Significant Contracts - Additional Information (Detail) | Nov. 07, 2018USD ($) | Sep. 24, 2018USD ($)shares | Sep. 17, 2018USD ($)Installment | Feb. 12, 2016USD ($) | Dec. 19, 2015USD ($)$ / shares | Oct. 26, 2015USD ($)Milestone | Oct. 31, 2016USD ($)$ / sharesshares | Sep. 30, 2018USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2017USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2018USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2017USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016USD ($) | Jan. 01, 2018USD ($) |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collaboration revenue | [1] | | | | | | | | $ 563,000 | $ 2,387,000 | $ 3,009,000 | $ 8,672,000 | | | |
Research and development expense | [2] | | | | | | | | 39,820,000 | 17,845,000 | 84,972,000 | 49,770,000 | | | |
Non-current deferred revenue | | | | | | | | | 57,806,000 | | $ 57,806,000 | | $ 56,928,000 | | |
Date of joint venture agreement | | | | | | | | | | | Dec. 19, 2015 | | | | |
Net proceeds from issuance of common shares | | | | | | | | $ 35,000,000 | | | $ 309,019,000 | | | | |
Standalone selling price allocation of arrangement consideration paid | | | | | | | | | 106,300,000 | | 106,300,000 | | | | |
Other income | | | | | | | | | (130,000) | (71,000) | (101,000) | (238,000) | | $ 79,100,000 | |
Equity method investment | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 36,500,000 | |
Unrealized equity method losses | | | | | | | | | (1,012,000) | (359,000) | (3,256,000) | (1,310,000) | | $ (36,500,000) | |
Stock-based compensation expense | | | | | | | | | 9,067,000 | 5,227,000 | 25,216,000 | 13,204,000 | | | |
Total liabilities | | | | | | | | | 101,589,000 | | 101,589,000 | | 83,514,000 | | |
ASC 606 [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Non-current deferred revenue | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 57,974,000 |
Total liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 84,662,000 |
ASC 606 [Member] | ASC 605 [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collaboration revenue | | | | | | | | | 506,000 | | 2,757,000 | | | | |
Non-current deferred revenue | | | | | | | | | 57,012,000 | | 57,012,000 | | | | |
Total liabilities | | | | | | | | | 100,693,000 | | 100,693,000 | | | | |
Licensing Agreements [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Standalone selling price | | | | | | | | | 71,400,000 | | 71,400,000 | | | | |
License and Patent Holder Consent [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Standalone selling price allocation of arrangement consideration paid | | | | | | | | | 79,100,000 | | 79,100,000 | | | | |
Research and Development Services [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Standalone selling price | | | | | | | | | 6,300,000 | | 6,300,000 | | | | |
Common Stock [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares issued and sold | shares | | | | | | | | 2,500,000 | | | | | | | |
Shares issued, price per share | $ / shares | | | | | | | | $ 14 | | | | | | | |
Bayer Convertible Loans [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross proceeds from convertible debt | | | | | | $ 35,000,000 | | | | | | | | | |
Debt instrument converted to Series B Preferred Shares, conversion price | $ / shares | | | | | | $ 13.43 | | | | | | | | | |
Fair value of convertible loan | | | | | | | | | 24,500,000 | | 24,500,000 | | | | |
Standalone selling price allocation of arrangement consideration paid | | | | | | | | | 27,200,000 | | 27,200,000 | | | | |
Casebia Therapeutics LLP [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collaboration revenue | | | | | | | | | | | 112,600,000 | | | | |
Research and development expense | | | | | | | | | 400,000 | 1,200,000 | 2,800,000 | 3,700,000 | | | |
Reimbursements from research and license agreements | | | | | | | | | 0 | 400,000 | 900,000 | 2,100,000 | | | |
Non-current deferred revenue | | | | | | | | | $ 0 | | $ 0 | | 100,000 | | |
Date of formation of joint venture entity | | | | | | | | | | | Feb. 12, 2016 | | | | |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | | | | | 50.00% | | | | 50.00% | | 50.00% | | | | |
Cash contribution | | | | | $ 100,000 | | | | | | | | | | |
Other payments due to company from joint venture entity | | | | | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash contribution | | | | | | | | | | | $ 100,000 | | | | |
Equity interest in the Joint Venture | | | | | | | | | $ 36,400,000 | | 36,400,000 | | | | |
Convertible Loan | | | | | | | | | 35,000,000 | | 35,000,000 | | | | |
Estimated revenue related to research and development services | | | | | | | | | | | 6,300,000 | | | | |
Equity method investment | | | | | | | | | 0 | | 0 | | 0 | | |
Stock-based compensation expense | | | | | | | | | 1,000,000 | 400,000 | 3,300,000 | 1,300,000 | | | |
Unrecognized equity method losses in excess of Company's interest | | | | | | | | | | | 38,800,000 | | 21,200,000 | | |
Operating expenses of joint venture | | | | | | | | | 12,800,000 | 10,200,000 | 39,100,000 | 24,700,000 | | | |
Net loss of joint venture | | | | | | | | | 12,600,000 | 10,200,000 | 38,400,000 | 24,700,000 | | | |
Research and Development Expenses [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Stock-based compensation expense | | | | | | | | | 3,999,000 | 2,420,000 | 12,081,000 | 6,095,000 | | | |
License and Service [Member] | Casebia Therapeutics LLP [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collaboration revenue | | | | | 35,000,000 | | | | | | | | | | |
License and Service [Member] | Casebia Therapeutics LLP [Member] | ASC 605 [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collaboration revenue | | | | | | | | | | | 1,200,000 | 3,900,000 | | | |
License and Service [Member] | Casebia Therapeutics LLP [Member] | ASC 606 [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collaboration revenue | | | | | | | | | 400,000 | 2,400,000 | | | | | |
Royalty [Member] | Casebia Therapeutics LLP [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collaboration revenue | | | | | $ 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
Technology Service [Member] | Casebia Therapeutics LLP [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collaboration revenue | | | | | | | | | | | 34,900,000 | | | | |
Non-Exclusive Research License [Member] | Market-based Approach [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Estimated standalone selling price for collaboration agreement | | | | | | | $ 1,000,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Nonrefundable upfront payment received | | | | | | | 75,000,000 | | | | | | | | |
Potential milestone receivable | | | | | | | 420,000,000 | | | | | | | | |
Non-exclusive research revenue | | | | | | | 19,300,000 | | | | | | | | |
Estimated standalone selling price for collaboration agreement | | | | | | | 118,600,000 | | | | | | | | |
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation | | | | | | | 82,000,000 | | 57,900,000 | | 57,900,000 | | | | |
Clinical milestone payment payable | | | | | | | 10,000,000 | | | | | | | | |
Research and development expense | | | | | | | | | 100,000 | 2,100,000 | 500,000 | 8,000,000 | | | |
Non-current deferred revenue | | | | | | | | | 57,800,000 | | 57,800,000 | | $ 56,800,000 | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Research and Development Expenses [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Variable consideration received | | | | | | | 19,300,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Rights One [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Estimated standalone selling price for single collaboration | | | | | | | 45,600,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Rights Two [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Estimated standalone selling price for single collaboration | | | | | | | 38,400,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Rights Three [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Estimated standalone selling price for single collaboration | | | | | | | 17,300,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Rights Four [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Estimated standalone selling price for single collaboration | | | | | | | 17,300,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | License and Service [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collaboration revenue | | | | | | | | | 100,000 | $ 1,200,000 | 500,000 | $ 4,800,000 | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Joint Development Agreement [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Nonrefundable upfront payment received | | | | | | | 7,000,000 | | | | | | | | |
Up-front payment received | | | | | | | | | | | $ 7,000,000 | | | | |
Agreement description | | | | | | | | | | | In connection with entering into the JDA, the Company received a $7.0 million up-front payment from Vertex and is eligible for a one-time low seven-digit milestone payment upon the dosing of the second patient in a clinical trial with the initial product candidate. The net profits and net losses, as applicable, incurred under the JDA will be shared equally between the Company and Vertex. | | | | |
Research and development expense | | | | | | | | | 8,700,000 | | $ 24,900,000 | | | | |
Reimbursements from research and license agreements | | | | | | | | | 3,700,000 | | $ 10,400,000 | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Beta-Globin [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Estimated standalone selling price for single collaboration | | | | | | | 48,900,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Non-Exclusive Research License [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation | | | | | | | 500,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Material Right to Discounts for Exclusive Licenses [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation | | | | | | | 57,700,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Material Right to Discounts for Exclusive Licenses [Member] | Unit One [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation | | | | | | | 22,200,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Material Right to Discounts for Exclusive Licenses [Member] | Unit Two [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation | | | | | | | 18,700,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Material Right to Discounts for Exclusive Licenses [Member] | Unit Three [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation | | | | | | | 8,400,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Material Right to Discounts for Exclusive Licenses [Member] | Unit Four [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation | | | | | | | 8,400,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Co-exclusive Development and Commercialization Licenses and Research License [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation | | | | | | | $ 23,800,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Clinical Development And Regulatory Milestone [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Number of developmental milestone events | Milestone | | | | | | | 9 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Clinical Development Milestones [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue recognition, milestone method, revenue recognized | | | | | | | $ 90,000,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Regulatory Approval Milestone [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue recognition, milestone method, revenue recognized | | | | | | | $ 235,000,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Commercial Milestones [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Number of developmental milestone events | Milestone | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | |
Revenue recognition, milestone method, revenue recognized | | | | | | | $ 75,000,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Investigational New Drug Application ("IND") [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue recognition, milestone method, revenue recognized | | | | | | | 10,000,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Developmental Milestone Events [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue recognition, milestone method, revenue recognized | | | | | | | 420,000,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Commercial Milestone Event One [Member] | Minimum [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collaboration revenue | | | | | | | 500,000,000 | | | | | | | | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Commercial Milestone Event Two [Member] | Minimum [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collaboration revenue | | | | | | | $ 1,000,000,000 | | | | | | | | |
ViaCyte [Member] | Research Collaboration Agreement [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares issued and sold | shares | | | 165,636 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net proceeds from issuance of common shares | | | $ 6,900,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amount payable under collaboration agreement | | | | $ 15,000,000 | | | | | | | | | | | |
Number of installments for amount payable | Installment | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
Issuance of common shares, value | | | $ 7,500,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collaboration agreement period | | | | 6 years | | | | | | | | | | | |
Key provisions of collaborative agreement description | | | | | | | | | | | The agreement includes certain provisions such that in the event ViaCyte sells shares received from the Company for less than $15.0 million in combined net proceeds, the Company will pay ViaCyte the deficient amount. In the event ViaCyte sells shares received from the Company for greater than $15.0 million in combined net proceeds, ViaCyte will pay the Company the surplus amount. | | | | |
Derivative liability, fair value | | | | | | | | | 100,000 | | $ 100,000 | | | | |
Change in fair value | | | | | | | | | | | 100,000 | | | | |
ViaCyte [Member] | Research Collaboration Agreement [Member] | Accrued Expenses [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total liabilities | | | | | | | | | $ 7,600,000 | | $ 7,600,000 | | | | |
ViaCyte [Member] | Research Collaboration Agreement [Member] | Subsequent Event | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collaboration agreement fair value of remaining amount payable, either cash or shares | | $ 8,100,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss on change in fair value derivative | | $ (500,000) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
ViaCyte [Member] | Research Collaboration Agreement [Member] | Convertible Promissory Note [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Additional amount payable under certain circumstances | | | | $ 10,000,000 | | | | | | | | | | | |
ViaCyte [Member] | Research Collaboration Agreement [Member] | Research and Development Expenses [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Upfront payment for intellectual property | | | | $ 15,000,000 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
[1] | Including the following revenue from a related party, see Notes 6 & 10: | |
[2] | Including the following research and development expense with a related party, see Notes 6 & 10: | |