schedule_of_Diffe

Income Taxes - Schedule of Difference Between Income Tax Benefit and Computation Amount of Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income tax benefit at federal statutory rate									$1,657	($7,544)
State taxes (net of federal)									11	186
Credits									0	0
Other									129	43
Collaboration arrangement acquisition cost										5,580
Change in valuation allowance									-1,797	1,735
Total	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Quarterly_Results_of_Operation2

Quarterly Results of Operations - Summary of Quarterly Results of Operations (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Total revenue	$8,068	$6,617	$12,245	$6,631	$4,638	$4,552	$248	$279	$33,561	$9,717
Operating expenses:
Research and development	7,673	6,047	11,656	5,796	3,884	1,593	1,423	1,984	31,172	8,884
General and administrative	1,201	1,443	1,931	1,651	974	1,463	1,118	1,220	6,226	4,775
Collaboration arrangement acquisition cost						15,943				15,943
Restructuring and asset impairment	4	4	5	6	6	7	7	7	19	27
Total operating expenses	8,878	7,494	13,592	7,453	4,864	19,006	2,548	3,211	37,417	29,629
Loss from operations	-810	-877	-1,347	-822	-226	-14,454	-2,300	-2,932	-3,856	-19,912
Interest expense, net	9	5	1	-286	-425	-420	-406	-392
Other income (expense)	-30	-42	-12	-1	-4		-4	-1	-85	-9
Gain on assignment of royalty interests				5,823					5,823
Gain from extinguishment of debt				3,041					3,041
Income (loss) before income taxes	-831	-914	-1,358	7,755	-655	-14,874	-2,710	-3,325	4,700
Income tax provision	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)	($831)	($914)	($1,358)	$7,755	($655)	($14,874)	($2,710)	($3,325)	$4,652	($21,564)
Basic net income (loss) per common share	($0.06)	($0.06)	($0.09)	$0.53					$0.32	($2.36)
Basic and diluted net loss per common share					($0.04)	($1.59)	($0.43)	($0.53)
Diluted net income (loss) per common share	($0.06)	($0.06)	($0.09)	$0.53					$0.32	($2.36)
Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per common share					14,660	9,352	6,260	6,249
Shares used in computing basic net income (loss) per common share	14,726	14,706	14,697	14,669					14,700	9,154
Shares used in computing diluted net income (loss) per common share	14,726	14,706	14,697	14,713					14,726	9,154