| Summary of significant accounting policies (Policies) | 3 Months Ended |
| Mar. 31, 2014 |
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | ' |
| Correction of a Prior Period Misstatement | ' |
| Correction of a Prior Period Misstatement |
| During the second quarter of 2013, the Company identified an error in the consolidated statement of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The Company paid $454,000 of financing costs during the first quarter of 2013 which amounts were previously reflected as an operating cash outflow and should have been reflected as a financing cash outflow. The consolidated statement of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2013 included herein has been revised to reflect the Company’s correction of this error. There was no impact to the consolidated balance sheet, consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss or consolidated statement of changes in shareholders’ equity (deficit) as a result of this revision. The error was not considered material to the previously issued consolidated financial statements. |
| Basis of consolidation | ' |
| Basis of consolidation |
| The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, Sophiris Bio Corp. and Sophiris Bio Holding Corp. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated for purposes of consolidation. |
| Basis of presentation and use of estimates | ' |
| Basis of presentation and use of estimates |
| The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP, for the interim financial information and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, related to quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and disclosures required by GAAP for annual audited financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, or Annual Report, filed with the SEC. GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and judgments that may affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses and related disclosures. The Company bases estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. The significant estimates in these condensed consolidated financial statements include revenue recognition, stock-based compensation expense, warrant liability, functional currency and accrued research and development expenses, including accruals related to the Company’s ongoing clinical trial. The Company’s actual results may differ from these estimates. The Company evaluates its estimates on an ongoing basis. Changes in estimates are reflected in reported results in the period in which they become known by the Company’s management. In the opinion of management, these condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The results of operations for the interim periods shown in this report are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any future period, including the full year. |
| Foreign currency | ' |
| Foreign currency |
| Functional currency |
| Prior to August 2013 the functional currency of Sophiris Bio Inc. had been the Canadian dollar and the functional currency of Sophiris Bio Corp. and Sophiris Bio Holding Corp. had been the U.S. dollar. Subsequent to the completion of the Company’s initial public offering on the NASDAQ Global Market, or NASDAQ, the Company reviewed the underlying indicators of the primary economic environment in which Sophiris Bio Inc. operates. Based upon this review, the Company determined that the functional currency of Sophiris Bio Inc. changed from the Canadian dollar to the U.S. dollar effective August 16, 2013, the date of the Company’s U.S. initial public offering. |
| Reclassification of Warrants |
| The change in the functional currency of Sophiris Bio Inc. to the U.S. dollar effective August 16, 2013 effects how the Company accounts for its previously issued common share purchase warrants which have exercise prices denominated in Canadian dollars, a currency that is not the Company’s functional currency. Upon the change in functional currency, the Company calculated the fair value of its warrants with exercise prices in Canadian dollars utilizing the Black Scholes valuation model and classified the fair value as a long term liability in accordance with ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”. The valuation of $1.6 million was calculated upon the change in functional currency. At each reporting period the Company will adjust the fair value of the warrant liability and any corresponding increase or decrease to the warrant liability will be recorded as a component of other income (expense) on the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. The estimated fair value is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model based on the estimated value of the underlying common shares at the valuation measurement date, the remaining contractual term of the warrants, risk-free interest rates, expected dividends and expected volatility of the price of the underlying common shares. |
| Warrant Liability |
| On January 31, 2014, the Company and Warburg Pincus Private Equity X, L.P. and Warburg Pincus X Partners, L.P. entered into an Omnibus Amendment to Common Share Purchase Warrants related to Warburg Pincus Private Equity X, L.P.’s and Warburg Pincus X Partners, L.P.’s 769,231 outstanding common share purchase warrants. On February 14, 2014, The Company and Oxford Finance LLC entered into an Omnibus Amendment to Warrants to Purchase Common Shares related to Oxford Finance LLC’s 26,971 outstanding common share purchase warrants. These amendments provided for the following: |
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| (i) | the amendment of the exercise price and number of shares underlying each of the outstanding common share purchase warrants to reflect the 52-for-1 share consolidation effected by the Company on August 9, 2013; and | | |
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| (ii) | the amendment of the existing exercise price which is denominated in Canadian dollars to be restated into U.S. dollars. The agreement stipulates that the conversion of the exercise price will be completed utilizing the exchange rate in effect on the date of the issuance of each warrant. | | |
| As a result of the conversion of the exercise prices from Canadian dollars to U.S. dollars the Company is no longer required to revalue the fair value of these warrants subsequent to their amendment. Upon the amendment of these common share purchase warrants the Company calculated a fair value on the date of their amendments using the Black-Scholes valuation model. As a result the Company recorded a $4,000 loss in its statement of operations and comprehensive loss which represents the change in the fair value of the common share purchase warrants from January 1, 2014 to the date of their amendments. The Company then reclassified the fair value as of the date of their amendments of $0.8 million for the amended common share purchase warrants from warrant liability to contributed surplus. |
| The Company continues to revalue at each reporting period 122,670 common share purchase warrants which continue to have exercise prices denominated in Canadian dollars. |
| Transactions and balances |
| Prior to the change in functional currency to U.S. dollars, all assets and liabilities of this entity were translated into U.S. dollars at the rate of exchange on the balance sheet date. Revenue and expense components were translated to U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate for the period. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency translation are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss), which is a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are recognized as a component of other income (expense), net. The Company recorded foreign exchange transaction losses of $16,000 and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. |
| Cash and cash equivalents | ' |
| Cash and cash equivalents |
| Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase. |
| Securities Available-for-Sale | ' |
| Securities Available-for-Sale |
| Investments with an original maturity of more than three months when purchased have been classified by management as securities available-for-sale. Such investments are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss) in shareholders’ equity. Realized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are included in interest income. No other-than-temporary impairments were identified for the investment securities held by the Company as of March 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013. The cost of investment securities classified as available-for-sale is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity. Such amortization and accretion are included in interest income. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific-identification method. The Company has classified all of its investment securities as available-for-sale, including those with maturities beyond one year, as current assets on the consolidated balance sheets based on the highly liquid nature of the investment securities and because these investment securities are considered available for use in current operations. |
| Revenue recognition | ' |
| Revenue recognition |
| The Company may enter into product development agreements with collaborative partners for the research and development of products for the treatment of urological diseases. The terms of the agreements may include nonrefundable signing and licensing fees, milestone payments and royalties on any product sales derived from collaborations. These multiple element arrangements are analyzed to determine whether the deliverables can be separated or whether they must be accounted for as a single unit of accounting. License fees are recognized as revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the fee is fixed or determinable, delivery or performance has substantially completed and collection is reasonably assured. |
| The Company recognizes up front license payments as revenue upon delivery of the license only if the license has stand-alone value to the customer and if the agreement includes a general right of return, the delivery or performance of undelivered items is considered probable and within the control of the Company. The payment is generally allocated to the separate units of accounting based on their relative selling prices. The selling price of each deliverable is determined using vendor specific objective evidence of selling prices, if it exists; otherwise, third-party evidence of selling prices. If neither vendor specific objective evidence nor third-party evidence exists, the Company uses its’ best estimate of the selling price for each deliverable. The payment allocated is limited to the amount that is not contingent on the delivery of additional items or fulfillment of other performance conditions. |
| Whenever the Company determines that an arrangement should be accounted for as a single unit of accounting, it must determine the period over which the performance obligations will be performed and revenue recognized. If the Company cannot reasonably estimate the timing and the level of effort to complete its performance obligations under the arrangement, then revenue under the arrangement is recognized on a straight-line basis over the period the Company is expected to complete its performance obligations. |
| The Company evaluates milestone payments on an individual basis and recognizes revenue from non-refundable milestone payments when the earnings process is complete and the payment is reasonably assured. Non-refundable milestone payments related to arrangements under which the Company has continuing performance obligations are recognized as revenue upon achievement of the associated milestone, provided that (i) the milestone event is substantive and its achievability was not reasonably assured at the inception of the agreement and (ii) the amount of the milestone payment is reasonable in relation to the effort expended or the risk associated with the milestone event. Any amounts received under agreements in advance of performance, if deemed substantive, are recorded as deferred revenue and recognized as revenue as the Company completes its performance obligations. A milestone event is considered substantive if (i) the milestone is commensurate with either (a) the Company’s performance to achieve the milestone or (b) the enhancement of the value of the delivered item(s) as a result of a specific outcome resulting from the Company’s performance to achieve the milestone; (ii) it relates solely to past performance and (iii) it is reasonable relative to all of the deliverables and payment terms (including other potential milestone consideration) within the arrangement. If any portion of the milestone payment does not relate to the Company’s performance, does not relate solely to past performance or is refundable or adjustable based on future performance, the milestone is not considered to be substantive. Milestone payments are not bifurcated into substantive and non-substantive components. Payments related to the achievement of non-substantive milestones is deferred and recognized over the Company’s remaining performance period. |
| Royalty revenue will be recognized upon the sale of the related products provided the Company has no remaining performance obligations under the arrangement. |
| Research and development expenses | ' |
| Research and development expenses |
| Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred. Research and development expenses comprise costs incurred in performing research and development activities, including personnel-related costs, stock-based compensation, facilities, research-related overhead, clinical trial costs, contracted services, manufacturing, license fees and other external costs. The Company accounts for nonrefundable advance payments for goods and services that will be used in future research and development activities as expenses when the service has been performed or when the goods have been consumed rather than when the payment is made. |
| Accrued research and development expenses | ' |
| Accrued research and development expenses |
| Clinical trial costs are recorded as a component of research and development expenses. The Company accrues and expenses clinical trial activities performed by third parties based upon estimates of the percentage of work completed over the life of the individual study in accordance with agreements established with clinical research organizations and clinical trial sites. The Company determines the estimates through discussions with internal clinical personnel and external service providers as to the progress or stage of completion of trials or services and the agreed-upon fee to be paid for such services based on facts and circumstances known to the Company as of each balance sheet date. However, actual costs and timing of clinical trials are highly uncertain, subject to risks and may change depending upon a number of factors, including the Company’s clinical development plan. The process of estimating clinical trial costs may become more complex as the Company’s ongoing and planned Phase 3 clinical trials will involve larger numbers of patients and clinical sites. |
| If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the estimate, the Company will adjust the accrual accordingly. Adjustments to prior period estimates have not been material. |
| Examples of estimated accrued research and development expenses include: |
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| • | | fees paid to clinical research organizations in connection with clinical studies; |
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| • | | fees paid to investigative sites in connection with clinical studies; |
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| • | | fees paid to vendors in connection with preclinical development activities; |
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| • | | fees paid to vendors associated with the development of companion diagnostics; and |
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| • | | fees paid to vendors related to product manufacturing, development and distribution of clinical supplies. |
| Nonrefundable advance payments for goods and services that will be used or rendered in future research and development activities, are recorded as a prepaid expense and recognized as expense in the period that the related goods are consumed or services are performed. |
| Stock-based compensation | ' |
| Stock-based compensation |
| The Company expenses the fair value of employee stock options over the vesting period. Compensation expense is measured using the fair value of the award at the grant date, net of estimated forfeitures, and is adjusted annually to reflect actual forfeitures. The fair value of each stock-based award is estimated using the Black-Scholes valuation model and is expensed using graded amortization over the vesting period. |
| The Company accounts for stock options granted to non-employees, which primarily consist of members of the Company’s scientific advisory board and consultants, using the fair value approach. Stock options granted to non-employees are subject to revaluation each reporting period over their vesting terms. |
| Historically the Company has issued its stock options with a Canadian dollar denominated exercise price. Subsequent to the Company’s initial public offering on the NASDAQ, the Company has issued its stock options with an U.S. dollar denominated exercise price. |
| Effective November 13, 2013, the Company voluntarily delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange, or TSX. Subsequent to November 13, 2013, the Company’s securities are being actively traded on only the NASDAQ. |
| As a result of the delisting from the TSX and the change in the Company’s functional currency to the U.S. dollar, the stock options granted with exercise prices denominated in Canadian dollars are now considered dual indexed as defined in ASC 718, “Compensation, Stock Compensation”. As a result of the stock options being dual indexed the Company is required to account for these stock options as a liability. Historically these options had been accounted for as equity. The estimated fair value is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model based on the estimated value of the underlying common shares at the valuation measurement date, the remaining service period of the stock options, risk-free interest rates, expected dividends and expected volatility of the price of the underlying common shares. The fair value of the stock-based compensation liability was $181,000 at March 31, 2014. As the calculated fair value of the stock options at March 31, 2014 was less than the original grant date fair value no additional compensation expense was recorded in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. The change in the fair value of the stock-based compensation liability from December 31, 2013 to March 31, 2014 of $21,000 was recorded as an adjustment to Contributed Surplus. |
| Fair value of financial instruments | ' |
| Fair value of financial instruments |
| The Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value based on the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid for to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, investments securities classified as available-for-sale and accounts payable and accrued expenses, approximate fair value due to their short maturities. |
| The Company follows ASC 820-10, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” which among other things, defines fair value, establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure for each major asset and liability category measured at fair value on either a recurring or nonrecurring basis. Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, a three-tier fair value hierarchy has been established, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: |
| Level 1 – Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date. |
| Level 2 – Inputs (other than quoted prices included in Level 1) are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability through correlation with market data at the measurement date and for the duration of the instrument’s anticipated life. |
| Level 3 – Inputs reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. Consideration is given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the inputs to the model. |
