| Summary of significant accounting policies (Policies) | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2017 |
| Summary of significant accounting policies [Abstract] | |
| Basis of presentation and consolidation | Basis of presentation and consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Emergent and its wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In anticipation of the spin-off, the Company realigned certain components of its biosciences business to the new Aptevo segment to be consistent with how the Company's chief operating decision maker ("CODM") allocates resources and makes decisions about the operations of the Company. Effective January 1, 2016, the Company changed its segment presentation to reflect this new structure, and recast all prior periods presented to conform to the new presentation. On August 1, 2016, the Company completed the spin-off of Aptevo. As of December 31, 2017, the results of operations and financial position of Aptevo are reflected as discontinued operations for all periods presented through the date of the spin-off. The historical financial statements and footnotes have been revised accordingly. See Note 3. "Discontinued operations" for further details regarding the spin-off. For periods following the spin-off, the Company reports financial results under one operating segment which is also a single reportable segment. |
| Use of estimates | Use of estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. |
| Cash and cash equivalents | Cash and cash equivalents Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with a maturity of 90 days or less at the date of purchase and consist of time deposits and investments in money market funds with commercial banks and financial institutions. Also, the Company maintains cash balances with financial institutions in excess of insured limits. The Company does not anticipate any losses with such cash balances. |
| Fair value of measurements | Fair value of measurements The Company measures and records cash equivalents and investment securities considered available-for-sale at fair value in the accompanying financial statements. Fair value is defined 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. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value include: Level 1 — Observable inputs for identical assets or liabilities such as quoted prices in active markets; Level 2 — Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3 — Unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, which are therefore developed by the Company using estimates and assumptions that reflect those that a market participant would use. The carrying amounts of the Company's short-term financial instruments, which include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable, approximate their fair values due to their short maturities. |
| Significant customers and accounts receivable | Significant customers and accounts receivable The Company has derived a majority of its revenue from sales of BioThrax under contracts with the U.S. government. The Company's current Centers for Disease Control ("CDC") contract does not necessarily increase the likelihood that it will secure future comparable contracts with the U.S. government. The Company expects that a significant portion of the business that it will seek in the near future, in particular for BioThrax, will be under government contracts that present a number of risks that are not typically present in the commercial contracting process. U.S. government contracts for BioThrax are subject to unilateral termination or modification by the government. The Company may fail to achieve significant sales of BioThrax to customers in addition to the U.S. government, which would harm its growth opportunities. The Company may not be able to sustain or increase profitability. The Company may not be able to manufacture BioThrax consistently in accordance with FDA specifications. Accounts receivable are stated at invoice amounts and consist primarily of amounts due from the U.S. government, as well as amounts due under reimbursement contracts with other government entities and non-government organizations. If necessary, the Company records a provision for doubtful receivables to allow for any amounts which may be unrecoverable. This provision is based upon an analysis of the Company's prior collection experience, customer creditworthiness and current economic trends. |
| Concentrations of credit risk and uncertainties | Concentrations of credit risk and uncertainties Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents with high quality financial institutions. Management believes that the financial risks associated with its cash and cash equivalents are minimal. Because accounts receivable consists primarily of amounts due from the U.S. government for product sales and from government agencies under government grants and development contracts, management does not deem the credit risk to be significant. |
| Inventories | Inventories Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value with cost being determined using a standard cost method, which approximates average cost. Average cost consists primarily of material, labor and manufacturing overhead expenses (including fixed production-overhead costs) and includes the services and products of third party suppliers. The Company analyzes its inventory levels quarterly and writes down, in the applicable period, inventory that has become obsolete, inventory that has a cost basis in excess of its expected net realizable value and inventory in excess of expected customer demand. The Company also writes off, in the applicable period, the costs related to expired inventory. Costs of purchased inventories are recorded using weighted-average costing. The Company determines normal capacity for each production facility and allocates fixed production-overhead costs on that basis. |
| Property, plant and equipment | Property, plant and equipment Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives: Buildings 31-39 years Building improvements 10-39 years Furniture and equipment 3-15 years Software 3-7 years or product life Leasehold improvements Lesser of the asset life or lease term Upon retirement or sale, the cost of assets disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is credited or charged to operations. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. The Company capitalizes internal-use software when both (a) the software is internally developed, acquired, or modified solely to meet the entity's internal needs and (b) during the software's development or modification, no substantive plan either exists or is being developed to market the software externally. Capitalization of qualifying internal-use software costs begins when the preliminary project stage is completed, management with the relevant authority, implicitly or explicitly, authorizes and commits to the funding of the software project, and it is probable that the project will be completed and the software will be used to perform the function intended. |
| Income taxes | Income taxes Income taxes are accounted for using the liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and net operating loss and research and development tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred income tax effects of transactions reported in different periods for financial reporting and income tax return purposes are recognized under the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. This method gives consideration to the future tax consequences of the deferred income tax items and immediately recognizes changes in income tax laws in the year of enactment. On December 22, 2017, the President of the United States signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Reform Act"). Further information on the tax impacts of the Tax Reform Act is included in Note 12 of the Company's consolidated financial statements. The Company's ability to realize deferred tax assets depends upon future taxable income as well as the limitations discussed below. For financial reporting purposes, a deferred tax asset must be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized prior to expiration. The Company considers future taxable income and ongoing tax planning strategies in assessing the need for valuation allowances. In general, if the Company determines that it is more likely than not to realize more than the recorded amounts of net deferred tax assets in the future, the Company will reverse all or a portion of the valuation allowance established against its deferred tax assets, resulting in a decrease to the provision for income taxes in the period in which the determination is made. Likewise, if the Company determines that it is not more likely than not to realize all or part of the net deferred tax asset in the future, the Company will establish a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets, with an offsetting increase to the provision for income taxes, in the period in which the determination is made. Under sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code, if an ownership change occurs with respect to a "loss corporation", as defined therein, there are annual limitations on the amount of net operating losses and deductions that are available. The Company believes the use of net operating losses and research and development tax credits acquired in the Trubion acquisition will not be significantly limited. Due to the acquisition of Microscience in 2005 and the Company's initial public offering, the Company believes the use of the operating losses incurred prior to 2005 will be significantly limited. Because tax laws are complex and subject to different interpretations, significant judgment is required. As a result, the Company makes certain estimates and assumptions, in (1) calculating the Company's income tax expense, deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities, (2) determining any valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets and (3) evaluating the amount of unrecognized tax benefits, as well as the interest and penalties related to such uncertain tax positions. The Company's estimates and assumptions may differ significantly from tax benefits ultimately realized. |
| Revenue recognition | Revenue recognition The Company recognizes revenues from product sales and contract manufacturing  there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement;  delivery has occurred or title has passed to the Company's customer;  the fee is fixed or determinable; and  collectability is reasonably assured. Under the Company's contracts with the CDC, the Company invoices the CDC and recognizes the related revenue upon acceptance by the government at delivery site, at which time title to the product passes to the CDC. Agreements with multiple components ("deliverables" or "items") are evaluated to determine if the deliverables can be divided into more than one unit of accounting. An item can generally be considered a separate unit of accounting if both of the following criteria are met: (1) the delivered item or items have value to the customer on a standalone basis. The item or items have value on a standalone basis if they are sold separately by any vendor or the customer could resell the delivered item(s) on a standalone basis. In the context of a customer's ability to resell the delivered item(s), this criterion does not require the existence of an observable market for the deliverable(s); and (2) if the arrangement includes a general right of return relative to the delivered item(s), delivery or performance of the undelivered item(s) is considered probable and substantially in control of the Company. Items that cannot be divided into separate units are combined with other units of accounting, as appropriate. Consideration received is allocated among the separate units based on the relative selling price of each deliverable. The Company deems service to have been rendered if no continuing obligation exists on the part of the Company. The Company's contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority ("BARDA") to establish a Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing ("CIADM") is a service arrangement that includes multiple elements. The CIADM contract requires the Company to provide a flexible infrastructure to supply medical countermeasures to the U.S. government over the contract period and includes such items as construction and facility design, workforce development and licensure of a pandemic flu vaccine. Since none of the individual elements by themselves satisfy the purpose of the contract, the Company has concluded that the CIADM contract elements cannot be separated as they do not have stand-alone value to the U.S. government. Therefore, the Company has concluded that there is a single unit of accounting associated with the CIADM contract. The Company recognizes revenue under the CIADM contract on a straight-line basis, based upon its estimate of the total payments to be received under the contract. The Company analyzes the estimated payments to be received on a quarterly basis to determine if an adjustment to revenue is required. Changes in estimates attributed to modifications in the estimate of total payments to be received are recorded prospectively. The Company's BAT contract with BARDA is a service arrangement that includes multiple elements. The deliverables to BARDA include supplying product to the SNS, performing stability testing for the product, achievement of extended product expiry dating, maintenance of horse populations and plasma extraction. The Company has determined that each of the deliverables above represents a separate unit of accounting as they have standalone value to the U.S. government. The Company allocated the value of the contract to the undelivered elements based on best estimate of selling price ("BESP"). BESP methodology for the deliverables, excluding the product sales, was developed using a cost build-up for internal and external costs, plus a specified mark-up. The allocation of value to the product sales was based on the remaining unallocated value. The Company completed the final delivery of the BAT product in 2017. The Company recognizes revenue for: § BAT product sales upon delivery to the SNS; § stability testing based on the required testing schedule of the product; § extended product expiry based on achievement of the extension; § horse maintenance based on a per horse basis; and § plasma collection on a per liter basis. The Company's contracts for VIGIV with the CDC and for Anthrasil with BARDA are service arrangements that include multiple elements. The deliverables to BARDA include to supply product to the SNS, perform stability testing for the product, achievement of extended product expiry dating and plasma extraction. The Company has determined that each of the deliverables above represents separate units of accounting as they have standalone value to the U.S. government. The Company allocated the value of the contract to the undelivered elements based on BESP. BESP methodology for the deliverables, excluding the product sales, was developed using a cost build-up for internal and external costs, plus a specified mark-up. The allocation of value to the product sales was based on the remaining unallocated value. The Company recognizes revenue for: § VIGIV and Anthrasil product sales upon delivery to the CDC; § stability testing based on the required testing schedule of the product; § extended product expiry based on achievement of the extension; and § plasma collection on a per liter basis. The Company's contract for the NuThrax product candidate with BARDA, which was entered into on September 30, 2016 is a service arrangement that includes multiple elements. The deliverables to BARDA are the completion of development for NuThrax and the procurement of product for the SNS. The Company has determined that each of the deliverables above are a separate unit of accounting as they have standalone value to the U.S. government. The Company allocated the value of the contract to the undelivered elements based on best estimate of selling price ("BESP"). BESP methodology for the development deliverable was developed using a cost build-up for internal and external costs, plus a specified mark-up. The Company has determined that the procurement of NuThrax under the BARDA NuThrax Contract is a contingent deliverable, as it is dependent upon successful completion of development; therefore, the Company has excluded this from the allocation of the contract consideration. The Company has allocated $147.5 million to the development services deliverable and will recognize revenue as the services are provided. On March 16, 2017, the Company entered into a contract with BARDA, valued at $100 million, for the delivery of BioThrax to the SNS over a two-year period of performance. In conjunction with the signing of this contract, the Company entered into a modification to its BARDA NuThrax Contract that increases the number of doses of NuThrax to be delivered under the base period from two million to three million doses with a commensurate reduction in dose price for the initial deliveries. The modification also provides for a discount on the sales price for doses to be procured during the option period up to $100 million. As a result of the modification of the BARDA NuThrax Contract, in conjunction with execution of the BARDA BioThrax Contract, the Company has determined that the two agreements are linked under the revenue recognition requirements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Topic 605, Revenue Recognition. The Company analyzed these agreements and determined that the units of accounting under the linked agreements are: · development services for the NuThrax product candidate under the BARDA NuThrax Contract; and · procurement of BioThrax under the BARDA BioThrax Contract. The Company's allocation of contract consideration for the development services was updated based on the services provided prior to March 17, 2017. The allocation of contract consideration for the BioThrax doses to be sold under the BARDA BioThrax Contract was determined based on similar pricing provided to other customers. The Company's determination of the amount of contract consideration to be allocated to the discounts was based on an undiscounted probability adjusted model, which factored in the expected timing of regulatory approval for the NuThrax product candidate, expected levels of procurement of the NuThrax product candidate upon regulatory approval and the market conditions for these types of medical countermeasures. The Company allocated the contract consideration to the two units of accounting as follows: · $137.1 million was allocated to the development services for the NuThrax product candidate under the BARDA NuThrax Contract; and · $93.6 million was allocated to the procurement of BioThrax under the BARDA BioThrax Contract. The Company deferred a portion of the consideration received for doses delivered under the BARDA BioThrax Contract and the development services for the NuThrax product candidate. The Company will recognize the deferred revenue upon the delivery of NuThrax doses under the BARDA NuThrax Contract, or upon the future extinguishment of the Company's obligation to deliver NuThrax doses to which the discount applies. Revenue associated with non-refundable upfront license fees under arrangements where the license fees and research and development activities cannot be accounted for as separate units of accounting is deferred and recognized as revenue either on a straight-line basis over the Company's continued involvement in the research and development process or based on the proportional performance of the Company's expected future obligation under the contract. Revenues from the achievement of research and development milestones, if deemed substantive, are recognized as revenue when the milestones are achieved, and the milestone payments are due and collectible. If not deemed substantive, the Company recognizes such milestone as revenue on a straight-line basis over the remaining expected term of continued involvement in the research and development process. Milestones are considered substantive if all of the following conditions are met: (1) the milestone is non-refundable, (2) achievement of the milestone was not reasonably assured at the inception of the arrangement, (3) substantive effort is involved to achieve the milestone, and (4) the amount of the milestone appears reasonable in relation to the effort expended. Payments received in advance of work performed are recorded as deferred revenue. The Company generates contracts and grants revenue from cost-plus-fee contracts. Revenues from reimbursable contracts are recognized as costs are incurred, generally based on allowable costs incurred during the period, plus any recognizable earned fee. The Company considers fixed fees under cost-plus-fee contracts to be earned in proportion to the allowable costs incurred in performance of the contract. The Company analyzes costs for contracts and reimbursable grants to ensure reporting of revenues gross versus net is appropriate. For each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, the costs incurred under the contracts and grants approximated the revenue earned. |
| Acquisitions | Acquisitions In determining whether an acquisition is a business combination versus an asset acquisition, the accounting guidance requires an entity to first evaluate whether substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. If that threshold is met, the set of assets and activities is not a business and therefore treated as an asset acquisition. If it's not met, the entity evaluates whether the set meets the definition of a business. If an acquired asset or asset group does not meet the definition of a business, the transaction is accounted for as an asset acquisition. Otherwise, the acquisition is treated as a business combination. In a business combination, the acquisition method of accounting requires that the assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recorded as of the date of the merger or acquisition at their respective fair values with limited exceptions. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination that arise from contingencies are recognized at fair value if fair value can reasonably be estimated. If the acquisition date fair value of an asset acquired or liability assumed that arises from a contingency cannot be determined, the asset or liability is recognized if probable and reasonably estimable; if these criteria are not met, no asset or liability is recognized. Fair value is defined 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. Accordingly, the Company may be required to value assets at fair value measures that do not reflect the Company's intended use of those assets. Any excess of the purchase price (consideration transferred) over the estimated fair values of net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Transaction costs and costs to restructure the acquired company are expensed as incurred. The operating results of the acquired business are reflected in the Company's consolidated financial statements after the date of the merger or acquisition. If the Company determines the assets acquired do not meet the definition of a business under the acquisition method of accounting, the transaction will be accounted for as an acquisition of assets rather than a business combination and, therefore, no goodwill will be recorded. The fair values of intangible assets, including acquired in-process research and development ("IPR&D"), are determined utilizing information available at or near the merger or acquisition date based on expectations and assumptions that are deemed reasonable by management. Given the considerable judgment involved in determining fair values, the Company typically obtains assistance from third-party valuation specialists for significant items. Amounts allocated to acquired IPR&D are capitalized and accounted for as indefinite-lived intangible assets. Upon successful completion of each project, the Company will make a separate determination as to the remaining useful life of the asset and begin amortization. The judgments made in determining estimated fair values assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination, as well as asset lives, can materially affect the Company's results of operations. The fair values of identifiable intangible assets related to current products and product rights are primarily determined by using an "income approach" through which fair value is estimated based on each asset's discounted projected net cash flows. The Company's estimates of market participant net cash flows consider historical and projected pricing, margins and expense levels, the performance of competing products where applicable, relevant industry and therapeutic area growth drivers and factors, current and expected trends in technology and product life cycles, the time and investment that will be required to develop products and technologies, the ability to obtain marketing and regulatory approvals, the ability to manufacture and commercialize the products, the extent and timing of potential new product introductions by the Company's competitors, and the life of each asset's underlying patent, if any. The net cash flows are then probability-adjusted where appropriate to consider the uncertainties associated with the underlying assumptions, as well as the risk profile of the net cash flows utilized in the valuation. The probability-adjusted future net cash flows of each product are then discounted to present value utilizing an appropriate discount rate. The fair values of identifiable intangible assets related to IPR&D are determined using an income approach, through which fair value is estimated based on each asset's probability-adjusted future net cash flows, which reflect the different stages of development of each product and the associated probability of successful completion. The net cash flows are then discounted to present value using an appropriate discount rate. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. |
| Intangible assets and long-lived assets | Intangible assets and long-lived assets The Company assesses intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if indicators of impairment are present. The Company's annual assessment includes a comparison of the fair value of intangible assets to existing carrying value, and recognizes an impairment when the carrying value is greater than the determined fair value. The Company believes that the assumptions used in valuing the intangible assets are reasonable and are based upon its best estimate of likely outcomes of sales and clinical development. The underlying assumptions and estimates used to value these assets are subject to change in the future, and actual results may differ significantly from the assumptions and estimates. The Company has selected October 1 as its annual impairment test date for indefinite-lived intangible assets. The Company assesses the recoverability of its long-lived assets or asset groups for which an indicator of impairment exists by determining whether the carrying value of such assets can be recovered through undiscounted future operating cash flows. If the Company concludes that the carrying value will not be recovered, the Company measures the amount of such impairment by comparing the fair value to the carrying value of the assets or asset groups. |
| Goodwill | Goodwill The Company assesses the carrying value of goodwill on an annual basis, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of goodwill may not be recoverable, The determination of the fair value of a reporting unit is judgmental in nature and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. The estimates and assumptions used in calculating fair value include identifying future cash flows, which requires that the Company makes a number of critical legal, economic, market and business assumptions that reflect best estimates as of the testing date. The Company's assumptions and estimates may differ significantly from actual results, or circumstances could change that would cause the Company to conclude that an impairment now exists or that it previously understated the extent of impairment. The Company selected October 1 as its annual goodwill impairment test date. |
| Contingent Consideration | Contingent Consideration The Company records contingent consideration associated with (a) sales based royalties and (b) development and regulatory milestones at fair value. The fair value model used to calculate this obligation is based on the income approach (a discounted cash flow model) that has been risk adjusted based on the probability of achievement of net sales and achievement of the milestones. The inputs the Company uses for determining the fair value of the contingent consideration associated with sales based royalties and development and regulatory milestones are Level 3 fair value measurements. The Company re-evaluates the fair value on a quarterly basis. Changes in the fair value can result from adjustments to the discount rates and updates in the assumed timing of or achievement of net sales. Any future increase in the fair value of the contingent consideration associated with sales based royalties along with development and regulatory milestones are based on an increased likelihood that the underlying net sales or milestones will be achieved. The associated payment or payments which will become due and payable for sales based royalties associated with products will result in a charge to cost of product sales and contract manufacturing in the period in which the increase is determined. Similarly, any future decrease in the fair value of contingent consideration associated with sales based royalties will result in a reduction in cost of product sales and contract manufacturing. The changes in fair value for potential future sales based royalties associated with product candidates in development will result in a charge to selling, general and administrative expense in the period in which the increase is determined. Similarly, any future decrease in the fair value of contingent consideration associated with potential future sales based royalties for products candidates will result in a reduction in selling, general and administrative expense. The associated payment or payments which will become due and payable for development and regulatory milestones will result in a charge to research and development expense in the period in which the increase is determined. Similarly, any future decrease in the fair value for development and regulatory milestones will result in a reduction in research and development expense. |
| Research and development | Research and development We expense research and development costs as incurred. Our research and development expenses consist primarily of: § personnel-related expenses; § fees to professional service providers for, among other things, analytical testing, independent monitoring or other administration of our clinical trials and obtaining and evaluating data from our clinical trials and non-clinical studies; § costs of contract manufacturing services for clinical trial material; and § costs of materials used in clinical trials and research and development. In many cases, we plan to seek funding for development activities from external sources and third parties, such as governments and non-governmental organizations, or through collaborative partnerships. We expect our research and development spending will be dependent upon such factors as the results from our clinical trials, the availability of reimbursement of research and development spending, the number of product candidates under development, the size, structure and duration of any clinical programs that we may initiate, the costs associated with manufacturing our product candidates on a large-scale basis for later stage clinical trials, and our ability to use or rely on data generated by government agencies, such as studies involving BioThrax conducted by the CDC. |
| Comprehensive income | Comprehensive income Comprehensive income is comprised of net income and other changes in equity that are excluded from net income. The Company includes translation gains and losses incurred when converting its subsidiaries' financial statements from their functional currency to the U.S. dollar in accumulated other comprehensive income. |
| Foreign currencies | Foreign currencies Except for the Company's Canadian subsidiaries, the local currency is the functional currency for the Company's foreign subsidiaries and, as such, assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at year-end exchange rates. Income and expense items are translated at average exchange rates during the year. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are charged or credited to other comprehensive income. The Company's Canadian subsidiaries functional currency is U.S. dollars due primarily to a significant amount of the transactions of the subsidiaries being denominated in U.S. dollars. |
| Capitalized interest | Capitalized interest The Company capitalizes interest based on the cost of major ongoing capital projects which have not yet been placed in service. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, the Company incurred interest of $7.0 million, $8.3 million and $7.8 million, respectively. Of these amounts, the Company capitalized $2.2 million, $2.2 million and $2.9 million, respectively. |
| Earnings per share | Earnings per share The Company calculates basic earnings per share by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, the Company calculated diluted earnings per share using the if-converted method by dividing the adjusted net income by the adjusted weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. The adjusted net income is adjusted for interest expense and amortization of debt issuance cost, both net of tax, associated with the Company's 2.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2021 (the "Notes"). The weighted average number of diluted shares is adjusted for the potential dilutive effect of the exercise of stock options and the vesting of restricted stock units along with the assumption of the conversion of the Notes, each at the beginning of the period. During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company issued a notice of termination of conversion rights related to the Notes and issued 8.5 million shares of common stock due to conversions that occurred in 2017. |
| Accounting for stock-based compensation | Accounting for stock-based compensation The Company has one stock-based employee compensation plan, the Fourth Amended and Restated Emergent BioSolutions Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2006 Plan"), which includes both stock options and restricted stock units. As of December 31, 2017, an aggregate of 18.9 million shares of common stock were authorized for issuance under the 2006 Plan, of which a total of approximately 4.9 million shares of common stock remain available for future awards to be made to plan participants. The exercise price of each option must be not less than 100% of the fair market value of the shares underlying such option on the date of grant. Awards granted under the 2006 Plan have a contractual life of no more than 10 years. The terms and conditions of equity awards (such as price, vesting schedule, term and number of shares) under the 2006 Plan is determined by the compensation committee of the Company's board of directors, which administers the 2006 Plan. Each equity award granted under the 2006 Plan vests as specified in the relevant agreement with the award recipient and no option can be exercised after ten years from the date of grant. The Company determines the fair value of restricted stock units using the closing market price of the Company's common stock on the day prior to the date of grant. The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes valuation model for estimating the fair value of all stock options granted. Set forth below are the assumptions used in valuing the stock options granted and a discussion of the Company's methodology for developing each of the assumptions used: Year Ended December 31, 2017 2016 2015 Expected dividend yield 0% 0% 0% Expected volatility 37-40% 31-33% 34-35% Risk-free interest rate 1.66-1.88% 0.93-1.22% 1.27-1.61% Expected average life of options 4.3 years 4.3 years 4.3 years  Expected dividend yield — the Company does not pay regular dividends on its common stock and does not anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future.  Expected volatility — a measure of the amount by which a financial variable, such as share price, has fluctuated (historical volatility) or is expected to fluctuate (implied volatility) during a period. The Company analyzed its own historical volatility to estimate expected volatility over the same period as the expected average life of the options.  Risk-free interest rate — the range of U.S. Treasury rates with a term that most closely resembles the expected life of the option as of the date on which the option is granted.  Expected average life of options — the period of time that options granted are expected to remain outstanding, based primarily on the Company's expectation of optionee exercise behavior subsequent to vesting of options. |
| Recently issued accounting standards | Recently issued accounting standards ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) " Topic 605, Revenue Recognition The Company used a cross functional team to identify and organize its contracts for analysis. The Company has finalized its review of its revenue contract portfolio and made its determination of its revenue streams as well as completed extensive contract specific reviews to determine the impacts of the new standard on its historical and prospective revenue recognition. Because many of the Company's contracts with customers have unique contract terms, the Company reviewed all of its non-standard agreements in order to determine the effect of adoption. As a result, it has determined the BARDA BioThrax Contract and BARDA NuThrax Contract will have a material change in revenue recognition that will likely increase the amount of deferred revenue on the adoption date. The Company is in the process of finalizing its analysis of the CIADM contract but expects that the revenue recognition policy and possibly the cumulative effect could be material. The Company is also finalizing its accounting policy; related income tax effects for these contracts; evaluating costs that may need to be capitalized or expensed; and designing and implementing the necessary changes to processes and controls in order to account for revenue under the new standard. Based on the Company's timeline and planned resources, the Company anticipates completing its implementation in connection with its first quarter 2018 interim financial statements. ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) " ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718) In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718) " ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 250): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 250): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (" ASU No. 2017-04") . The standard eliminates the second step in the goodwill impairment test, which requires an entity to determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill. Instead, an entity should recognize an impairment loss if the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, with the impairment loss not to exceed the amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. The standard is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests conducted in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not believe that the new standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting There are no other recently issued accounting pronouncements that are expected to have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. |
