Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2017 |
Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Organization KemPharm, Inc. (the “Company”) is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of proprietary prodrugs to treat serious medical conditions through its Ligand Activated Therapy ("LAT") platform technology. The Company utilizes its proprietary LAT platform technology to generate improved prodrug versions of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") approved drugs in the high need areas of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ("ADHD"), pain and other central nervous system ("CNS") disorders. The Company was formed and incorporated in Iowa on October 30, 2006 May 30, 2014. |
Going Concern [Policy Text Block] | Going Concern The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis which assumes that the Company will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future. The Company has experienced recurring losses from operations, stockholders' deficit and negative operating cash flows due to its ongoing research and development of its product and product candidates. The Company also has an accumulated deficit as of December 31, 2017. Management believes these conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within the twelve Management intends to finance operating costs over the next twelve 3 $150.0 3 $20,000,000 |
Stockholders' Equity, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Initial Public Offering and Reverse Stock Split In April 2015, 1 7.5 250,000,000 10,000,000 $0.0001 |
Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Reclassifications Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation. During the second 2017, 2016 18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230 2016 18” 2016 18 $1.1 December 31, 2016, not 2016 18. no not December 31, 2015. |
Common Stock Sales Agreement (ATM Agreement), Policy [Policy Text Block] | Entry into ATM Agreement On October 3, 2016, may $50,000,000 3 October 17, 2016. 3 $20,000,000 Cowen may 415 1933, may three 3.0% The Company is not December 31, 2017, $0.2 As of March 28, 2018, 446,111 $2.9 |
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, includ ing those related to the useful lives of property and equipment, and assumptions used for purposes of determining stock-based compensation, income taxes, and the fair value of the derivative and warrant liability, among others. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities. |
Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Concentration of Credit Risk Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash on deposit with multiple financial institutions, the balances of which frequently exceed insured limits. |
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers any highly liquid investm ents with an original maturity of three |
Marketable Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Marketable Securities and Long-term Investments The Company maintains investment securities that are classified as trading securities. These securities are carried at fair value with unreali zed gains and losses included in other (expense) income on the statements of operations. The securities primarily consist of certificates of deposit, U.S. Treasury securities and U.S. government-sponsored agency securities. |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Property and Equipment The Company records property and equipment at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Costs of renewals and improvements that extend the useful lives of the assets are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is determined on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which generally range from three ten |
Debt, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Debt Issuance Costs Debt issuance costs incurred in connection with financing arrangements are amortiz ed over the life of the respective financing arrangement using the effective interest method. |
Collaborative Arrangement, Accounting Policy [Policy Text Block] | Supply Arrangements The Company enters into supply arrangements for the supply of components of its product and product candidates. These arrangements also may share of future revenue if related product or product candidates reach commercialization. Costs under these supply arrangements, if any, are expensed as incurred (Note H). |
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Long-lived assets to be held and used are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets may not No December 31, 2017, 2016 2015. |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Fair Value of Financial Instruments The accounting standard for fair value measurements provides a framework for measuring fair value and requires disclosures regarding fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, based on the Company’s principal or, in absence of a principal, most advantageous market for the specific asset or liability. The Company uses a three equent to their initial measurement. The hierarchy requires the Company to use observable inputs when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs, when determining fair value. The three ● Level 1 —Observable inputs that reflect quoted market prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets; ● Level 2 —Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly in the marketplace for identical or similar assets and liabilities; and ● Level 3 —Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no |
Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Research and Development Major components of research and development costs include cash compensation, stock-based compensation, depreciation and amortization expense on research and development property and equipment, costs of preclinical studies, clin ical trials and related clinical manufacturing, costs of drug development, costs of materials and supplies, facilities cost, overhead costs, regulatory and compliance costs, and fees paid to consultants and other entities that conduct certain research and development activities on the Company’s behalf. Costs incurred in research and development are expensed as incurred. The Company records nonrefundable advance payments it makes for future research and development activities as prepaid expenses. Prepaid expenses are recognized as expense in the statements of operations as the Company receives the related goods or services. The Company enters into contractual agreements with third pleted over an extended period of time. The Company records liabilities under these contractual commitments when an obligation has been incurred. This accrual process involves reviewing open contracts and purchase orders, communicating with the applicable personnel to identify services that have been performed and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost when the Company has not |
Intangible Assets, Finite-Lived, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Patent Costs Patent costs, including related legal costs, are expensed as incurred and recorded within general and administrative expenses on the statements of operations. |
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Income Taxes The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities, as well as for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the tax rates that are expected to apply to taxable income for the years in which those tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount the Company believes is more likely than not Uncertain tax positions are recognized only when the Company believes it is more likely than not t the tax position will be upheld on examination by the taxing authorities based on the merits of the position. The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized income tax uncertainties in income tax expense. The Company did not December 31, 2017 2016. The Company files income tax returns in the United States for federal and various state jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no 2013, 2013 may No |
Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block] | Stock-Based Compensation The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all stock-based payment awards made to employees, officers an d directors based on the estimated fair values of the awards as of the grant date. The Company records the value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest as expense over the requisite service period. The Company also accounts for equity instruments issued to non-employees using a fair value approach under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") subtopic 505 50. |
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Basic and Diluted Net Loss per Share of Common Stock The Company uses the two entitle the holders to participate in dividends and earnings of the Company. The two |
Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Segment and Geographic Information Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise (business activity from which it earns revenue and incurs expenses) for which discrete financial information is ava ilable and regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker ("CODM") in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s CODM is its Chief Executive Officer. The Company views its operations and manages its business as a single operating and reporting segment. All assets of the Company were held in the United States as of December 31, 2017 2016. |
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Application of New or Revised Accounting Standards —Adopted From time to time, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) or other standard-setting bodies issue accounting standards that are adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date . On April 5, 2012, JOBS Act”) into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, reduce certain reporting requirements for an emerging growth company. As an emerging growth company, the Company may not In November 2015, 2015 17, Income Taxes: Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (Topic 740 2015 17” December 15, 2016, 2015 17 not In March 2016, 2016 06, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815 2016 06” 2016 06 December 15, 2016, 2016 06 not In March 2016, 2016 09, Compensation–Stock Compensation (Topic 718 2016 09” 2016 09 December 15, 2016, 2016 09 not In November 2016, 2016 18, applies to all entities that have restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents and are required to present a statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, The Company early adopted ASU 2016 18 second 2017. 2016 18 |
New Accounting Pronouncements, Not Yet Adopted, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Application of New or Revised Accounting Standards —Not In May 2014, 606, Revenue Recognition—Revenue from Contracts with Customers 606" 605, Revenue Recognition January 1, 2018. not not In January 2016, 2016 01, Financial Instruments Overall – Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities (Topic 825 10 2016 01” 825 10. December 15, 2017, not 2016 01 In February 2016, 2016 02, Leases (Topic 842 2016 02” twelve 2016 02 December 15, 2018, 2016 02 . In August 2016, 2016 15, Statement of Cash Flows – Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (Topic 230 2016 15” eight 230. December 15, 2017, not currently expect ASU 2016 15 In May 2017, 2017 - 09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718 ) – Scope of Modification Accounting ("ASU 2017 - 09" 718. This update applies to any entity that changes the terms or conditions of a stock-based payment award. This guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, not currently expect ASU 2017 - 09 to have a material effect on its financial statements and disclosures upon adoption. In July 2017, 2017 - 11, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260 ), Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480 ), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815 ) – I. Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features and II. Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception ("ASU 2017 - 11" 480 because of the existence of extensive pending content in the ASC as a result of the indefinite deferral of accounting requirements about mandatorily redeemable financial instruments of certain nonpublic entities and certain mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests. This update applies to all entities that issue financial instruments that include down round features and entities that present earnings per share in accordance with Topic 260. This guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, 2017 - 11 on its financial statements and disclosures. |