Viracta Therapeutics (VIRX) 10-Q 8 May 17 2017 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Apr. 28, 2017
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Trading Symbol	SNSS
Entity Registrant Name	SUNESIS PHARMACEUTICALS INC
Entity Central Index Key	1,061,027
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		21,460,543

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 11,470	$ 8,056	[1]
Marketable securities		23,706	34,532	[1]
Prepaids and other current assets		714	643	[1]
Total current assets		35,890	43,231	[1]
Property and equipment, net		1	3	[1]
Total assets		35,891	43,234	[1]
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		2,647	1,871	[1]
Accrued clinical expense		1,351	1,434	[1]
Accrued compensation		1,055	2,000	[1]
Other accrued liabilities		1,782	1,691	[1]
Current portion of deferred revenue	[1]		610
Current portion of notes payable		4,583	3,333	[1]
Total current liabilities		11,418	10,939	[1]
Non-current portion of notes payable		9,930	11,102	[1]
Other accrued liabilities		226	169	[1]
Commitments				[1]
Stockholders’ equity:
Convertible preferred stock		18,808	18,808	[1]
Common stock		2	2	[1]
Additional paid-in capital		602,755	599,632	[1]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(18)	(22)	[1]
Accumulated deficit		(607,230)	(597,396)	[1]
Total stockholders’ equity		14,317	21,024	[1]
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$ 35,891	$ 43,234	[1]
[1]	The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016, has been derived from the audited financial statements as of that date included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMEN

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Revenue:
License and other revenue	$ 669	$ 640
Total revenues	669	640
Operating expenses:
Research and development	6,162	6,209
General and administrative	3,942	4,295
Total operating expenses	10,104	10,504
Loss from operations	(9,435)	(9,864)
Interest expense	(484)	(298)
Other income, net	85	76
Net loss	(9,834)	(10,086)
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities	4	13
Comprehensive loss	(9,830)	(10,073)
Basic and diluted loss per common share:
Net loss	$ (9,834)	$ (10,086)
Shares used in computing net loss per common share	21,029	14,443
Basic and diluted loss per common share	$ (0.47)	$ (0.70)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEME4

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017		Mar. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss	$ (9,834)		$ (10,086)
Adjustments to reconcile loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Stock-based compensation expense	887		1,453
Depreciation and amortization	2		3
Amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs	78		122
Write-off debt discount upon note repayment			27
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaids and other assets	(71)		(143)
Accounts payable	776		128
Accrued clinical expense	(83)		231
Accrued compensation	(945)		(677)
Other accrued liabilities	143		(1,163)
Deferred revenue	(610)		(610)
Net cash used in operating activities	(9,657)		(10,715)
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of marketable securities			(43,514)
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities	10,830		46,913
Net cash provided by investing activities	10,830		3,399
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from notes payable			12,500
Principal payments on notes payable			(830)
Payoff of notes payable and final payment			(7,153)
Payment of financing fees and debt issuance costs			(229)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock through controlled equity offering facilities, net	2,241
Net cash provided by financing activities	2,241		4,288
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	3,414		(3,028)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	8,056	[1]	26,886
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 11,470		23,858
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities
Fair value of warrants issued in connection with notes payable			$ 537
[1]	The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016, has been derived from the audited financial statements as of that date included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Company Overview

Company Overview	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Company Overview	1. Company Overview Description of Business Sunesis Pharmaceutical, Inc. (Sunesis” or the “company”) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of new oncology therapeutics for the treatment of solid and hematologic cancers. The Company’s primary activities since incorporation have been conducting research and development internally and through corporate collaborators, in-licensing and out-licensing pharmaceutical compounds and technology, conducting clinical trials and raising capital. In January 2014, Sunesis announced the expansion of its oncology pipeline through separate global licensing agreements for two preclinical kinase inhibitor programs. The first agreement, with Biogen Idec MA, Inc., “Biogen,” is for global commercial rights to SNS-062, a selective non-covalently binding oral inhibitor of BTK. The second agreement, with Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, or Takeda, is for global commercial rights to several potential first-in class, pre-clinical inhibitors of the novel target PDK1. In January 2017, the Company announced that its Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for SNS-062, is now actively supporting the initiation of a Phase 1B/2 study to assess the candidate's safety and efficacy in patients with advanced B-cell malignancies after prior ibrutinib exposure, including in patients with C481S mutations. The Company is in a collaboration with Takeda for the development of TAK-580 (formerly MLN2480), an oral pan-RAF inhibitor, for which Takeda is conducting a multi-arm, open-label Phase 1B study in combination with nivolumab, a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor; TAK-228, an oral mTORC 1/2 inhibitor; alisertib, an oral aurora A kinase inhibitor; and several chemotherapeutic agents, in adult patients with advanced non-hematologic malignancies. Sunesis’ most advanced program is QINPREZOTM (vosaroxin), our product candidate for the potential treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (“AML”). Vosaroxin is an anticancer quinolone derivative (“AQD”) —a class of compounds that has not been used previously for the treatment of cancer. In October 2014, the Company announced the results of a Phase 3, multi-national, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of vosaroxin in combination with cytarabine in patients with relapsed or refractory AML, or the VALOR trial. The VALOR trial did not meet its primary endpoint of demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in overall survival. However, based upon the favorable results of other predefined analyses of the data, in November 2014, the Company submitted a letter of intent to the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) describing its intention to file a marketing authorization application (“MAA”) for marketing authorization of vosaroxin plus cytarabine for the treatment of relapsed or refractory AML. In June 2015, the Company met separately with the Rapporteur and Co-Rapporteur, who are two appointed members of the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (“CHMP”). Based upon feedback from these meetings, the Company filed an MAA with the EMA at the end of 2015. In April 2016, the Company received a list of questions relating to our MAA filing (the “Day 120 Questions”) the Company responded to these questions in October 2016 and in December 2016 the Company received a list of outstanding issues (the “Day 180 LOI”). In March 2017, the Company submitted responses to the European Medicine Agency (EMA) Day 180 List of Outstanding Issues issued by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) as part of the centralized review process of the Marketing Authorization (MAA) for vosaroxin as a treatment for relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in patients aged 60 years and older. In April 2017, the Company presented to the Scientific Advisory Group – Oncology (“SAG-O”) and also to the CHMP. As a result of these interactions, feedback from its CHMP rapporteurs and its retained regulatory consultants and an internal assessment, the Company announced on May 1, 2017 its intention to withdraw its MAA. In July 2015, management met with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”), to discuss a potential regulatory filing in the U.S. Based upon the meeting, the FDA recommended that we provide additional clinical evidence prior to any regulatory filing in the U.S. As a result, we are evaluating regulatory and clinical strategies with the goal of gaining future marketing approval in the U.S. It is the Company’s intention to continue to support investigator-sponsored group trials with vosaroxin and to resume Company-sponsored studies if a development partner can be secured. Significant Risks and Uncertainties The Company has incurred significant losses and negative cash flows from operations since its inception, and as of March 31, 2017, had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaling $35.2 million and an accumulated deficit of $607.2 million. Management considered its plans to withdraw the European MAA for vosaroxin and significantly curtail the development of vosaroxin and concluded the Company would be able to meet its obligations as they become due into June 2018. The Company will need to raise substantial additional capital to pursue a regulatory strategy for the potential commercialization of QINPREZO TM its product candidate for the potential treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, However, the Company does not know whether additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. If the Company is unable to raise required funding on acceptable terms or at all, it will need to reduce operating expenses, enter into a collaboration or other similar arrangement with respect to development and/or commercialization rights to our development programs, outlicense intellectual property rights to sell unsecured assets, or a combination of the above, or be forced to delay or reduce the scope of our development programs and/or limit or cease operations. Concentrations of Credit Risk In accordance with its investment policy, the Company invests cash that is not currently being used for operational purposes. The policy allows for the purchase of low risk debt securities issued by: (a) the United States and certain European governments and government agencies, and (b) highly rated banks and corporations, denominated in U.S. dollars, Euros or British pounds, subject to certain concentration limits. The policy limits maturities of securities purchased to no longer than 24 months and the weighted average maturity of the portfolio to 12 months. Management believes these guidelines ensure both the safety and liquidity of any investment portfolio the Company may hold. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk generally consist of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of default by the institutions holding its cash, cash equivalents and any marketable securities to the extent of the amounts recorded in the balance sheets.

Summary of Significant Accounti

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The financial statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that management believes are necessary for a fair presentation of the periods presented. The balance sheet as of December 31, 2016 was derived from the audited financial statements as of that date. These interim financial results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year or any other period. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes accompanying them should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. Reverse Stock Split On September 7, 2016, the Company effected a one-for-six reverse split of its common stock (the "Reverse Split"), as previously authorized and approved at the annual meeting of stockholders on June 7, 2016. As a result of the Reverse Split, every six shares of common stock were combined into one share of capital stock. The Reverse Split affected the shares of Company's common stock: (a) outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Reverse Split, (b) available for issuance under the Company's equity incentive plans, (c) issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants and (d) issuable upon conversion of the outstanding Series B Preferred Stock. All share and per-share data in our condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto give retroactive effect to the Reverse Split for all periods presented. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), that will supersede most existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. The new revenue standard requires an entity to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received in exchange for those goods or services. Entities can choose either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The new revenue standard as amended by ASU No. 2015-14, is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. In March, April and May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, and ASU 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients. These pronouncements have the same effective date as the new revenue standard and provide additional guidance, clarification and practical expedients to reduce the cost and complexity of applying the new standard. The guidance allows for adoption on either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective basis. The Company has identified the existing contracts likely to fall under ASC 606 and plans to adopt this guidance on January 1, 2018 applying the modified-retrospective approach. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. Leases In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which will require a reporting entity to use a new forward-looking impairment model for most financial assets that generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. For available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses, credit losses will be recognized as allowances rather than as reductions in amortized cost. The standard will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted beginning in 2019. Entities will apply the guidance as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is adopted. The Company will evaluate the guidance and present the impact in its consolidated financial statements at the time of adoption. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Sunesis Europe Limited, a United Kingdom corporation, and Sunesis Pharmaceuticals (Bermuda) Ltd., a Bermuda corporation, as well as a Bermuda limited partnership, Sunesis Pharmaceuticals International LP. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Segment Reporting Management has determined that the Company operates as a single reportable segment. Significant Estimates and Judgments The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes thereto. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. Estimates, assumptions and judgments made by management include those related to the valuation of equity and related instruments, debt instruments, revenue recognition, stock-based compensation and clinical trial accounting. Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities Invoices for certain services provided to the Company are denominated in foreign currencies. To manage the risk of future movements in foreign exchange rates that would affect such amounts, the Company may purchase certain European currencies or highly-rated investments denominated in those currencies, subject to similar criteria as for other investments defined in the Company’s investment policy. There is no guarantee that the related gains and losses will substantially offset each other, and the Company may be subject to exchange gains or losses as currencies fluctuate from quarter to quarter. To date, the Company has purchased Euros and Euro-denominated obligations of foreign governments and corporate debt. As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company held cash and investments denominated in Euros with an aggregate fair value of $0.7 million. Any cash, cash equivalent and marketable securities balances denominated in foreign currencies are recorded at their fair value based on the current exchange rate as of each balance sheet date. The resulting exchange gains or losses and those from amounts payable for services originally denominated in foreign currencies are recorded in other income, net in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Fair Value Measurements The Company measures cash equivalents and marketable securities at fair value on a recurring basis and warrants issued in connection with debt on a non-recurring basis using the following hierarchy to prioritize valuation inputs, in accordance with applicable GAAP: Level 1 - quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities that can be accessed at the measurement date. Level 2 - inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 - unobservable inputs. The Company’s Level 2 valuations of marketable securities are generally derived from independent pricing services based upon quoted prices in active markets for similar securities, with prices adjusted for yield and number of days to maturity, or based on industry models using data inputs, such as interest rates and prices that can be directly observed or corroborated in active markets. The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash, prepayments, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, deferred revenue and notes payable approximated their fair value as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

Loss per Common Share

Loss per Common Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Loss per Common Share	3. Loss per Common Share Basic loss per common share is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted loss per common share is computed by dividing (a) net loss, less any anti-dilutive amounts recorded during the period for the change in the fair value of warrant liabilities, by (b) the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period plus dilutive potential common shares as determined using the treasury stock method for options and warrants to purchase common stock. All share and per-share data presented for the three months ended March 31, 2016 has been retroactively adjusted to reflect Reverse Split. The following table represents the potential common shares issuable pursuant to outstanding securities as of the related period end dates that were excluded from the computation of diluted loss per common share because their inclusion would have had an anti-dilutive effect (in thousands): Three months ended March 31, 2017 2016 Warrants to purchase shares of common stock 218 371 Convertible preferred stock 4,270 3,367 Options to purchase shares of common stock 2,655 2,034 Restricted stock units 53 66 Outstanding securities not included in calculations 7,196 5,838

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Financial Instruments	4. Financial Instruments Financial Assets The following tables summarize the estimated fair value of the Company’s financial assets measured on a recurring basis as of the dates indicated, which were comprised solely of available-for-sale marketable securities with remaining contractual maturities of one year or less (in thousands): March 31, 2017 Input Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Estimated Fair Value Money market funds Level 1 $ 6,146 $ — $ — $ 6,146 U.S. Treasury securities Level 1 11,520 — (9 ) 11,511 U.S. certificates of deposit Level 1 3,159 — 0 3,159 U.S. corporate debt obligations Level 2 7,048 — (7 ) 7,041 U.S. commercial paper Level 2 3,497 — (2 ) 3,495 Total available-for-sale securities 31,370 — (18 ) 31,352 Less amounts classified as cash equivalents (7,646 ) — — (7,646 ) Amounts classified as marketable securities $ 23,724 $ — $ (18 ) $ 23,706 December 31, 2016 Input Level Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Estimated Fair Value Money market funds Level 1 $ 3,270 $ — $ — $ 3,270 U.S. Treasury securities Level 1 16,029 — (9 ) 16,020 U.S. certificates of deposit Level 1 4,868 — — 4,868 U.S. corporate obligations Level 2 11,617 — (11 ) 11,606 U.S. commercial paper Level 2 2,521 — (2 ) 2,519 Total available-for-sale securities 38,305 — (22 ) 38,283 Less amounts classified as cash equivalents (3,751 ) — — (3,751 ) Amounts classified as marketable securities $ 34,554 $ — $ (22 ) $ 34,532 The following table summarizes the available-for-sale securities that were in an unrealized loss position as of the date indicated, having been in such position for less than 12 months, and none having been deemed to be other-than temporarily impaired (in thousands): March 31, 2017 Gross Unrealized Losses Estimated Fair Value U.S. Treasury securities $ (9 ) $ 11,511 U.S. corporate debt obligations (7 ) 7,041 U.S. commercial paper (2 ) 3,495 $ (18 ) $ 22,047 December 31, 2016 Gross Unrealized Losses Estimated Fair Value U.S. Treasury securities $ (9 ) $ 16,020 U.S. corporate debt obligations (11 ) 11,606 U.S. commercial paper (2 ) 2,519 $ (22 ) $ 30,145 No significant facts or circumstances have arisen to indicate that there has been any deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuers of these securities. As of March 31, 2017, we did not hold any investments with a maturity exceeding 12 months or that have been in a continuous loss position for 12 months or more. We do not intend to sell the securities that are in an unrealized loss position and it is more likely than not that the investments will be held until recovery of the amortized cost bases. We have determined that the gross unrealized losses on our securities as of March 31, 2017 were temporary in nature. There were no realized gains or losses on the available-for-sale securities during either three months ended March 31, 2017 or 2016.

Royalty Agreement

Royalty Agreement	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]
Royalty Agreement	5. Royalty Agreement In March 2012, the Company entered into a Revenue Participation Agreement (the “Royalty Agreement”), with RPI Finance Trust (“RPI”), an entity related to Royalty Pharma. In September 2012, pursuant to the provisions of the Royalty Agreement, RPI made a $25.0 million cash payment to the Company. The payment, less $3.1 million representing the fair value of the warrants granted under the arrangement, was initially classified as deferred revenue and is fully amortized to revenue over the related performance period. Revenue participation right payments will be made to RPI when and if vosaroxin is commercialized, at a rate of 6.75% of net sales of vosaroxin, on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis world-wide through the later of: (a) the expiration of the last to expire of certain specifically identified patents; (b) 10 years from the date of first commercial sale of such product in such country; or (c) the expiration of all applicable periods of data, market or other regulatory exclusivity in such country with respect to such product.

License Agreements

License Agreements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
License Agreements	6. License Agreements Biogen In December 2013, the Company entered into a second amended and restated collaboration agreement with Biogen Idec MA, Inc. (the “Biogen 2nd ARCA”), to provide the Company with an exclusive worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize SNS-062, a BTK inhibitor synthesized under the first amended and restated collaboration agreement with Biogen (the “Biogen 1st ARCA”), solely for oncology indications. The Company may be required to make a $2.5 million milestone payment depending on its development of SNS-062 and royalty payments depending on related product sales of SNS-062. All other of Sunesis’ rights and obligations contained in the Biogen 1st ARCA remain unchanged, except that potential future royalty payments to Sunesis were reduced to equal those amounts due to Biogen for potential future sales of SNS-062. Takeda In March 2011, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Takeda”) purchased and exclusively licensed Biogen’s rights to a PDK1 inhibitor program and a pan-Raf inhibitor program which were both originally developed through a collaboration agreement between Sunesis and Biogen. In January 2014, the Company entered into an amended and restated license agreement with Takeda (the “Amended Takeda Agreement”), to provide the Company with an exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize preclinical inhibitors of PDK1. In connection with the execution of the Amended Takeda Agreement, the Company paid an upfront fee and may be required to make up to $9.2 million in pre-commercialization milestone payments depending on its development of PDK1 inhibitors and royalty payments depending on related product sales, if any. With respect to the pan-Raf inhibitor program, the Company may in the future receive up to $57.5 million in pre-commercialization event-based payments related to the development by Takeda of the first two indications for each of the licensed products directed against the Raf target and royalty payments depending on related product sales. Under this program, Takeda is currently conducting Phase 1 clinical studies of an oral investigative drug, TAK-580 (formerly MLN2480).

Notes Payable

Notes Payable	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Notes Payable	7. Notes Payable On March 31, 2016, the Company entered into a loan and security agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Western Alliance Bank (“Western Bank”) and Solar Capital Ltd. (“Solar Capital,” and collectively with Western Bank, the “Lenders”) and Western Alliance, as Collateral Agent (the “Collateral Agent”). Pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement, the Lenders provided the Company with a loan in the principal amount of $15,000,000 of which $12,500,000 was funded on March 31, 2016 and $2,500,000 was funded on April 1, 2016, for working capital, to fund its general business requirements and to repay indebtedness of the Company to Oxford Finance LLC, Silicon Valley Bank and Horizon Technology Finance Corporation (collectively, the “Existing Lenders”) pursuant to the Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2011, entered into by and among the Existing Lenders and the Company (the “Oxford Loan Agreement”). On March 31, 2016, the Company used $7.2 million of the loan proceeds to repay the outstanding principal of $6.0 million, a final payment fee of $1.2 million and accrued interest of $45,000 under the Oxford Loan Agreement. The Company paid the Lenders a $0.1 million facility fee and $0.1 million in legal fees. The Company will be required to pay interest on the borrowings under the Loan Agreement at a per annum rate equal to 8.54% plus the then effective one-month U.S. LIBOR rate. Payments under the Loan Agreement are monthly in arrears and interest-only for the first 12-months. Thereafter and until the scheduled maturity date of April 1, 2020, in addition to interest accrued during such period, the monthly payments will include an amount equal to the outstanding principal divided by 36 months, unless the interest only period is extended by a further six months, in which case the amortization period will be 30 months. A final payment equal to 3.75% of the original principal amount borrowed will be due upon maturity or such earlier date specified in the Loan Agreement. If the Company repays all amounts owed under the Loan Agreement prior to the maturity date, the Company will pay a prepayment fee equal to 1.0% of the amount prepaid if the prepayment occurs after March 31, 2017 but on or prior to March 31, 2018 and 0.5% of the amount prepaid if the prepayment occurs thereafter. The facility fee and legal fees related to the debt are being accounted for as a debt discount and classified within notes payable on the Company’s balance sheet and amortized as interest expense over the term of the loan using the effective interest method. The final payment is being accreted as interest expense over the term of the loan using the effective interest method. In conjunction with the Loan Agreement, the Lenders were issued five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to 208,002 shares of the Company’s common stock at a per share exercise price of $3.2454. The fair value of the warrants issued was estimated to be $0.5 million using a Black-Scholes valuation model with the following assumptions: common stock price at issuance of $3.24; exercise price of $3.2454; risk-free interest rate of 1.21% based upon observed risk-free interest rates; expected volatility of 111.96% based on the Company’s average historical volatility; expected term of five years, which is the contractual life of the warrants; and a dividend yield of 0%. The fair value was recorded as a debt discount within notes payable and an increase to additional paid-in capital on the Company’s balance sheet. The debt discount is being amortized as interest expense over the term of the Loan Agreement, using the effective interest method. Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, the Company is bound by a variety of affirmative covenants during the term of the Loan Agreement, including, without limitation, certain information delivery requirements, notice requirements and obligations to maintain certain insurance. Additionally, the Company is bound by certain negative covenants setting forth actions that are not permitted to be taken during the term of the Loan Agreement without the Lenders’ consent, including, without limitation, incurring certain additional indebtedness, making certain asset dispositions, entering into certain mergers, acquisitions or other business combination transactions or incurring any non-permitted lien or other encumbrance on the Company’s assets. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the Loan Agreement (subject to cure periods for certain events of default), all amounts owed by the Company thereunder would begin to bear interest at a rate that is 5.0% higher than the rate that would otherwise be applicable and may be declared immediately due and payable by the Collateral Agent. Events of default under the Loan Agreement include, among other things, the following: the occurrence of certain bankruptcy events; the failure to make payments under the Loan Agreement when due; the occurrence of a material impairment on the Collateral Agent’s security interest over the collateral, a material adverse change in the business, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company or material impairment of the prospect of repayment of the obligations under the Loan Agreement; the occurrence of a default under certain other agreements entered into by the Company; the rendering of certain types of judgments against the Company; the revocation of certain government approvals of the Company; any breach by the Company of any covenant (subject to cure periods for certain covenants) made in the Loan Agreement; and the failure of any representation or warranty made by the Company in connection with the Loan Agreement to be correct in all material respects when made. The Loan Agreement defines certain events of default, including instances of a Material Adverse Change in our operations, which may require prepayment of the outstanding Term Loan. No such events have occurred or are anticipated as of March 31, 2017. The Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, has a perfected security interest in substantially all of the Company’s property, rights and assets, except for intellectual property, to secure the payment of all amounts owed to the Lenders under the Loan Agreement. Aggregate future minimum payments due under the Loan Agreement as of March 31, 2017 were as follows (in thousands): Year ending December 31, Total 2017 $ 4,310 2018 5,893 2019 5,417 2020 2,262 Total minimum payments 17,882 Less amount representing interest (2,882 ) Total notes payable as of March 31, 2017 15,000 Less unamortized debt discount and issuance costs (487 ) Less current portion of notes payable (4,583 ) Non-current portion of notes payable $ 9,930

Stockholders' Equity

Stockholders' Equity	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Equity [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity	8. Stockholders’ Equity Controlled Equity Offerings In August 2011, the Company entered into a Controlled Equity Offering SM During the three months ended March 31, 2017, 536,021 shares of common stock were sold under the Sales Agreement with net proceeds of $2.2 million. As of March 31, 2017, $15.7 million of common stock remained available to be sold under this facility, subject to certain conditions as specified in the Sales Agreement, as amended.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]
Stock-Based Compensation	9. Stock-Based Compensation Employee stock-based compensation expense is calculated based on the grant-date fair value of awards ultimately expected to vest, and recognized under the straight-line attribution method, assuming that all stock-based awards will vest. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur. The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense related to the Company’s stock-based awards for the periods indicated (in thousands): Three months ended March 31, 2017 2016 Research and development $ 252 $ 550 General and administrative 611 893 Employee stock-based compensation expense 863 1,443 Non-employee stock-based compensation expense 24 10 Total stock-based compensation expense $ 887 $ 1,453

Summary of Significant Accoun14

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The financial statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that management believes are necessary for a fair presentation of the periods presented. The balance sheet as of December 31, 2016 was derived from the audited financial statements as of that date. These interim financial results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year or any other period. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes accompanying them should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Reverse Stock Split	Reverse Stock Split On September 7, 2016, the Company effected a one-for-six reverse split of its common stock (the "Reverse Split"), as previously authorized and approved at the annual meeting of stockholders on June 7, 2016. As a result of the Reverse Split, every six shares of common stock were combined into one share of capital stock. The Reverse Split affected the shares of Company's common stock: (a) outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Reverse Split, (b) available for issuance under the Company's equity incentive plans, (c) issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants and (d) issuable upon conversion of the outstanding Series B Preferred Stock. All share and per-share data in our condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto give retroactive effect to the Reverse Split for all periods presented.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), that will supersede most existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. The new revenue standard requires an entity to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received in exchange for those goods or services. Entities can choose either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The new revenue standard as amended by ASU No. 2015-14, is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. In March, April and May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, and ASU 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients. These pronouncements have the same effective date as the new revenue standard and provide additional guidance, clarification and practical expedients to reduce the cost and complexity of applying the new standard. The guidance allows for adoption on either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective basis. The Company has identified the existing contracts likely to fall under ASC 606 and plans to adopt this guidance on January 1, 2018 applying the modified-retrospective approach. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. Leases In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which will require a reporting entity to use a new forward-looking impairment model for most financial assets that generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. For available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses, credit losses will be recognized as allowances rather than as reductions in amortized cost. The standard will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted beginning in 2019. Entities will apply the guidance as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is adopted. The Company will evaluate the guidance and present the impact in its consolidated financial statements at the time of adoption. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Sunesis Europe Limited, a United Kingdom corporation, and Sunesis Pharmaceuticals (Bermuda) Ltd., a Bermuda corporation, as well as a Bermuda limited partnership, Sunesis Pharmaceuticals International LP. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Segment Reporting	Segment Reporting Management has determined that the Company operates as a single reportable segment.
Significant Estimates and Judgments	Significant Estimates and Judgments The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes thereto. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. Estimates, assumptions and judgments made by management include those related to the valuation of equity and related instruments, debt instruments, revenue recognition, stock-based compensation and clinical trial accounting.
Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities	Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities Invoices for certain services provided to the Company are denominated in foreign currencies. To manage the risk of future movements in foreign exchange rates that would affect such amounts, the Company may purchase certain European currencies or highly-rated investments denominated in those currencies, subject to similar criteria as for other investments defined in the Company’s investment policy. There is no guarantee that the related gains and losses will substantially offset each other, and the Company may be subject to exchange gains or losses as currencies fluctuate from quarter to quarter. To date, the Company has purchased Euros and Euro-denominated obligations of foreign governments and corporate debt. As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company held cash and investments denominated in Euros with an aggregate fair value of $0.7 million. Any cash, cash equivalent and marketable securities balances denominated in foreign currencies are recorded at their fair value based on the current exchange rate as of each balance sheet date. The resulting exchange gains or losses and those from amounts payable for services originally denominated in foreign currencies are recorded in other income, net in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Fair Value Measurements	Fair Value Measurements The Company measures cash equivalents and marketable securities at fair value on a recurring basis and warrants issued in connection with debt on a non-recurring basis using the following hierarchy to prioritize valuation inputs, in accordance with applicable GAAP: Level 1 - quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities that can be accessed at the measurement date. Level 2 - inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 - unobservable inputs. The Company’s Level 2 valuations of marketable securities are generally derived from independent pricing services based upon quoted prices in active markets for similar securities, with prices adjusted for yield and number of days to maturity, or based on industry models using data inputs, such as interest rates and prices that can be directly observed or corroborated in active markets. The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash, prepayments, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, deferred revenue and notes payable approximated their fair value as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

Loss per Common Share (Tables)

Loss per Common Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Potential Common Shares Issuable Pursuant to Outstanding Securities Excluded from Computation of Diluted Loss per Common Share	The following table represents the potential common shares issuable pursuant to outstanding securities as of the related period end dates that were excluded from the computation of diluted loss per common share because their inclusion would have had an anti-dilutive effect (in thousands): Three months ended March 31, 2017 2016 Warrants to purchase shares of common stock 218 371 Convertible preferred stock 4,270 3,367 Options to purchase shares of common stock 2,655 2,034 Restricted stock units 53 66 Outstanding securities not included in calculations 7,196 5,838

Financial Instruments (Tables)

Financial Instruments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value of Company's Financial Assets Measured on Recurring Basis	The following tables summarize the estimated fair value of the Company’s financial assets measured on a recurring basis as of the dates indicated, which were comprised solely of available-for-sale marketable securities with remaining contractual maturities of one year or less (in thousands): March 31, 2017 Input Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Estimated Fair Value Money market funds Level 1 $ 6,146 $ — $ — $ 6,146 U.S. Treasury securities Level 1 11,520 — (9 ) 11,511 U.S. certificates of deposit Level 1 3,159 — 0 3,159 U.S. corporate debt obligations Level 2 7,048 — (7 ) 7,041 U.S. commercial paper Level 2 3,497 — (2 ) 3,495 Total available-for-sale securities 31,370 — (18 ) 31,352 Less amounts classified as cash equivalents (7,646 ) — — (7,646 ) Amounts classified as marketable securities $ 23,724 $ — $ (18 ) $ 23,706 December 31, 2016 Input Level Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Estimated Fair Value Money market funds Level 1 $ 3,270 $ — $ — $ 3,270 U.S. Treasury securities Level 1 16,029 — (9 ) 16,020 U.S. certificates of deposit Level 1 4,868 — — 4,868 U.S. corporate obligations Level 2 11,617 — (11 ) 11,606 U.S. commercial paper Level 2 2,521 — (2 ) 2,519 Total available-for-sale securities 38,305 — (22 ) 38,283 Less amounts classified as cash equivalents (3,751 ) — — (3,751 ) Amounts classified as marketable securities $ 34,554 $ — $ (22 ) $ 34,532
Summary of Available-for-Sale Securities in Unrealized Loss Position	The following table summarizes the available-for-sale securities that were in an unrealized loss position as of the date indicated, having been in such position for less than 12 months, and none having been deemed to be other-than temporarily impaired (in thousands): March 31, 2017 Gross Unrealized Losses Estimated Fair Value U.S. Treasury securities $ (9 ) $ 11,511 U.S. corporate debt obligations (7 ) 7,041 U.S. commercial paper (2 ) 3,495 $ (18 ) $ 22,047 December 31, 2016 Gross Unrealized Losses Estimated Fair Value U.S. Treasury securities $ (9 ) $ 16,020 U.S. corporate debt obligations (11 ) 11,606 U.S. commercial paper (2 ) 2,519 $ (22 ) $ 30,145

Notes Payable (Tables)

Notes Payable (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Future Minimum Payments Under Loan Agreement	Aggregate future minimum payments due under the Loan Agreement as of March 31, 2017 were as follows (in thousands): Year ending December 31, Total 2017 $ 4,310 2018 5,893 2019 5,417 2020 2,262 Total minimum payments 17,882 Less amount representing interest (2,882 ) Total notes payable as of March 31, 2017 15,000 Less unamortized debt discount and issuance costs (487 ) Less current portion of notes payable (4,583 ) Non-current portion of notes payable $ 9,930

Stock-Based Compensation (Table

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]
Summary of Stock-Based Compensation Expense Related to Company's Stock-Based Awards	The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense related to the Company’s stock-based awards for the periods indicated (in thousands): Three months ended March 31, 2017 2016 Research and development $ 252 $ 550 General and administrative 611 893 Employee stock-based compensation expense 863 1,443 Non-employee stock-based compensation expense 24 10 Total stock-based compensation expense $ 887 $ 1,453

Company Overview - Additional I

Company Overview - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	[1]
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities	$ 35,200
Accumulated deficit	$ (607,230)	$ (597,396)
Maturity limits period	24 months
Dollars weighted average maturity limit period	12 months
[1]	The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016, has been derived from the audited financial statements as of that date included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Summary of Significant Accoun20

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	Sep. 07, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017USD ($)Segment	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Reverse stock split, ratio	0.1667
Reverse stock split, description		Reverse Split, every six shares of common stock were combined into one share of capital stock. The Reverse Split affected the shares of Company's common stock: (a) outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Reverse Split, (b) available for issuance under the Company's equity incentive plans, (c) issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants and (d) issuable upon conversion of the outstanding Series B Preferred Stock. All share and per-share data in our condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto give retroactive effect to the Reverse Split for all periods presented.
Number of reportable segment | Segment		1
Fair value of investments denominated in Euros | $		$ 0.7	$ 0.7

Loss per Common Share - Schedul

Loss per Common Share - Schedule of Potential Common Shares Issuable Pursuant to Outstanding Securities Excluded from Computation of Diluted Loss per Common Share (Detail) - shares shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Outstanding securities not included in calculations	7,196	5,838
Warrants to purchase shares of common stock [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Outstanding securities not included in calculations	218	371
Options to purchase shares of common stock [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Outstanding securities not included in calculations	2,655	2,034
Restricted stock units [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Outstanding securities not included in calculations	53	66
Convertible preferred stock [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Outstanding securities not included in calculations	4,270	3,367

Financial Instruments - Fair Va

Financial Instruments - Fair Value of Company's Financial Assets Measured on Recurring Basis (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, Amortized Cost	$ 31,370	$ 38,305
Available-for-sale securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(18)	(22)
Available-for-sale securities, Estimated Fair Value	31,352	38,283
Less amounts classified as cash equivalents, Amortized Cost	(7,646)	(3,751)
Less amounts classified as cash equivalents, Estimated Fair Value	(7,646)	(3,751)
Amounts classified as marketable securities, Amortized Cost	23,724	34,554
Amounts classified as marketable securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(18)	(22)
Amounts classified as marketable securities, Estimated Fair Value	23,706	34,532	[1]
Level 1 [Member] | Money market funds [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, Amortized Cost	6,146	3,270
Available-for-sale securities, Estimated Fair Value	6,146	3,270
Level 1 [Member] | U.S. Treasury securities [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, Amortized Cost	11,520	16,029
Available-for-sale securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(9)	(9)
Available-for-sale securities, Estimated Fair Value	11,511	16,020
Level 1 [Member] | U.S. certificates of deposit [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, Amortized Cost	3,159	4,868
Available-for-sale securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	0
Available-for-sale securities, Estimated Fair Value	3,159	4,868
Level 2 [Member] | U.S. corporate debt obligations [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, Amortized Cost	7,048	11,617
Available-for-sale securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(7)	(11)
Available-for-sale securities, Estimated Fair Value	7,041	11,606
Level 2 [Member] | U.S. commercial paper [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, Amortized Cost	3,497	2,521
Available-for-sale securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(2)	(2)
Available-for-sale securities, Estimated Fair Value	$ 3,495	$ 2,519
[1]	The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016, has been derived from the audited financial statements as of that date included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Financial Instruments - Summary

Financial Instruments - Summary of Available-for-Sale Securities in Unrealized Loss Position (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Gross Unrealized Losses	$ (18)	$ (22)
Estimated Fair Value	22,047	30,145
U.S. Treasury securities [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Gross Unrealized Losses	(9)	(9)
Estimated Fair Value	11,511	16,020
U.S. corporate debt obligations [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Gross Unrealized Losses	(7)	(11)
Estimated Fair Value	7,041	11,606
U.S. commercial paper [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Gross Unrealized Losses	(2)	(2)
Estimated Fair Value	$ 3,495	$ 2,519

Financial Instruments - Additio

Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Realized gains or losses on available-for-sale securities	$ 0	$ 0

Royalty Agreement - Additional

Royalty Agreement - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2012
Royalty Agreement [Line Items]
Revenue participation right payments, rate	6.75%
Revenue participation right payments, term	10 years from the date of first commercial sale
Maximum term of revenue participation right payments	10 years
Royalty Agreement [Member]
Royalty Agreement [Line Items]
Revenue participation right payments		$ 25
Fair value of warrants issued in connection with participation agreement	$ 3.1

License Agreements - Additional

License Agreements - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2014
License Agreement Terms [Member] | Takeda License Agreements [Member]
Research And Development Arrangement Contract To Perform For Others [Line Items]
Potential pre-commercialization milestone payments payable			$ 9.2
Potential pre-commercialization payments receivable		$ 57.5
Biogen [Member] | Development Events [Member]
Research And Development Arrangement Contract To Perform For Others [Line Items]
Milestone payment depending on development	$ 2.5

Notes Payable - Additional Info

Notes Payable - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	Apr. 01, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from notes payable				$ 12,500,000
Loan Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 15,000,000		15,000,000
Proceeds from notes payable	$ 2,500,000	12,500,000
Date of Loan and Security Agreement			Oct. 18, 2011
Loan proceeds to repay the outstanding principal		7,200,000
Repayment of outstanding principal		6,000,000		6,000,000
Final payment fee		1,200,000		$ 1,200,000
Accrued interest		45,000
Facility fee		100,000
Legal fees		$ 100,000
Description of monthly interest payment			Payments under the Loan Agreement are monthly in arrears and interest-only for the first 12-months. Thereafter and until the scheduled maturity date of April 1, 2020, in addition to interest accrued during such period, the monthly payments will include an amount equal to the outstanding principal divided by 36 months, unless the interest only period is extended by a further six months, in which case the amortization period will be 30 months.
Line of credit facility final payment percentage			3.75%
Percentage of penalty for prepaying loan after maturity			0.50%
Prepayment penalty expiration date			Mar. 31, 2017
Maturity date			Apr. 1, 2020
Warrants Expiration Term			5 years
Number of warrants issued			208,002
Warrants exercise price for shares			$ 3.2454
Estimated fair value of warrants issued			$ 500,000
Loan, Covenant description			Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, the Company is bound by a variety of affirmative covenants during the term of the Loan Agreement, including, without limitation, certain information delivery requirements, notice requirements and obligations to maintain certain insurance. Additionally, the Company is bound by certain negative covenants setting forth actions that are not permitted to be taken during the term of the Loan Agreement without the Lenders’ consent, including, without limitation, incurring certain additional indebtedness, making certain asset dispositions, entering into certain mergers, acquisitions or other business combination transactions or incurring any non-permitted lien or other encumbrance on the Company’s assets. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the Loan Agreement (subject to cure periods for certain events of default), all amounts owed by the Company thereunder would begin to bear interest at a rate that is 5.0% higher than the rate that would otherwise be applicable and may be declared immediately due and payable by the Collateral Agent. Events of default under the Loan Agreement include, among other things, the following: the occurrence of certain bankruptcy events; the failure to make payments under the Loan Agreement when due; the occurrence of a material impairment on the Collateral Agent’s security interest over the collateral, a material adverse change in the business, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company or material impairment of the prospect of repayment of the obligations under the Loan Agreement; the occurrence of a default under certain other agreements entered into by the Company; the rendering of certain types of judgments against the Company; the revocation of certain government approvals of the Company; any breach by the Company of any covenant (subject to cure periods for certain covenants) made in the Loan Agreement; and the failure of any representation or warranty made by the Company in connection with the Loan Agreement to be correct in all material respects when made. The Loan Agreement defines certain events of default, including instances of a Material Adverse Change in our operations, which may require prepayment of the outstanding Term Loan. No such events have occurred or are anticipated as of March 31, 2017.
Loan Agreement [Member] | Warrants to purchase shares of common stock [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Common stock price			$ 3.24
Exercise price			$ 3.2454
Risk-free interest rates			1.21%
Expected volatility			111.96%
Expected term			5 years
Dividend yield			0.00%
Loan Agreement [Member] | Extension of Maturity Date [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of penalty for prepaying loan before maturity			1.00%
Prepayment penalty expiration date			Mar. 31, 2018
Loan Agreement [Member] | LIBOR Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage			8.54%

Notes Payable - Summary of Futu

Notes Payable - Summary of Future Minimum Payments Under Loan Agreement (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	[1]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total notes payable as of March 31, 2017	$ 15,000
Less current portion of notes payable	(4,583)	$ (3,333)
Non-current portion of notes payable	9,930	$ 11,102
Notes payable [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2,017	4,310
2,018	5,893
2,019	5,417
2,020	2,262
Total minimum payments	17,882
Less amount representing interest	(2,882)
Less unamortized debt discount and issuance costs	$ (487)
[1]	The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016, has been derived from the audited financial statements as of that date included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Stockholders' Equity - Addition

Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2011
Controlled Equity Offering Facilities [Member]
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock, offering value				$ 20
Common stock sales agreement, date			2011-08
Issuance of common stock, remaining offering value			$ 15.7
Proceeds from issuance of common stock through controlled equity offering facilities, net			$ 2.2
Controlled Equity Offering Facilities [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Common stock, shares sold			536,021
Additional Controlled Equity Offerings Facilities [Member]
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Increase in aggregate controlled equity offering agreement as per amendment	$ 30	$ 30
Issuance of common stock, commission percentage		3.00%
Common stock sales agreement amended, date			2013-04
Common stock sales agreement further amended, date			2015-03
Issuance of common stock, commission percentage, maximum	3.00%

Stock-Based Compensation - Summ

Stock-Based Compensation - Summary of Stock-Based Compensation Expense Related to Company's Stock-Based Awards (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Share-based Compensation, Allocation and Classification in Financial Statements
Total stock-based compensation expense	$ 887	$ 1,453
Employee stock-based compensation expense [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Allocation and Classification in Financial Statements
Total stock-based compensation expense	863	1,443
Non-employee stock-based compensation expense [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Allocation and Classification in Financial Statements
Total stock-based compensation expense	24	10
Research and development [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Allocation and Classification in Financial Statements
Total stock-based compensation expense	252	550
General and administrative [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Allocation and Classification in Financial Statements
Total stock-based compensation expense	$ 611	$ 893