Paratek Pharmaceuticals (PRTK) 10-Q 28 Oct 14 2014 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Oct. 24, 2014
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-14	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Entity Registrant Name	'Transcept Pharmaceuticals Inc	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001178711	'
Entity Filer Category	'Smaller Reporting Company	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Trading Symbol	'tspt	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	19,161,372

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$20,395	$9,935
Marketable securities	15,889	60,110
Prepaid and other current assets	541	3,382
Restricted cash	15	200
Total current assets	36,840	73,627
Property and equipment, net	13	43
Total assets	36,853	73,670
Current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	447	413
Accrued liabilities	2,192	1,515
Total current liabilities	2,639	1,928
Commitments and contingencies	'	'
Stockholders’ equity:	'	'
Common stock	19	19
Additional paid-in capital	188,078	211,257
Accumulated deficit	-153,887	-139,556
Accumulated other comprehensive income	4	22
Total stockholders’ equity	34,214	71,742
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$36,853	$73,670

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Revenue:	'	'	'	'
Gross royalty revenue	$182	$418	$962	$1,381
Other Revenue, Net	0	50	0	50
Advertising expense - Purdue Pharma	0	-86	0	-6,681
Net revenue	182	382	962	-5,250
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'
Research and development	295	2,410	1,589	5,151
General and administrative	3,753	2,658	9,328	8,490
Notes receivable impairment	4,300	0	4,300	0
Goodwill impairment	0	0	0	2,962
Total operating expenses	8,348	5,068	15,217	16,603
Loss from operations	-8,166	-4,686	-14,255	-21,853
Interest and other income (expense), net	-35	-17	-76	-58
Net loss	-8,201	-4,703	-14,331	-21,911
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	($0.43)	($0.25)	($0.75)	($1.17)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic and Diluted	19,156	18,782	18,995	18,748
Cash distribution declared per common share (usd per share)	$0	$0	$1.33	$0
Other comprehensive loss:	'	'	'	'
Changes in unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	-4	40	-18	24
Comprehensive loss	($8,205)	($4,663)	($14,349)	($21,887)

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Operating activities	'	'
Net loss	($14,331)	($21,911)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	17	82
Stock-based compensation	1,540	2,339
Gain on disposals of fixed assets	-102	-25
Amortization of premium on available for sale securities	428	641
Impairment of goodwill	0	2,962
Notes receivable impairment	4,300	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	'	'
Prepaid and other current assets	2,841	6,158
Accounts payable	34	894
Accrued liabilities	677	-497
Net cash used in operating activities	-4,596	-9,357
Investing activities	'	'
Purchases of property and equipment	0	-12
Proceeds from Sale of Property and Equipment	115	32
Payments to Acquire Notes Receivable	-4,300	0
Purchases of marketable securities	-15	-63,813
Maturities of marketable securities	43,975	46,980
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	39,775	-16,813
Financing activities	'	'
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock	-25,408	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	689	444
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	-24,719	444
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	10,460	-25,726
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	9,935	39,368
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$20,395	$13,642

Organization_and_Summary_of_Si

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In May 2014 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued the Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) , that will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under US GAAP. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard will be effective for public entities for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016.
	Entities can choose to apply the standard using either the full retrospective approach or a modified retrospective approach. Entities electing the full retrospective adoption will apply the standard to each period presented in the financial statements. This means that entities will have to apply the new guidance as if it had been in effect since the inception of all its contracts with customers presented in the financial statements. Entities that elect the modified retrospective approach will apply the guidance retrospectively only to the most current period presented in the financial statements. This means that entities will have to recognize the cumulative effect of initially applying the new standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings at the date of initial application. The new revenue standard will be applied to contracts that are in progress at the date of initial application.
	The Company has not yet evaluated which adoption method it plans to use or the potential effect the new standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	'
	Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of proprietary products that address important therapeutic needs in the field of neuroscience. The Company has one commercial product, Intermezzo® (zolpidem tartrate) sublingual tablet C-IV for the treatment of insomnia related to middle-of-the-night awakenings, and has recently assigned its rights to its former lead product candidate, TO-2070, a novel, rapidly absorbed treatment for acute migraine incorporating dihydroergotamine (DHE) as the active drug, to Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd.("SNBL") in exchange for a portion of certain future net revenue received by SNBL, up to an aggregate of $2.0 million. The Company operates in one business segment.
	In 2013, the Company engaged a financial and strategic advisor to explore a range of alternatives to enhance stockholder value, including but not limited to business combination and/or partnership opportunities, as well as a distribution of a significant amount of cash to stockholders, and dissolution of the Company. In June 2014, the Company distributed $1.33 in cash for each outstanding share of common stock, equal to approximately $25.4 million in the aggregate, to Transcept stockholders by way of a special distribution.
	Subsequently, in June 2014, the Company entered into a definitive agreement for a merger with Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. See Note 2 regarding this transaction.
	Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not contain all of the information and footnotes required for complete consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company's interim financial information. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2013 has been derived from our audited financial statements at that date, but does not include all the disclosures required for complete financial statements. The results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2014 or for any other interim period or any other future year.
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes to condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited financial statements in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2014.
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Management makes estimates when preparing the financial statements including those relating to revenue recognition, clinical trials expense, advertising expense, and stock-based compensation.
	Concentration of Risk
	The Company is dependent on Purdue Pharma to market and sell Intermezzo in the United States from which all of its royalty and milestone revenue to date has been derived.
	Significant Accounting Policies
	Principles of Consolidation
	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the results of operations of Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Transcept Pharma, Inc., Tigris Merger Sub. Inc. and Tigris Acquisition Sub, LLC. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
	Goodwill
	Goodwill is not subject to amortization, but is tested for impairment on an annual basis during the third quarter or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable. Goodwill impairment testing is a two-step process and performed on a reporting unit level. In the first step, the Company conducts an assessment of qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, it then conducts the second step, a two-part test for impairment of goodwill. The Company first compares the fair value of its reporting unit to its carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the reporting unit's net assets, goodwill is not considered impaired and no further analysis is required. If the carrying value of the net assets exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, then the second part of the impairment test must be performed in order to determine the implied fair value of the goodwill. If the carrying value of the goodwill exceeds the implied fair value, then an impairment loss equal to the difference would be recorded. The Company operates in one reporting unit and believes that its market capitalization is indicative of the fair value of the Company.
	During the second quarter of 2013, several events occurred that indicated that the carrying amount of goodwill exceeded the fair value of the reporting unit, including:
	•	the approximately 30% decline in Intermezzo prescriptions at June 30, 2013 from the peak of the direct to consumer ("DTC") advertising campaign, which was substantially completed in April 2013; and
	•	the May 2013 termination by Purdue of 90 contract sales representatives dedicated exclusively to promoting Intermezzo, resulting in reliance solely on Purdue's existing analgesics sales force of approximately 525 sales representatives.
	As a result of these factors, the Company experienced a 37% decline in its stock price during the quarter ended June 30, 2013. The decline in stock price resulted in a market capitalization of approximately $56.7 million at June 30, 2013 which, when compared to the Company's stockholders' equity of $79.9 million, and in consideration of the early nature of ongoing internal research and development, the progress of new product search and evaluation efforts and the declining sales of Intermezzo, was an indication of impairment under step one of the goodwill impairment testing accounting guidance.
	Step two of the goodwill test consisted of comparing the fair value of the Company to its carrying value at June 30, 2013. If the carrying value exceeds fair value, then a hypothetical purchase price exercise is to be performed to determine the amount, if any, of goodwill impairment. In determining the fair value of the Company, management considered the Company's market capitalization, including any premium that would be necessary for an acquirer to obtain control of the Company, as well as net cash and investments on hand at June 30, 2013. In each of these scenarios, the carrying value of the Company exceeded its fair value in excess of the carrying value of goodwill.
	The impairment analysis indicated that the entire goodwill balance of $3.0 million was impaired, which was recognized during the three-months ended June 30, 2013. No previous impairments of goodwill had been recognized by the Company.
	Revenue Recognition
	The Company applies the revenue recognition criteria outlined in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements, and Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 605 Revenue Recognition, sub-topic 25 Multiple-Element Arrangements.
	Revenue arrangements with multiple components are divided into separate units of accounting if certain criteria are met, including whether the delivered component has stand-alone value to the customer. Consideration received is allocated among the separate units of accounting based on their relative fair values or if fair value is not determinable, based on the Company’s best estimate of selling price. Applicable revenue recognition criteria are then applied to each of the units.
	Revenue is recognized when the four basic criteria of revenue recognition are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) transfer of technology has been completed or services have been rendered; (3) the fee is fixed or determinable; and (4) collectability is reasonably assured.
	For each source of revenue, the Company complies with the above revenue recognition criteria in the following manner:
	•	Up-front license payments are assessed to determine whether or not the licensee is able to obtain any stand-alone value from the license. Where this is not the case, the Company does not consider the license deliverable to be a separate unit of accounting, and the revenue is deferred with revenue recognition for the license fee assessed in conjunction with the other deliverables that constitute the combined unit of accounting. When the period of deferral cannot be specifically identified from the agreement, management estimates the period based upon provisions contained within the related agreements and other relevant facts. The Company periodically reviews the estimated involvement period, which could impact the deferral period and, therefore, the timing and the amount of revenue recognized. It is possible that future adjustments will be made if actual conditions differ from the Company’s current plan and involvement assumptions;
	•	Payments received that are related to substantive, performance-based “at-risk” milestones are recognized as revenue upon achievement of the milestone or event specified in the underlying contracts, which represents the culmination of the earnings process. Amounts received in advance, if any, are recorded as deferred revenue until the milestone is reached; and
	•	Royalty revenue from sales of the Company’s licensed product is recognized as earned in accordance with the contract terms when royalties from licensees can be estimated and collectability is reasonably assured.
	Advertising
	The Company expenses non-direct response advertising as incurred. Advertising expense consisted of the Company's December 2012 $10.0 million contribution to Purdue Pharma's national direct-to-consumer ("DTC") advertising campaign, including digital, print and television advertising to support Intermezzo commercialization. The Company initially recorded the $10.0 million payment to Purdue Pharma as a prepaid expense. This payment was recognized as the advertising costs were incurred. As this payment was made directly to Purdue Pharma, recognition of the expense was recorded as an offset to revenue. At December 31, 2013, Purdue Pharma estimated that approximately $1.8 million of the Company's original contribution would be returned due to reduced overall DTC campaign spending. Accordingly, $1.8 million was recorded as a receivable and included in prepaid and other current assets at December 31, 2013.
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the offset to revenue totaled $0.1 million and $6.7 million, respectively. As the DTC advertising campaign was completed during 2013, there is no advertising offset to revenue in 2014.
	Stock-Based Compensation
	The Company records stock-based compensation of stock options granted to employees and directors and of employee stock purchase plan shares by estimating the fair value of stock-based awards using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and amortizing the fair value of the stock-based awards granted over the applicable vesting period. Additionally, the Company is required to include an estimate of the number of awards that will be forfeited in calculating compensation costs, which are recognized over the requisite service period of the awards on a straight-line basis.
	The Company recognized employee stock-based compensation costs of $0.5 million and $1.5 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and $0.8 million and $2.3 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. No related tax benefits of stock-based compensation costs have been recognized since the Company's inception. The Company issued 38,160 and 318,984 shares of common stock for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, upon stock option exercises.
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company modified the terms of stock options previously granted to six of its employees in connection with a reduction in force. The modifications included accelerated vesting of certain options and extension of the exercise period after termination with respect to certain of the options. These modifications resulted in additional compensation expense of $23,000. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company modified the terms of stock options previously granted to two former employees to extend the exercise period with respect to certain of the remaining outstanding options resulting in additional compensation of $39,000.
	Equity instruments, consisting of stock options granted to consultants, are valued using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The measurement of stock-based compensation is subject to periodic adjustments as the underlying equity instruments vest and is recognized as an expense over the term of the related financing or the period over which services are received. The Company recorded non-employee stock-based compensation costs of $7,000 and $26,000 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively and $12,000 and $69,000 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.
	Clinical Trials
	The Company accrues and expenses costs for clinical trial activities performed by third parties, including clinical research organizations and clinical investigators, based upon estimates made of the work completed as of each reporting date, in accordance with agreements established with contract research organizations and clinical trial sites and the agreed upon fee to be paid for the services. The Company determines these estimates through discussion with internal personnel and outside service providers as to the progress or stage of completion of the trials or services. Costs of setting up clinical trial sites for participation in the trials are expensed immediately as research and development expenses. Clinical trial site costs related to patient enrollment are accrued as patients are entered into the trial and reduced by any initial payment made to the clinical trial site when the first patient is enrolled.
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In May 2014 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued the Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) , that will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under US GAAP. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard will be effective for public entities for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016.
	Entities can choose to apply the standard using either the full retrospective approach or a modified retrospective approach. Entities electing the full retrospective adoption will apply the standard to each period presented in the financial statements. This means that entities will have to apply the new guidance as if it had been in effect since the inception of all its contracts with customers presented in the financial statements. Entities that elect the modified retrospective approach will apply the guidance retrospectively only to the most current period presented in the financial statements. This means that entities will have to recognize the cumulative effect of initially applying the new standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings at the date of initial application. The new revenue standard will be applied to contracts that are in progress at the date of initial application.
	The Company has not yet evaluated which adoption method it plans to use or the potential effect the new standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

Merger_Agreement_Notes

Merger Agreement (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Merger Agreement [Abstract]	'
Merger Agreement	'
	Merger Agreement
	On June 30, 2014, the Company, Tigris Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), Tigris Acquisition Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger LLC”), and Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Paratek”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, (i) Merger Sub will merge with and into Paratek, with Paratek becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and the surviving corporation of the merger (the “Merger”) and (ii) immediately following the Merger, the surviving corporation will merge with and into Merger LLC with Merger LLC surviving as the surviving company in such merger (the “Second Merger”).
	Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, at the closing of the Merger, each outstanding share of Paratek common stock will be converted into the right to receive 0.810 shares of common stock of the Company, subject to the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares. Immediately following the effective time of the Merger, Paratek stockholders are expected to own approximately 89.6% of the outstanding capital stock of the Company.
	Consummation of the Merger is subject to certain closing conditions, including, among other things, approval by the stockholders of the Company and Paratek. The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights for both the Company and Paratek, and further provides that, upon termination of the Merger Agreement under specified circumstances, either party may be required to pay the other party a termination fee of $6.3 million.
	At the effective time of the Merger, the Board of Directors of the Company is expected to consist of a total of seven members, two of whom will be designated by Transcept and five of whom will be designated by Paratek.
	Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, on October 14, 2014, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had approved a special dividend comprising a $0.6674 cash distribution per share and the right to receive certain contingent cash amounts, in the future, on a pro rata basis, consisting of: (i) one hundred percent of any payments received by Transcept on or prior to the second anniversary of the closing date of the merger agreement pursuant to the United States License and Collaboration Agreement, dated July 31, 2009, as amended November 1, 2011, by and between Transcept and Purdue Pharmaceutical Products L.P., (ii) one hundred percent of any payments received by Transcept pursuant to the Termination Agreement and Release, dated September 19, 2014, by and between Transcept and Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd., up to an aggregate of $2.0 million, (iii) ninety percent of any cash proceeds from a sale or disposition of Intermezzo (less all fees and expenses incurred by Transcept in connection with such sale or disposition following the closing date of the merger); provided such sale or disposition occurs, or a definitive written agreement with respect to such sale or disposition is entered into, prior to the second anniversary of the closing date of the merger, and (iv) the amount, if any, of the $3.0 million Intermezzo expense reserve deposited at closing which is remaining following the second anniversary of the closing date.
	Concurrent with the execution of the Merger Agreement, on July 1, 2014, the Company made a bridge loan to Paratek in the principal amount of $3.5 million. In the event that the transaction did not close by September 15, 2014, the Company committed to make available further funding of up to $800,000 per month, until December 31, 2014, provided the Merger continues to be pending and the Merger Agreement has not been terminated. The Company has made additional loans of $800,000 each on September 15, 2014 and October 15, 2014, on the same terms as the original loan, in accordance with the Merger Agreement. The entire $4.3 million note receivable outstanding at September 30, 2014 due from Paratek is deemed to be impaired at September 30, 2014 as Paratek does not currently have the means to repay the loans and the merger has not yet occurred. Upon the closing of the Merger, the aggregate amount of the outstanding principal and a three-month portion of accrued interest on the bridge loan ("Original Bridge Loan") will be credited towards Transcept’s equity in the surviving corporation. Any excess accrued interest on the bridge loan and the aggregate amount of any outstanding principal and accrued interest on any additional loans (in excess of the Original Bridge Loan), including the loans made on September 15, 2014 and October 15, 2014, are included in the special dividend discussed above.

Results_of_Operations

Results of Operations	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Results of Operations	'
	Results of Operations
	Net Loss Per Share
	Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by giving effect to all potential dilutive common securities, including options, warrants and common stock subject to repurchase.
	Potentially dilutive common shares include the dilutive effect of the common stock underlying in-the-money stock options and is calculated based on the average share price for each period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the exercise price of an option and the average amount of compensation cost, if any, for future service that the Company has not yet recognized when the option is exercised, are assumed to be used to repurchase shares in the current period.
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, diluted net loss per share was identical to basic earnings per share ("EPS") since potential common shares were excluded from the calculation, as their effect was anti-dilutive.
	The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended							Nine Months Ended
		September 30,							September 30,
		2014				2013			2014			2013
	Numerator:
	Net loss	$	(8,201	)		$	(4,703	)	$	(14,331	)	$	(21,911	)
	Denominator for basic and diluted net loss per share:
	Weighted average common shares outstanding	19,156				18,782			18,995			18,748
	The following outstanding shares subject to options and warrants to purchase common stock were antidilutive due to a net loss in the periods presented and, therefore, were excluded from the dilutive securities computation as of the dates indicated below (in thousands):
		Nine Months Ended
		2014			2013
	Excluded potentially dilutive securities (1):
	Shares subject to options to purchase common stock	3,872			4,454
	Shares subject to warrants to purchase common stock	61			61
	Total	3,933			4,515
	-1	The number of shares is based on the maximum number of shares issuable on exercise or conversion of the related securities as of the period end. Such amounts have not been adjusted for the treasury stock method or weighted average outstanding calculations as required if the securities were dilutive.

Availableforsale_Securities

Available-for-sale Securities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]	'
Available-for-sale Securities	'
	Available-for-sale Securities
	The following is a summary of available-for-sale debt securities recognized as cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, or restricted cash in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets. Estimated fair values of available-for-sale securities are generally based on prices obtained from commercial pricing services (in thousands):
		September 30, 2014
		Amortized			Unrealized			Unrealized		Estimated
		Cost			Gains			Losses		Fair Value
	Money market funds	$	8,912		$	—		$	—	$	8,912
	Commercial paper	11,063			—			—		11,063
	Government sponsored enterprise issues	12,741			2			—		12,743
	U.S. Treasury securities	3,143			2			—		3,145
		$	35,859		$	4		$	—	$	35,863
		31-Dec-13
		Amortized			Unrealized			Unrealized		Estimated
		Cost			Gains			Losses		Fair Value
	Certificates of deposit	$	200		$	—		$	—	$	200
	Money market funds	769			—			—		769
	Commercial paper	12,910			—			—		12,910
	Corporate notes	16,704			9			—		16,713
	Government sponsored enterprise issues	36,157			10			—		36,167
	U.S. Treasury securities	3,228			3			—		3,231
		$	69,968		$	22		$	—	$	69,990
	The following table summarizes the classification of the available-for-sale securities on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):
			September 30,			December 31,
			2014			2013
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	19,959		$	9,680
	Marketable securities		15,889			60,110
	Restricted cash		15			200
			$	35,863		$	69,990
	There were no sales of available-for-sale marketable securities during 2014 or 2013.
	The Company's marketable securities at September 30, 2014 of $15.9 million had maturities of one year or less.

Fair_Value

Fair Value	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value	'
	Fair Value
	The Company defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.
	The Company's valuation techniques are based on observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect readily obtainable data from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company's market assumptions. The Company classifies these inputs into the following hierarchy:
	•	Level 1—Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for assets or liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs;
	•	Level 2—Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities; and
	•	Level 3—Unobservable inputs (i.e. inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in estimating the fair value of an asset or liability) are used when little or no market data is available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.
	A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities are classified as Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. Level 1 securities include highly liquid money market funds. If quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, then the Company estimates fair value by using pricing models, quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or discounted cash flows. Level 2 instruments include commercial paper, U.S. corporate debt, and U.S. government sponsored enterprise issues. There are no Level 3 assets in the periods presented.
	The estimated fair values of the Company's financial assets (cash equivalents and marketable securities) as of September 30, 2014 (in thousands) are as follows:
				Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
		September 30,		Quoted		Significant		Significant
		2014		Prices in		Other		Unobservable
				Active		Observable		Inputs
				Markets for		Inputs		(Level 3)
				Identical		(Level 2)
				Assets
				(Level 1)
	Assets
	Money market funds	$	8,912	$	8,912	$	—	$	—
	Commercial paper	11,063		—		11,063		—
	Government sponsored enterprise issues	12,743		—		12,743		—
	U.S. Treasury securities	3,145		—		3,145		—
		$	35,863	$	8,912	$	26,951	$	—
	The estimated fair values of the Company's financial assets (cash equivalents and marketable securities) as of December 31, 2013 (in thousands) are as follows:
				Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
		December 31,		Quoted		Significant		Significant
		2013		Prices in		Other		Unobservable
				Active		Observable		Inputs
				Markets for		Inputs		(Level 3)
				Identical		(Level 2)
				Assets
				(Level 1)
	Assets
	Certificates of deposit	$	200	$	200	$	—	$	—
	Money market funds	769		769		—		—
	Commercial paper	12,910		—		12,910		—
	Corporate notes	16,713		—		16,713		—
	Government sponsored enterprise issues	36,167		—		36,167		—
	U.S. Treasury securities	3,231		—		3,231		—
		$	69,990	$	969	$	69,021	$	—
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013, there were no significant changes to the valuation models used for purposes of determining the fair value of Level 2 assets. No other assets or liabilities were carried at fair value as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
	Level 2 securities are priced using quoted market prices for similar instruments, nonbinding market prices that are corroborated by observable market data, or discounted cash flow techniques. There were no transfers of assets between different fair-value levels during the periods presented.

Collaboration_Agreement

Collaboration Agreement	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Collaboration Agreement [Abstract]	'
Collaboration Agreements	'
	Collaboration Agreements
	Intermezzo
	In July 2009, the Company entered into a collaboration agreement with Purdue Pharmaceuticals L.P., ("Purdue Pharma")(the "Collaboration Agreement") that grants an exclusive license to Purdue Pharma to commercialize Intermezzo in the United States and pursuant to which:
	◦	Purdue Pharma paid a $25.0 million non-refundable license fee in August 2009;
	◦	Purdue Pharma paid a $10.0 million non-refundable intellectual property milestone in December 2011 when the first of two issued formulation patents was listed in the FDA's Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, or Orange Book;
	◦	Purdue Pharma paid a $10.0 million non-refundable intellectual property milestone in August 2012 when the first of two issued method of use patents was listed in the FDA's Orange Book;
	◦	The Company transferred the Intermezzo New Drug Application (NDA) to Purdue Pharma, and Purdue Pharma is obligated to assume the expense associated with maintaining the NDA and further development of Intermezzo in the United States, including any expense associated with post-approval studies;
	◦	Purdue Pharma is obligated to commercialize Intermezzo in the United States at its expense using commercially reasonable efforts;
	◦	Purdue Pharma is obligated to pay the Company tiered base royalties on net sales of Intermezzo in the United States ranging from the mid-teens up to the mid-20% level. The base royalty is tiered depending upon the achievement of certain fixed net sales thresholds by Purdue Pharma, which net sales levels reset each year for the purpose of calculating the royalty; and
	◦	Purdue Pharma is obligated to pay the Company up to an additional $70.0 million upon the achievement of certain net sales targets for Intermezzo in the United States.
	The Company has retained an option to co-promote Intermezzo to psychiatrists in the United States. The option can be exercised as late as August 2015. The Company may begin promotion to psychiatrists 8 to 15 months after option exercise. The exact timing of when the Company begins promoting to psychiatrists is determined by the calendar month in which the option exercise notice is delivered to Purdue Pharma. If the Company exercises the co-promote option and enters the marketplace, it is entitled to receive an additional co-promote royalty from Purdue Pharma on net sales that are generated by psychiatrist prescriptions. Had the Company chosen to exercise the option as soon as it was eligible, it could have begun promoting to psychiatrists in May 2013 and received a co-promote royalty of 40%. The co-promote royalty rate declines on a straight-line basis to approximately 22% if the Company does not begin promoting to psychiatrists until November 2016, at which time the right to co-promote expires. Net sales qualifying for this additional co-promote royalty are limited by an annual cap of 15% of total Intermezzo annual net sales in the United States. The co-promote option cannot be transferred to a third party, except under a limited circumstance at the discretion of Purdue Pharma.
	Purdue Pharma has the right to terminate the Collaboration Agreement at any time upon advance notice of 180 days. The Company's co-promote option may also be terminated by Purdue Pharma upon the Company's acquisition by a third party or in the event of entry of generic competition to Intermezzo. The royalty payments discussed above are subject to reduction in connection with, among other things, the entry of generic competition to Intermezzo. The Collaboration Agreement expires on the later of 15 years from the date of first commercial sale in the United States or the expiration of patent claims related to Intermezzo. The Collaboration Agreement is also subject to termination by Purdue Pharma in the event of FDA or governmental action that materially impairs Purdue Pharma's ability to commercialize Intermezzo or the occurrence of a serious event with respect to the safety of Intermezzo. The Collaboration Agreement may also be terminated by the Company upon Purdue Pharma commencing an action that challenges the validity of Intermezzo related patents. The Company also has the right to terminate the Collaboration Agreement immediately if Purdue Pharma is excluded from participation in federal healthcare programs. The Collaboration Agreement may also be terminated by either party in the event of a material breach by or insolvency of the other party.
	The Company began earning royalty revenue upon commercial launch of Intermezzo in April 2012. Royalty revenue earned during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $0.2 million and $1.0 million, respectively. Royalty revenue earned during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $0.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively.
	Royalty revenue during 2013 was offset by the Company's contribution to Purdue Pharma's 2013 national DTC advertising campaign, including digital, print and television advertising to support Intermezzo commercialization. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the offset to revenue totaled $0.1 million and $6.7 million, respectively. As the DTC advertising campaign was completed during 2013, there is no advertising offset to revenue during 2014.
	During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company granted Purdue Pharma the right to negotiate for the commercialization of Intermezzo in Mexico, and retained rights to commercialize Intermezzo in the rest of the world. During the three months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded revenue of $0.1 million in Other Revenue associated with these rights. There was no such right granted to Purdue Pharma during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.
	TO-2070: a developmental product candidate for migraine treatment
	In September 2013, the Company entered into a License Agreement with Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories Ltd. ("SNBL") (the "License Agreement") pursuant to which SNBL granted the Company an exclusive worldwide license to commercialize SNBL's proprietary nasal drug delivery technology to develop TO-2070. Under the License Agreement, the Company was required to fund, lead and be responsible for product development, preparing and submitting regulatory filings and obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval with respect to TO-2070. Pursuant to the License Agreement, the Company incurred an upfront nonrefundable technology license fee of $1.0 million, and was also obligated to pay:
	•	up to $6.5 million upon the occurrence of certain development milestones, including NDA approval of TO-2070 by the FDA,
	•	up to $35.0 million in commercialization milestone payments tied to the achievement of specified annual sales levels of TO-2070, and
	•	tiered, low double-digit royalties on annual net sales of TO-2070.
	Under the License Agreement, the Company was responsible for the clinical and commercial manufacture, supply, and distribution of TO-2070 products. SNBL agreed to supply its nasal drug delivery device to the Company to conduct development activities for non-registration studies, and had the right of first negotiation to be the Company's exclusive supplier for devices for any registration studies and for incorporation into commercial TO-2070 products under the License Agreement thereafter.
	The $1.0 million license fee was recorded as research and development expense in September 2013 because the licensed technology was incomplete and has no alternative future use.
	On September 19, 2014 the Company entered into the SNBL Termination Agreement pursuant to which, among other things, the License Agreement was terminated and the Company assigned all of its rights, interest and title to the TO-2070 assets to SNBL in exchange for a portion of certain future net revenue received by SNBL as set forth in the SNBL Termination Agreement, up to an aggregate of $2.0 million.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	Commitments and Contingencies
	Leases
	On March 6, 2013, the Company extended its lease agreement for 11,600 square feet of space in its current facility in Point Richmond, California by one year through May 31, 2014. On February 18, 2014, the lease was extended to August 31, 2014. On July 1, 2014, the term of the lease was amended to continue on a month-to-month basis, terminable by either party with sixty days notice; with the soonest any such notice may be given is October 2, 2014 (which, if delivered, would cause the term to expire as of November 30, 2014). The Company has terminated the lease effective November 30, 2014.
	Legal Proceedings
	ANDA Litigation - Intermezzo
	In July 2012, the Company received notifications from three companies, Actavis Elizabeth LLC (Actavis), Watson Laboratories, Inc. - Florida (Watson), and Novel Laboratories, Inc. (Novel), in September 2012, from each of Par Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Par Formulations Private Ltd. (together, the Par Entities), in February 2013 from Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Inc. and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Ltd. (together, Dr. Reddy's), and in July 2013 from TWi Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (TWi) stating that each has filed with the FDA an Abbreviated New Drug Application, or ANDA, that references Intermezzo.
	•	Actavis & Watson: In the July 2012 notifications, Actavis and Watson indicated that each company's ANDA includes Paragraph IV patent certifications to our U.S. Patent Nos. 7,658,945 (expiring April 15, 2027) and 7,682,628 (expiring February 16, 2025) (together, the “'945 and '628 Patents”). On November 28, 2012, Watson withdrew its ANDA, and, as a result of such withdrawal, on December 18, 2012, the Company and Purdue agreed to voluntarily dismiss the action without prejudice and on December 20, 2012 a court order was entered to such effect. The dismissal of Watson's ANDA had no effect on the ANDA filed by Actavis, a wholly owned subsidiary of Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. On January 24, 2013, Actavis notified the Company that it has included Paragraph IV patent certifications to Transcept's U.S. Patent Nos. 8,242,131 (expiring August 20, 2029) and 8,252,809 (expiring February 16, 2025) (together, the “'131 and '809 Patents”).
	•	Novel: In the July 2012 notifications, Novel indicated that its ANDA includes Paragraph IV patent certifications to the '945 and '628 Patents. On December 10, 2012, Novel notified the Company that it has included Paragraph IV patent certifications to the '131 and '809 Patents.
	•	Par Entities: The ANDAs submitted by the Par Entities each include Paragraph IV patent certifications to the '945, '628, '131 and '809 Patents.
	•	Dr. Reddy's: The ANDA submitted by Dr. Reddy's includes Paragraph IV patent certifications to the '945, '628, '131 and '809 Patents.
	•	TWi: The ANDA submitted by TWi includes Paragraph IV patent certifications to the '945, '628, '131 and '809 Patents.
	In August 2012, August 2012, September 2012, and October 2012, respectively, the Company joined Purdue Pharma in filing actions against Actavis, Watson and certain of their affiliates, Novel, and the Par Entities, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, in each action alleging patent infringement and seeking injunctive and other relief. In December 2012, the Company and Purdue Pharma agreed to voluntarily dismiss the action against Watson following its withdrawal of its ANDA application on November 28, 2012. On December 20, 2012, a court order was entered to such effect. The dismissal of Watson's ANDA had no effect on the ANDA filed by Actavis, a wholly owned subsidiary of Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. After receiving the supplemental notifications referenced above, the Company and Purdue Pharma amended their pending complaints against Actavis and Novel to also allege infringement of the '131 and '809 patents, as well as the '628 patent previously asserted against those companies.
	The actions against the Par Entities alleged infringement of the '131 and '809 patents. In September 2013, the Company and Purdue Pharma agreed to voluntarily dismiss the action against one of the two Par Entities, Par Formulations Private Ltd., following that Par Entity’s withdrawal of its ANDA. The action against the other Par Entity, Par Pharmaceutical, Inc., remains pending and continues to allege infringement of the ‘131 and ‘809 patents.
	In April 2013, the Company joined Purdue Pharma in filing an action in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against Dr. Reddy's, alleging patent infringement of the '628, '131 and '809 patents, and seeking injunctive and other relief.
	In August 2013, the Company joined Purdue Pharma in filing two actions against TWi. The first action against TWi was filed on August 20, 2013 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, and the second action against TWi was filed on August 22, 2013 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Each action alleges patent infringement of the ‘131 and ‘809 patents, and seeks injunctive and other relief. On October 17, 2013, TWi filed answers and counterclaims in both New Jersey and Illinois, in both cases seeking declarations of non-infringement and invalidity as to the ‘945, ‘628, ‘131, and ‘809 patents, as well as other relief. On January 13, 2014, the Illinois action against TWi was stayed pending dismissal of the New Jersey action against TWi, or further order of the Illinois court.
	On February 26, 2014, the New Jersey court consolidated the action of the Company and Purdue against TWi with the existing consolidated action referenced above against Actavis, Novel, Par Pharmaceutical, and Dr. Reddy's.
	On January 24, 2014, the Company and Purdue provided TWi with a covenant not to sue TWi based on its current ANDA formulation under the '945 or '628 patents, and on February 28, 2014, the Company and Purdue filed a motion in the New Jersey action to dismiss TWi's counterclaims pertaining to the '945 or '628 patents based on the tendering of that covenant not to sue. On April 9, 2014, the New Jersey court denied the motion of the Company and Purdue. On July 22, 2014, the New Jersey court entered a consent decree and partial final judgment of non-infringement in TWi's favor on the '945, '628, and '809 patents. The action against TWi remains pending as to the '131 patent.
	On July 22, 2014, the New Jersey court ordered that the trial of the consolidated action will commence on December 1, 2014.
	On August 15, 2014, the Company and Purdue jointly filed two summary judgment motions. The first motion sought a judgment of no invalidity as to the ’809 patent. On October 10, 2014, the New Jersey court denied this motion. The second motion seeks a judgment of infringement against Dr. Reddy’s as to the ’809 patent, and against Par as to the ’131 patent and ’809 patent. This motion remains pending.
	On August 15, 2014, Defendants jointly filed two summary judgment motions. The first motion seeks (a) a judgment of non-infringement as to all asserted claims of the ’131 patent; (b) a judgment of non-infringement as to all asserted claims of the ’628 patent (Actavis and Dr. Reddy’s only); and (c) a judgment of non-infringement as to the ’809 patent (Par only). The second motion seeks (a) a judgment of invalidity as to the ’131 Patent; and (b) a judgment of invalidity as to the ’628 Patent (Novel, Actavis, and Dr. Reddy’s only). These motions both remain pending.
	Patent Term Adjustment Suit
	In January 2013, the Company and Purdue Pharma filed suit in the Eastern District of Virginia against the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, in connection with certain changes to the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. The Company and Purdue Pharma are seeking a recalculation of the patent term adjustment of the '131 Patent. Purdue Pharma has agreed to bear the costs and expenses associated with this litigation. In June of 2013, the judge granted a joint motion to stay the proceedings pending a final decision on appeal by the Federal Circuit in Exelixis, Inc. v. Rea, No. 2013-11 75 (Fed. Cir.), and Exelixis, Inc. v. Rea, No. 20 13-11 98 (Fed. Cir.).
	Litigation Related to the Merger
	On October 3, 2014, Continuum Capital filed a purported shareholder class action on behalf of themselves and the other stockholders of the company in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Contra Costa, against the Company, its current directors, and Paratek. The lawsuit alleges that the Company's Board of Directors breached their fiduciary duties to the Company's stockholders in connection with the proposed merger and acted on the basis of alleged conflicts of interests, and that the Company's registration statement dated September 29, 2014 contains material misstatements and omissions. The lawsuit also alleges that Paratek aided and abetted the alleged breaches of duty. The complaint seeks, among other things, a declaration that the Company and its Board of Directors breached their fiduciary duties, injunctive relief including enjoining the merger of Paratek into Merger Sub. contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and the issuance of shares of the Company to the Paratek stockholders pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and an award of compensatory damages and attorney's fees.
	On October 20, 2014, the defendants reached an agreement-in-principle providing for a settlement of all of the claims in the above-referenced action on the terms and conditions set forth in a stipulation of settlement that will be filed with the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Contra Costa. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement, the Company made certain disclosures in a current report filing on Form 8-K, which was filed with the SEC on October 20, 2014, and which amended and supplemented the Definitive Proxy Statement filed by the Company on October 2, 2014 in connection with the proposed merger. Under the settlement, the parties also agreed to an award of attorney's fees and reimbursement of expenses in the amount of $550,000. The settlement and award of fees and expenses remains subject to the approval of the court in the above-referenced action. This settlement is included in general and administration expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.
	From time to time the Company is involved in legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes there is no other litigation pending that could have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on its results of operations or financial condition.

Restructuring

Restructuring	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Restructuring	'
	Restructuring
	On January 2, 2013, the Company implemented a reduction of 29% of its workforce, which resulted in $0.3 million of expenses which primarily consisted of severance charges. The severance was paid during the quarter ended March 31, 2013 and no additional charges were incurred under this reduction in force.

Cash_distribution_Notes

Cash distribution (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Cash distribution [Abstract]	'
Cash Distribution	'
	Cash distribution
	On June 3, 2014, the Company distributed $1.33 in cash for each outstanding share of the Company's common stock, equal to approximately $25.4 million in the aggregate.
	Additionally, on June 3, 2014, in accordance with the Company's equity plans and warrant terms, all of the Company's outstanding stock options and warrants were adjusted by reducing the exercise price and/or increasing the number of shares to preserve the intrinsic value of such awards after the decline in the Company's stock price directly resulting from the cash dividend. The award adjustments resulted in no incremental stock compensation expense for the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2014.
	On October 14, 2014, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had approved a special dividend comprising a $0.6674 cash distribution per share (the "Cash Amount") and the right to receive certain contingent cash amounts, in the future, on a pro rata basis, consisting of: (i) one hundred percent of any payments received by Transcept on or prior to the second anniversary of the closing date of the merger agreement pursuant to the United States License and Collaboration Agreement, dated July 31, 2009, as amended November 1, 2011, by and between Transcept and Purdue Pharmaceutical Products L.P., (ii) one hundred percent of any payments received by Transcept pursuant to the Termination Agreement and Release, dated September 19, 2014, by and between Transcept and Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd., up to an aggregate of $2.0 million, (iii) ninety percent of any cash proceeds from a sale or disposition of Intermezzo (less all fees and expenses incurred by Transcept in connection with such sale or disposition following the closing date of the merger); provided such sale or disposition occurs, or a definitive written agreement with respect to such sale or disposition is entered into, prior to the second anniversary of the closing date of the merger, and (iv) the amount, if any, of the $3.0 million Intermezzo expense reserve to be deposited by Transcept at the closing of the merger that is remaining following the second anniversary of the closing date of the merger or upon the consummation of a sale or disposition of Intermezzo.
	Each Future Right is non-interest bearing, non-transferable and non-assignable (except by operation of law) and will not be represented by any certificate or instrument. There is no guarantee that the holders of Future Rights will receive any future cash payments.
	The record date of the special dividend is October 24, 2014. Only those stockholders of record on October 24, 2014 will be eligible to receive the Future Rights.
	The Cash Amount will be paid on October 29, 2014. The NASDAQ Global Market has announced that the ex-dividend date for the Cash Amount will be the effective date of the consummation of the Merger, which, subject to obtaining the approvals described above, is currently anticipated to be October 31, 2014. Any record holder of shares of the Company’s common stock as of October 24, 2014 who sells such shares prior to the ex-dividend date assigned by Nasdaq will also sell their entitlement to the Cash Amount.

Subsequent_Events_Notes

Subsequent Events (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Subsequent Events [Abstract]	'
Subsequent events	'
	Subsequent events
	On October 28, 2014, the stockholders of the Company approved effecting a reverse stock split of the Company's common stock, at a ratio of one new share for every twelve shares outstanding. The reverse stock split will be effective upon filing the amended and restated certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. As the reverse stock split is not yet effective, no share and per share numbers have been restated to reflect this change.
	On October 28, 2014, the stockholders of the Company approved the merger between the Company and Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Organization_and_Summary_of_Si1

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation	'
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not contain all of the information and footnotes required for complete consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company's interim financial information. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2013 has been derived from our audited financial statements at that date, but does not include all the disclosures required for complete financial statements. The results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2014 or for any other interim period or any other future year.
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes to condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited financial statements in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2014.
Use of Estimates	'
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Management makes estimates when preparing the financial statements including those relating to revenue recognition, clinical trials expense, advertising expense, and stock-based compensation.
Principles of Consolidation	'
	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the results of operations of Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Transcept Pharma, Inc., Tigris Merger Sub. Inc. and Tigris Acquisition Sub, LLC. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Goodwill is not subject to amortization, but is tested for impairment on an annual basis during the third quarter or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable. Goodwill impairment testing is a two-step process and performed on a reporting unit level. In the first step, the Company conducts an assessment of qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, it then conducts the second step, a two-part test for impairment of goodwill. The Company first compares the fair value of its reporting unit to its carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the reporting unit's net assets, goodwill is not considered impaired and no further analysis is required. If the carrying value of the net assets exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, then the second part of the impairment test must be performed in order to determine the implied fair value of the goodwill. If the carrying value of the goodwill exceeds the implied fair value, then an impairment loss equal to the difference would be recorded. The Company operates in one reporting unit and believes that its market capitalization is indicative of the fair value of the Company.
Revenue Recognition	'
	The Company applies the revenue recognition criteria outlined in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements, and Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 605 Revenue Recognition, sub-topic 25 Multiple-Element Arrangements.
	Revenue arrangements with multiple components are divided into separate units of accounting if certain criteria are met, including whether the delivered component has stand-alone value to the customer. Consideration received is allocated among the separate units of accounting based on their relative fair values or if fair value is not determinable, based on the Company’s best estimate of selling price. Applicable revenue recognition criteria are then applied to each of the units.
	Revenue is recognized when the four basic criteria of revenue recognition are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) transfer of technology has been completed or services have been rendered; (3) the fee is fixed or determinable; and (4) collectability is reasonably assured.
	For each source of revenue, the Company complies with the above revenue recognition criteria in the following manner:
	•	Up-front license payments are assessed to determine whether or not the licensee is able to obtain any stand-alone value from the license. Where this is not the case, the Company does not consider the license deliverable to be a separate unit of accounting, and the revenue is deferred with revenue recognition for the license fee assessed in conjunction with the other deliverables that constitute the combined unit of accounting. When the period of deferral cannot be specifically identified from the agreement, management estimates the period based upon provisions contained within the related agreements and other relevant facts. The Company periodically reviews the estimated involvement period, which could impact the deferral period and, therefore, the timing and the amount of revenue recognized. It is possible that future adjustments will be made if actual conditions differ from the Company’s current plan and involvement assumptions;
	•	Payments received that are related to substantive, performance-based “at-risk” milestones are recognized as revenue upon achievement of the milestone or event specified in the underlying contracts, which represents the culmination of the earnings process. Amounts received in advance, if any, are recorded as deferred revenue until the milestone is reached; and
	•	Royalty revenue from sales of the Company’s licensed product is recognized as earned in accordance with the contract terms when royalties from licensees can be estimated and collectability is reasonably assured.
Advertising	'
	The Company expenses non-direct response advertising as incurred. Advertising expense consisted of the Company's December 2012 $10.0 million contribution to Purdue Pharma's national direct-to-consumer ("DTC") advertising campaign, including digital, print and television advertising to support Intermezzo commercialization. The Company initially recorded the $10.0 million payment to Purdue Pharma as a prepaid expense. This payment was recognized as the advertising costs were incurred. As this payment was made directly to Purdue Pharma, recognition of the expense was recorded as an offset to revenue.
Stock-Based Compensation	'
	The Company records stock-based compensation of stock options granted to employees and directors and of employee stock purchase plan shares by estimating the fair value of stock-based awards using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and amortizing the fair value of the stock-based awards granted over the applicable vesting period. Additionally, the Company is required to include an estimate of the number of awards that will be forfeited in calculating compensation costs, which are recognized over the requisite service period of the awards on a straight-line basis.
	The Company recognized employee stock-based compensation costs of $0.5 million and $1.5 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and $0.8 million and $2.3 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. No related tax benefits of stock-based compensation costs have been recognized since the Company's inception. The Company issued 38,160 and 318,984 shares of common stock for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, upon stock option exercises.
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company modified the terms of stock options previously granted to six of its employees in connection with a reduction in force. The modifications included accelerated vesting of certain options and extension of the exercise period after termination with respect to certain of the options. These modifications resulted in additional compensation expense of $23,000. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company modified the terms of stock options previously granted to two former employees to extend the exercise period with respect to certain of the remaining outstanding options resulting in additional compensation of $39,000.
	Equity instruments, consisting of stock options granted to consultants, are valued using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The measurement of stock-based compensation is subject to periodic adjustments as the underlying equity instruments vest and is recognized as an expense over the term of the related financing or the period over which services are received. The Company recorded non-employee stock-based compensation costs of $7,000 and $26,000 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively and $12,000 and $69,000 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.
Clinical Trials	'
	The Company accrues and expenses costs for clinical trial activities performed by third parties, including clinical research organizations and clinical investigators, based upon estimates made of the work completed as of each reporting date, in accordance with agreements established with contract research organizations and clinical trial sites and the agreed upon fee to be paid for the services. The Company determines these estimates through discussion with internal personnel and outside service providers as to the progress or stage of completion of the trials or services. Costs of setting up clinical trial sites for participation in the trials are expensed immediately as research and development expenses. Clinical trial site costs related to patient enrollment are accrued as patients are entered into the trial and reduced by any initial payment made to the clinical trial site when the first patient is enrolled.

Results_of_Operations_Tables

Results of Operations (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Calculation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share	'
	The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended							Nine Months Ended
		September 30,							September 30,
		2014				2013			2014			2013
	Numerator:
	Net loss	$	(8,201	)		$	(4,703	)	$	(14,331	)	$	(21,911	)
	Denominator for basic and diluted net loss per share:
	Weighted average common shares outstanding	19,156				18,782			18,995			18,748
Antidilutive shares excluded from computation of diluted net income (loss) per share	'
	The following outstanding shares subject to options and warrants to purchase common stock were antidilutive due to a net loss in the periods presented and, therefore, were excluded from the dilutive securities computation as of the dates indicated below (in thousands):
		Nine Months Ended
		2014			2013
	Excluded potentially dilutive securities (1):
	Shares subject to options to purchase common stock	3,872			4,454
	Shares subject to warrants to purchase common stock	61			61
	Total	3,933			4,515
	-1	The number of shares is based on the maximum number of shares issuable on exercise or conversion of the related securities as of the period end. Such amounts have not been adjusted for the treasury stock method or weighted average outstanding calculations as required if the securities were dilutive.

Availableforsale_Securities_Ta

Available-for-sale Securities (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]	'
Summary of available-for-sale debt securities recognized as cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, or restricted cash	'
	The following is a summary of available-for-sale debt securities recognized as cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, or restricted cash in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets. Estimated fair values of available-for-sale securities are generally based on prices obtained from commercial pricing services (in thousands):
		September 30, 2014
		Amortized			Unrealized			Unrealized		Estimated
		Cost			Gains			Losses		Fair Value
	Money market funds	$	8,912		$	—		$	—	$	8,912
	Commercial paper	11,063			—			—		11,063
	Government sponsored enterprise issues	12,741			2			—		12,743
	U.S. Treasury securities	3,143			2			—		3,145
		$	35,859		$	4		$	—	$	35,863
		31-Dec-13
		Amortized			Unrealized			Unrealized		Estimated
		Cost			Gains			Losses		Fair Value
	Certificates of deposit	$	200		$	—		$	—	$	200
	Money market funds	769			—			—		769
	Commercial paper	12,910			—			—		12,910
	Corporate notes	16,704			9			—		16,713
	Government sponsored enterprise issues	36,157			10			—		36,167
	U.S. Treasury securities	3,228			3			—		3,231
		$	69,968		$	22		$	—	$	69,990
Classification of the available-for-sale securities	'
	The following table summarizes the classification of the available-for-sale securities on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):
			September 30,			December 31,
			2014			2013
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	19,959		$	9,680
	Marketable securities		15,889			60,110
	Restricted cash		15			200
			$	35,863		$	69,990

Fair_Value_Tables

Fair Value (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair value of financial assets on a recurring basis	'
	The estimated fair values of the Company's financial assets (cash equivalents and marketable securities) as of September 30, 2014 (in thousands) are as follows:
				Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
		September 30,		Quoted		Significant		Significant
		2014		Prices in		Other		Unobservable
				Active		Observable		Inputs
				Markets for		Inputs		(Level 3)
				Identical		(Level 2)
				Assets
				(Level 1)
	Assets
	Money market funds	$	8,912	$	8,912	$	—	$	—
	Commercial paper	11,063		—		11,063		—
	Government sponsored enterprise issues	12,743		—		12,743		—
	U.S. Treasury securities	3,145		—		3,145		—
		$	35,863	$	8,912	$	26,951	$	—
	The estimated fair values of the Company's financial assets (cash equivalents and marketable securities) as of December 31, 2013 (in thousands) are as follows:
				Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
		December 31,		Quoted		Significant		Significant
		2013		Prices in		Other		Unobservable
				Active		Observable		Inputs
				Markets for		Inputs		(Level 3)
				Identical		(Level 2)
				Assets
				(Level 1)
	Assets
	Certificates of deposit	$	200	$	200	$	—	$	—
	Money market funds	769		769		—		—
	Commercial paper	12,910		—		12,910		—
	Corporate notes	16,713		—		16,713		—
	Government sponsored enterprise issues	36,167		—		36,167		—
	U.S. Treasury securities	3,231		—		3,231		—
		$	69,990	$	969	$	69,021	$	—

Organization_and_Summary_of_Si2

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	31-May-13	Dec. 01, 2012
					segment			Number_of_contract_salesreps
								SalesReps
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of business segments	'	'	'	'	1	'	'	'	'
Advertising	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Prepaid advertising	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$10,000,000
Partial refund of prepaid advertising from Purdue	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,800,000	'	'
Advertising expense - Purdue Pharma	0	'	-86,000	'	0	-6,681,000	'	'	'
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
DeclineInIntermezzoPrescriptions	'	'	'	30.00%	'	'	'	'	'
ContractSalesRepresentatives	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	90	'
Sales Representatives	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	525	'
DeclineInCompanyStockPrice	'	'	'	37.00%	'	'	'	'	'
MarketCapitalization	'	'	'	56,700,000	'	'	'	'	'
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	34,214,000	'	'	79,900,000	34,214,000	'	71,742,000	'	'
Goodwill impairment	0	'	0	3,000,000	0	2,962,000	'	'	'
Dividends paid (usd per share)	$0	$1.33	$0	'	$1.33	$0	'	'	'
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock	'	'	'	'	25,408,000	0	'	'	'
Maximum [Member] | SNBL [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Payment on achievement of net sales criteria	$2,000,000	'	'	'	$2,000,000	'	'	'	'

Organization_and_Summary_of_Si3

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Stock-Based Compensation (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Advertising Expense	$0	$86	$0	$6,681
Employee Stock Option [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock based compensation costs	500	800	1,500	2,300
Shares of common stock issued	38,160	'	318,984	'
Number of employees affected by stock-based modification	'	'	2	6
Stock option modification expense	'	'	39	23
Nonemployee Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock based compensation costs	$7	$12	$26	$69

Merger_Agreement_Details

Merger Agreement (Details) (USD $)

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

Jul. 01, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 15, 2014

Jul. 01, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Oct. 14, 2014

Oct. 15, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

director

Subsequent Event [Member]

Subsequent Event [Member]

Transcept Pharmaceuticals [Member]

SNBL [Member]

director

Maximum [Member]

Schedule of Significant Merger Agreement Terms [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Conversion multiplier to Transcept Common stock

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.81

'

'

'

'

Ownership Percentage Of Outstanding Shares Of Common Stock Of Combined Company By Current Stockholders

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

89.60%

'

'

'

'

Business Merger Termination Fee Payable

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$6,300,000

'

'

'

'

Number Of Directors Combined Company

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7

'

'

'

'

Number Of Directors Designated By Entity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5

'

'

2

'

Special dividend declared (usd per share)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$0.67

'

'

'

Contingent cash amount to be paid as percent of payments received by Transcept on or before second anniversary

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100.00%

'

'

'

Contingent cash amount to be paid as percent of payments received by Transcept for net sales criteria achievement

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100.00%

'

'

'

Payment on achievement of net sales criteria

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,000,000

Contingent cash amount to be paid as percent of cash proceeds from sale or disposition of Intermezzo

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

90.00%

'

'

'

Intermezzo expense reserve

'

'

'

3,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Bridge loan

'

'

'

'

'

800,000

3,500,000

'

'

800,000

'

'

Other Commitment

800,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Notes receivable impairment

'

$4,300,000

$0

$4,300,000

$0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Results_of_Operations_Calculat

Results of Operations - Calculation of Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Share(Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Numerator:	'	'	'	'
Net loss	($8,201)	($4,703)	($14,331)	($21,911)
Denominator for basic and diluted net loss per share:	'	'	'	'
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic and Diluted	19,156	18,782	18,995	18,748

Results_of_Operations_Antidilu

Results of Operations - Antidilutive Shares Excluded from Computation(Details)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Excluded potentially dillutive securities:	'	'
Total	3,933	4,515
Shares subject to options to purchase common stock [Member]	'	'
Excluded potentially dillutive securities:	'	'
Total	3,872	4,454
Shares subject to warrants to purchase common stock [Member]	'	'
Excluded potentially dillutive securities:	'	'
Total	61	61

Availableforsale_Securities_Es

Available-for-sale Securities - Estimated Fair Value (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Summary of available-for-sale debt securities recorded in cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, or restricted cash	'	'
Amortized Cost	$35,859	$69,968
Unrealized Gains	4	22
Unrealized Losses	0	0
Estimated Fair Value	35,863	69,990
Certificates of deposit [Member]	'	'
Summary of available-for-sale debt securities recorded in cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, or restricted cash	'	'
Amortized Cost	'	200
Unrealized Gains	'	0
Unrealized Losses	'	0
Estimated Fair Value	'	200
Money market funds [Member]	'	'
Summary of available-for-sale debt securities recorded in cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, or restricted cash	'	'
Amortized Cost	8,912	769
Unrealized Gains	0	0
Unrealized Losses	0	0
Estimated Fair Value	8,912	769
Commercial paper [Member]	'	'
Summary of available-for-sale debt securities recorded in cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, or restricted cash	'	'
Amortized Cost	11,063	12,910
Unrealized Gains	0	0
Unrealized Losses	0	0
Estimated Fair Value	11,063	12,910
Corporate notes [Member]	'	'
Summary of available-for-sale debt securities recorded in cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, or restricted cash	'	'
Amortized Cost	'	16,704
Unrealized Gains	'	9
Unrealized Losses	'	0
Estimated Fair Value	'	16,713
Government sponsored enterprise issues [Member]	'	'
Summary of available-for-sale debt securities recorded in cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, or restricted cash	'	'
Amortized Cost	12,741	36,157
Unrealized Gains	2	10
Unrealized Losses	0	0
Estimated Fair Value	12,743	36,167
U.S. Treasury securities [Member]	'	'
Summary of available-for-sale debt securities recorded in cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, or restricted cash	'	'
Amortized Cost	3,143	3,228
Unrealized Gains	2	3
Unrealized Losses	0	0
Estimated Fair Value	$3,145	$3,231

Availableforsale_Securities_Cl

Available-for-sale Securities - Classification (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
			Restricted Cash [Member]	Restricted Cash [Member]	Marketable Securities [Member]	Marketable Securities [Member]	Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]	Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]	Marketable Securities [Member]	Marketable Securities [Member]
Classification of the available-for-sale securities	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Available for sale securities total	$35,863,000	$69,990,000	$15,000	$200,000	$15,889,000	$60,110,000	$19,959,000	$9,680,000	'	'
Sale of available-for-sale securities	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, maturity of one year or less	'	'	'	'	$15,900,000	'	'	'	'	'

Fair_Value_Details

Fair Value (Details) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member], USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	$35,863	$69,990
Certificates of deposit [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	'	200
Money market funds [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	8,912	769
Commercial paper [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	11,063	12,910
Corporate notes [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	'	16,713
Government sponsored enterprise issues [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	12,743	36,167
U.S. Treasury securities [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	3,145	3,231
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	8,912	969
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Certificates of deposit [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	'	200
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Money market funds [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	8,912	769
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Commercial paper [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Corporate notes [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	'	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Government sponsored enterprise issues [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | U.S. Treasury securities [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	0	0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	26,951	69,021
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Certificates of deposit [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	'	0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Money market funds [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	0	0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Commercial paper [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	11,063	12,910
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Corporate notes [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	'	16,713
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Government sponsored enterprise issues [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	12,743	36,167
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | U.S. Treasury securities [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	3,145	3,231
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Certificates of deposit [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	'	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Money market funds [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Commercial paper [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Corporate notes [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	'	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Government sponsored enterprise issues [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | U.S. Treasury securities [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	$0	$0

Collaboration_Agreement_Detail

Collaboration Agreement (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Aug. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Aug. 31, 2009

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Purdue Pharma [Member]

Purdue Pharma [Member]

Purdue Pharma [Member]

Purdue Pharma [Member]

Purdue Pharma [Member]

Purdue Pharma [Member]

Purdue Pharma [Member]

SNBL [Member]

SNBL [Member]

SNBL [Member]

SNBL [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Purdue Pharma [Member]

Purdue Pharma [Member]

SNBL [Member]

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

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Non Refundable License Fee, Revenue

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$25,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Non Refundable License Fee

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,000,000

1,000,000

'

1,000,000

'

'

'

Non refundable intellectual property

'

'

'

'

10,000,000

10,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Range of Company tier base royalties

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'from the mid-teens up to the mid-20%

'

'

'

'

'tiered, low double-digit royalties

'

'

'

'

Payment on achievement of net sales criteria

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

70,000,000

2,000,000

Promotion to psychiatrists

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'8 months

'15 months

'

Additional co-promote royalty

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

40.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Co-promote royalty minimum criteria percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

22.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of sales limiting co-promote royalty

'

'

'

'

'

'

15.00%

'

15.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Advance Notice To Terminate Collaboration Agreement

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'180 days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Validity Of Collaboration Agreement

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'15 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Gross royalty revenue

182,000

418,000

962,000

1,381,000

'

'

182,000

418,000

1,000,000

1,381,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Advertising expense - Purdue Pharma

0

-86,000

0

-6,681,000

'

'

'

-86,000

0

-6,681,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Other Revenue Associated With Commercialization Of Intermezzo

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Payment On Achievement Of DevelopmentalMilestones

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6,500,000

Payment On Achievement Of CommercialMilestones

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

35,000,000

Research and Development Expense (Excluding Acquired in Process Cost)

$295,000

$2,410,000

$1,589,000

$5,151,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

'

$1,000,000

'

'

'

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies Leases (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Mar. 06, 2013	Oct. 21, 2014
		Office Building [Member]	Subsequent Event [Member]
		sqft
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Area of real estate property (square feet)	'	11,600	'
Operating lease term	'	'1 year	'
Lease Termination Notice Period	60	'	'
Settlement agreement, amount	'	'	$550

Restructuring_Details

Restructuring (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 02, 2013
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Workforce reduction, percent	29.00%
One-time Termination Benefits [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Restructuring charges	0.3

Cash_distribution_Details

Cash distribution (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Oct. 14, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
						Subsequent Event [Member]	SNBL [Member]
							Maximum [Member]
Cash distribution [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Dividends paid (usd per share)	$0	$1.33	$0	$1.33	$0	'	'
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock	'	'	'	$25,408,000	$0	'	'
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Special dividend declared (usd per share)	'	'	'	'	'	$0.67	'
Contingent cash amount to be paid as percent of payments received by Transcept on or before second anniversary	'	'	'	'	'	100.00%	'
Contingent cash amount to be paid as percent of payments received by Transcept for net sales criteria achievement	'	'	'	'	'	100.00%	'
Payment on achievement of net sales criteria	'	'	'	'	'	'	2,000,000
Contingent cash amount to be paid as percent of cash proceeds from sale or disposition of Intermezzo	'	'	'	'	'	90.00%	'
Intermezzo expense reserve	'	'	'	$3,000,000	'	'	'

Subsequent_Events_Details

Subsequent Events (Details) (Subsequent Event [Member])	0 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2014
Subsequent Event [Member]	'
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'
Reverse stock split ratio	0.08333