Document_And_Entity_Informatio
| Document And Entity Information | 9 Months Ended | |
| Sep. 30, 2014 | Nov. 06, 2014 | |
| Document and Entity Information [Abstract] | ' | ' |
| Entity Registrant Name | 'TEKMIRA PHARMACEUTICALS CORP | ' |
| Document Type | '10-Q | ' |
| Current Fiscal Year End Date | '--12-31 | ' |
| Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding | ' | 22,105,977 |
| Amendment Flag | 'false | ' |
| Entity Central Index Key | '0001447028 | ' |
| Entity Current Reporting Status | 'Yes | ' |
| Entity Voluntary Filers | 'No | ' |
| Entity Filer Category | 'Non-accelerated Filer | ' |
| Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer | 'No | ' |
| Document Period End Date | 30-Sep-14 | ' |
| Document Fiscal Year Focus | '2014 | ' |
| Document Fiscal Period Focus | 'Q3 | ' |
Condensed_Consolidated_Balance
| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 |
| Current assets: | ' | ' |
| Cash and cash equivalents | $78,177,000 | $68,717,000 |
| Short-term investments (note 2) | 30,580,000 | ' |
| Accounts receivable | 2,094,000 | 117,000 |
| Accrued revenue | 152,000 | 212,000 |
| Deferred expenses | ' | 173,000 |
| Investment tax credits receivable | 38,000 | 40,000 |
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | 696,000 | 1,084,000 |
| Total current assets | 111,737,000 | 70,343,000 |
| Long-term investments (note 2) | 11,709,000 | ' |
| Property and equipment | 13,093,000 | 13,039,000 |
| Less accumulated depreciation | -11,480,000 | -11,666,000 |
| Property and equipment, net of accumulated | ' | ' |
| depreciation | 1,613,000 | 1,373,000 |
| Total assets | 125,059,000 | 71,716,000 |
| Current liabilities: | ' | ' |
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (note 4) | 5,904,000 | 3,680,000 |
| Deferred revenue (note 3) | 4,877,000 | 3,463,000 |
| Warrants (note 2) | 8,707,000 | 5,379,000 |
| Total current liabilities | 19,488,000 | 12,522,000 |
| Deferred revenue, net of current portion (note 3) | 10,075,000 | ' |
| Total liabilities | 29,563,000 | 12,522,000 |
| Stockholders’ equity: | ' | ' |
| Issued and outstanding: 22,281,877 (December 31, 2013 - 19,048,900) | 288,355,000 | 216,702,000 |
| Additional paid-in capital | 25,872,000 | 25,343,000 |
| Deficit | -199,696,000 | -167,027,000 |
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | -19,035,000 | -15,824,000 |
| Total stockholders' equity | 95,496,000 | 59,194,000 |
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $125,059,000 | $71,716,000 |
Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1
| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parentheticals) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 |
| Common shares, shares issued | 22,281,877 | 19,048,900 |
| Common shares, shares outstanding | 22,281,877 | 19,048,900 |
| Common shares, no par value (in Dollars per share) | ' | ' |
| Common shares, authorized | ' | ' |
Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited) (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 |
| Revenue (note 3) | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Collaborations and contracts | $3,578 | $2,961 | $8,411 | $7,936 |
| Licensing fees, milestone and | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| royalty payments | 784 | 2 | 2,192 | 2 |
| Total revenue | 4,362 | 2,963 | 10,603 | 7,938 |
| Research, development, collaborations | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| and contracts | 9,309 | 5,506 | 26,811 | 14,487 |
| General and administrative | 1,764 | 960 | 5,601 | 2,701 |
| Depreciation of property and equipment | 133 | 148 | 416 | 466 |
| Total expenses | 11,206 | 6,614 | 32,828 | 17,654 |
| Loss from operations | -6,844 | -3,651 | -22,225 | -9,716 |
| Other income (losses) | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Interest income | 304 | 129 | 708 | 419 |
| Foreign exchange gains (losses) | 3,076 | 52 | 1,791 | -13 |
| Increase in fair value of warrant liability | -5,140 | -2,435 | -12,943 | -2,155 |
| Net loss | -8,604 | -5,905 | -32,669 | -11,465 |
| Loss per common share | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Basic and diluted (in Dollars per share) | ($0.39) | ($0.41) | ($1.53) | ($0.79) |
| Weighted average number of common shares | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Basic and diluted (in Shares) | 22,159,269 | 14,511,760 | 21,349,315 | 14,421,444 |
| Comprehensive loss | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Cumulative translation adjustment | -4,827 | 710 | -3,211 | -1,401 |
| Comprehensive loss | ($13,431) | ($5,195) | ($35,880) | ($12,866) |
Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1
| Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) (USD $) | Common Stock [Member] | Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] | Retained Earnings [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] | Total |
| In Thousands, except Share data | |||||
| Balance at Dec. 31, 2013 | $216,702 | $25,343 | ($167,027) | ($15,824) | $59,194 |
| Balance (shares) (in Shares) at Dec. 31, 2013 | 19,048,900 | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Stock-based compensation | ' | 2,714 | ' | ' | 2,714 |
| Issuance of common shares pursuant to exercise of options | 4,525 | -2,185 | ' | ' | 2,340 |
| Issuance of common shares pursuant to exercise of options (in Shares) | 562,314 | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Issuance of common shares pursuant to exercise of warrants | 10,651 | ' | ' | ' | 10,651 |
| Issuance of common shares pursuant to exercise of warrants (in Shares) | 545,663 | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Issuance of common shares in conjunction with the private offering, net of issuance costs of $4,085,000 | 56,477 | ' | ' | ' | 56,477 |
| Issuance of common shares in conjunction with the private offering, net of issuance costs of $4,085,000 (in Shares) | 2,125,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Currency translation adjustment | ' | ' | ' | -3,211 | -3,211 |
| Net loss | ' | ' | -32,669 | ' | -32,669 |
| Balance at Sep. 30, 2014 | $288,355 | $25,872 | ($199,696) | ($19,035) | $95,496 |
| Balance (shares) (in Shares) at Sep. 30, 2014 | 22,281,877 | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme2
| Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) (Parentheticals) (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member], USD $) | 9 Months Ended |
| In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2014 |
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] | ' |
| Issuance of common shares, private offering, issuance costs | $4,085,000 |
Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme3
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow (Unaudited) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||
| Sep. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | |
| OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Loss for the period | ($8,604,000) | ($5,905,000) | ($32,669,000) | ($11,465,000) |
| Items not involving cash: | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Depreciation of property and equipment | 133,000 | 148,000 | 416,000 | 466,000 |
| Unrealized foreign exchange (gains) losses | -3,245,000 | 15,000 | -1,913,000 | 24,000 |
| Change in fair value of warrant liability | 5,140,000 | 2,435,000 | 12,943,000 | 2,155,000 |
| Net change in non-cash operating items: | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Accounts receivable | -1,852,000 | -2,318,000 | -2,030,000 | -2,948,000 |
| Accrued revenue | 39,000 | 1,981,000 | 51,000 | 1,162,000 |
| Deferred expenses | 56,000 | 53,000 | 168,000 | 170,000 |
| Investment tax credits receivable | ' | 10,000 | ' | 10,000 |
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | -383,000 | -47,000 | 342,000 | -548,000 |
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 2,357,000 | -724,000 | 2,465,000 | 618,000 |
| Deferred revenue | -806,000 | 462,000 | 11,938,000 | 589,000 |
| Net cash used in operating activities | -6,720,000 | -3,670,000 | -5,575,000 | -9,304,000 |
| INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Acquisition of investments | -291,000 | ' | -43,283,000 | ' |
| Acquisition of property and equipment | -152,000 | -120,000 | -733,000 | -531,000 |
| Net cash used in investing activities | -443,000 | -120,000 | -44,016,000 | -531,000 |
| FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net of issuance costs | ' | ' | 56,477,000 | ' |
| Issuance of common shares pursuant to exercise of options | 268,000 | 22,000 | 2,340,000 | 111,000 |
| Issuance of common shares pursuant to exercise of warrants | 416,000 | 54,000 | 1,390,000 | 171,000 |
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 684,000 | 76,000 | 60,207,000 | 282,000 |
| Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | -611,000 | 817,000 | -1,156,000 | -1,636,000 |
| Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | -7,090,000 | -2,897,000 | 9,460,000 | -11,189,000 |
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 85,267,000 | 38,732,000 | 68,717,000 | 47,024,000 |
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | 78,177,000 | 35,835,000 | 78,177,000 | 35,835,000 |
| Supplemental cash flow information | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Fair value of warrants exercised on a cashless basis | ' | -678,000 | -116,000 | -894,000 |
| Investment tax credits received | ' | 10,000 | ' | 10,000 |
| Research and Development Expense [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Items not involving cash: | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Stock-based compensation | 326,000 | 172,000 | 1,966,000 | 361,000 |
| General and Administrative Expense [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Items not involving cash: | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Stock-based compensation | $119,000 | $48,000 | $748,000 | $102,000 |
Note_1_Nature_of_Business_and_
| Note 1 - Nature of Business and Future Operations | 9 Months Ended | ||
| Sep. 30, 2014 | |||
| Disclosure Text Block [Abstract] | ' | ||
| Nature of Operations [Text Block] | ' | ||
| 1 | Nature of business and future operations | ||
| Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (the “Company”) is a Canadian biopharmaceutical business focused on advancing novel RNA interference therapeutics. | |||
| The success of the Company is dependent on obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals to bring its products to market and achieve profitable operations. The continuation of the research and development activities and the commercialization of its products are dependent on the Company’s ability to successfully complete these activities and to obtain adequate financing through a combination of financing activities and operations. It is not possible to predict either the outcome of future research and development programs or the Company’s ability to fund these programs in the future. | |||
Note_2_Significant_Accounting_
| Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sep. 30, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | ' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] | ' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Significant accounting policies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basis of presentation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation was incorporated on October 6, 2005 as an inactive wholly owned subsidiary of Inex Pharmaceuticals Corporation (“Inex”). Pursuant to a “Plan of Arrangement” effective April 30, 2007, the business, and substantially all of the assets and liabilities of Inex were transferred to the Company. The condensed consolidated financial statements for all periods presented herein include the consolidated operations of Inex until April 30, 2007 and the operations of the Company thereafter. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial statements and accordingly, do not include all disclosures required for annual financial statements. These statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2013 and included in the Company’s 2013 annual report on Form 10-K. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments and reclassifications necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows at September 30, 2014 and for all periods presented. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. These condensed consolidated financial statements follow the same significant accounting policies as those described in the notes to the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2013, with the exception of the recent accounting pronouncement described further below. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principles of Consolidation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Company has three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Protiva Biotherapeutics Inc., Protiva Biotherapeutics (USA) Inc., and Protiva Agricultural Development Company Inc. (“PADCo”). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| These condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and two of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Protiva Biotherapeutics Inc. and Protiva Biotherapeutics (USA) Inc. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated on consolidation. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Company records its investment in PADCo using the equity method. The Company has determined that PADCo is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) of which it is not the primary beneficiary. The Company is not the primary beneficiary as it does not have the power to make decisions that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIE nor does the Company have the right to receive benefits or the obligation to absorb losses that in either case could potentially be significant to the VIE. PADCo is described further in note 3. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income or loss per share | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income or loss per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted loss per share does not differ from basic loss per share since the effect of the Company’s stock options and warrants is anti-dilutive. Diluted income per share is calculated using the treasury stock method which uses the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period and also includes the dilutive effect of potentially issuable common shares from outstanding, in-the-money stock options and warrants. At September 30, 2014, potential common shares of 2,356,025 (September 30, 2013 – 3,163,771) were excluded from the calculation of income per common share because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of financial instruments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| We measure certain financial instruments and other items at fair value. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To determine the fair value, we use the fair value hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs market participants would use to value an asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from independent sources. Unobservable inputs are inputs based on assumptions about the factors market participants would use to value an asset or liability. The three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are as follows: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • | Level 1 inputs are quoted market prices for identical instruments available in active markets. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • | Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly. If the asset or liability has a contractual term, the input must be observable for substantially the full term. An example includes quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • | Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability and will reflect management’s assumptions about market assumptions that would be used to price the asset or liability. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The following tables present information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, and indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques used to determine such fair value: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | 30-Sep-14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 78,177 | - | - | $ | 78,177 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Guaranteed investment certificates | 42,289 | - | - | 42,289 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 120,466 | - | - | $ | 120,466 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrants | - | - | $ | 8,707 | $ | 8,707 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial instrument | - | - | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | - | - | $ | 8,707 | $ | 8,707 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | 31-Dec-13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 68,717 | - | - | $ | 68,717 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrants | - | - | $ | 5,379 | $ | 5,379 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| The Company acquired guaranteed investment certificates in April 2014, which are classified as short-term and long-term investments on the balance sheet. Short-term investments have original maturities between three months and twelve months. Long-term investments have original maturities greater than twelve months. For the period ended September 30, 2014, the value of short-term investments is $30,580,000 with original maturities between six to twelve months, and the value of the long-term investment is $11,709,000 with an original maturity of eighteen months. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Company used a discounted cash flow model to determine the fair value of the financial instrument related to Monsanto’s call option to acquire the equity or all of the assets of PADCo, as described in note 3. The fair value was determined at the date of recognition, and at each reporting date. The initial fair value of the financial liability was nil, and there has been no change to its fair value as at September 30, 2014. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The following table presents the changes in fair value of the Company’s warrants: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liability at beginning of the period | Opening liability of warrants issued in the period | Fair value of warrants exercised in the period | Increase in fair value of warrants | Foreign exchange loss | Liability at end of the period | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nine months ended September 30, 2014 | $ | 5,379 | - | $ | (9,260 | ) | $ | 12,943 | $ | (355 | ) | $ | 8,707 | ||||||||||||||
| The change in fair value of warrant liability for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 is recorded in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The weighted average Black-Scholes option-pricing assumptions and the resultant fair values, in thousands, for warrants outstanding at September 30, 2014 and at December 31, 2013 are as follows: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30-Sep-14 | 31-Dec-13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividend yield | 0 | % | 0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected volatility | 115.31 | % | 47.03 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | 1.13 | % | 1.13 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected average term (years) | 0.7 | 1.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of warrants outstanding | $ | 18.59 | $ | 5.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aggregate fair value of warrants outstanding | $ | 8,707 | $ | 5,379 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of warrants outstanding | 468,350 | 1,014,728 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation and change in reporting currency | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The functional currency of the Company is the Canadian dollar. For the Company and its integrated and consolidated subsidiaries (Protiva Biotherapeutics Inc. and Protiva Biotherapeutics (USA) Inc.), foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities are translated into Canadian dollars at the rate of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at historical exchange rates. The previous month’s average rate of exchange is used to translate revenue and expense transactions. Exchange gains and losses are included in income or loss for the period. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Effective October 1, 2013, the Company began using United States dollars as its reporting currency. All assets and liabilities are translated using the exchange rate at the balance sheet date (September 30, 2014 – 0.8929; December 31, 2013 – 0.9402). Revenues, expenses and other income (losses) are translated using the average rate for the period (nine months ended September 30, 2014 – 0.9139; nine months ended September 30, 2013 – 0.9710), except for large transactions, for which the exchange rate on the date of the transaction is used. Equity accounts are translated using the historical rate. As the translation differences from the Company’s functional currency of Canadian dollars to the Company’s reporting currency of U.S. dollars are unrealized gains and losses, the differences are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss), and do not impact the calculation of Income or Loss per Share. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recent accounting pronouncements | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) or other standard setting bodies that are adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, we believe that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations upon adoption. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In March 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-06, Technical Corrections and Improvements Related to Glossary Terms (Update). The update contains amendments that affect a wide variety of Topics in the Codification, and represent changes to clarify the Master Glossary of the Codification. The update does not have transition guidance and is effective upon issuance. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606). The standard is intended to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard for U.S. GAAP and IFRS by creating a new Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This guidance supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, Revenue Recognition, and supersedes some cost guidance included in Subtopic 605-35, Revenue Recognition – Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts. The core principle of the accounting standard is that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those good or services. The amendments should be applied by either (1) retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented; or (2) retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying this Update recognized at the date of initial application. The update is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2016, which for the Company means January 1, 2017. Early application is not permitted. The extent of the impact of adoption has not yet been determined. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, Compensation – Stock Compensation (ASC 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. The update is intended to resolve diverse accounting treatment of share-based payments that require a specific performance target to be achieved in order for employees to become eligible to vest in the awards. The update is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015, which for the Company means January 1, 2016. The amendments should be applied either (1) prospectively to all share-based payment awards that are granted or modified on or after the effective date; or (2) retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. Earlier application is permitted. The Company does not currently have any unvested performance based options and does not expect to issue any in the future, so the adoption of this guidance is not expected to have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. The update is intended to provide guidance in GAAP about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. Under amendments to GAAP, the assessment period is within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (or available to be issued). The amendments are effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, which for the Company means January 1, 2017, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. Early application is permitted. The Company does not plan to early adopt this update. The extent on the impact of this adoption has not yet been determined. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note_3_Collaborations_Contract
| Note 3 - Collaborations, Contracts and Licensing Agreements | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| Sep. 30, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||
| Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] | ' | ||||||||||||||||
| Collaborative Arrangement Disclosure [Text Block] | ' | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Collaborations, contracts and licensing agreements | ||||||||||||||||
| The following tables set forth revenue recognized under collaborations, contracts and licensing agreements: | |||||||||||||||||
| Three months ended Sept 30 | Nine months ended Sept 30 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||
| Collaborations and contracts | |||||||||||||||||
| DoD (a) | $ | 1,493 | $ | 2,833 | $ | 5,594 | $ | 7,186 | |||||||||
| Monsanto (b) | 283 | - | 809 | - | |||||||||||||
| BMS (d) | 1,552 | 102 | 1,758 | 657 | |||||||||||||
| Other RNAi collaborators (e) | 250 | 26 | 250 | 93 | |||||||||||||
| Total research and development collaborations and contracts | 3,578 | 2,961 | 8,411 | 7,936 | |||||||||||||
| Licensing fees, milestone and royalty payments | |||||||||||||||||
| Monsanto licensing fees and milestone payments (b) | 730 | - | 1,901 | - | |||||||||||||
| Acuitas milestone payments (c) | - | - | 150 | - | |||||||||||||
| Spectrum royalty payments (f) | 54 | 2 | 141 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Total licensing fees, milestone and royalty payments | 784 | 2 | 2,192 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Total revenue | $ | 4,362 | $ | 2,963 | $ | 10,603 | $ | 7,938 | |||||||||
| The following table sets forth deferred collaborations and contracts revenue: | |||||||||||||||||
| 30-Sep-14 | 31-Dec-13 | ||||||||||||||||
| DoD (a) | $ | 230 | $ | 1,655 | |||||||||||||
| Monsanto current portion (b) | 4,397 | - | |||||||||||||||
| BMS (d) | - | 1,808 | |||||||||||||||
| Other RNAi collaborators (e) | 250 | - | |||||||||||||||
| Deferred revenue, current portion | 4,877 | 3,463 | |||||||||||||||
| Monsanto long-term portion (b) | 10,075 | - | |||||||||||||||
| Total deferred revenue | $ | 14,952 | $ | 3,463 | |||||||||||||
| (a) | Contract with United States Government’s Department of Defense (“DoD”) to develop TKM-Ebola | ||||||||||||||||
| On July 14, 2010, the Company signed a contract with the DoD to advance TKM-Ebola, an RNAi therapeutic utilizing the Company’s lipid nanoparticle technology to treat Ebola virus infection. | |||||||||||||||||
| In the initial stage of the contract, funded as part of the Transformational Medical Technologies program, the Company was eligible to receive up to $34,748,000. This initial funding is for the development of TKM-Ebola including completion of preclinical development, filing an Investigational New Drug application with the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and completing a Phase 1 human safety clinical trial. On May 8, 2013, the Company announced that the contract had been modified to add $6,971,000 in funding to support development plans that integrate recent advancements in lipid nanoparticle (“LNP”) formulation and manufacturing technologies. On April 22, 2014, the Company and the DoD signed a contract modification to further increase the stage one targeted funding by $2,100,000 to $43,819,000. The additional funding is to compensate the Company for unrecovered overheads related to the temporary stop-work period that occurred in 2012 and to provide additional overhead funding should it be required. | |||||||||||||||||
| The DoD has the option of extending the contract beyond the initial funding period to support the advancement of TKM-Ebola through to the completion of clinical development and FDA approval. Based on the contract’s original budget this would provide the Company with up to $140,000,000 in funding for the entire program. | |||||||||||||||||
| Under the contract, the Company is reimbursed for costs incurred, including an allocation of overhead costs, and is paid an incentive fee. At the beginning of the fiscal year the Company estimates its labour and overhead rates for the year ahead, and updates these rate estimates throughout the year. At the end of the year the actual labour and overhead rates are calculated and revenue is adjusted accordingly. The Company’s actual labour and overhead rates will differ from its estimated rates based on actual costs incurred and the proportion of the Company’s efforts on contracts and internal products versus indirect activities. Within minimum and maximum collars, the amount of incentive fee the Company can earn under the contract varies based on costs incurred versus budgeted costs. During the contractual period, incentive fee revenue and total costs are impacted by management’s estimate and judgments which are continuously reviewed and adjusted as necessary using the cumulative catch-up method. At September 30, 2014, the Company believes it can reliably estimate the final contract costs so has recognized the portion of expected incentive fee which has been earned to date. | |||||||||||||||||
| (b) | Option and Services Agreements with Monsanto Company (“Monsanto”) | ||||||||||||||||
| On January 13, 2014, the Company and Monsanto signed an Option Agreement and a Services Agreement (together, the “Agreements”). Under the Agreements, Monsanto has an option to obtain a license to use the Company’s proprietary delivery technology and related intellectual property for use in agriculture. Over the option period, which is expected to be approximately four years, the Company will provide lipid formulations for Monsanto’s research and development activities, and Monsanto will make certain payments to the Company to maintain its option rights. The maximum potential value of the transaction is $86,200,000 following the successful completion of milestones. As at September 30, 2014, the Company had received $16,000,000 in near term payments and is due to receive a further $1,500,000 as outlined in the terms of the Agreements. The amounts received and receivable relate to research services and use of the Company’s technology over the option period, and are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the option period. | |||||||||||||||||
| Under the Agreements, the Company has established a wholly-owned subsidiary, PADCo. The Company has determined that PADCo is a variable interest entity (“VIE”); however, Monsanto is the primary beneficiary of the arrangement. PADCo was established to perform research and development activities, which have been funded by Monsanto in return for a call option to acquire the equity or all of the assets of PADCo. At any time during the option period, Monsanto may choose to exercise its option, in which case Monsanto would pay the Company an option exercise fee and would receive a worldwide, exclusive right to use the Company’s proprietary delivery technology in the field of agriculture. Monsanto may elect to terminate this option at their discretion. The Company retains all rights to therapeutics uses of all current intellectual property and intellectual property developed under the Agreements. The Company’s initial investment is not significant, and has no implied or unfunded commitments and the maximum exposure to loss is limited to the amount of investment in the entity. The Company has included its investment in PADCo in Other Assets. There were no significant assets or liabilities for PADCo as at September 30, 2014. There was no equity income or loss recorded for the three or nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014. | |||||||||||||||||
| (c) | License and collaboration with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Alnylam”) and Acuitas Therapeutics Inc. (“Acuitas”, formerly AlCana Technologies Inc.) | ||||||||||||||||
| On November 12, 2012, the Company entered into a new licensing agreement with Alnylam that replaces all earlier licensing, cross-licensing, collaboration, and manufacturing agreements. The Company also entered into a separate cross license agreement with Acuitas which includes milestone and royalty payments and Acuitas has agreed not to compete in the RNAi field for five years. | |||||||||||||||||
| The licensing agreement grants Alnylam license rights to the Company’s patents that were filed, or that claim priority to a patent that was filed, before April 15, 2010. Alnylam does not have rights to the Company’s patents filed after April 15, 2010 unless they claim priority to a patent filed before that date. In addition, Alnylam has transferred all agreed upon patents and patent applications related to LNP technology for the systemic delivery of RNAi therapeutic products, including the MC3 lipid family, to the Company, who will own and control prosecution of this intellectual property portfolio. The Company is the only entity able to sublicense its LNP intellectual property in future platform-type relationships. Alnylam has a license to use the Company’s intellectual property to develop and commercialize products and may only grant access to the Company’s LNP technology to its partners if it is part of a product sublicense. Alnylam will pay the Company milestones and royalties as Alnylam’s LNP-enabled products are developed and commercialized. | |||||||||||||||||
| The licensing agreement with Alnylam also grants the Company intellectual property rights to develop its own proprietary RNAi therapeutics. Alnylam has granted the Company a worldwide license for the discovery, development and commercialization of RNAi products directed to thirteen gene targets – three exclusive and ten non-exclusive licenses – provided that they have not been committed by Alnylam to a third party or are not otherwise unavailable as a result of the exercise of a right of first refusal held by a third party or are part of an ongoing or planned development program of Alnylam. Licenses for five of the ten non-exclusive targets – ApoB, PLK1, Ebola, WEE1, and CSN5 – have already been granted, along with an additional license for ALDH2, which has been granted on an exclusive basis. In consideration for this license, the Company has agreed to pay single-digit royalties to Alnylam on product sales and have milestone obligations of up to $8,500,000 on the non-exclusive licenses (with the exception of TKM-Ebola, which has no milestone obligations). Alnylam no longer has “opt-in” rights to the Company’s lead oncology product, TKM-PLK1, so the Company now holds all development and commercialization rights related TKM-PLK1. The Company will have no milestone obligations on the three exclusive licenses. | |||||||||||||||||
| Milestone receipts and payments | |||||||||||||||||
| In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company earned a $150,000 milestone from Acuitas, subsequent to Acuitas receiving a milestone payment from Alnylam with respect to Alnylam initiating a Phase III trial for ALN-TTR02. | |||||||||||||||||
| Arbitration with Alnylam and Ascletis Pharmaceuticals (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd. (“Ascletis”) | |||||||||||||||||
| On June 21, 2013, the Company transferred manufacturing process technology to Ascletis to enable them to produce ALN-VSP, a product candidate licensed to them by Alnylam. The Company believes that under the new licensing agreement with Alnylam, the technology transfer to Ascletis triggered a $5,000,000 milestone obligation from Alnylam to the Company. However, Alnylam has demanded a declaration that the Company has not yet met its milestone obligations. The Company disputes Alnylam’s position. To remedy this dispute, the Company and Alnylam have commenced arbitration proceedings as provided for under the agreement. The Company has not recorded any revenue in respect of this milestone. | |||||||||||||||||
| (d) | Bristol-Myers Squibb (“BMS”) collaboration | ||||||||||||||||
| On May 10, 2010 the Company announced the expansion of its research collaboration with BMS. Under the new agreement, BMS uses small interfering RNA (“siRNA”) molecules formulated by the Company in LNP technology to silence target genes of interest. BMS is conducting the preclinical work to validate the function of certain genes and share the data with the Company. The Company can use the preclinical data to develop RNAi therapeutic drugs against the therapeutic targets of interest. The Company received $3,000,000 from BMS concurrent with the signing of the agreement and recorded the amount as deferred revenue. The Company is required to provide a pre-determined number of LNP batches over the four-year agreement. BMS has a first right to negotiate a licensing agreement on certain RNAi products developed by the Company that evolve from BMS validated gene targets. | |||||||||||||||||
| Revenue from the May 10, 2010 agreement with BMS is being recognized as the Company produces the related LNP batches. | |||||||||||||||||
| In December 2013, the Company offered BMS an extension to the agreement’s end date from May 10, 2014 to December 31, 2014. Extending the agreement would give BMS more time to order LNP batches. The offer of an extension in December 2013 resulted in a cumulative revenue adjustment recorded for the year ended December 31, 2013. In August 2014, the Company received notification that the extension would not occur. As such the agreement expired and both companies’ obligations under the agreement have ended. Revenue earned for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 relate to batches shipped to BMS during the period and the release of any remaining deferred revenue balance now that the agreement has expired. | |||||||||||||||||
| (e) | Other RNAi collaborators | ||||||||||||||||
| The Company has active research agreements with a number of other RNAi collaborators. | |||||||||||||||||
| (f) | Agreements with Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Spectrum”) | ||||||||||||||||
| On May 6, 2006, the Company signed a number of agreements with Talon Therapeutics, Inc. (“Talon”, formerly Hana Biosciences, Inc.) including the grant of worldwide licenses (the “Talon License Agreement”) for three of the Company’s chemotherapy products, Marqibo®, AlocrestTM (Optisomal Vinorelbine) and BrakivaTM (Optisomal Topotecan). | |||||||||||||||||
| On August 9, 2012, the Company announced that Talon had received accelerated approval for Marqibo from the FDA for the treatment of adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia in second or greater relapse or whose disease has progressed following two or more anti-leukemia therapies. Marqibo is a liposomal formulation of the chemotherapy drug vincristine. There are no further milestones related to Marqibo but the Company is eligible to receive total milestone payments of up to $18,000,000 on Alocrest and Brakiva. | |||||||||||||||||
| Talon was acquired by Spectrum in July 2013. The acquisition did not affect the terms of the license between Talon and the Company. On September 3, 2013, Spectrum announced that they had shipped the first commercial orders of Marqibo. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $54,000 and $141,000 in Marqibo royalty revenue respectively (three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 – $2,000). For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company accrued 2.5% in royalties due to TPC in respect of the Marqibo royalty earned by the Company – see note 7, contingencies and commitments. | |||||||||||||||||
Note_4_Accounts_Payable_and_Ac
| Note 4 - Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities | 9 Months Ended | ||
| Sep. 30, 2014 | |||
| Payables and Accruals [Abstract] | ' | ||
| Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] | ' | ||
| 4 | Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | ||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities is comprised of the following: | |||
| 30-Sep-14 | 31-Dec-13 | ||
| Trade accounts payable | $3,389 | $1,217 | |
| Research and development accruals | 1,492 | 1,405 | |
| Professional fee accruals | 525 | 247 | |
| Deferred lease inducements | 80 | 16 | |
| Other accrued liabilities | 418 | 795 | |
| $5,904 | $3,680 | ||
Note_5_Financing
| Note 5 - Financing | 9 Months Ended | ||
| Sep. 30, 2014 | |||
| Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract] | ' | ||
| Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] | ' | ||
| 5 | Financing | ||
| On March 26, 2014, the Company announced that it had completed an underwritten public offering of 2,125,000 common shares, at a price of $28.50 per share, representing gross proceeds of $60,562,000. The Company also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase an additional 318,750 shares for an additional $9,084,000 to cover any over-allotments. The underwriters did not exercise the option. The cost of financing, including commissions and professional fees, was $4,085,000, resulting in net proceeds of $56,477,000. | |||
Note_6_Concentrations_of_Credi
| Note 6 - Concentrations of Credit Risk | 9 Months Ended | ||
| Sep. 30, 2014 | |||
| Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract] | ' | ||
| Concentration Risk Disclosure [Text Block] | ' | ||
| 6 | Concentrations of credit risk | ||
| Credit risk is defined by the Company as an unexpected loss in cash and earnings if a collaborative partner is unable to pay its obligations in due time. The Company’s main source of credit risk is related to its accounts receivable balance which principally represents temporary financing provided to collaborative partners in the normal course of operations. | |||
| The Company does not currently maintain a provision for bad debts as the majority of accounts receivable are from collaborative partners or government agencies and are considered low risk. | |||
| The carrying amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure. The maximum exposure to credit risk at September 30, 2014 was the accounts receivable balance of $2,094,000 (December 31, 2013 - $117,000). | |||
| All accounts receivable balances were current as at September 30, 2014 and at December 31, 2013. | |||
Note_7_Contingencies_and_Commi
| Note 7 - Contingencies and Commitments | 9 Months Ended | ||||
| Sep. 30, 2014 | |||||
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | ' | ||||
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] | ' | ||||
| 7 | Contingencies and commitments | ||||
| Product development partnership with the Canadian Government | |||||
| The Company entered into a Technology Partnerships Canada ("TPC") agreement with the Canadian Federal Government on November 12, 1999. Under this agreement, TPC agreed to fund 27% of the costs incurred by the Company, prior to March 31, 2004, in the development of certain oligonucleotide product candidates up to a maximum contribution from TPC of $7,179,000 (C$9,323,000). As at September 30, 2014, a cumulative contribution of $3,348,000 (C$3,702,000) has been received and the Company does not expect any further funding under this agreement. In return for the funding provided by TPC, the Company agreed to pay royalties on the share of future licensing and product revenue, if any, that is received by the Company on certain non-siRNA oligonucleotide product candidates covered by the funding under the agreement. These royalties are payable until a certain cumulative payment amount is achieved or until a pre-specified date. In addition, until a cumulative amount equal to the funding actually received under the agreement has been paid to TPC, the Company agreed to pay 2.5% royalties on any royalties the Company receives for Marqibo. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company earned royalties on Marqibo sales in the amount of $54,000 and $141,000 respectively (nine months ended September 30, 2013 – $2,000) (see note 3(f)), resulting in $4,000 being recorded by the Company as royalty payable to TPC (December 31, 2013 - $1,000). The cumulative amount paid or accrued up to September 30, 2014 was $5,000, resulting in the contingent amount due to TPC being $3,343,000 (C$3,697,000). | |||||
| License agreement with Marina Biotech, Inc. (“Marina”) | |||||
| On November 29, 2012 the Company announced a worldwide, non-exclusive license to a novel RNAi payload technology called Unlocked Nucleobase Analog (“UNA”) from Marina for the development of RNAi therapeutics. | |||||
| UNA technology can be used in the development of RNAi therapeutics, which treat disease by silencing specific disease causing genes. UNAs can be incorporated into RNAi drugs and have the potential to improve them by increasing their stability and reducing off-target effects. | |||||
| Under the license agreement the Company paid Marina an upfront fee of $300,000. A further license payment of $200,000 was paid in 2013 and the Company will make milestone payments of up to $3,250,000 and royalties on each product developed by the Company that uses Marina’s UNA technology. The payments to Marina are expensed to research, development, collaborations and contracts expense. | |||||
| Effective August 9, 2013, Marina’s UNA technology was acquired by Arcturus Therapeutics, Inc. (“Arcturus”) and the UNA license agreement between the Company and Marina was assigned to Arcturus. The terms of the license are otherwise unchanged. | |||||
| Service agreement with Monsanto Company (“Monsanto”) | |||||
| On January 13, 2014, the Company and Monsanto signed a Services Agreement (“the Services Agreement”) concurrently with the Option agreement, discussed in note 3. Under the Services Agreement, the Company will make payments to Monsanto for research services over the option period, which is expected to be approximately four years, up to a maximum of $5,000,000. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company paid $250,000 and $750,000, respectively, to Monsanto for research services and expects to make a further payment of $250,000 in October 2014. | |||||
| Lease renewal agreement | |||||
| On June 23, 2014, the Company signed a renewal agreement to the operating lease for its laboratory and office premises. The renewal is effective August 1, 2014 and expires July 31, 2019, but the Company has the option to extend the lease to 2024, 2029, and 2034. The renewal agreement includes lease inducements, which are amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, in accordance with the Company’s accounting policy. | |||||
| Following the lease renewal, the minimum rent and estimated operating cost commitment, net of lease inducements, is as follows: | |||||
| Three-month period to December 31, 2014 | $ | 144,000 | |||
| Year ended December 31, 2015 | 1,159,000 | ||||
| Year ended December 31, 2016 | 1,159,000 | ||||
| Year ended December 31, 2017 | 1,159,000 | ||||
| Year ended December 31, 2018 | 1,159,000 | ||||
| Year ended December 31, 2019 | 676,000 | ||||
| $ | 5,456,000 | ||||
Note_8_Subsequent_Event
| Note 8 - Subsequent Event | 9 Months Ended | ||
| Sep. 30, 2014 | |||
| Subsequent Events [Abstract] | ' | ||
| Subsequent Events [Text Block] | ' | ||
| 8 | Subsequent event | ||
| DoD exercises option in current TKM-Ebola contract | |||
| In November 2014, the DoD Joint Project Manager Medical Countermeasure Systems BioDefense Therapeutics (JPM-MCS-BDTX) has exercised an option in the current contract with Tekmira to manufacture a modified RNAi therapeutic targeting the Ebola Guinea variant. To support the continued development of anti-Ebola therapeutics, Tekmira has been awarded an additional $7,000,000 in funding to scale up and GMP manufacture the product for approximately 500 treatment courses. | |||
Accounting_Policies_by_Policy_
| Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies) | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sep. 30, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | ' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basis of presentation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation was incorporated on October 6, 2005 as an inactive wholly owned subsidiary of Inex Pharmaceuticals Corporation (“Inex”). Pursuant to a “Plan of Arrangement” effective April 30, 2007, the business, and substantially all of the assets and liabilities of Inex were transferred to the Company. The condensed consolidated financial statements for all periods presented herein include the consolidated operations of Inex until April 30, 2007 and the operations of the Company thereafter. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial statements and accordingly, do not include all disclosures required for annual financial statements. These statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2013 and included in the Company’s 2013 annual report on Form 10-K. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments and reclassifications necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows at September 30, 2014 and for all periods presented. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. These condensed consolidated financial statements follow the same significant accounting policies as those described in the notes to the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2013, with the exception of the recent accounting pronouncement described further below. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principles of Consolidation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Company has three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Protiva Biotherapeutics Inc., Protiva Biotherapeutics (USA) Inc., and Protiva Agricultural Development Company Inc. (“PADCo”). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| These condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and two of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Protiva Biotherapeutics Inc. and Protiva Biotherapeutics (USA) Inc. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated on consolidation. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Company records its investment in PADCo using the equity method. The Company has determined that PADCo is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) of which it is not the primary beneficiary. The Company is not the primary beneficiary as it does not have the power to make decisions that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIE nor does the Company have the right to receive benefits or the obligation to absorb losses that in either case could potentially be significant to the VIE. PADCo is described further in note 3. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income or loss per share | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income or loss per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted loss per share does not differ from basic loss per share since the effect of the Company’s stock options and warrants is anti-dilutive. Diluted income per share is calculated using the treasury stock method which uses the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period and also includes the dilutive effect of potentially issuable common shares from outstanding, in-the-money stock options and warrants. At September 30, 2014, potential common shares of 2,356,025 (September 30, 2013 – 3,163,771) were excluded from the calculation of income per common share because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of financial instruments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| We measure certain financial instruments and other items at fair value. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To determine the fair value, we use the fair value hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs market participants would use to value an asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from independent sources. Unobservable inputs are inputs based on assumptions about the factors market participants would use to value an asset or liability. The three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are as follows: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • | Level 1 inputs are quoted market prices for identical instruments available in active markets. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • | Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly. If the asset or liability has a contractual term, the input must be observable for substantially the full term. An example includes quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • | Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability and will reflect management’s assumptions about market assumptions that would be used to price the asset or liability. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The following tables present information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, and indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques used to determine such fair value: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | 30-Sep-14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 78,177 | - | - | $ | 78,177 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Guaranteed investment certificates | 42,289 | - | - | 42,289 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 120,466 | - | - | $ | 120,466 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrants | - | - | $ | 8,707 | $ | 8,707 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial instrument | - | - | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | - | - | $ | 8,707 | $ | 8,707 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | 31-Dec-13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 68,717 | - | - | $ | 68,717 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrants | - | - | $ | 5,379 | $ | 5,379 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| The Company acquired guaranteed investment certificates in April 2014, which are classified as short-term and long-term investments on the balance sheet. Short-term investments have original maturities between three months and twelve months. Long-term investments have original maturities greater than twelve months. For the period ended September 30, 2014, the value of short-term investments is $30,580,000 with original maturities between six to twelve months, and the value of the long-term investment is $11,709,000 with an original maturity of eighteen months. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Company used a discounted cash flow model to determine the fair value of the financial instrument related to Monsanto’s call option to acquire the equity or all of the assets of PADCo, as described in note 3. The fair value was determined at the date of recognition, and at each reporting date. The initial fair value of the financial liability was nil, and there has been no change to its fair value as at September 30, 2014. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The following table presents the changes in fair value of the Company’s warrants: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liability at beginning of the period | Opening liability of warrants issued in the period | Fair value of warrants exercised in the period | Increase in fair value of warrants | Foreign exchange loss | Liability at end of the period | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nine months ended September 30, 2014 | $ | 5,379 | - | $ | (9,260 | ) | $ | 12,943 | $ | (355 | ) | $ | 8,707 | ||||||||||||||
| The change in fair value of warrant liability for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 is recorded in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The weighted average Black-Scholes option-pricing assumptions and the resultant fair values, in thousands, for warrants outstanding at September 30, 2014 and at December 31, 2013 are as follows: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30-Sep-14 | 31-Dec-13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividend yield | 0 | % | 0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected volatility | 115.31 | % | 47.03 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | 1.13 | % | 1.13 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected average term (years) | 0.7 | 1.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of warrants outstanding | $ | 18.59 | $ | 5.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aggregate fair value of warrants outstanding | $ | 8,707 | $ | 5,379 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of warrants outstanding | 468,350 | 1,014,728 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation and change in reporting currency | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The functional currency of the Company is the Canadian dollar. For the Company and its integrated and consolidated subsidiaries (Protiva Biotherapeutics Inc. and Protiva Biotherapeutics (USA) Inc.), foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities are translated into Canadian dollars at the rate of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at historical exchange rates. The previous month’s average rate of exchange is used to translate revenue and expense transactions. Exchange gains and losses are included in income or loss for the period. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Effective October 1, 2013, the Company began using United States dollars as its reporting currency. All assets and liabilities are translated using the exchange rate at the balance sheet date (September 30, 2014 – 0.8929; December 31, 2013 – 0.9402). Revenues, expenses and other income (losses) are translated using the average rate for the period (nine months ended September 30, 2014 – 0.9139; nine months ended September 30, 2013 – 0.9710), except for large transactions, for which the exchange rate on the date of the transaction is used. Equity accounts are translated using the historical rate. As the translation differences from the Company’s functional currency of Canadian dollars to the Company’s reporting currency of U.S. dollars are unrealized gains and losses, the differences are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss), and do not impact the calculation of Income or Loss per Share. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recent accounting pronouncements | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) or other standard setting bodies that are adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, we believe that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations upon adoption. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In March 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-06, Technical Corrections and Improvements Related to Glossary Terms (Update). The update contains amendments that affect a wide variety of Topics in the Codification, and represent changes to clarify the Master Glossary of the Codification. The update does not have transition guidance and is effective upon issuance. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606). The standard is intended to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard for U.S. GAAP and IFRS by creating a new Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This guidance supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, Revenue Recognition, and supersedes some cost guidance included in Subtopic 605-35, Revenue Recognition – Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts. The core principle of the accounting standard is that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those good or services. The amendments should be applied by either (1) retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented; or (2) retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying this Update recognized at the date of initial application. The update is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2016, which for the Company means January 1, 2017. Early application is not permitted. The extent of the impact of adoption has not yet been determined. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, Compensation – Stock Compensation (ASC 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. The update is intended to resolve diverse accounting treatment of share-based payments that require a specific performance target to be achieved in order for employees to become eligible to vest in the awards. The update is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015, which for the Company means January 1, 2016. The amendments should be applied either (1) prospectively to all share-based payment awards that are granted or modified on or after the effective date; or (2) retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. Earlier application is permitted. The Company does not currently have any unvested performance based options and does not expect to issue any in the future, so the adoption of this guidance is not expected to have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. The update is intended to provide guidance in GAAP about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. Under amendments to GAAP, the assessment period is within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (or available to be issued). The amendments are effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, which for the Company means January 1, 2017, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. Early application is permitted. The Company does not plan to early adopt this update. The extent on the impact of this adoption has not yet been determined. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note_2_Significant_Accounting_1
| Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Tables) | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sep. 30, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | ' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block] | ' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | 30-Sep-14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 78,177 | - | - | $ | 78,177 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Guaranteed investment certificates | 42,289 | - | - | 42,289 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 120,466 | - | - | $ | 120,466 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrants | - | - | $ | 8,707 | $ | 8,707 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial instrument | - | - | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | - | - | $ | 8,707 | $ | 8,707 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | 31-Dec-13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 68,717 | - | - | $ | 68,717 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrants | - | - | $ | 5,379 | $ | 5,379 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Changes In Fair Value Of Warrants [Table Text Block] | ' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liability at beginning of the period | Opening liability of warrants issued in the period | Fair value of warrants exercised in the period | Increase in fair value of warrants | Foreign exchange loss | Liability at end of the period | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nine months ended September 30, 2014 | $ | 5,379 | - | $ | (9,260 | ) | $ | 12,943 | $ | (355 | ) | $ | 8,707 | ||||||||||||||
| Schedule of Warrants Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block] | ' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30-Sep-14 | 31-Dec-13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividend yield | 0 | % | 0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected volatility | 115.31 | % | 47.03 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | 1.13 | % | 1.13 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected average term (years) | 0.7 | 1.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of warrants outstanding | $ | 18.59 | $ | 5.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aggregate fair value of warrants outstanding | $ | 8,707 | $ | 5,379 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of warrants outstanding | 468,350 | 1,014,728 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note_3_Collaborations_Contract1
| Note 3 - Collaborations, Contracts and Licensing Agreements (Tables) | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| Sep. 30, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||
| Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] | ' | ||||||||||||||||
| Schedule of Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Table Text Block] | ' | ||||||||||||||||
| Three months ended Sept 30 | Nine months ended Sept 30 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||
| Collaborations and contracts | |||||||||||||||||
| DoD (a) | $ | 1,493 | $ | 2,833 | $ | 5,594 | $ | 7,186 | |||||||||
| Monsanto (b) | 283 | - | 809 | - | |||||||||||||
| BMS (d) | 1,552 | 102 | 1,758 | 657 | |||||||||||||
| Other RNAi collaborators (e) | 250 | 26 | 250 | 93 | |||||||||||||
| Total research and development collaborations and contracts | 3,578 | 2,961 | 8,411 | 7,936 | |||||||||||||
| Licensing fees, milestone and royalty payments | |||||||||||||||||
| Monsanto licensing fees and milestone payments (b) | 730 | - | 1,901 | - | |||||||||||||
| Acuitas milestone payments (c) | - | - | 150 | - | |||||||||||||
| Spectrum royalty payments (f) | 54 | 2 | 141 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Total licensing fees, milestone and royalty payments | 784 | 2 | 2,192 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Total revenue | $ | 4,362 | $ | 2,963 | $ | 10,603 | $ | 7,938 | |||||||||
| Deferred Revenue, by Arrangement, Disclosure [Table Text Block] | ' | ||||||||||||||||
| 30-Sep-14 | 31-Dec-13 | ||||||||||||||||
| DoD (a) | $ | 230 | $ | 1,655 | |||||||||||||
| Monsanto current portion (b) | 4,397 | - | |||||||||||||||
| BMS (d) | - | 1,808 | |||||||||||||||
| Other RNAi collaborators (e) | 250 | - | |||||||||||||||
| Deferred revenue, current portion | 4,877 | 3,463 | |||||||||||||||
| Monsanto long-term portion (b) | 10,075 | - | |||||||||||||||
| Total deferred revenue | $ | 14,952 | $ | 3,463 | |||||||||||||
Note_4_Accounts_Payable_and_Ac1
| Note 4 - Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities (Tables) | 9 Months Ended | ||
| Sep. 30, 2014 | |||
| Payables and Accruals [Abstract] | ' | ||
| Schedule of Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block] | ' | ||
| 30-Sep-14 | 31-Dec-13 | ||
| Trade accounts payable | $3,389 | $1,217 | |
| Research and development accruals | 1,492 | 1,405 | |
| Professional fee accruals | 525 | 247 | |
| Deferred lease inducements | 80 | 16 | |
| Other accrued liabilities | 418 | 795 | |
| $5,904 | $3,680 | ||
Note_7_Contingencies_and_Commi1
| Note 7 - Contingencies and Commitments (Tables) | 9 Months Ended | ||||
| Sep. 30, 2014 | |||||
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | ' | ||||
| Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases [Table Text Block] | ' | ||||
| Three-month period to December 31, 2014 | $ | 144,000 | |||
| Year ended December 31, 2015 | 1,159,000 | ||||
| Year ended December 31, 2016 | 1,159,000 | ||||
| Year ended December 31, 2017 | 1,159,000 | ||||
| Year ended December 31, 2018 | 1,159,000 | ||||
| Year ended December 31, 2019 | 676,000 | ||||
| $ | 5,456,000 | ||||
Note_2_Significant_Accounting_2
| Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) | 9 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | |||||
| Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Apr. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Apr. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | |
| Assets And Liabilities [Member] | Assets And Liabilities [Member] | Revenues And Expenses [Member] | Revenues And Expenses [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Maximum [Member] | |||
| Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Number of Wholly Owned Subsidiaries | 3 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount | 2,356,025 | 3,163,771 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| undefined | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | '3 months | '6 months | '12 months | '12 years |
| Long-Term Investment Maturity Term | '18 months | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | '12 months | ' | ' | ' |
| Short-term Investments | $30,580,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Long-term Investments | $11,709,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Foreign Currency Exchange Rate, Translation | ' | ' | 0.8929 | 0.9402 | 0.9139 | 0.971 | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Note_2_Significant_Accounting_3
| Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 |
| In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | ||
| Assets | ' | ' |
| Cash | $78,177 | $68,717 |
| Guaranteed investment certificates | 42,289 | ' |
| Total | 120,466 | ' |
| Liabilities | ' | ' |
| Warrants | 8,707 | 5,379 |
| Financial instrument | 0 | ' |
| Total | 8,707 | ' |
| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | ' | ' |
| Assets | ' | ' |
| Cash | 78,177 | 68,717 |
| Guaranteed investment certificates | 42,289 | ' |
| Total | 120,466 | ' |
| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | ' | ' |
| Liabilities | ' | ' |
| Warrants | 8,707 | 5,379 |
| Financial instrument | 0 | ' |
| Total | $8,707 | ' |
Note_2_Significant_Accounting_4
| Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - Changes in Fair Value of the Companybs Warrants (USD $) | 9 Months Ended |
| In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2014 |
| Changes in Fair Value of the Companybs Warrants [Abstract] | ' |
| Nine months ended September 30, 2014 | $5,379 |
| Nine months ended September 30, 2014 | -9,260 |
| Nine months ended September 30, 2014 | 12,943 |
| Nine months ended September 30, 2014 | -355 |
| Nine months ended September 30, 2014 | $8,707 |
Note_2_Significant_Accounting_5
| Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - Fair Value Assumptions of Warrants (USD $) | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
| In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 |
| Fair Value Assumptions of Warrants [Abstract] | ' | ' |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Expected volatility | 115.31% | 47.03% |
| Risk-free interest rate | 1.13% | 1.13% |
| Expected average term (years) | '255 days | '1 year 219 days |
| Fair value of warrants outstanding (in Dollars per share) | $18.59 | $5.30 |
| Aggregate fair value of warrants outstanding (in Dollars) | $8,707 | $5,379 |
| Number of warrants outstanding (in Shares) | 468,350 | 1,014,728 |
Note_3_Collaborations_Contract2
| Note 3 - Collaborations, Contracts and Licensing Agreements (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2013 | 8-May-13 | Apr. 22, 2014 | Apr. 22, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Jul. 14, 2010 | Jan. 13, 2014 | Jan. 13, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Nov. 12, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jun. 21, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2014 | 10-May-10 | Sep. 30, 2014 | |||||||||
| Increase to Support Development Plans [Member] | Increased Funding for Stage One [Member] | Stage One [Member] | Alnylam License Agreement [Member] | Marqibo [Member] | Marqibo [Member] | Marqibo [Member] | Marqibo [Member] | DoD [Member] | DoD [Member] | Monsanto [Member] | Monsanto [Member] | Monsanto [Member] | Monsanto [Member] | Monsanto [Member] | Monsanto [Member] | Acuitas [Member] | Acuitas [Member] | Acuitas [Member] | Acuitas [Member] | Acuitas [Member] | Alnylam [Member] | Alnylam [Member] | BMS [Member] | Spectrum Pharmaceuticals [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| DoD [Member] | DoD [Member] | DoD [Member] | Acuitas [Member] | Spectrum Pharmaceuticals [Member] | Spectrum Pharmaceuticals [Member] | Spectrum Pharmaceuticals [Member] | Spectrum Pharmaceuticals [Member] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note 3 - Collaborations, Contracts and Licensing Agreements (Details) [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||||||
| Potential Contract Funding Amount | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | $6,971,000 | $2,100,000 | $43,819,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | $140,000,000 | $34,748,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | $18,000,000 | ||||||||
| Approximate Option Period | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | '4 years | '4 years | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||||||
| Maximum Potential Transaction Value | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 86,200,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||||||
| Near Term Contract Payments | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 16,000,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||||||
| Contract Receivable | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 1,500,000 | ' | 1,500,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||||||
| Term of an Agreement to not Compete in a Particular Field | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | '5 years | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||||||
| License Costs | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 8,500,000 | ' | ' | ||||||||
| Licenses Revenue | 784,000 | 2,000 | 2,192,000 | 2,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | 150,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 730,000 | [1] | ' | [1] | 1,901,000 | [1] | ' | [1] | ' | ' | [2] | ' | [2] | 150,000 | [2] | ' | [2] | 5,000,000 | ' | ' | ' |
| Deferred Revenue | 14,952,000 | ' | 14,952,000 | ' | 3,463,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3,000,000 | ' | ||||||||
| Royalty Revenue | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | $54,000 | $2,000 | $141,000 | $2,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||||||
| Percentage of Royalties | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 2.50% | ||||||||
| [1] | Option and Services Agreements with Monsanto Company ("Monsanto")On January 13, 2014, the Company and Monsanto signed an Option Agreement and a Services Agreement (together, the "Agreements"). Under theAgreements, Monsanto has an option to obtain a license to use the Company's proprietary delivery technology and related intellectual property for use in agriculture. Over the option period, which is expected to be approximately four years, the Company will provide lipid formulations for Monsanto's research and development activities, and Monsanto will make certain payments to the Company to maintain its option rights. The maximum potential value of the transaction is $86,200,000 following the successful completion of milestones. As at September 30, 2014, the Company had received $16,000,000 in near term payments and is due to receive a further $1,500,000 as outlined in the terms of the Agreements. The amounts received and receivable relate to research services and use of the Company's technology over the option period, and are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the option period.Under the Agreements, the Company has established a wholly-owned subsidiary, PADCo. The Company has determined that PADCo is a variableinterest entity ("VIE"); however, Monsanto is the primary beneficiary of the arrangement. PADCo was established to perform research and development activities, which have been funded by Monsanto in return for a call option to acquire the equity or all of the assets of PADCo. At any time during the option period, Monsanto may choose to exercise its option, in which case Monsanto would pay the Company an option exercise fee and would receive a worldwide, exclusive right to use the Company's proprietary delivery technology in the field of agriculture. Monsanto may elect to terminate this option at their discretion. The Company retains all rights to therapeutics uses of all current intellectual property and intellectual property developed under the Agreements. The Company's initial investment is not significant, and has no implied or unfunded commitments and the maximum exposure to loss is limited to the amount of investment in the entity. The Company has included its investment in PADCo in Other Assets. There were no significant assets or liabilities for PADCo as at September 30, 2014. There was no equity income or loss recorded for the three or nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [2] | License and collaboration with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Alnylam") and Acuitas Therapeutics Inc. ("Acuitas", formerly AlCana Technologies Inc.)On November 12, 2012, the Company entered into a new licensing agreement with Alnylam that replaces all earlier licensing, cross-licensing, collaboration, and manufacturing agreements. The Company also entered into a separate cross license agreement with Acuitas which includes milestone and royalty payments and Acuitas has agreed not to compete in the RNAi field for five years.The licensing agreement grants Alnylam license rights to the Company's patents that were filed, or that claim priority to a patent that was filed, before April 15, 2010. Alnylam does not have rights to the Company's patents filed after April 15, 2010 unless they claim priority to a patent filed before that date. In addition, Alnylam has transferred all agreed upon patents and patent applications related to LNP technology for the systemic delivery of RNAi therapeutic products, including the MC3 lipid family, to the Company, who will own and control prosecution of this intellectual property portfolio. The Company is the only entity able to sublicense its LNP intellectual property in future platform-type relationships. Alnylam has a license to use the Company's intellectual property to develop and commercialize products and may only grant access to the Company's LNP technology to its partners if it is part of a product sublicense. Alnylam will pay the Company milestones and royalties as Alnylam's LNP-enabled products are developed and commercialized.The licensing agreement with Alnylam also grants the Company intellectual property rights to develop its own proprietary RNAi therapeutics. Alnylam has granted the Company a worldwide license for the discovery, development and commercialization of RNAi products directed to thirteen gene targets - three exclusive and ten non-exclusive licenses - provided that they have not been committed by Alnylam to a third party or are not otherwise unavailable as a result of the exercise of a right of first refusal held by a third party or are part of an ongoing or planned development program of Alnylam. Licenses for five of the ten non-exclusive targets - ApoB, PLK1, Ebola, WEE1, and CSN5 - have already been granted, along with an additional license for ALDH2, which has been granted on an exclusive basis. In consideration for this license, the Company has agreed to pay single-digit royalties to Alnylam on product sales and have milestone obligations of up to $8,500,000 on the non-exclusive licenses (with the exception of TKM-Ebola, which has no milestone obligations). Alnylam no longer has "opt-in" rights to the Company's lead oncology product, TKM-PLK1, so the Company now holds all development and commercialization rights related TKM-PLK1. The Company will have no milestone obligations on the three exclusive licenses.Milestone receipts and payments In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company earned a $150,000 milestone from Acuitas, subsequent to Acuitas receiving a milestone payment from Alnylam with respect to Alnylam initiating a Phase III trial for ALN-TTR02.Arbitration with Alnylam and Ascletis Pharmaceuticals (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd. ("Ascletis") On June 21, 2013, the Company transferred manufacturing process technology to Ascletis to enable them to produce ALN-VSP, a product candidate licensed to them by Alnylam. The Company believes that under the new licensing agreement with Alnylam, the technology transfer to Ascletis triggered a $5,000,000 milestone obligation from Alnylam to the Company. However, Alnylam has demanded a declaration that the Company has not yet met its milestone obligations. The Company disputes Alnylam's position. To remedy this dispute, the Company and Alnylam have commenced arbitration proceedings as provided for under the agreement. The Company has not recorded any revenue in respect of this milestone. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note_3_Collaborations_Contract3
| Note 3 - Collaborations, Contracts and Licensing Agreements (Details) - Revenue Recognized Under Collaborations, Contracts and Licensing Agreements (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||||||
| Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | |||||
| Collaborations and contracts | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
| Collaborations and contracts revenue | $3,578,000 | $2,961,000 | $8,411,000 | $7,936,000 | ||||
| Licensing fees, milestone and royalty payments | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
| Licensing fees, milestone and royalty payments | 784,000 | 2,000 | 2,192,000 | 2,000 | ||||
| Total revenue | 4,362,000 | 2,963,000 | 10,603,000 | 7,938,000 | ||||
| DoD [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
| Collaborations and contracts | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
| Collaborations and contracts revenue | 1,493,000 | [1] | 2,833,000 | [1] | 5,594,000 | [1] | 7,186,000 | [1] |
| Monsanto [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
| Collaborations and contracts | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
| Collaborations and contracts revenue | 283,000 | [2] | ' | [2] | 809,000 | [2] | ' | [2] |
| Licensing fees, milestone and royalty payments | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
| Licensing fees, milestone and royalty payments | 730,000 | [2] | ' | [2] | 1,901,000 | [2] | ' | [2] |
| BMS [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
| Collaborations and contracts | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
| Collaborations and contracts revenue | 1,552,000 | [3] | 102,000 | [3] | 1,758,000 | [3] | 657,000 | [3] |
| Other RNAi Collaborators [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
| Collaborations and contracts | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
| Collaborations and contracts revenue | 250,000 | [4] | 26,000 | [4] | 250,000 | [4] | 93,000 | [4] |
| Acuitas [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
| Licensing fees, milestone and royalty payments | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
| Licensing fees, milestone and royalty payments | ' | [5] | ' | [5] | 150,000 | [5] | ' | [5] |
| Spectrum [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
| Licensing fees, milestone and royalty payments | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
| Licensing fees, milestone and royalty payments | $54,000 | [6] | $2,000 | [6] | $141,000 | [6] | $2,000 | [6] |
| [1] | Contract with United States Government's Department of Defense ("DoD") to develop TKM-EbolaOn July 14, 2010, the Company signed a contract with the DoD to advance TKM-Ebola, an RNAi therapeutic utilizing the Company's lipid nanoparticle technology to treat Ebola virus infection.In the initial stage of the contract, funded as part of the Transformational Medical Technologies program, the Company was eligible to receive upto $34,748,000. This initial funding is for the development of TKM-Ebola including completion of preclinical development, filing an Investigational New Drug application with the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") and completing a Phase 1 human safety clinical trial. On May 8, 2013, the Company announced that the contract had been modified to add $6,971,000 in funding to support development plans that integrate recent advancements in lipid nanoparticle ("LNP") formulation and manufacturing technologies. On April 22, 2014, the Company and the DoD signed a contract modification to further increase the stage one targeted funding by $2,100,000 to $43,819,000. The additional funding is to compensate the Company for unrecovered overheads related to the temporary stop-work period that occurred in 2012 and to provide additional overhead funding should it be required. The DoD has the option of extending the contract beyond the initial funding period to support the advancement of TKM-Ebola through to the completion of clinical development and FDA approval. Based on the contract's original budget this would provide the Company with up to $140,000,000 in funding for the entire program.Under the contract, the Company is reimbursed for costs incurred, including an allocation of overhead costs, and is paid an incentive fee. At the beginning of the fiscal year the Company estimates its labour and overhead rates for the year ahead, and updates these rate estimates throughout the year. At the end of the year the actual labour and overhead rates are calculated and revenue is adjusted accordingly. The Company's actual labour and overhead rates will differ from its estimated rates based on actual costs incurred and the proportion of the Company's efforts on contracts and internal products versus indirect activities. Within minimum and maximum collars, the amount of incentive fee the Company can earn under the contract varies based on costs incurred versus budgeted costs. During the contractual period, incentive fee revenue and total costs are impacted by management's estimate and judgments which are continuously reviewed and adjusted as necessary using the cumulative catch-up method. At September 30, 2014, the Company believes it can reliably estimate the final contract costs so has recognized the portion of expected incentive fee which has been earned to date. | |||||||
| [2] | Option and Services Agreements with Monsanto Company ("Monsanto")On January 13, 2014, the Company and Monsanto signed an Option Agreement and a Services Agreement (together, the "Agreements"). Under theAgreements, Monsanto has an option to obtain a license to use the Company's proprietary delivery technology and related intellectual property for use in agriculture. Over the option period, which is expected to be approximately four years, the Company will provide lipid formulations for Monsanto's research and development activities, and Monsanto will make certain payments to the Company to maintain its option rights. The maximum potential value of the transaction is $86,200,000 following the successful completion of milestones. As at September 30, 2014, the Company had received $16,000,000 in near term payments and is due to receive a further $1,500,000 as outlined in the terms of the Agreements. The amounts received and receivable relate to research services and use of the Company's technology over the option period, and are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the option period.Under the Agreements, the Company has established a wholly-owned subsidiary, PADCo. The Company has determined that PADCo is a variableinterest entity ("VIE"); however, Monsanto is the primary beneficiary of the arrangement. PADCo was established to perform research and development activities, which have been funded by Monsanto in return for a call option to acquire the equity or all of the assets of PADCo. At any time during the option period, Monsanto may choose to exercise its option, in which case Monsanto would pay the Company an option exercise fee and would receive a worldwide, exclusive right to use the Company's proprietary delivery technology in the field of agriculture. Monsanto may elect to terminate this option at their discretion. The Company retains all rights to therapeutics uses of all current intellectual property and intellectual property developed under the Agreements. The Company's initial investment is not significant, and has no implied or unfunded commitments and the maximum exposure to loss is limited to the amount of investment in the entity. The Company has included its investment in PADCo in Other Assets. There were no significant assets or liabilities for PADCo as at September 30, 2014. There was no equity income or loss recorded for the three or nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014. | |||||||
| [3] | Bristol-Myers Squibb ("BMS") collaborationOn May 10, 2010 the Company announced the expansion of its research collaboration with BMS. Under the new agreement, BMS uses small interfering RNA ("siRNA") molecules formulated by the Company in LNP technology to silence target genes of interest. BMS is conducting the preclinical work to validate the function of certain genes and share the data with the Company. The Company can use the preclinical data to develop RNAi therapeutic drugs against the therapeutic targets of interest. The Company received $3,000,000 from BMS concurrent with the signing of the agreement and recorded the amount as deferred revenue. The Company is required to provide a pre-determined number of LNP batches over the four-year agreement. BMS has a first right to negotiate a licensing agreement on certain RNAi products developed by the Company that evolve from BMS validated gene targets.Revenue from the May 10, 2010 agreement with BMS is being recognized as the Company produces the related LNP batches.In December 2013, the Company offered BMS an extension to the agreement's end date from May 10, 2014 to December 31, 2014. Extending the agreement would give BMS more time to order LNP batches. The offer of an extension in December 2013 resulted in a cumulative revenue adjustment recorded for the year ended December 31, 2013. In August 2014, the Company received notification that the extension would not occur. As such the agreement expired and both companies' obligations under the agreement have ended. Revenue earned for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 relate to batches shipped to BMS during the period and the release of any remaining deferred revenue balance now that the agreement has expired. | |||||||
| [4] | Other RNAi collaboratorsThe Company has active research agreements with a number of other RNAi collaborators. | |||||||
| [5] | License and collaboration with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Alnylam") and Acuitas Therapeutics Inc. ("Acuitas", formerly AlCana Technologies Inc.)On November 12, 2012, the Company entered into a new licensing agreement with Alnylam that replaces all earlier licensing, cross-licensing, collaboration, and manufacturing agreements. The Company also entered into a separate cross license agreement with Acuitas which includes milestone and royalty payments and Acuitas has agreed not to compete in the RNAi field for five years.The licensing agreement grants Alnylam license rights to the Company's patents that were filed, or that claim priority to a patent that was filed, before April 15, 2010. Alnylam does not have rights to the Company's patents filed after April 15, 2010 unless they claim priority to a patent filed before that date. In addition, Alnylam has transferred all agreed upon patents and patent applications related to LNP technology for the systemic delivery of RNAi therapeutic products, including the MC3 lipid family, to the Company, who will own and control prosecution of this intellectual property portfolio. The Company is the only entity able to sublicense its LNP intellectual property in future platform-type relationships. Alnylam has a license to use the Company's intellectual property to develop and commercialize products and may only grant access to the Company's LNP technology to its partners if it is part of a product sublicense. Alnylam will pay the Company milestones and royalties as Alnylam's LNP-enabled products are developed and commercialized.The licensing agreement with Alnylam also grants the Company intellectual property rights to develop its own proprietary RNAi therapeutics. Alnylam has granted the Company a worldwide license for the discovery, development and commercialization of RNAi products directed to thirteen gene targets - three exclusive and ten non-exclusive licenses - provided that they have not been committed by Alnylam to a third party or are not otherwise unavailable as a result of the exercise of a right of first refusal held by a third party or are part of an ongoing or planned development program of Alnylam. Licenses for five of the ten non-exclusive targets - ApoB, PLK1, Ebola, WEE1, and CSN5 - have already been granted, along with an additional license for ALDH2, which has been granted on an exclusive basis. In consideration for this license, the Company has agreed to pay single-digit royalties to Alnylam on product sales and have milestone obligations of up to $8,500,000 on the non-exclusive licenses (with the exception of TKM-Ebola, which has no milestone obligations). Alnylam no longer has "opt-in" rights to the Company's lead oncology product, TKM-PLK1, so the Company now holds all development and commercialization rights related TKM-PLK1. The Company will have no milestone obligations on the three exclusive licenses.Milestone receipts and payments In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company earned a $150,000 milestone from Acuitas, subsequent to Acuitas receiving a milestone payment from Alnylam with respect to Alnylam initiating a Phase III trial for ALN-TTR02.Arbitration with Alnylam and Ascletis Pharmaceuticals (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd. ("Ascletis") On June 21, 2013, the Company transferred manufacturing process technology to Ascletis to enable them to produce ALN-VSP, a product candidate licensed to them by Alnylam. The Company believes that under the new licensing agreement with Alnylam, the technology transfer to Ascletis triggered a $5,000,000 milestone obligation from Alnylam to the Company. However, Alnylam has demanded a declaration that the Company has not yet met its milestone obligations. The Company disputes Alnylam's position. To remedy this dispute, the Company and Alnylam have commenced arbitration proceedings as provided for under the agreement. The Company has not recorded any revenue in respect of this milestone. | |||||||
| [6] | Agreements with Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Spectrum")On May 6, 2006, the Company signed a number of agreements with Talon Therapeutics, Inc. ("Talon", formerly Hana Biosciences, Inc.) including the grant of worldwide licenses (the "Talon License Agreement") for three of the Company's chemotherapy products, Marqibo, AlocrestTM (Optisomal Vinorelbine) and BrakivaTM (Optisomal Topotecan).On August 9, 2012, the Company announced that Talon had received accelerated approval for Marqibo from the FDA for the treatment of adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia in second or greater relapse or whose disease has progressed following two or more anti-leukemia therapies. Marqibo is a liposomal formulation of the chemotherapy drug vincristine. There are no further milestones related to Marqibo but the Company is eligible to receive total milestone payments of up to $18,000,000 on Alocrest and Brakiva.Talon was acquired by Spectrum in July 2013. The acquisition did not affect the terms of the license between Talon and the Company. On September 3, 2013, Spectrum announced that they had shipped the first commercial orders of Marqibo. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $54,000 and $141,000 in Marqibo royalty revenue respectively (three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 - $2,000). For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company accrued 2.5% in royalties due to TPC in respect of the Marqibo royalty earned by the Company - see note 7, contingencies and commitments. | |||||||
Note_3_Collaborations_Contract4
| Note 3 - Collaborations, Contracts and Licensing Agreements (Details) - Deferred Collaborations and Contracts Revenue (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | 10-May-10 | ||
| Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ||
| Deferred Revenue Current Portion | $4,877,000 | $3,463,000 | ' | ||
| Monsanto long-term portion (b) | 10,075,000 | ' | ' | ||
| Total deferred revenue | 14,952,000 | 3,463,000 | ' | ||
| DoD [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ||
| Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ||
| Deferred Revenue Current Portion | 230,000 | [1] | 1,655,000 | [1] | ' |
| Monsanto [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ||
| Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ||
| Deferred Revenue Current Portion | 4,397,000 | [2] | ' | [2] | ' |
| Monsanto long-term portion (b) | 10,075,000 | [2] | ' | [2] | ' |
| BMS [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ||
| Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ||
| Deferred Revenue Current Portion | ' | [3] | 1,808,000 | [3] | ' |
| Total deferred revenue | ' | ' | 3,000,000 | ||
| Other RNAi Collaborators [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ||
| Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ||
| Deferred Revenue Current Portion | $250,000 | [4] | ' | [4] | ' |
| [1] | Contract with United States Government's Department of Defense ("DoD") to develop TKM-EbolaOn July 14, 2010, the Company signed a contract with the DoD to advance TKM-Ebola, an RNAi therapeutic utilizing the Company's lipid nanoparticle technology to treat Ebola virus infection.In the initial stage of the contract, funded as part of the Transformational Medical Technologies program, the Company was eligible to receive up to $34,748,000. This initial funding is for the development of TKM-Ebola including completion of preclinical development, filing an Investigational New Drug application with the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") and completing a Phase 1 human safety clinical trial. On May 8, 2013, the Company announced that the contract had been modified to add $6,971,000 in funding to support development plans that integrate recent advancements in lipid nanoparticle ("LNP") formulation and manufacturing technologies. On April 22, 2014, the Company and the DoD signed a contract modification to further increase the stage one targeted funding by $2,100,000 to $43,819,000. The additional funding is to compensate the Company for unrecovered overheads related to the temporary stop-work period that occurred in 2012 and to provide additional overhead funding should it be required.The DoD has the option of extending the contract beyond the initial funding period to support the advancement of TKM-Ebola through to the completion of clinical development and FDA approval. Based on the contract's original budget this would provide the Company with up to $140,000,000 in funding for the entire program.Under the contract, the Company is reimbursed for costs incurred, including an allocation of overhead costs, and is paid an incentive fee. At the beginning of the fiscal year the Company estimates its labour and overhead rates for the year ahead, and updates these rate estimates throughout the year. At the end of the year the actual labour and overhead rates are calculated and revenue is adjusted accordingly. The Company's actual labour and overhead rates will differ from its estimated rates based on actual costs incurred and the proportion of the Company's efforts on contracts and internal products versus indirect activities. Within minimum and maximum collars, the amount of incentive fee the Company can earn under the contract varies based on costs incurred versus budgeted costs. During the contractual period, incentive fee revenue and total costs are impacted by management's estimate and judgments which are continuously reviewed and adjusted as necessary using the cumulative catch-up method. At September 30, 2014, the Company believes it can reliably estimate the final contract costs so has recognized the portion of expected incentive fee which has been earned to date. | ||||
| [2] | Option and Services Agreements with Monsanto Company ("Monsanto")On January 13, 2014, the Company and Monsanto signed an Option Agreement and a Services Agreement (together, the "Agreements"). Under the Agreements, Monsanto has an option to obtain a license to use the Company's proprietary delivery technology and related intellectual property for use in agriculture. Over the option period, which is expected to be approximately four years, the Company will provide lipid formulations for Monsanto's research and development activities, and Monsanto will make certain payments to the Company to maintain its option rights. The maximum potential value of the transaction is $86,200,000 following the successful completion of milestones. As at September 30, 2014, the Company had received $16,000,000 in near term payments and is due to receive a further $1,500,000 as outlined in the terms of the Agreements. The amounts received and receivable relate to research services and use of the Company's technology over the option period, and are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the option period.Under the Agreements, the Company has established a wholly-owned subsidiary, PADCo. The Company has determined that PADCo is a variable interest entity ("VIE"); however, Monsanto is the primary beneficiary of the arrangement. PADCo was established to perform research and development activities, which have been funded by Monsanto in return for a call option to acquire the equity or all of the assets of PADCo. At any time during the option period, Monsanto may choose to exercise its option, in which case Monsanto would pay the Company an option exercise fee and would receive a worldwide, exclusive right to use the Company's proprietary delivery technology in the field of agriculture. Monsanto may elect to terminate this option at their discretion. The Company retains all rights to therapeutics uses of all current intellectual property and intellectual property developed under the Agreements. The Company's initial investment is not significant, and has no implied or unfunded commitments and the maximum exposure to loss is limited to the amount of investment in the entity. The Company has included its investment in PADCo in Other Assets. There were no significant assets or liabilities for PADCo as at September 30, 2014. There was no equity income or loss recorded for the three or nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014. | ||||
| [3] | Bristol-Myers Squibb ("BMS") collaborationOn May 10, 2010 the Company announced the expansion of its research collaboration with BMS. Under the new agreement, BMS uses small interfering RNA ("siRNA") molecules formulated by the Company in LNP technology to silence target genes of interest. BMS is conducting the preclinical work to validate the function of certain genes and share the data with the Company. The Company can use the preclinical data to develop RNAi therapeutic drugs against the therapeutic targets of interest. The Company received $3,000,000 from BMS concurrent with the signing of the agreement and recorded the amount as deferred revenue. The Company is required to provide a pre-determined number of LNP batches over the four-year agreement. BMS has a first right to negotiate a licensing agreement on certain RNAi products developed by the Company that evolve from BMS validated gene targets.Revenue from the May 10, 2010 agreement with BMS is being recognized as the Company produces the related LNP batches.In December 2013, the Company offered BMS an extension to the agreement's end date from May 10, 2014 to December 31, 2014. Extending the agreement would give BMS more time to order LNP batches. The offer of an extension in December 2013 resulted in a cumulative revenue adjustment recorded for the year ended December 31, 2013. In August 2014, the Company received notification that the extension would not occur. As such the agreement expired and both companies' obligations under the agreement have ended. Revenue earned for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 relate to batches shipped to BMS during the period and the release of any remaining deferred revenue balance now that the agreement has expired. | ||||
| [4] | Other RNAi collaboratorsThe Company has active research agreements with a number of other RNAi collaborators. | ||||
Note_4_Accounts_Payable_and_Ac2
| Note 4 - Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities (Details) - Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 |
| In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | ||
| Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Abstract] | ' | ' |
| Trade accounts payable | $3,389 | $1,217 |
| Research and development accruals | 1,492 | 1,405 |
| Professional fee accruals | 525 | 247 |
| Deferred lease inducements | 80 | 16 |
| Other accrued liabilities | 418 | 795 |
| $5,904 | $3,680 |
Note_5_Financing_Details
| Note 5 - Financing (Details) (USD $) | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
| Mar. 26, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | |
| Note 5 - Financing (Details) [Line Items] | ' | ' |
| Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in Shares) | 2,125,000 | ' |
| Share Price (in Dollars per share) | $28.50 | ' |
| Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock | $60,562,000 | $56,477,000 |
| Number of Additional Shares Authorized (in Shares) | 318,750 | ' |
| Potential Proceeds of Additional Shares Authorized | 9,084,000 | ' |
| Payments of Stock Issuance Costs | 4,085,000 | ' |
| Net of Stock Issuance Costs [Member] | ' | ' |
| Note 5 - Financing (Details) [Line Items] | ' | ' |
| Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock | $56,477,000 | ' |
Note_6_Concentrations_of_Credi1
| Note 6 - Concentrations of Credit Risk (Details) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 |
| Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract] | ' | ' |
| Accounts Receivable, Net | $2,094,000 | $117,000 |
Note_7_Contingencies_and_Commi2
| Note 7 - Contingencies and Commitments (Details) | 0 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||
| Mar. 31, 2004 | Mar. 31, 2004 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Oct. 31, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Nov. 29, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Jan. 13, 2014 | Jan. 13, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | |
| USD ($) | CAD | USD ($) | CAD | Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Marqibo [Member] | Marqibo [Member] | Marqibo [Member] | Marqibo [Member] | Marqibo [Member] | Marina [Member] | Marina [Member] | Marina [Member] | Monsanto [Member] | Monsanto [Member] | Monsanto [Member] | Monsanto [Member] | Monsanto [Member] | |
| Monsanto [Member] | Monsanto [Member] | USD ($) | USD ($) | USD ($) | CAD | USD ($) | USD ($) | USD ($) | USD ($) | USD ($) | USD ($) | USD ($) | USD ($) | ||||||
| USD ($) | USD ($) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Note 7 - Contingencies and Commitments (Details) [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Percent of Costs Funded by a CounterParty | 27.00% | 27.00% | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Maximum Contribution for Product | $7,179,000 | 9,323,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | $5,000,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Cumulative Contribution for Product | ' | ' | 3,348,000 | 3,702,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Royalty Guarantees Commitments Percentage | ' | ' | 2.50% | 2.50% | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Royalty Revenue | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 54,000 | 141,000 | 2,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Royalty Payable | ' | ' | 4,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 1,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Royalties Paid or Accrued | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 5,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Contractual Obligation | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3,343,000 | 3,343,000 | ' | 3,697,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Upfront Fee | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 300,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| License Costs | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 200,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Milestone Payments | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3,250,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Approximate Option Period | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | '4 years | '4 years | ' | ' | ' |
| Contractual Payment | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 250,000 | 3 | 750,000 |
| Contractual Obligation, Future Minimum Payments Due, Remainder of Fiscal Year | ' | ' | ' | ' | $9 | $250,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Note_7_Contingencies_and_Commi3
| Note 7 - Contingencies and Commitments (Details) - Minimum Rent and Estimated Operating Cost Commitment, Net Lease Inducements (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2014 |
| Minimum Rent and Estimated Operating Cost Commitment, Net Lease Inducements [Abstract] | ' |
| Three-month period to December 31, 2014 | $144,000 |
| Year ended December 31, 2015 | 1,159,000 |
| Year ended December 31, 2016 | 1,159,000 |
| Year ended December 31, 2017 | 1,159,000 |
| Year ended December 31, 2018 | 1,159,000 |
| Year ended December 31, 2019 | 676,000 |
| $5,456,000 |
Note_8_Subsequent_Event_Detail
| Note 8 - Subsequent Event (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | ||
| Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Nov. 30, 2014 | |
| Subsequent Event [Member] | |||||
| TKM-Ebola Contract [Member] | |||||
| Note 8 - Subsequent Event (Details) [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Contracts Revenue | $3,578,000 | $2,961,000 | $8,411,000 | $7,936,000 | $7,000,000 |
| Number of Treatment Courses | ' | ' | ' | ' | 500 |