Vivus (VVUS) 10-K 28 Feb 14 2013 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 19, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Document and Entity Information	'	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'VIVUS INC	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000881524	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-13	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'Yes	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$1,262,994,990
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	103,301,701	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$103,262	$58,605
Available-for-sale securities	240,024	155,981
Accounts receivable, net	12,214	2,778
Inventories, net	48,503	25,353
Prepaid expenses and other assets	19,938	19,159
Total current assets	423,941	261,876
Property and equipment, net	1,954	1,951
Non-current assets	5,901	287
Total assets	431,796	264,114
Current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	10,759	25,375
Accrued and other liabilities	23,993	14,680
Deferred revenue	17,255	1,150
Total current liabilities	52,007	41,205
Long-term debt	213,106	'
Deferred revenue - net of current portion	10,360	'
Non-current accrued and other liabilities	2,954	'
Total liabilities	278,427	41,205
Commitments and contingencies	'	'
Stockholders' equity:	'	'
Preferred stock; $1.00 par value; 5,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2013 and 2012	'	'
Common stock; $.001 par value; 200,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2013 and 2012; 103,161 and 100,659 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively	103	101
Additional paid-in capital	813,802	708,921
Accumulated other comprehensive income	66	33
Accumulated deficit	-660,602	-486,146
Total stockholders' equity	153,369	222,909
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$431,796	$264,114

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS	'	'
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$1	$1
Preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000	5,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock, shares authorized	200,000	200,000
Common stock, shares issued	103,161	100,659
Common stock, shares outstanding	103,161	100,659

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_OPE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenue:	'	'	'
Net product revenue	$25,244	$2,012	'
License revenue	55,838	'	'
Total revenue	81,082	2,012	'
Operating expenses:	'	'	'
Cost of goods sold	4,868	187	'
Inventory impairment and commitment fee	10,225	0	'
Research and development	29,677	32,065	24,604
Selling, general and administrative	158,235	109,665	22,472
Non-recurring charges	32,691	'	'
Total operating expenses	235,696	141,917	47,076
Loss from operations	-154,614	-139,905	-47,076
Interest and other expense (income):	'	'	'
Interest expense (income), net	19,532	-199	-240
Other expense	703	'	'
Total interest and other income (expense)	20,235	-199	-240
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	-174,849	-139,706	-46,836
Provision for income taxes	97	27	190
Loss from continuing operations	-174,946	-139,733	-47,026
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	490	-148	886
Net loss	($174,456)	($139,881)	($46,140)
Basic and diluted net loss per share:	'	'	'
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	($1.72)	($1.42)	($0.56)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$0	$0	$0.01
Net loss per share (in dollars per share)	($1.72)	($1.42)	($0.55)
Shares used in per share computation:	'	'	'
Basic and diluted (in shares)	101,174	98,289	84,392

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS	'	'	'
Net loss	($174,456)	($139,881)	($46,140)
Other comprehensive income-unrealized gain on securities, net of taxes	33	8	21
Comprehensive loss	($174,423)	($139,873)	($46,119)

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_STO

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Balances at Dec. 31, 2010	$132,002	$82	$432,041	$4	($300,125)
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	'	81,568,000	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'	'	'
Sale of common stock through employee stock purchase plan	211	'	211	'	'
Sale of common stock through employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	'	36,000	'	'	'
Exercise of common stock options for cash	2,354	'	2,354	'	'
Exercise of common stock options for cash (in shares)	'	482,000	'	'	'
Share-based compensation expense	7,353	'	7,353	'	'
Proceeds from registered direct public offering of common stock	45,812	7	45,805	'	'
Proceeds from registered direct public offering of common stock (in shares)	'	6,889,000	'	'	'
Offering cost allocated to equity	-529	'	-529	'	'
Net unrealized gain on securities	21	'	'	21	'
Net loss	-46,140	'	'	'	-46,140
Balances at Dec. 31, 2011	141,084	89	487,235	25	-346,265
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	'	88,975,000	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'	'	'
Sale of common stock through employee stock purchase plan	314	'	314	'	'
Sale of common stock through employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	'	35,000	'	'	'
Exercise of common stock options for cash	13,251	3	13,248	'	'
Exercise of common stock options for cash (in shares)	'	2,649,000	'	'	'
Share-based compensation expense	16,133	'	16,133	'	'
Proceeds from registered direct public offering of common stock	202,500	9	202,491	'	'
Proceeds from registered direct public offering of common stock (in shares)	'	9,000,000	'	'	'
Offering cost allocated to equity	-10,500	'	-10,500	'	'
Net unrealized gain on securities	8	'	'	8	'
Net loss	-139,881	'	'	'	-139,881
Balances at Dec. 31, 2012	222,909	101	708,921	33	-486,146
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	100,659,000	100,659,000	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'	'	'
Sale of common stock through employee stock purchase plan	860	'	860	'	'
Sale of common stock through employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	'	103,000	'	'	'
Exercise of common stock options for cash	13,706	2	13,704	'	'
Exercise of common stock options for cash (in shares)	'	2,366,000	'	'	'
Vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)	'	33,000	'	'	'
Share-based compensation expense	32,877	'	32,877	'	'
Equity component of convertible debt	95,262	'	95,262	'	'
Offering cost allocated to equity	-3,113	'	-3,113	'	'
Purchase of capped call transaction	-34,709	'	-34,709	'	'
Net unrealized gain on securities	33	'	'	33	'
Net loss	-174,456	'	'	'	-174,456
Balances at Dec. 31, 2013	$153,369	$103	$813,802	$66	($660,602)
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	103,161,000	103,161,000	'	'	'

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'	'
Net loss from continuing operations	($174,946)	($139,733)	($47,026)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss from continuing operations to net cash used for operating activities from continuing operations:	'	'	'
Depreciation	973	271	102
Amortization of debt issuance costs and discounts	8,369	'	'
Amortization of discount or premium on available-for-sale securities	2,635	3,950	3,118
Share-based compensation expense	32,397	15,938	7,353
Unrealized foreign currency remeasurement gain	-235	'	'
Loss on disposal and impairment of property and equipment	896	'	'
Inventory impairment	7,525	'	'
Changes in assets and liabilities:	'	'	'
Accounts receivable	-9,436	-2,778	'
Inventories	-30,195	-22,050	118
Prepaid expenses and other assets	2,086	-17,366	-145
Accounts payable	-14,821	22,202	545
Accrued and other liabilities	13,170	7,385	15
Deferred revenue	26,465	1,150	'
Net cash used for operating activities from continuing operations	-135,117	-131,031	-35,920
Net cash used for operating activities from discontinued operations	-208	-885	-980
Net cash used for operating activities	-135,325	-131,916	-36,900
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'	'
Property and equipment purchases	-1,795	-1,669	-201
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	-329,145	-226,654	-137,409
Proceeds from maturity of available-for-sale securities	242,500	133,250	129,000
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities	'	40,763	'
Non-current assets	-1,681	-287	'
Net cash used for investing activities	-90,121	-54,597	-8,610
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'	'
Net proceeds from debt issuances	290,247	'	'
Payments for capped call transactions	-34,709	'	'
Net proceeds from exercise of common stock options	13,706	13,250	2,354
Sale of common stock through employee stock purchase plan	859	314	211
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	'	192,000	45,283
Net cash provided by financing activities from continuing operations	270,103	205,564	47,848
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	44,657	19,051	2,338
Cash and cash equivalents:	'	'	'
Beginning of year	58,605	39,554	37,216
End of year	103,262	58,605	39,554
Supplemental cash flow disclosure:	'	'	'
Interest paid	5,000	'	'
Income taxes paid	32	7	24
Non-cash investing activities:	'	'	'
Unrealized gain on securities	$33	$8	$21

Business_and_Significant_Accou

Business and Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Business and Significant Accounting Policies	'
Business and Significant Accounting Policies	'
	Note 1. Business and Significant Accounting Policies
	Business
	VIVUS is a biopharmaceutical company with two U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, approved therapies, Qsymia® and STENDRA™. The Company's drug Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate extended-release) was approved by the FDA on July 17, 2012, as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adult patients with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater (obese), or 27 or greater (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbidity, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus or high cholesterol (dyslipidemia). Qsymia incorporates a proprietary formulation combining low doses of active ingredients from two previously approved drugs, phentermine and topiramate. Although the exact mechanism of action is unknown, Qsymia is believed to suppress appetite and increase satiety, or the feeling of being full, the two main mechanisms that impact eating behavior. On September 17, 2012, the Company announced the U.S. market availability of Qsymia through a certified home delivery network, which includes CVS Pharmacy, Express Scripts, Walgreens, Wal-Mart Pharmacy, and, for its members only, Kaiser Permanente. On July 1, 2013, the Company announced initial retail availability of Qsymia through approximately 8,000 Walgreens, Costco and Duane Reade pharmacies nationwide. As of the date of this report, Qsymia is available in over 37,000 certified retail pharmacies nationwide. The Company intends to continue to certify and add new pharmacies to the Qsymia retail pharmacy network, including national and regional chains as well as independent pharmacies. In addition, Qsymia continues to be available through a certified home delivery pharmacy network for patients who prefer to receive Qsymia by mail.
	In October 2012, the Company received the negative opinion from the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, or CHMP, recommending refusal of the marketing authorization for the medicinal product QsivaTM in the European Union, or EU, (the approved trade name for Qsymia in the EU) due to concerns over the potential cardiovascular and central nervous system effects associated with long-term use, teratogenic potential and use by patients for whom Qsiva would not have been indicated. The Company requested that this opinion be re-examined by the CHMP. After re-examination, on February 21, 2013, the CHMP adopted a final opinion that reaffirmed the Committee's earlier negative opinion. On May 15, 2013, the European Commission issued a decision refusing the grant of marketing authorization for Qsiva in the EU. On September 20, 2013, the Company submitted a request to the EMA for Scientific Advice, a procedure similar to the U.S. Special Protocol Assessment process, regarding use of a pre-specified interim analysis from the AQCLAIM cardiovascular outcomes trial to support the resubmission of an application for a marketing authorization for Qsiva for treatment of obesity in accordance with the EU centralized procedure. Based on feedback from the EMA health authority, as well as various country health authorities associated with review of the AQCLAIM trial application, the protocol has been revised and resubmitted to the FDA. The Company also intends to seek approval for Qsymia in other territories outside the United States and EU. The Company intends to commercialize Qsymia in territories where it obtains approval through collaboration agreements with third parties.
	The Company's drug STENDRA, or avanafil, is an oral phosphodiesterase type 5, or PDE5, inhibitor that the Company has licensed from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, or MTPC. STENDRA was approved by the FDA on April 27, 2012, for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, or ED, in the United States. On June 26, 2013, the European Commission, or EC, adopted the implementing decision granting marketing authorization for SPEDRA™ (the approved trade name for avanafil in the EU) for the treatment of ED in the EU. On July 5, 2013, the Company entered into an agreement with Menarini Group, through its subsidiary Berlin-Chemie AG, or Menarini, under which Menarini received an exclusive license to commercialize and promote SPEDRA for the treatment of ED in over 40 European countries, including the EU, plus Australia and New Zealand.
	On October 10, 2013, the Company entered into an agreement with Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Auxilium, under which Auxilium received an exclusive license to commercialize and promote STENDRA in the United States and Canada. On December 11, 2013, the Company entered into an agreement with Sanofi under which Sanofi received an exclusive license to commercialize and promote avanafil for therapeutic use in humans in Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, and the Commonwealth of Independent States, or CIS, including Russia. Sanofi will be responsible for obtaining regulatory approval in its territories. Sanofi intends to market avanafil under the trade name SPEDRA or STENDRA. Under the license agreements with Menarini, Auxilium and Sanofi, avanafil is expected to be commercialized in over 100 countries worldwide. The Company is currently in discussions with potential collaboration partners to market and sell STENDRA for other territories under its license with MTPC in which it does not have a commercial collaboration.
	At December 31, 2013, the Company's accumulated deficit was approximately $660.6 million. Based on current plans, management expects to incur further losses for the foreseeable future. Management believes that the Company's existing capital resources combined with anticipated future cash flows will be sufficient to support its operating needs at least through 2014. Should product sales and planned partnering activities be significantly less than the Company's expectations, it would need to raise additional capital to support operating activities through 2014 and beyond. Until the Company can generate sufficient levels of cash from its operations, the Company expects to continue to finance its future cash needs primarily through proceeds from equity or debt financing, loans and collaborative agreements with corporate partners. Management has evaluated all events and transactions that occurred after December 31, 2013, through the date these consolidated financial statements were filed. There were no events or transactions occurring during this period that require recognition or disclosure in these consolidated financial statements, except as disclosed in Note 20. The Company operates in a single segment, the development and commercialization of novel therapeutic products.
	When we refer to "we," "our," "us," the "Company" or "VIVUS" in this document, we mean the current Delaware corporation, or VIVUS, Inc., and its California predecessor, as well as all of our consolidated subsidiaries.
	Significant Accounting Policies
	Reclassifications
	Certain prior year amounts in the consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation.
	Principles of Consolidation
	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of VIVUS, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiaries: VIVUS International LP, VIVUS Real Estate LLC, VIVUS International Limited, VIVUS U.K. Limited and VIVUS B.V. Limited. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. On December 31, 2005, VIVUS U.K. Limited became a dormant company. On July 22, 2011, VIVUS Real Estate LLC was cancelled.
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including critical accounting policies or estimates related to available-for-sale securities, debt instruments, research and development expenses, income taxes, inventories, contingencies and litigation and share-based compensation. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, information received from third parties and on various market specific and other relevant assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	The Company considers highly liquid investments with maturities from the date of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, all cash equivalents are invested in money market funds and U.S. Treasury securities. These investments are recorded at fair value.
	As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the temporary unrealized gains (losses) on cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities, net of tax, were included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
	Available-for-Sale Securities
	The Company focuses on liquidity and capital preservation in its investments in available-for-sale securities. The Company's investment policy, as approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, allows it to invest its excess cash balances in money market and marketable securities, primarily U.S. Treasury securities and debt securities of U.S. government agencies, corporate debt securities and asset-backed securities in accordance with its investment policy. The Company periodically evaluates its investments to determine if impairment charges are required.
	The Company determines the appropriate classification of marketable securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such designation at each balance sheet date. Marketable securities have been classified and accounted for as available-for-sale. The Company may or may not hold securities with stated maturities greater than 12 months until maturity. In response to changes in the availability of and the yield on alternative investments as well as liquidity requirements, the Company may sell these securities prior to their stated maturities. As these securities are viewed by the Company as available to support current operations, securities with maturities beyond 12 months are classified as current assets.
	Securities are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as a component of stockholders' equity, unless the decline in value is deemed to be other-than-temporary and the Company intends to sell such securities before recovering their costs, in which case such securities are written down to fair value and the loss is charged to other-than-temporary loss on impaired securities. The Company evaluates its investment securities for other-than-temporary declines based on quantitative and qualitative factors. Any realized gains or losses on the sale of marketable securities are determined on a specific identification method, and such gains and losses are reflected as a component of interest income.
	Fair Value Measurements
	Financial instruments include cash equivalents, available-for-sale securities, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Available-for-sale securities are carried at estimated fair value. The carrying value of cash equivalents, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their estimated fair value due to the relatively short-term nature of these instruments.
	Debt instruments are initially recorded at fair value, with coupon interest and amortization of debt issuance discounts recognized in the statement of operations as interest expense at each period end while such instruments are outstanding. If the Company issues shares to discharge the liability, the debt obligation is derecognized and common stock and additional paid-in capital are recognized on the issuance of those shares.
	The Company's Convertible Notes contain a conversion option that is classified as equity. The Company determined the fair value of the liability component of the debt instrument and allocated the excess amount from the initial proceeds to the conversion option. The fair value of the debt component was determined by estimating a risk adjusted interest rate, or market yield, at the time of issuance for similar notes that do not include the conversion feature, or equity component. This excess is reported as a debt discount and is amortized as non-cash interest expense, using the interest method, over the expected life of the Convertible Notes.
	Issuance costs related to the equity component of the Convertible Notes were charged to additional paid-in capital. The remaining portion related to the debt component is being amortized and recorded as additional interest expense over the expected life of the Convertible Notes. In connection with the issuance of the Convertible Notes, the Company entered into capped call transactions with certain counterparties affiliated with the underwriters. The fair value of the purchased capped calls was recorded to stockholders' equity.
	Concentration of Credit Risk
	Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents, available-for-sale-securities, and accounts receivable. The Company has established guidelines to limit its exposure to credit risk by placing investments with a number of high credit quality institutions, in U.S. Treasury securities or diversifying its investment portfolio and placing investments with maturities that maintain safety and liquidity within the Company's liquidity needs.
	Accounts Receivable, Allowances for Doubtful Accounts and Cash Discounts
	The Company extends credit to its customers for product sales resulting in accounts receivable. Customer accounts are monitored for past due amounts. Past due accounts receivable, determined to be uncollectible, are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts. Allowances for doubtful accounts are estimated based upon past due amounts, historical losses and existing economic factors, and are adjusted periodically. The Company offers cash discounts to its customers, generally 2% of the sales price, as an incentive for prompt payment. The estimate of cash discounts is recorded at the time of sale. The Company accounts for the cash discounts by reducing revenue and accounts receivable by the amount of the discounts it expects the customers to take. The accounts receivable are reported in the consolidated balance sheets, net of the allowances for doubtful accounts and cash discounts. There is no allowance for doubtful accounts at December 31, 2013 or 2012. The allowance for cash discounts is $134,000 at December 31, 2013, and $57,000 at December 31, 2012.
	Inventories
	Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method for all inventories, which are valued using a weighted average cost method calculated for each production batch. Inventory includes the cost of the active pharmaceutical ingredients, or APIs, raw materials and third-party contract manufacturing and packaging services. Indirect overhead costs associated with production and distribution are allocated to the appropriate cost pool and then absorbed into inventory based on the units produced or distributed, assuming normal capacity, in the applicable period.
	Inventory costs of product shipped to customers, but not yet recognized as revenue, are recorded within inventories on the consolidated balance sheets and are subsequently recognized to cost of goods sold when revenue recognition criteria have been met.
	The Company's policy is to write down inventory that has become obsolete, inventory that has a cost basis in excess of its expected net realizable value and inventory in excess of expected requirements. The estimate of excess quantities is subjective and primarily dependent on the Company's estimates of future demand for a particular product. If the estimate of future demand is inaccurate based on actual sales, the Company may increase the write down for excess inventory for that product and record a charge to inventory impairment and commitment fee in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of inventory on hand for potential excess amount over demand using the same lower of cost or market approach as that used to value the inventory. As a result of this evaluation, for the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recognized a total charge of $10.2 million for Qsymia inventories on hand in excess of demand, plus a purchase commitment fee. There were no such charges in the year ended December 31, 2012.
	Property and Equipment
	Property and equipment is stated at cost and includes leasehold improvements, computers and software and furniture and fixtures. For financial reporting, depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of two to seven years for computers, software, furniture and fixtures. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the expected lease term or the estimated useful lives. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance, which do not extend the useful life of the property and equipment, are expensed as incurred. Upon retirement, the asset cost and related accumulated depreciation are relieved from the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Gains and losses associated with dispositions are reflected as a component of other income, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
	Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.
	Deferred Financing Costs
	Deferred financing costs, which are included in other assets, are amortized as interest expense over the contractual terms of the related credit facilities.
	Revenue Recognition
	Product Revenue:
	The Company recognizes revenue from the sales of Qsymia, and STENDRA or SPEDRA when: (i) persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred and title has passed, (iii) the price is fixed or determinable and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured. Revenue from sales transactions where the customer has the right to return the product is recognized at the time of sale only if: (i) the Company's price to the customer is substantially fixed or determinable at the date of sale, (ii) the customer has paid the Company, or the customer is obligated to pay the Company and the obligation is not contingent on resale of the product, (iii) the customer's obligation to the Company would not be changed in the event of theft or physical destruction or damage of the product, (iv) the customer acquiring the product for resale has economic substance apart from that provided by the Company, (v) the Company does not have significant obligations for future performance to directly bring about resale of the product by the customer, and (vi) the amount of future returns can be reasonably estimated.
	Product Revenue Allowances:
	Product revenue is recognized net of cash consideration paid to the Company's customers, wholesalers and certified pharmacies, for services rendered by the wholesalers and pharmacies in accordance with the wholesalers and certified pharmacy services network agreements, and include a fixed rate per prescription shipped from home delivery pharmacies and monthly program management and data fees. These services are not deemed sufficiently separable from the customers' purchase of the product; therefore, they are recorded as a reduction of revenue at the time of revenue recognition.
	Other product revenue allowances include certain prompt pay discounts and allowances offered to the Company's customers, program rebates and chargebacks. These product revenue allowances are recognized as a reduction of revenue at the later of the date at which the related revenue is recognized or the date at which the allowance is offered. The Company also offers discount programs to patients. Calculating certain of these items involves estimates and judgments based on sales or invoice data, contractual terms, utilization rates, new information regarding changes in these programs' regulations and guidelines that would impact the amount of the actual rebates or chargebacks. The Company reviews the adequacy of product revenue allowances on a quarterly basis. Amounts accrued for product revenue allowances are adjusted when trends or significant events indicate that adjustment is appropriate and to reflect actual experience.
	Qsymia was approved by the FDA in July 2012. The Company sells Qsymia product in the U.S. to wholesalers and select certified pharmacies through their home delivery pharmacy services networks, which are collectively, its customers. Under this arrangement, title and risk of loss transfer to the Company's customers upon delivery of the product to their distribution facilities. Wholesalers, in turn, sell product to certified retail pharmacies. Both mail order and retail certified pharmacies in turn, sell and dispense directly to patients either at their retail pharmacies or through their mail order home delivery service.
	The Company shipped initial orders of Qsymia to its customers in September 2012, and in July 2013 the Company expanded its distribution network to include certified retail pharmacies in accordance with the FDA-approved amendment to the Company's NDA for Qsymia. Qsymia has a 36-month shelf life and the Company grants rights to its customers to return unsold product three months prior to and up to 12 months after product expiration and issue credits that may be applied against existing or future invoices. Given the Company's limited history of selling Qsymia and the lengthy return period, the Company has not been able to reliably estimate expected returns of Qsymia at the time of shipment, and therefore it recognizes revenue when units are dispensed to patients through prescriptions, at which point, the product is not subject to return. The Company obtains the prescription shipment data from the pharmacies to determine the amount of revenue to recognize.
	The Company will continue to recognize revenue for Qsymia based upon prescription sell-through until it has sufficient historical information to reliably estimate returns. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had recorded deferred revenue of $10.3 million related to shipments of Qsymia, which represents product shipped to its customers, but not yet dispensed to patients through prescriptions. A corresponding accounts receivable is also recorded for this amount, as the payments from customers are not contingent upon the sale of product to patients.
	The commercialization of STENDRA was launched by the Company's collaboration partner Auxilium in the U.S. in December 2013, and the commercialization of SPEDRA is expected to be launched in the EU-5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom), by the Company's collaboration partner Menarini in the first half of 2014. The Company sells STENDRA or SPEDRA through its commercialization partners: Auxilium in the U.S., Menarini in the EU plus Australia and New Zealand, and Sanofi in Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, and the CIS, including Russia, who are its customers. The Company's commercialization partners for STENDRA or SPEDRA sell product through their distribution channels to patients. Under the Company's product supply agreements, as long as product meets specified product dating criteria at the time of shipment to the partner, the Company's commercialization partners do not have a right of return or credit for expired product. However, given STENDRA or SPEDRA's 48-month shelf life and lack of selling history, the Company has not been able to reliably estimate expected returns of product at the time of shipment for certain initial product supply orders under these agreements that retain a right of return or credit for product supplied that does not meet the commercialization partners' criteria. Therefore, for these orders, the Company recognizes revenue when units are dispensed to patients through prescriptions, at which point, the product is not subject to return. The Company obtains the prescription shipment data from its commercialization partners to determine the amount of revenue to recognize. The Company supplied certain initial orders of STENDRA or SPEDRA product with a right of return or credit, which did not meet the required specifications of its partners. In addition, the Company allocated a portion of the manufacturing milestone payment received from Sanofi in 2013 to product that was supplied in the first quarter of 2014, based on relative estimated selling prices. As a result, the Company had $6.7 million in deferred revenue related to STENDRA or SPEDRA product supply as of December 31, 2013.
	Revenue from Multiple-Element Arrangements:
	The Company accounts for multiple-element arrangements, such as license and commercialization agreements in which a customer may purchase several deliverables, in accordance with ASC Topic 605-25, Revenue Recognition—Multiple-Element Arrangements, or ASC 605-25. The Company evaluates if the deliverables in the arrangement represent separate units of accounting. In determining the units of accounting, management evaluates certain criteria, including whether the deliverables have value to its customers on a stand-alone basis. Factors considered in this determination include whether the deliverable is proprietary to the Company, whether the customer can use the license or other deliverables for their intended purpose without the receipt of the remaining elements, whether the value of the deliverable is dependent on the undelivered items, and whether there are other vendors that can provide the undelivered items. Deliverables that meet these criteria are considered a separate unit of accounting. Deliverables that do not meet these criteria are combined and accounted for as a single unit of accounting.
	When deliverables are separable, the Company allocates non-contingent consideration to each separate unit of accounting based upon the relative selling price of each element. When applying the relative selling price method, the Company determines the selling price for each deliverable using vendor-specific objective evidence, or VSOE, of selling price, if it exists, or third-party evidence, or TPE, of selling price, if it exists. If neither VSOE nor TPE of selling price exists for a deliverable, the Company uses best estimated selling price, or BESP, for that deliverable. Significant management judgment may be required to determine the relative selling price of each element. Revenue allocated to each element is then recognized based on when the following four basic revenue recognition criteria are met for each element: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered; (iii) the price is fixed or determinable; and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.
	Determining whether and when some of these criteria have been satisfied often involves assumptions and judgments that can have a significant impact on the timing and amount of revenue the Company reports. Changes in assumptions or judgments, or changes to the elements in an arrangement, could cause a material increase or decrease in the amount of revenue reported in a particular period.
	ASC Topic 605-28, Revenue Recognition—Milestone Method (ASC 605-28), established the milestone method as an acceptable method of revenue recognition for certain contingent, event-based payments under research and development arrangements. Under the milestone method, a payment that is contingent upon the achievement of a substantive milestone is recognized in its entirety in the period in which the milestone is achieved. A milestone is an event: (i) that can be achieved based in whole or in part on either the Company's performance or on the occurrence of a specific outcome resulting from the Company's performance, (ii) for which there is substantive uncertainty at the date the arrangement is entered into that the event will be achieved, and (iii) that would result in additional payments being due to the Company. The determination that a milestone is substantive requires judgment and is made at the inception of the arrangement. Milestones are considered substantive when the consideration earned from the achievement of the milestone is: (i) commensurate with either the Company's performance to achieve the milestone or the enhancement of value of the item delivered as a result of a specific outcome resulting from the Company's performance to achieve the milestone, (ii) relates solely to past performance, and (iii) is reasonable relative to all deliverables and payment terms in the arrangement.
	Other contingent, event-based payments received for which payment is either contingent solely upon the passage of time or the results of a collaborative partner's performance are not considered milestones under ASC 605-28. In accordance with ASC 605-25, such payments will be recognized as revenue when all of the four basic revenue recognition criteria are met.
	Revenues recognized for royalty payments are recognized as earned in accordance with the terms of the license and commercialization agreements.
	Cost of Goods Sold
	Cost of goods sold for units dispensed to patients through prescriptions, or shipped to customers without a right of return or credit, includes the inventory costs of APIs, third-party contract manufacturing costs, packaging and distribution costs, royalties, cargo insurance, freight, shipping, handling and storage costs, and overhead costs of the employees involved with production. Specifically, cost of goods sold for Qsymia dispensed to patients includes the inventory costs of the APIs, third-party contract manufacturing and packaging and distribution costs, royalties, cargo insurance, freight, shipping, handling and storage costs, and overhead costs of the employees involved with production; while cost of goods sold for STENDRA shipped to partners includes the inventory costs of purchased tablets, royalties, freight, shipping and handling costs. The cost of goods sold associated with deferred revenue on Qsymia and STENDRA product shipments is recorded as deferred costs, which are included in inventories in the consolidated balance sheets, until such time as the deferred revenue is recognized.
	Research and Development Expenses
	Research and development, or R&D, expenses include license fees, related compensation, consultants' fees, facilities costs, administrative expenses related to R&D activities and clinical trial costs incurred by clinical research organizations or CROs, and research institutions under agreements that are generally cancelable, among other related R&D costs. The Company also records accruals for estimated ongoing clinical trial costs. Clinical trial costs represent costs incurred by CRO and clinical sites and include advertising for clinical trials and patient recruitment costs. These costs are recorded as a component of R&D expenses and are expensed as incurred. Under the Company's agreements, progress payments are typically made to investigators, clinical sites and CROs. The Company analyzes the progress of the clinical trials, including levels of patient enrollment, invoices received and contracted costs when evaluating the adequacy of accrued liabilities. Significant judgments and estimates must be made and used in determining the accrued balance in any accounting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates under different assumptions. Revisions are charged to expense in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known.
	In addition, the Company has obtained rights to patented intellectual properties under several licensing agreements for use in research and development activities. Non-refundable licensing payments made for intellectual properties that have no alternative future uses are expensed to research and development as incurred.
	Advertising Expenses
Advertising expenses are charged to expense as incurred. The Company incurred $26.1 million in 2013 and $16.1 million in 2012 in advertising and sales promotion costs related to its marketed product Qsymia.
Share-Based Payments
The Company follows the fair value method of accounting for share-based compensation arrangements in accordance with FASB ASC topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, or ASC 718. Compensation expense is recognized, using a fair-value based method, for all costs related to share-based payments including stock options and restricted stock units and stock issued under the employee stock purchase plan. The Company estimates the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value of each option award is estimated on the grant date using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The expected term, which represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding, is derived by analyzing the historical experience of similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual terms of the share-based awards, vesting schedules and expectations of future employee behavior. Expected volatilities are estimated using the historical share price performance over the expected term of the option. The Company also considers other factors such as its planned clinical trials and other company activities that may affect the volatility of VIVUS's stock in the future but determined that, at this time, the historical volatility was more indicative of expected future stock price volatility. The risk-free interest rate for the period matching the expected term of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. The Black-Scholes Model also requires a single expected dividend yield as an input. The Company does not anticipate paying any dividends in the near future. The Company develops pre-vesting forfeiture assumptions based on an analysis of historical data.
Non-Recurring Charges
The Company's non-recurring charges consist of proxy contest expenses and restructuring charges including employee severance, one-time termination benefits and ongoing benefits related to the reduction of its workforce, facilities and other exit costs. Liabilities for costs associated with a restructuring activity are recognized when the liability is incurred, as opposed to when management commits to a restructuring plan. In addition, liabilities associated with restructuring activities are measured at fair value. One-time termination benefits are expensed at the date the entity notifies the employee, unless the employee must provide future service, in which case the benefits are expensed ratably over the future service period. Ongoing benefits are expensed when restructuring activities are probable and the benefit amounts are estimable. Other costs primarily consist of legal, consulting, and other costs related to employee terminations and are expensed when incurred. Termination benefits are calculated in accordance with the VIVUS, Inc. Amended and Restated Change in Control and Severance Agreement or the termination benefits plan, as applicable.
Income Taxes
The Company makes certain estimates and judgments in determining income tax expense for financial statement purposes. These estimates and judgments occur in the calculation of certain tax assets and liabilities, which arise from differences in the timing of recognition of revenue and expense for tax and financial statement purposes.
As part of the process of preparing the Company's consolidated financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which the Company operates. This process involves the Company estimating its current tax exposure under the most recent tax laws and assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
The Company assesses the likelihood that it will be able to recover its deferred tax assets. The Company considers all available evidence, both positive and negative, including historical levels of income, expectations and risks associated with estimates of future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. If it is not more likely than not that the Company will recover its deferred tax assets, the Company will increase its provision for taxes by recording a valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets that the Company estimates will not ultimately be recoverable. As a result of the Company's analysis of all available evidence, both positive and negative, as of December 31, 2013, it was considered more likely than not that the Company's deferred tax assets would not be realized. However, should there be a change in the Company's ability to recover its deferred tax assets, the Company would recognize a benefit to its tax provision in the period in which the Company determines that it is more likely than not that it will recover its deferred tax assets.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax benefits as a component of its provision for income taxes.
FASB ASC topic 740, Income Taxes, or ASC 740, prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a company's income tax return, and also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. ASC 740-10 utilizes a two-step approach for evaluating uncertain tax positions. Step one, Recognition, requires a company to determine if the weight of available evidence indicates that a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. Step two, Measurement, is based on the largest amount of benefit, which is more likely than not to be realized on ultimate settlement.
Discontinued operations
On November 5, 2010, the Company completed the sale of the MUSE product to Meda AB. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded some minor adjustments related to the MUSE disposition, primarily adjustments to its sales reserves for accrued product returns.
Foreign Currency Transactions
Transactions in foreign currencies are initially recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated into the Company's functional currency at the rates prevailing on the balance sheet date.
Non-monetary items carried at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the initial transaction dates.
Exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items, and on the retranslation of monetary items, are included in the profit and loss account for the period. Exchange differences arising on the retranslation of non-monetary items carried at fair value are included in other expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the period.
Contingencies and Litigation
The Company is periodically involved in disputes and litigation related to a variety of matters. When it is probable that the Company will experience a loss, and that loss is quantifiable, the Company records appropriate reserves. The Company records legal fees and costs as an expense when incurred.
Net Income (Loss) Per Share
The Company computes basic net income (loss) per share applicable to common shareholders based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income (loss) per share is based on the weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares, which represent shares that may be issued in the future upon the exercise of outstanding stock options or upon a net share settlement of the Company's Convertible Notes. Common share equivalents are excluded from the computation in periods in which they have an anti-dilutive effect. Stock options for which the price exceeds the average market price over the period have an anti-dilutive effect on net income per share and, accordingly, are excluded from the calculation. As discussed in Note 12, the triggering conversion conditions that allow holders of the Convertible Notes to convert have not been met. If such conditions are met and the note holders opt to convert, the Company may choose to settle in cash, common stock, or a combination thereof; however, if this occurs, the Company has the intent and ability to net share settle this debt security; thus the Company uses the treasury stock method for earnings per share purposes. Due to the effect of the capped call instrument purchased in relation to the Convertible Notes, there would be no net shares issued until the market value of the Company's stock exceeds $20 per share, and thus there would be no impact on diluted net income per share. Further, when there is a net loss, other potentially dilutive common equivalent shares are not included in the calculation of net loss per share since their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.
The computation of basic and diluted net loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, are as follows:
	2013			2012			2011
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Net loss	$	(174,456	)	$	(139,881	)	$	(46,140	)
Net loss per share—basic and diluted	$	(1.72	)	$	(1.42	)	$	(0.55	)
Shares used in the computation of net loss per share—basic and diluted		101,174			98,289			84,392
As the Company recognized a net loss from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, 7,027,000, 4,172,000 and 5,357,000 potentially dilutive options outstanding were not included in the computation of diluted net loss, respectively, because the effect would have been anti-dilutive.
Recent Accounting Requirements
There have been no recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements during the year ended December 31, 2013 that are of significance, or potential significance to the Company.

Cash_Cash_Equivalents_and_Avai

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Available-for-Sale Securities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Available-for-Sale Securities	'
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Available-for-Sale Securities	'
	Note 2. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Available-for-Sale Securities
	The fair value and the amortized cost of cash, cash equivalents, and available-for-sale securities by major security type at December 31, 2013 and 2012, are presented in the tables that follow.
	As of December 31, 2013 (in thousands):
	Cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale	Amortized			Gross		Gross			Estimated
	securities	Cost			Unrealized		Unrealized			Fair Value
					Gains		Losses
	Cash and money market funds	$	103,262		$	—	$	—		$	103,262
	U.S. Treasury securities		239,959			69		(4	)		240,024
	Total		343,221			69		(4	)		343,286
	Less amounts classified as cash equivalents		(103,262	)		—		—			(103,262	)
	Total available-for-sale securities	$	239,959		$	69	$	(4	)	$	240,024
	As of December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
	Cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale	Amortized			Gross		Gross			Estimated
	securities	Cost			Unrealized		Unrealized			Fair Value
					Gains		Losses
	Cash and money market funds	$	58,605		$	—	$	—		$	58,605
	U.S. Treasury securities		155,948			33		—			155,981
	Total		214,553			33		—			214,586
	Less amounts classified as cash equivalents		(58,605	)		—		—			(58,605	)
	Total available-for-sale securities	$	155,948		$	33	$	—		$	155,981
	As of December 31, 2013, the Company's available-for-sale securities have original contractual maturities up to 23 months. However, the Company may or may not hold securities with stated maturities greater than 12 months until maturity. In response to changes in the availability of and the yield on alternative investments as well as liquidity requirements, the Company may sell these securities prior to their stated maturities. As these securities are viewed by the Company as available to support current operations, securities with maturities beyond 12 months are classified as current assets. Due to their short-term maturities, the Company believes that the fair value of its bank deposits, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their carrying value.
	Fair Value Measurements
	The authoritative literature for fair value measurements established a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs in measuring fair value. These tiers are as follows: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted market prices in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as significant unobservable inputs (entity developed assumptions) in which little or no market data exists.
	As of December 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012, all of the Company's cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities were measured at fair value on a recurring basis, and classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. There were no assets or liabilities measured on a recurring basis where Level 2 or Level 3 valuation techniques were used.

Inventories

Inventories	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Inventories	'
Inventories	'
	Note 3. Inventories
	Inventories, net of $7.5 million in write downs, consist of (in thousands):
		Balance as of
		December 31,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Raw materials	$	28,545	$	5,139
	Work in process		12		2,635
	Finished goods		14,793		17,506
	Deferred costs		5,153		73
	Inventories, net	$	48,503	$	25,353
	As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the raw materials inventories consist primarily of the active pharmaceutical ingredients, or API, for the commercialization of Qsymia® (phentermine and topiramate extended-release) capsules CIV, the finished goods and deferred costs inventories consist of both Qsymia and STENDRATM (avanafil), while the work in process inventory relates exclusively to Qsymia. The deferred costs represent the costs of product shipped to wholesalers, certified retail pharmacies, certified mail order pharmacies, and commercialization partners but not yet dispensed to patients through prescriptions, and for which recognition of revenue has been deferred.
	Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method for all inventories, which are valued using a weighted average cost method calculated for each production batch. The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of inventory on hand for potential excess amount over demand using the same lower of cost or market approach as that used to value the inventory. As a result of this evaluation, for the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recognized a total charge of $10.2 million for Qsymia inventories on hand in excess of demand, plus a purchase commitment fee. No such charge was recorded in the year ended December 31, 2012.

Prepaid_Expenses_and_Other_Ass

Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets	'
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets	'
	Note 4. Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets
	Prepaid expenses and other assets consist of (in thousands):
		Balance as of
		December 31,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Prepaid insurance	$	3,617	$	6,979
	Prepaid sales and marketing expenses		5,187		5,735
	Prepaid medical affairs expenses		444		1,782
	Manufacturing capacity commitment fees		461		2,300
	Withholding tax receivable		5,560		—
	Debt issuance costs		1,247		—
	Other prepaid expenses and assets		3,422		2,363
	Total	$	19,938	$	19,159
	The amounts included in prepaid expenses and other assets consist primarily of prepaid insurance, deposits and prepayments for future services, primarily related to prepaid product commercialization costs for services relating to future periods in support of the sales and marketing of Qsymia in the U.S., prepayments related to medical affairs activities for Qsymia and STENDRA, current portion of debt issuance costs, interest income receivable, withholding tax receivable and manufacturing capacity commitment fees. The withholding tax receivable represents refundable foreign tax withheld on payments Menarini Group, through its subsidiary Berlin-Chemie AG, or Menarini, made to the Company. These amounts represent probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by the Company as a result of past transactions or events, which meet the definition of an asset under FASB Concept Statement 6. As such, these costs have been deferred as prepaid expenses and other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets and will be either (i) charged to expense accordingly when the related prepaid services are rendered to the Company, or (ii) converted to cash when the receivables are collected by the Company.

Property_and_Equipment

Property and Equipment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Property and Equipment.	'
Property and Equipment	'
	Note 5. Property and Equipment
	Property and equipment consist of (in thousands):
		Balance as of
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Computers and software	$	2,301		$	2,056
	Furniture and fixtures		936			692
	Manufacturing equipment		213			269
	Leasehold improvements		758			351
			4,208			3,368
	Accumulated depreciation		(2,254	)		(1,417	)
	Property and equipment, net	$	1,954		$	1,951

NonCurrent_Assets

Non-Current Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Non-Current Assets	'
Non-Current Assets	'
	Note 6. Non-Current Assets
	Non-current assets consist of (in thousands):
		Balance as of
		December 31,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Debt issuance costs	$	4,620	$	—
	Other non-current assets		1,281		287
	Total	$	5,901	$	287
	The amounts included in non-current assets consist of debt issuance costs relating to the Convertible Notes and the Senior Secured Notes Due 2018 (see Note 12), which primarily consist of investment banker, legal and other professional fees, and other assets which are not expected to be realized in the next 12 months.

Accrued_and_Other_Liabilities

Accrued and Other Liabilities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accrued and Other Liabilities	'
Accrued and Other Liabilities	'
	Note 7. Accrued and Other Liabilities
	Accrued and other liabilities consist of (in thousands):
		Balance as of
		December 31,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Accrued employee compensation and benefits	$	3,408	$	3,859
	Accrued manufacturing costs		4,071		4,135
	Accrued sales and marketing expenses		970		2,908
	Accrued interest on debt (see Note 12)		5,541		—
	Accrued research and clinical expenses		1,755		1,372
	Accrued restructuring costs (see Note 9)		4,577		—
	Other accrued liabilities		3,671		1,503
	Liabilities of discontinued operations		—		903
	Total	$	23,993	$	14,680
	The amounts included in accrued and other liabilities consist of obligations for past services, primarily related to accrued employee compensation and benefits, accrued manufacturing and product commercialization costs for services relating to past periods in support of the commercial launch of Qsymia in the U.S., accrued interest on debt, and accrued research and clinical expenses.

NonCurrent_Accrued_and_Other_L

Non-Current Accrued and Other Liabilities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Non-Current Accrued and Other Liabilities	'
Non-Current Accrued and Other Liabilities	'
	Note 8. Non-Current Accrued and Other Liabilities
	Non-current accrued and other liabilities at December 31, 2013 of $3.0 million, consist of employee severance and benefits related to a cost reduction plan that was substantially completed in the year ended December 31, 2013 and lease exit costs that will be paid out in excess of the next 12 months (see Note 9).

NonRecurring_Charges

Non-Recurring Charges	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Non-Recurring Charges	'
Non-Recurring Charges	'
	Note 9. Non-Recurring Charges
	On July 18, 2013, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with First Manhattan in connection with a proxy contest related to the Company's 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. According to the terms of the settlement agreement, more than a majority of the members of the Company's Board of Directors resigned and new members were appointed. The change in the majority of the members of the Company's Board of Directors, effective July 19, 2013, triggered certain "change of control" benefits in accordance with the Amended Agreements with certain of the Company's employees. Under the Amended Agreements, all unvested stock options held by these employees automatically vested in full and became immediately exercisable. In addition, the resignations of both the Company's Chief Executive Officer and President resulted in severance charges under the Amended Agreements. As part of the settlement agreement with First Manhattan, the Company paid the reasonable and documented expenses incurred by First Manhattan in connection with its proxy contest, which totaled approximately $2.9 million.
	As part of the Company's ongoing efforts to reduce costs by eliminating expenses that are not essential to expanding the use of Qsymia, the Company implemented a cost reduction plan that reduced the Company's workforce by approximately 20 employees, or 17%, excluding the sales force, in the year ended December 31, 2013. As of December 31, 2013, this cost reduction plan was substantially complete.
	The following table sets forth activity for the proxy contest and cost reduction plan (the restructuring accrual) for the year ended December 31, 2013, the balance of which is primarily comprised of employee severance costs (in thousands):
		Proxy			Employee			Facilities-			Total
		contest			severance			related			Cash
		costs			costs			costs			Expense
	Balance of accrued employee severance and facilities-related costs at December 31, 2012	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
	Charges		8,862			8,546			1,211			18,619
	Payments		(8,862	)		(2,037	)		(189	)		(11,088	)
	Balance of accrued employee severance and facilities-related costs at December 31, 2013	$	—		$	6,509		$	1,022		$	7,531
	*
	In addition to the above non-recurring charges, as previously described, the Company incurred $14.1 million in non-cash share-based compensation expense for an aggregated total of $32.7 million in non-recurring charges for the year ended December 31, 2013.
	The accrued employee severance costs represent severance and benefit costs to be paid out.
	The accrued facilities-related costs at December 31, 2013, represent estimated losses, net of subleases, on space vacated as part of the Company's restructuring plan. The leases, and payments against the amounts accrued, extend through May 2020 unless the Company is able to negotiate earlier terminations.
	Of the total accrued employee severance and facilities-related costs, $4.6 million is included in "Accrued and other liabilities" and $3.0 million is included in "Non-current accrued and other liabilities" in the Company's consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2013. The balance of the accrued employee severance and facilities-related costs at December 31, 2013, is anticipated to be fully paid by May 2020.
	The balance of the accrued employee severance and facilities-related costs at December 31, 2013 is anticipated to be paid out as follows (in thousands):
	2014	$	4,705
	2015		2,581
	2016		80
	2017		55
	2018		46
	Thereafter		64
		$	7,531

Deferred_Revenue

Deferred Revenue	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Deferred Revenue	'
Deferred Revenue	'
	Note 10. Deferred Revenue
	Qsymia Deferred Revenue
	At December 31, 2013, the Company had $10.3 million in current deferred revenue, which represents Qsymia product shipped to the Company's certified home delivery pharmacy services networks, wholesalers and certified retail pharmacies, but not yet dispensed to patients through prescriptions, net of prompt payment discounts.
	STENDRA™ or SPEDRA™ Deferred Revenue
	As further discussed in Note 11 below, in 2013, the Company received €6.7 million, (€8 million, net of approximately 16% reimbursable withholding tax) from Menarini as a prepayment for future royalties on sales of SPEDRA. The gross prepayment amount of €8 million, or $10.6 million, is recorded as non-current deferred revenue as of December 31, 2013, and will be recognized through future earnings and deducted by Menarini against future royalties owed to the Company until such amount, plus interest cost, is depleted in full.
	The Company supplied certain initial orders of STENDRA or SPEDRA product with a right of return or credit, which did not meet the required specifications of its partners. As such, the Company recorded these shipments as deferred revenue as of December 31, 2013. Under the Company's product supply agreements, as long as product meets specified product dating criteria at the time of shipment to the partner, the Company's commercialization partners do not have a right of return or credit for expired product. However, given STENDRA or SPEDRA's 48-month shelf life and lack of selling history, the Company has not been able to reliably estimate expected returns of product at the time of shipment for certain initial product supply orders under these agreements that retain a right of return or credit for product supplied that does not meet the commercialization partners' criteria. Therefore, for these orders, the Company recognizes revenue when units are dispensed to patients through prescriptions, at which point, the product is not subject to return. In addition, the Company allocated a portion of the manufacturing milestone payment received from Sanofi in 2013 to product that was supplied in the first quarter of 2014, based on relative estimated selling prices. As a result, the Company had $6.7 million in non-current deferred revenue related to STENDRA or SPEDRA product supply as of December 31, 2013.

License_Commercialization_and_

License, Commercialization and Supply Agreements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
License, Commercialization and Supply Agreements	'
License, Commercialization and Supply Agreements	'
	Note 11. Collaboration Agreements
	Menarini Group
	On July 5, 2013, the Company entered into a License and Commercialization Agreement, or the Menarini License Agreement, with Menarini Group through its subsidiary Berlin-Chemie AG, or Menarini, to commercialize and promote SPEDRA for the treatment of ED in over 40 European countries, including the EU, plus Australia and New Zealand. VIVUS and Menarini also entered into a Commercial Supply Agreement, or the Menarini Supply Agreement, whereby VIVUS will supply Menarini with SPEDRA drug product.
	The Company agreed to transfer to Menarini ownership of the European Union marketing authorization for SPEDRA for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, which was granted by the European Commission in June 2013. Each party agreed not to develop, commercialize, or in-license any other product that operates as phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor for the treatment of erectile dysfunction for a limited time period, subject to certain exceptions.
	Under the Menarini License Agreement, the Company is entitled to receive upfront payments, and various approval and sales milestones, plus royalties on SPEDRA sales. Menarini will also reimburse the Company for payments made to cover various obligations to MTPC during the term of the Menarini License Agreement. The Menarini License Agreement will terminate on a country-by-country basis in the relevant territories upon the latest to occur of the following: (i) the expiration of the last-to-expire valid VIVUS patent covering SPEDRA; (ii) the expiration of data protection covering SPEDRA; or (iii) ten (10) years after the SPEDRA product launch. In addition, Menarini may terminate the Menarini License Agreement if certain additional regulatory obligations are imposed on SPEDRA, and the Company may terminate the Menarini License Agreement if Menarini challenges VIVUS's patents covering SPEDRA or if Menarini commits certain legal violations. Either party may terminate the Menarini License Agreement for the other party's uncured material breach or bankruptcy.
	Under the terms of the Menarini Supply Agreement, the Company will supply Menarini with STENDRA drug product until December 31, 2018, at the latest. Menarini also has the right to manufacture STENDRA independently, provided that it continues to satisfy certain minimum purchase obligations to VIVUS. Following the expiration of the Menarini Supply Agreement, Menarini will be responsible for its own supply of STENDRA. Either party may terminate the Menarini Supply Agreement for the other party's uncured material breach or bankruptcy, or upon the termination of the Menarini License Agreement.
	Upon the signing of the Menarini License Agreement, the Company received a payment of €6.7 million, (€8 million, net of approximately 16% reimbursable withholding tax), for the non-refundable, non-creditable license fee, as well as a payment of €6.7 million, (€8 million, net of approximately 16% reimbursable withholding tax), for a regulatory milestone payment, related to the approval of the SPEDRA marketing authorization by the European Commission. Although this payment was described in the Menarini License Agreement as a regulatory milestone payment for obtaining marketing authorization in the EU, it is essentially an additional license fee because the approval by the European Commission was obtained prior to the final execution of the Menarini License Agreement. In addition, in October 2013, VIVUS received another payment of €6.7 million, (€8 million, net of approximately 16% reimbursable withholding tax), as a prepayment for future royalties on sales of SPEDRA. This prepayment amount of €8 million, or $10.6 million, has been recorded as deferred revenue as of December 31, 2013, and will be recognized as royalty income when earned.
	For the year ended December 31, 2013, VIVUS recognized €16.0 million, or $21.0 million, as license revenue, as the Company determined that revenue was earned upon the delivery of the license rights and related know-how. Under the Menarini Supply Agreement, VIVUS will supply the SPEDRA drug product to Menarini on a cost-plus basis.
	In accordance with ASC 605-25, VIVUS identified the license and related know-how and supply services as separate deliverables under the agreements. The Company determined that the license and related know-how and supply services individually represent separate units of accounting because each deliverable has stand-alone value. The Company determined that the license and related know-how have stand-alone value based on various facts and circumstances in the arrangement, including Menarini's option to sublicense. Although Menarini is precluded from reselling the license, Menarini's ability to use the delivered license and related know-how for its intended purpose without the receipt of the remaining deliverable indicated that the license and related know-how have stand-alone value.
	VIVUS determined that the supply services have stand-alone value because: (i) the manufacturing process is not proprietary to the Company; (ii) a third-party manufacturer produces the product, and (iii) Menarini may at any time with notice to the Company elect to accept assignment of VIVUS's agreements with the third-party manufacturer, or manufacture the licensed product itself or contract with a third-party manufacturer to produce it.
	The Company allocated the non-contingent consideration relating to the stand-alone, non-contingent deliverables on the basis of relative selling price, which is BESP because VSOE or TPE are unavailable for these deliverables. The objective of BESP is to determine the price at which the Company would transact a sale if the product or service were sold on a stand-alone basis. BESP for the license is based on discounted future projected cash flows relating to the licensed territories. Revenue related to the license was recognized in 2013 when the license and all related knowledge and data had been transferred. BESP for the supply services is based on third-party costs to manufacture the licensed product, plus a mark-up consistent with similar agreements. Revenues allocated to the supply services will be recognized when the product has met all required specifications and the related title and risk of loss and damages have been transferred to Menarini. The Company has determined that achievement of any and all of the milestones is dependent solely upon the results of Menarini and therefore none of the milestones are deemed to be substantive. Royalties to be received from Menarini will be recognized by the Company based upon the net sales of the product by Menarini. As of December 31, 2013, $5.1 million in revenue from the initial product delivered in 2013 under the Menarini Supply Agreement has been deferred until the product has met all required specifications and the related title and risk of loss and damages have been transferred.
	Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
	On October 10, 2013, the Company entered into a license and commercialization agreement, or the Auxilium License Agreement, and a commercial supply agreement, or the Auxilium Supply Agreement, whereby VIVUS will supply Auxilium with STENDRA drug product. Under the terms of the Auxilium License Agreement, Auxilium received an exclusive license to commercialize and promote VIVUS's drug STENDRA (avanafil) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in the United States and Canada and their respective territories, or the Auxilium Territory.
	Each party agreed not to develop, commercialize, or in-license any other product that operates as a PDE5 inhibitor for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in the Territory for a limited time period, subject to certain exceptions. A PDE5 inhibitor means any product that operates as a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor.
	Auxilium received an exclusive license, with a right to sublicense, subject to certain limitations, under certain of VIVUS's trademarks, including STENDRA, to market, sell and distribute STENDRA for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in the Auxilium Territory. In addition, Auxilium received an exclusive license, with a right to sublicense, subject to certain limitations, under certain of VIVUS's patents and know-how (i) to use, distribute, import, promote, market, sell, offer for sale and otherwise commercialize STENDRA for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in the Auxilium Territory; (ii) to make and have made STENDRA anywhere in the world, with certain exceptions, where STENDRA is solely for use or sale for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in the Auxilium Territory; and (iii) to conduct certain development activities on STENDRA for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in support of obtaining regulatory approval in the Auxilium Territory.
	Auxilium will obtain STENDRA exclusively from VIVUS for a mutually agreed term pursuant to the Auxilium Supply Agreement, as further described below. Auxilium may elect to transfer the control of the supply chain for STENDRA for the Territory to itself or its designee by assigning to Auxilium VIVUS's agreements with the contract manufacturer, which is referred to below as the Supply Chain Transfer.
	At VIVUS's sole cost and expense, VIVUS shall be responsible for preparing and filing with the FDA the appropriate documents to obtain a label expansion for STENDRA referencing a specific time of onset claim. VIVUS shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain approval of such label expansion filing. Further, VIVUS shall be responsible for conducting any post-regulatory studies of STENDRA that are required by the FDA in the Territory. Such costs will be split equally between the parties up to a specified amount and then, once the specified amount is reached, VIVUS shall be solely responsible for the remainder of the costs.
	The Auxilium License Agreement will terminate on a country-by-country basis upon the later to occur of the following: (a) ten (10) years after the STENDRA product launch in such country; or (b) the expiration of the last-to-expire patents within the VIVUS patents covering STENDRA in such country. In addition, Auxilium may terminate the Auxilium License Agreement (i) for any reason following the one (1) year anniversary of the STENDRA launch in the U.S upon one hundred eighty (180) days written notice; and (ii) upon the entry of a generic avanafil product into the market upon thirty (30) days written notice. VIVUS may terminate the Auxilium License Agreement (i) immediately upon written notice to Auxilium if Auxilium is excluded from participation in the U.S. federal healthcare programs and fails to cure such exclusion within one hundred twenty (120) days; and (ii) if Auxilium challenges the VIVUS patents covering STENDRA upon written notice to Auxilium. Either party may terminate the Auxilium License Agreement for the other party's uncured material breach or bankruptcy.
	Under the terms of the Auxilium Supply Agreement, VIVUS will supply Auxilium with STENDRA drug product until December 31, 2018, at the latest. For 2015 and each subsequent year during the term of the Auxilium Supply Agreement, if Auxilium fails to purchase an agreed minimum purchase amount of STENDRA from VIVUS, it will reimburse VIVUS for the shortfall as it relates to VIVUS's out-of-pocket costs to acquire certain raw materials needed to manufacture STENDRA. Either party may terminate the Auxilium Supply Agreement for the other party's uncured material breach or bankruptcy, or upon the termination of the Auxilium License Agreement. The Auxilium Supply Agreement will automatically terminate upon completion of the Supply Chain Transfer, as described above.
	Under the terms of the Auxilium License Agreement, VIVUS received an upfront license fee of $30.0 million. The Company is eligible to receive a regulatory milestone payment of $15.0 million upon approval by the FDA of a specific time of onset claim for STENDRA in the Auxilium Territory. In addition, the Company is eligible to receive up to an aggregate of $255.0 million in potential milestone payments based on certain net sales targets by Auxilium. Further, the Company will receive royalty payments based on tiered percentages of the aggregate annual net sales of STENDRA in the Auxilium Territory on a quarterly basis. The percentage of Auxilium's aggregate annual net sales to be paid to the Company increases in accordance with the achievement of specific thresholds of aggregate annual net sales of STENDRA in the Auxilium Territory. If Auxilium's net sales of STENDRA in a country are reduced by certain amounts following the entry of a generic product to the market, royalty payments will be reduced by certain percentages based on such reductions. Auxilium will also reimburse the Company for payments made to cover various obligations to MTPC during the term of the Auxilium License Agreement.
	For the year ended December 31, 2013, VIVUS recognized $30.4 million as license revenue, as the Company determined that revenue was earned upon the delivery of the license rights and related know-how. Under the Auxilium Supply Agreement, VIVUS supplies the STENDRA drug product to Auxilium on a cost-plus basis.
	In accordance with ASC 605-25, VIVUS identified the license and related know-how and supply services as separate deliverables under the agreements. The Company determined that the license and related know-how and supply services individually represent separate units of accounting because each deliverable has stand-alone value. The Company determined that the license and related know-how have stand-alone value based on various facts and circumstances in the arrangement, including Auxilium's option to sublicense. Although Auxilium is precluded from reselling the license, Auxilium's ability to use the delivered license and related know-how for its intended purpose without the receipt of the remaining deliverable indicated that the license and related know-how have stand-alone value.
	VIVUS determined that the supply services have stand-alone value because: (i) the manufacturing process is not proprietary to the Company; (ii) a third-party manufacturer produces the product, and (iii) Auxilium may at any time with notice to the Company elect to accept assignment of VIVUS's agreements with the third-party manufacturer, or manufacture the licensed product itself or contract with a third-party manufacturer to produce it.
	The Company allocated the non-contingent consideration relating to the stand-alone non-contingent deliverables on the basis of relative selling price, which is BESP because VSOE or TPE are unavailable for these deliverables. The objective of BESP is to determine the price at which the Company would transact a sale if the product or service were sold on a stand-alone basis. BESP for the license is based on discounted future projected cash flows relating to the licensed territories. Revenue related to the license was recognized in the fourth quarter of 2013, when the license and all related knowledge and data had been transferred. BESP for the supply services is based on third-party costs to manufacture the licensed product, plus a mark-up consistent with similar agreements. Revenues allocated to the supply services will be recognized when the product has met all required specifications and the related title and risk of loss and damages have been transferred to Auxilium. The Company has determined that the achievement of the regulatory milestone payment of $15.0 million upon approval by the FDA of a specific time of onset claim for STENDRA is contingent upon both the Company's completion of the study reports and upon FDA approval of the label expansion filing, resulting from the Company's efforts. At the time of the agreement, there was substantive uncertainty that the time of onset claim and label expansion filing would be approved, which are required for the additional milestone payment. In addition, the Company has determined that achievement of any and all of the potential net sales milestones is dependent solely upon the results of Auxilium and therefore none of the net sales milestones are deemed to be substantive. Royalties to be received from Auxilium will be recognized by the Company based upon the net sales of the product by Auxilium. For the year ended December 31, 2013, $1.1 million in net product revenue was recognized from initial product delivered under the Auxilium Supply Agreement.
	Sanofi
	On December 11, 2013, the Company entered into a license and commercialization agreement, or the Sanofi License Agreement, with Sanofi. Effective as of December 11, 2013, the Company entered into a supply agreement, or the Sanofi Supply Agreement, with Sanofi Winthrop Industrie, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sanofi. Under the terms of the Sanofi License Agreement, Sanofi received an exclusive license to commercialize and promote VIVUS's drug avanafil for therapeutic use in humans in Africa, the Middle East—Turkey and Eurasia, or the Sanofi Territory. During the term of the License Agreement, each party agreed not to develop, commercialize, or in-license any other product that operates as a phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor for therapeutic use in humans in the Sanofi Territory for a limited time period, subject to certain exceptions.
	In December 2013, the Company received an upfront license fee of $5.0 million and a $1.5 million manufacturing milestone payment. The Company is also eligible to receive up to an additional $3.5 million in manufacturing milestone payments, up to $6.0 million in regulatory milestone payments, and up to $45.0 million in sales milestone payments, plus royalties on avanafil sales based on tiered percentages of the aggregate annual net sales in the Sanofi Territory. Sanofi will also reimburse the Company for a portion of any sales milestone paid by VIVUS to MTPC based on the share of Sanofi's net sales in the total worldwide net sales amount triggering the payment of such sales milestone.
	Royalty payment obligations under the Sanofi License Agreement will be payable for avanafil in each country in the Sanofi Territory until the later to occur of (i) the expiration of the last-to-expire valid claim within the VIVUS patents that, absent the licenses granted to Sanofi under the Sanofi License Agreement, would be infringed by the sale of avanafil in such country; and (ii) December 11, 2029, or the Sanofi Royalty Payment Term. The Sanofi License Agreement will terminate as follows: (i) as to avanafil in each country in the Sanofi Territory, upon the expiration of the Sanofi Royalty Payment Term with respect to avanafil in such country, provided however, that Sanofi's obligation to reimburse VIVUS for Sanofi's pro-rata share of any sales milestone paid by the Company to MTPC will survive if such sales milestone has not yet come due; and (ii) in its entirety, upon the expiration of all royalty payment obligations arising under the Sanofi License Agreement in all countries in the Sanofi Territory.
	In addition, the Company may terminate the Sanofi License Agreement immediately upon written notice to Sanofi on a country-by-country basis if Sanofi becomes subject to certain regulatory actions or legal restrictions. The Company may also terminate the Sanofi License Agreement in its entirety upon written notice to Sanofi if Sanofi or any affiliate commences any action or proceeding that challenges the validity, enforceability or scope of any VIVUS patent in the Sanofi Territory or any country outside of the Sanofi Territory, or if a similar action is instituted by a sublicensee and Sanofi does not terminate the sublicense after being aware of such action for a specified period. Further, Sanofi may terminate the Sanofi License Agreement in whole or on a country-by-country basis for convenience at any time upon advance notice to the Company. Either party may terminate the Sanofi License Agreement for the other party's uncured material breach, or bankruptcy or related actions or proceedings. In the event of an uncured material breach by the Company, Sanofi may, in lieu of terminating the Sanofi License Agreement in its entirety, elect to continue the Sanofi License Agreement in full force and effect except (i) the Company will have no further rights to receive certain commercialization reports, and (ii) Sanofi may set off any payments or amounts due by Sanofi but not yet paid to the Company against all direct and undisputed damages suffered by Sanofi as a result of the breach.
	Under the terms of the Sanofi Supply Agreement, the Company will supply Sanofi Winthrop Industrie with avanafil tablets until June 30, 2015, or in the event the obligations of MTPC to supply avanafil tablets to us are amended to extend beyond June 30, 2015, then until the expiration of the MTPC supply obligations as amended. Either party may terminate the Sanofi Supply Agreement for (i) the other party's uncured material breach, or (ii) bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation or certain receivership proceedings, or certain proceedings for reorganization under bankruptcy or comparable laws. In addition, the Sanofi Supply Agreement will automatically terminate upon the termination of the Sanofi License Agreement.
	For the year ended December 31, 2013, VIVUS recognized $4.4 million in license revenue, as the Company determined that revenue was earned upon the delivery of the license rights and related know-how. Under the Sanofi Supply Agreement, VIVUS supplies the SPEDRA drug product to Sanofi on a cost-plus basis. For the year ended December 31, 2013, $446,000 in net product revenue was recognized from initial product delivered under the Sanofi Supply Agreement. As of December 31, 2013, the Company deferred $1.6 million of the manufacturing milestone payment received in 2013 from Sanofi, allocable to non-contingent product deliverables based on relative estimated selling prices, which were later supplied in the first quarter of 2014.
	In accordance with ASC 605-25, VIVUS identified the license and related know-how and supply services as separate deliverables under the agreements. The Company determined that the license and related know-how and supply services individually represent separate units of accounting because each deliverable has stand-alone value. The Company determined that the license and related know-how have stand-alone value based on various facts and circumstances in the arrangement, including Sanofi's option to sublicense. Although Sanofi is precluded from reselling the license, Sanofi's ability to use the delivered license and related know-how for its intended purpose without the receipt of the remaining deliverable indicated that the license and related know-how have stand-alone value.
	The Company determined that the supply services have stand-alone value because: (i) the manufacturing process is not proprietary to the Company; (ii) a third-party manufacturer produces the product, and (iii) Sanofi may at any time with notice to the Company elect to accept assignment of the Company's agreements with the third-party manufacturer (including agreements with Sanofi subsidiaries), or manufacture the licensed product itself, or contract with a third-party manufacturer to produce it.
	The Company allocated the non-contingent consideration relating to the stand-alone non-contingent deliverables on the basis of relative selling price, which is BESP because VSOE or TPE are unavailable for these deliverables. The objective of BESP is to determine the price at which the Company would transact a sale if the product or service were sold on a stand-alone basis. BESP for the license is based on discounted future projected cash flows relating to the licensed territories. Revenue related to the license was recognized in the fourth quarter of 2013, when the license and all related knowledge and data had been transferred. BESP for the supply services is based on third-party costs to manufacture the licensed product, plus a mark-up consistent with similar agreements. Revenues allocated to the supply services will be recognized when the product has met all required specifications and the related title and risk of loss and damages have been transferred to Sanofi. The Company has determined that achievement of any and all of the milestones is dependent solely upon the results of Sanofi and therefore none of the milestones are deemed to be substantive. Royalties to be received from Sanofi will be recognized by the Company based upon the net sales of the product by Sanofi.
	On July 31, 2013, VIVUS entered into a Commercial Supply Agreement with Sanofi Chimie, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sanofi, or the Sanofi Chimie Supply Agreement, pursuant to which Sanofi Chimie will manufacture and supply the active pharmaceutical ingredient for VIVUS's drug avanafil.
	Under the terms of the Sanofi Chimie Supply Agreement, Sanofi Chimie will manufacture and supply the active pharmaceutical ingredient, or API, for VIVUS's drug avanafil on an exclusive basis in the United States and other territories and on a semi-exclusive basis in Europe, including the EU, and Latin America. Each year, VIVUS must purchase a minimum quantity of API from Sanofi Chimie.
	The Sanofi Chimie Supply Agreement has an initial five year term commencing on January 1, 2014 and will auto-renew for additional two-year periods unless either party makes a timely election not to renew. Either party may terminate the Sanofi Chimie Supply Agreement for the other party's uncured material breach or bankruptcy or in the event of a persistent force majeure event.
	On November 18, 2013, the Company entered into a Manufacturing and Supply Agreement, effective as of September 1, 2013, with Sanofi Winthrop Industrie, or Sanofi Winthrop, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sanofi, or the Sanofi Winthrop Supply Agreement. Under the terms of the Sanofi Winthrop Supply Agreement, Sanofi Winthrop will manufacture and supply the tablets for VIVUS's drug avanafil on an exclusive basis in the United States and other territories and on a semi-exclusive basis in Europe, including the EU, Latin America and other territories. Beginning in 2015, VIVUS must purchase a minimum quantity of tablets each year for its drug avanafil from Sanofi Winthrop.
	The Sanofi Winthrop Supply Agreement has an initial term commencing on September 1, 2013 and continuing for a period of five years after the date of the first commercial sale, and will auto-renew for additional two-year periods unless either party makes a timely election not to renew. Either party may terminate the Sanofi Winthrop Supply Agreement for the other party's uncured material breach or bankruptcy or in the event of a persistent force majeure event. In addition, the parties may mutually agree to terminate the Sanofi Winthrop Supply Agreement if (i) Sanofi Winthrop is unable to manufacture and deliver the required number of validation batches meeting the specifications within the time period specified in the technology transfer master plan, or (ii) registration of Sanofi Winthrop as the manufacturer and supplier for the tablets for VIVUS's drug avanafil fails.
	Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation
	In January 2001, the Company entered into an exclusive development, license and clinical trial and commercial supply agreement with MTPC for the development and commercialization of avanafil, a PDE5 inhibitor compound for the oral and local treatment of male and female sexual dysfunction. Under the terms of the agreement, MTPC agreed to grant an exclusive license to us for products containing avanafil outside of Japan, North Korea, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. The Company agreed to grant MTPC an exclusive, royalty-free license within those countries for oral products that it develops containing avanafil. In addition, the Company agreed to grant MTPC an exclusive option to obtain an exclusive, royalty-bearing license within those countries for non-oral products that it develops containing avanafil. MTPC agreed to manufacture and supply VIVUS with avanafil for use in clinical trials, which were the Company's primary responsibility. The MTPC agreement contains a number of milestone payments to be made by the Company based on various triggering events. Through December 31, 2013, under the terms of the MTPC agreement, the Company has paid a total of $15.0 million in milestone payments to MTPC, including $2.0 million in 2013 upon approval of SPEDRA (avanafil) in the EU and $3.0 million in 2012 upon FDA approval of STENDRA (avanafil) in the U.S. In addition, during 2013 and 2012, the Company purchased $9.9 million and $7.4 million, respectively, of product from MTPC under the supply portion of the Agreement in preparation for the commercial launch in the U.S., the EU and certain other territories that use the U.S. and EU approvals.
	The Company expects to make other substantial payments to MTPC in accordance with the MTPC agreement as VIVUS and its sublicensees continue to commercialize avanafil for the oral treatment of male sexual dysfunction in its territories. Potential future milestone payments include $6.0 million upon the achievement of $250.0 million or more in worldwide net sales during any calendar year.
	The term of the MTPC agreement is based on a country-by-country and on a product-by-product basis. The term shall continue until the later of (i) 10 years after the date of the first sale for a particular product, or (ii) the expiration of the last-to-expire patents within the MTPC patents covering such product in such country. In the event that VIVUS's product is deemed to be (i) insufficiently effective or insufficiently safe relative to other PDE5 inhibitor compounds based on published information, or (ii) not economically feasible to develop due to unforeseen regulatory hurdles or costs as measured by standards common in the pharmaceutical industry for this type of product, the Company has the right to terminate the agreement with MTPC with respect to such product.
	In August 2012, the Company entered into an amendment to its agreement with MTPC that permits VIVUS to manufacture the API and tablets for STENDRA itself or through third parties. According to the amendment, the transition of manufacturing from MTPC must occur on or before June 30, 2015. On July 31, 2013, as mentioned above, VIVUS entered into a Commercial Supply Agreement with Sanofi Chimie to manufacture and supply the API for avanafil on an exclusive basis in the United States and other territories and on a semi-exclusive basis in Europe, including the EU, Latin America and other territories. Further, as mentioned above, on November 18, 2013, the Company entered into a Manufacturing and Supply Agreement with Sanofi Winthrop Industrie to manufacture and supply the avanafil tablets on an exclusive basis in the United States and other territories and on a semi-exclusive basis in Europe, including the EU, Latin America and other territories. The Company intends to submit an amendment to the NDA for avanafil to the FDA, and the marketing authorization, or MA, for avanafil to the EMA, to include Sanofi Chimie as a qualified supplier of the avanafil API and Sanofi Winthrop Industrie as a qualified supplier of the avanafil tablets.
	On February 21, 2013, the Company entered into the third amendment to its agreement with MTPC which, among other things, expands VIVUS's rights, or those of VIVUS's sublicensees, to enforce the patents licensed under the MTPC agreement against alleged infringement, and clarifies the rights and duties of the parties and VIVUS's sublicensees upon termination of the MTPC agreement. In addition, the Company was obligated to use its best commercial efforts to market STENDRA in the U.S. by December 31, 2013, which was achieved by its commercialization partner, Auxilium. On July 23, 2013, the Company entered into the fourth amendment to its agreement with MTPC which, among other things, changes the definition of net sales used to calculate royalties owed by the Company to MTPC.
	Other
	In October 2001, the Company entered into an assignment agreement, or the Assignment Agreement, with Thomas Najarian, M.D., for a combination of pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of obesity and other disorders, or the Combination Therapy, that has since been the focus of the Company's investigational drug candidate development program for Qsymia for the treatment of obesity, obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes. The Combination Therapy and all related patent applications, or the Patents, were transferred to VIVUS with worldwide rights to develop and commercialize the Combination Therapy and exploit the Patents. Pursuant to the Assignment Agreement, through December 31, 2013, the Company has paid a total of $1.2 million and has issued fully vested and exercisable options to purchase 60,000 shares of VIVUS's common stock to Dr. Najarian. In addition, the Assignment Agreement requires the Company to pay royalties on worldwide net sales of a product for the treatment of obesity that is based upon the Combination Therapy and Patents until the last-to-expire of the assigned Patents. To the extent that the Company decides not to commercially exploit the Patents, the Assignment Agreement will terminate and the Combination Therapy and Patents will be assigned back to Dr. Najarian. In 2006, Dr. Najarian joined the Company as a part-time employee and served as a Principal Scientist. In November 2013, Dr. Najarian's employment with the Company ended although he continues to work for VIVUS on a consulting basis.

LongTerm_Debt

Long-Term Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Long-Term Debt.	'
Long-Term Debt	'
	Note 12. Long-Term Debt
	Convertible Senior Notes Due 2020
	On May 21, 2013, the Company closed an offering of $220.0 million in 4.5% Convertible Senior Notes due May 1, 2020, or the Convertible Notes. The Convertible Notes are governed by an indenture, dated as of May 21, 2013 between the Company and Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as trustee. On May 29, 2013, the Company closed on an additional $30.0 million of Convertible Notes upon exercise of an option by the initial purchasers of the Convertible Notes. Total net proceeds from the Convertible Notes were approximately $241.8 million.
	The Convertible Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.50% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year, beginning on November 1, 2013, unless earlier purchased or converted.
	The Convertible Notes are convertible into approximately 16,826,000 shares of the Company's common stock under certain circumstances prior to maturity at a conversion rate of 67.3038 shares per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes, which represents a conversion price of approximately $14.858 per share, subject to adjustment under certain conditions. The Convertible Notes are convertible at the option of the holders at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding November 1, 2019 only under certain conditions. On or after November 1, 2019, holders may convert all or any portion of their Convertible Notes at any time at their option at the conversion rate then in effect regardless of these conditions. Subject to certain limitations, the Company will settle conversions of the Convertible Notes by paying or delivering, as the case may be, cash, shares of its common stock or a combination of cash and shares of its common stock, at its election. The conversion rate of the Convertible Notes, and the corresponding conversion price, will be subject to adjustment for certain events, but will not be adjusted for accrued interest. In addition, following certain corporate transactions that occur on or prior to the maturity date for the Convertible Notes, the Company will increase the conversion rate for a holder that elects to convert its Convertible Notes in connection with such a corporate transaction. The Convertible Notes were issued to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Neither the Convertible Notes nor any shares of VIVUS's common stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes have been or are expected to be registered under the Securities Act or under any state securities laws.
	The Convertible Notes are accounted for in accordance with ASC 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options. Under ASC 470-20, issuers of convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion, including partial cash settlement, are required to separately account for the liability (debt) and equity (conversion option) components. The Company analyzed the conversion feature to determine if it was required to be bifurcated and treated as a derivative liability and determined that it did not. Rather, the Company is required to separately account for the liability and equity components of the convertible debt instrument. The Company determined the fair value of the liability component by estimating a risk adjusted interest rate, or market yield, at the time of issuance for similar notes that do not include the equity component. To arrive at the appropriate risk adjusted rate, or market yield, for the Convertible Notes, the Company performed (i) a synthetic credit rating analysis estimating the issuer level credit rating of the Company using a regression model; (ii) research on appropriate market yields using option adjusted spread indications for similar credit ratings, and (iii) considered the market yield implied for the Convertible Notes from a binomial lattice model, or Level 3 inputs. The risk adjusted interest rate was used to compute the initial fair value of the liability component of $154.7 million. The excess of the proceeds received from the Convertible Notes over the amount allocated to the liability component, of $95.3 million, is allocated to the equity component and recorded to additional paid-in capital. This excess is reported as a debt discount and is amortized as non-cash interest expense, using the interest method, over the expected life of the Convertible Notes. The conversion option will not be subsequently remeasured as long as it continues to meet conditions for equity classification.
	In connection with the issuance of the Convertible Notes, the Company incurred $8.2 million of issuance costs, which primarily consisted of investment banker, legal and other professional fees. The portion of the costs related to the equity component of $3.1 million was charged to additional paid-in capital. The remaining portion related to the debt component of $5.1 million was recorded as a deferred charge and included in non-current assets, and is being amortized and recorded as additional interest expense over the expected life of the Convertible Notes.
	The combined effective interest rate on the liability component was 15.2%. Total interest expense of $14.3 million was recognized during the year ended December 31, 2013, which includes $8.4 million of amortization of the debt discount and $444,000 amortization of deferred financing costs during the year ended December 31, 2013. The remaining expected life of the Convertible Notes at December 31, 2013, is 4.9 years. As of December 31, 2013, the Convertible Notes were not convertible and the if-converted value did not exceed their principal amount.
	In connection with the issuance of the Convertible Notes, the Company entered into capped call transactions with certain counterparties affiliated to the underwriters. The capped call transactions are expected to reduce potential dilution of earnings per share upon conversion of the Convertible Notes. Under the capped call transactions, the Company purchased capped call options that in the aggregate relate to the total number of shares of the Company's common stock underlying the Convertible Notes, with a strike price equal to the conversion price of the notes and with a cap price equal to $20 per share. The fair value of the purchased capped calls of $34.7 million was recorded to stockholders' equity.
	Senior Secured Notes Due 2018
	On March 25, 2013, the Company entered into the Purchase and Sale Agreement, or the Agreement, between the Company and BioPharma Secured Investments III Holdings Cayman LP, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, or BioPharma, providing for the purchase of a debt-like instrument, or the Senior Secured Notes. Under the Agreement, the Company received $50 million, less $500,000 in funding and facility payments, at the initial closing on April 9, 2013. The Company elected not to exercise its option to receive an additional $60 million, less $600,000 in a funding payment, at a secondary closing no later than January 15, 2014. The Company was responsible for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket legal costs and fees incurred by BioPharma related to the Agreement, subject to a cap of $300,000.
	Net proceeds from the financing were approximately $48.4 million. The Company is obligated to make scheduled quarterly payments. The first payment is scheduled to be made in the second quarter of 2014 and the final payment is scheduled to be made in the second quarter of 2018. The scheduled quarterly payments are subject to the net sales of (i) Qsymia® (and any derivative or improvement thereof, including Qsiva™ as it relates to the European Union), or the Product, and (ii) any other obesity agent developed or marketed by the Company or its affiliates or licensees. The scheduled quarterly payments, other than the payment(s) scheduled to be made in the second quarter of 2018, are capped at the lower of the scheduled payment amounts or 25% of the net sales of (i) and (ii) above. Accordingly, if 25% of the net sales is less than the scheduled quarterly payment, then 25% of the net sales is due for that quarter, with the exception of the payment(s) scheduled to be made in the second quarter of 2018, when any unpaid scheduled quarterly payments plus any accrued and unpaid make-whole premiums must be paid. Any quarterly payment less than the scheduled quarterly payment amount will be subject to a make-whole premium equal to the applicable scheduled quarterly payment of the preceding quarter less the actual payment made to BioPharma for the preceding quarter multiplied by 1.03. Regardless, the Company may pay scheduled quarterly payments out of any available funds notwithstanding Product net sales. The Company also has the option to prepay all scheduled quarterly payments as specified in the Agreement. Assuming all scheduled quarterly payments are made timely and in full, the annual implied effective interest rate is 13.38% per annum. The imputed interest for the Senior Secured Notes was $5.2 million, including $329,000 amortization of deferred financing costs during the year ended December 31, 2013.
	To secure its obligations in connection with the Agreement, the Company granted BioPharma a security interest to (i) the purchased receivables which are defined in the Agreement as the scheduled quarterly payments, any underpayments of such payments based on an audit of the Company's records and any interest due on the foregoing amounts, and (ii) the Company's patents, trademarks, copyrights and regulatory filings related to the Product, or the Additional Collateral.
	In connection with the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes, the Company incurred $1.6 million of issuance costs, which primarily consisted of funding and facility fees, legal and other professional fees. These costs are being amortized and recorded as additional interest expense using the interest method through 2018.
	The following table summarizes information on the debt (in thousands) as of:
		December 31,
		2013
	Convertible Senior Notes due 2020:
	Fair value of the liability component	$	154,737
	Accumulated accretion of discount		8,369
	Net carrying value	$	163,106
	Senior Secured Notes due 2018:
	Carrying value	$	50,000
	Total Notes:
	Fair value of the liability component	$	204,737
	Accumulated accretion of discount		8,369
	Net carrying amount (Long-term debt)	$	213,106
	There is no short term portion of long-term debt as of December 31, 2013.

Stockholders_Equity

Stockholders' Equity	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stockholders' Equity	'
Stockholders' Equity	'
	Note 13. Stockholders' Equity
	Common Stock
	The Company is authorized to issue 200 million shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, there were 103,161,000 and 100,659,000 shares, respectively, issued and outstanding.
	On March 6, 2012, the Company closed the underwritten public offering and sale of 9,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock. Gross proceeds to the Company from this sale totaled approximately $202.5 million before deduction of approximately $10.5 million in underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. All of the shares of common stock were offered pursuant to the Company's effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-161948), including the prospectus dated September 16, 2009 (as amended on February 28, 2012) contained therein, as the same has been supplemented.
	On August 24, 2011, the Company closed on the sale of a total of 6,889,098 shares of its common stock, at a price of $6.65 per share, pursuant to a previously reported securities purchase agreement entered into on August 23, 2011, with certain investors in connection with a registered direct offering of the Company's common stock, or the Offering. Gross proceeds to the Company from the sale of the common stock in the Offering totaled approximately $45.8 million before deduction of approximately $529,000 in fees and expenses related to the Offering. All of the shares of common stock were offered pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR (Registration No. 333-161948), including the prospectus dated September 16, 2009, contained therein.
	On August 1, 2011, the Company filed a Form S-8 (File Number 333-175926) with the SEC registering 600,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, under the 1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended, or 1994 ESPP.
	Preferred Stock
	The Company is authorized to issue five million shares of undesignated preferred stock with a par value of $1.00 per share. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, there were no preferred shares issued or outstanding. The Company may issue shares of preferred stock in the future, without stockholder approval, upon such terms as the Company's management and Board of Directors may determine.
	Stockholder Rights Plan
	On March 26, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted a Stockholder Rights Plan, or the Rights Plan, and amended its bylaws. Under the Rights Plan, the Company will issue a dividend of one right for each share of its common stock held by stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 13, 2007.
	The Rights Plan is designed to guard against partial tender offers and other coercive tactics to gain control of the Company without offering a fair and adequate price and terms to all of the Company's stockholders. The Rights Plan is intended to provide the Board of Directors with sufficient time to consider any and all alternatives to such an action and is similar to plans adopted by many other publicly traded companies. The Rights Plan was not adopted in response to any efforts to acquire the Company and the Company is not aware of any such efforts.
	Each right will initially entitle stockholders to purchase a fractional share of the Company's preferred stock for $26.00. However, the rights are not immediately exercisable and will become exercisable only upon the occurrence of certain events. If a person or group acquires, or announces a tender or exchange offer that would result in the acquisition of 15% or more of the Company's common stock while the Stockholder Rights Plan remains in place, then, unless the rights are redeemed by the Company for $.001 per right, the rights will become exercisable by all rights holders except the acquiring person or group for the Company's shares or shares of the third-party acquirer having a value of twice the right's then-current exercise price. The Rights will expire on the earliest of (i) April 13, 2017 (the final expiration date), or (ii) redemption or exchange of the Rights.

Stock_Option_and_Purchase_Plan

Stock Option and Purchase Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stock Option and Purchase Plans	'
Stock Option and Purchase Plans	'
	Note 14. Stock Option and Purchase Plans
	Stock Option Plan
	On March 29, 2010, the Company's Board of Directors terminated the 2001 Stock Option Plan. In addition, the Board of Directors adopted and approved a new 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2010 Plan, with 32,000 shares remaining reserved and unissued under the 2001 Plan, subject to the approval of the Company's stockholders. The 2001 Plan, however, continues to govern awards previously granted under it. On June 25, 2010, the Company's stockholders approved the 2010 Plan at the Company's 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The 2010 Plan provides for the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares and performance units to employees, directors and consultants, to be granted from time to time as determined by the Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, or its designees. The term of the option is determined by the Board of Directors on the date of grant but shall not be longer than 10 years. Options under this plan generally vest over four years, and all options expire after 10 years. The 2010 Plan's share reserve, which the stockholders approved, is 8,400,000 shares, plus any shares reserved but not issued pursuant to awards under the 2001 Plan as of the date of stockholder approval, or 99,975 shares, plus any shares subject to outstanding awards under the 2001 Plan that expire or otherwise terminate without having been exercised in full, or are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company, up to a maximum of 8,111,273 shares (which was the number of shares subject to outstanding options under the 2001 Plan as of March 11, 2010).
	On April 30, 2010, the Company's Board of Directors granted an option to purchase 400,000 shares of the Company's common stock, or the Inducement Grant, to Michael P. Miller, the Company's Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. The Inducement Grant was granted outside of the Company's 2010 Plan and without stockholder approval pursuant to NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) and is subject to the terms and conditions of the Stand-Alone Stock Option Agreement between the Company and Michael P. Miller.
	Restricted Stock Units
	Beginning in 2012, the Company began issuing restricted units under the 2010 Plan on a limited basis. A summary of restricted stock unit award activity under the 2010 Plan is as follows:
		Number of			Weighted
		Restricted			Average
		Stock Units			Grant Date
					Fair Value
	Restricted stock units outstanding December 31, 2011		—			—
	Granted		35,000		$	24.88
	Vested		—			—
	Forfeited		—			—
	Restricted stock units outstanding, December 31, 2012		35,000		$	24.88
	Granted		144,500		$	12.63
	Vested		(33,296	)		(14.15	)
	Forfeited		(146,204	)		(13.83	)
	Restricted stock units outstanding, December 31, 2013		—		$	—
	Stock Options
	A summary of stock option award activity under these plans is as follows:
		Years Ended December 31,
		2013						2012						2011
		Number of			Weighted-			Number of			Weighted-			Number of			Weighted-
		Shares			Average			Shares			Average			Shares			Average
					Exercise						Exercise						Exercise
					Price						Price						Price
	Balance at beginning of year		8,510,917		$	10.33			8,575,434		$	6.17			7,919,013		$	5.71
	Options:
	Granted		4,166,292		$	12.86			2,850,118		$	17.8			1,289,790		$	8.72
	Exercised		(2,375,688	)	$	5.79			(2,648,882	)	$	5			(482,172	)	$	4.88
	Cancelled		(1,395,070	)	$	14.54			(265,753	)	$	9.28			(151,197	)	$	8.32
	Balance at end of year		8,906,451		$	12.06			8,510,917		$	10.33			8,575,434		$	6.17
	Exercisable at end of year		6,616,555		$	11			4,781,301		$	6.32			6,120,210		$	5.38
	Weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the year				$	8.32					$	11.91					$	5.91
	At December 31, 2013, stock options were outstanding and exercisable as follows:
		Options Outstanding								Options Exercisable
	Range of Exercise Prices	Number			Weighted-		Weighted-			Number			Weighted-
		Outstanding at			Average		Average			Exercisable			Average
		December 31,			Remaining		Exercise			December 31,			Exercise
		2013			Contractual		Price			2013			Price
					Life
	$3.13 - $10.19		3,318,235		3.4 years		$	7.23			3,296,690		$	7.22
	$12.04 - $12.84		3,215,931		5.2 years		$	12.29			2,466,649		$	12.22
	$12.90 - $25.74		2,372,285		7.1 years		$	18.52			853,216		$	22.08
	$3.13 - $25.74		8,906,451		5.1 years		$	12.06			6,616,555		$	11
	The aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding options as of December 31, 2013, was $6.6 million, of which $6.6 million related to exercisable options.
	At December 31, 2013, 1,976,823 options remained available for grant. In January 2014, awards exercisable for 1,128,100 shares were granted pursuant to the 2010 Plan.
	Employee Stock Purchase Plan
	Under the 1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or the ESPP, the Company reserved 800,000 shares of common stock for issuance to employees pursuant to the ESPP, under which eligible employees may authorize payroll deductions of up to 10% of their base compensation (as defined) to purchase common stock at a price equal to 85% of the lower of the fair market value as of the beginning or the end of the offering period.
	At the annual meeting held on June 4, 2003, the stockholders approved amendments to the ESPP to (i) extend the original term of the ESPP by an additional 10 years such that the ESPP will now expire in April 2014 (subject to earlier termination as described in the ESPP) and (ii) increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the ESPP by 600,000 shares to a new total of 1,400,000.
	On June 17, 2011, the Company's stockholders approved amendments to the Company's ESPP to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance under the ESPP by 600,000 shares to a new total of 2,000,000, to remove the Plan's 20-year term, and to include certain changes consistent with Treasury Regulations relating to employee stock purchase plans under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and other applicable law.
	As of December 31, 2013, 1,501,905 shares have been issued to employees and there are 498,095 shares available for issuance under the ESPP. The weighted average fair value of shares issued under the ESPP in 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $3.53, $3.72 and $3.21 per share, respectively.
	Share-Based Compensation Expense
	Total estimated share-based compensation expense, related to all of the Company's share-based awards, recognized for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was comprised as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
		2013			2012			2011
	Research and development	$	2,361		$	3,487		$	1,917
	Selling, general and administrative		15,964			12,451			5,436
	Non-recurring charges		14,072			—			—
	Share-based compensation expense before taxes		32,397			15,938			7,353
	Related income tax benefits		—			—			—
	Share-based compensation expense, net of taxes	$	32,397		$	15,938		$	7,353
	On July 18, 2013, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with First Manhattan Company, or First Manhattan, in connection with a proxy contest related to the Company's 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. According to the terms of the settlement agreement, more than a majority of the members of the Company's Board of Directors resigned and new members were appointed. The change in the majority of the members of the Company's Board of Directors, effective July 19, 2013, triggered certain "change of control" benefits in accordance with the Amended and Restated Change of Control and Severance Agreements, or the Amended Agreements, with certain of the Company's employees; specifically, all unvested stock options held by these employees automatically vested in full and became immediately exercisable. In accordance with ASC 718, all unamortized expense for options that were expected to vest on the date of grant and the modified fair value of the options that were not expected to vest on the date of grant (due to expected forfeitures) were immediately expensed. As a result, in the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recognized approximately $12.9 million in additional share-based compensation expense related to this event.
As part of the Company's ongoing efforts to reduce costs by eliminating expenses that are not essential to expanding the use of Qsymia, the Company implemented a cost reduction plan that reduced the Company's workforce by approximately 20 employees, or 17% of its workforce, excluding the sales force, in the year ended December 31, 2013. As a result, the Company incurred $1.2 million in additional share-based compensation expense in the year ended December 31, 2013, related to the automatic acceleration of vesting of unvested stock options held by the terminated employees.
Total share-based compensation cost capitalized as part of the cost of inventory was $480,000 and $196,000 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
The following table summarizes share-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures associated with each type of award (in thousands):
	2013			2012			2011
Share-based compensation, net of taxes:
Restricted stock units	$	471		$	292		$	—
Stock options		31,610			15,531			7,259
Employee stock purchase plan		316			115			94
	$	32,397		$	15,938		$	7,353
As of December 31, 2013, unrecognized estimated compensation expense totaled $12.2 million related to non-vested stock options and $66,000 related to the ESPP. The weighted average remaining requisite service period of the non-vested stock options was 1.3 years and of the ESPP was less than one month.
Valuation Assumptions
The fair value of each option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, assuming no expected dividends and the following weighted average assumptions:
	2013			2012			2011
Expected life (in years)		4.88			5.54			5.93
Volatility		83.35	%		82.49	%		77.46	%
Risk-free interest rate		1.12	%		1	%		2.59	%
Dividend yield		—			—			—

Commitments

Commitments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments	'
Commitments	'
	Note 15. Commitments
	Lease Commitments
	In November 2006, the Company entered into a 30-month lease for its former corporate headquarters located in Mountain View, California, or Castro Lease. On February 14, 2012, the Company entered into the most current, fourth amendment to the Castro Lease. Under the fourth amendment to the Castro Lease, the lease term for the headquarters' premises terminated July 31, 2013. The fourth amendment also included a new lease on an additional 4,914 square feet of office space located at 1174 Castro Street, Mountain View, California, or the Expansion Space, which is adjacent to the Company's former corporate headquarters. The average base rent for the Expansion Space is approximately $2.75 per square foot or $13,513 per month. The new lease for the Expansion Space has a term of 60 months commencing March 15, 2012, with an option to extend the term for one year from the expiration of the new lease. The Expansion Space is currently being listed for sublease.
	The Company entered into a lease effective as of December 11, 2012, with SFERS Real Estate Corp. U, or the Landlord, for new principal executive offices, consisting of an approximately 45,240 square foot building, located at 351 East Evelyn Avenue, Mountain View, California, or the Evelyn Lease. The Evelyn Lease has an initial term of approximately 84 months, commencing on May 11, 2013, and at a starting annual rental rate of $31.20 per rentable square foot (subject to agreed increases). The Company is entitled to an abatement of the monthly installments of rent for months seven through 12 of the initial term subject to the conditions detailed in the Evelyn Lease. The Company has one option to renew the Evelyn Lease for a term of three years at the prevailing market rate as detailed in the Evelyn Lease. In addition, the Company has a one-time right to accelerate the termination date of the Evelyn Lease from the expiration of the 84th full calendar month of the term to the expiration of the 60th full calendar month of the term subject to the conditions detailed in the Evelyn Lease. If this acceleration of the termination date is exercised, the following will be payable to the Landlord: (i) six months of the monthly installments of rent and the Company's proportionate share of expenses and taxes subject to the fifth lease year and (ii) the unamortized portion of all of the following: (a) any leasing commissions and legal fees, (b) the initial alterations as detailed in the Evelyn Lease, and (c) Landlord's allowance towards the cost of performing the initial alterations, which is $7.00 per rentable square foot; provided that the amount payable to the Landlord will be increased by the unamortized portion of any leasing commissions, tenant improvements and allowances, or other concessions incurred by the Landlord in connection with any additional space other than the premises leased by the Company and that is subject to acceleration under the Evelyn Lease. As part of a cost reduction plan, the first floor of the Evelyn Lease has been substantially vacated and the Company intends to list this unoccupied space for sublease.
	Future minimum lease payments under operating leases at December 31, 2013, were as follows (in thousands):
	2014	$	1,550
	2015		2,013
	2016		2,063
	2017		1,917
	2018		1,899
	Thereafter		2,602
		$	12,044
	Included in the operating lease commitments above are obligations under leases for which the Company has vacated the underlying facilities as part of a cost reduction plan. These leases expire at various dates through 2020 and represent an aggregate obligation of $3.6 million through 2020. The Company does not currently have sublease income related to the restructured space. The Company has restructuring accruals of $1.0 million at December 31, 2013, which represents the difference between this aggregate future obligation and expected future sublease income under estimated potential sublease agreements, as well as other facilities-related obligations (see Note 9).
	Rent expense under operating leases in fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, was as follows (in thousands):
		Years Ended
		December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Rent expense	$	2,867	$	912	$	671

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Taxes	'
Income Taxes	'
	Note 16. Income Taxes
	Deferred income taxes result from differences in the recognition of expenses for tax and financial reporting purposes, as well as operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Significant components of the Company's deferred income tax assets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, are as follows (in thousands):
		2013			2012
	Deferred tax assets:
	Net operating loss carry forwards	$	202,289		$	154,865
	Research and development credit carry forwards		16,659			13,192
	Stock-based compensation		15,476			9,386
	Accruals and other		18,927			5,528
	Depreciation		218			185
	Deferred revenue		4,009			420
			257,578			183,576
	Valuation allowance		(257,578	)		(183,576	)
	Total	$	—		$	—
	The net increase in the valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, was $74.0 million, $47.9 million and $22.6 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had no significant deferred tax liabilities.
	For federal and state income tax reporting purposes, respective net operating loss, or NOL, carryforwards of approximately $545.1 million and $229.1 million are available to reduce future taxable income, if any. ASC 718 prohibits recognition of a deferred income tax asset for excess tax benefits due to stock option exercises that have not yet been realized through a reduction in income taxes payable. Post-adoption of ASC 718, the unrecognized deferred tax benefits totaled $18.1 million, of which $81,000 have been accounted for as a credit to additional paid-in capital, as they have been realized through a reduction in income taxes payable. For federal and state income tax reporting purposes, respective credit carryforwards of approximately $13.9 million and $4.3 million are available to reduce future taxable income, if any. These net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, except for the California research and development credit, expire on various dates through 2033. The California research and development credits do not expire. The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, contains provisions that may limit the net operating loss and credit carryforwards available for use in any given period upon the occurrence of certain events, including a significant change in ownership interest. Utilization of the net operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards is subject to an annual limitation due to an ownership change, as defined by the IRS code section 382. The Company has not completed a recent study to assess whether any change of control has occurred or whether there have been multiple changes of control since the Company's formation, due to the significant complexity and cost associated with the study. The Company has completed studies in prior periods and concluded no adjustments were required. If the Company has experienced a change of control at any time since its formation, its NOL carryforwards and tax credits may not be available, or their utilization could be subject to an annual limitation under Section 382. A full valuation allowance has been provided against the Company's NOL carryforwards, and if an adjustment is required, this adjustment would be offset by an adjustment to the valuation allowance. Accordingly, there would be no impact on the consolidated balance sheet or statement of operations.
	The (benefit)/provision for income taxes is based upon (loss)/income from continuing operations before (benefit)/provision for income taxes as follows, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
		2013			2012			2011
	Loss before income taxes:
	Domestic	$	(174,083	)	$	(138,599	)	$	(46,836	)
	International		(766	)		(1,107	)		—
	Loss before taxes	$	(174,849	)	$	(139,706	)	$	(46,836	)
	The (benefit)/provision for income taxes consists of the following components for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
	Continuing Operations:
		2013			2012			2011
	Current
	Federal	$	—		$	—		$	—
	State		97			27			190
	Foreign		—			—			—
	Total current (benefit)/provision for income taxes	$	97		$	27		$	190
	Deferred
	Federal	$	—		$	—		$	—
	State		—			—			—
	Foreign		—			—			—
	Total deferred benefit for income taxes	$	—		$	—		$	—
	Total (benefit)/provision for income taxes from continuing operations	$	97		$	27		$	190
	Reconciliation between the U.S. federal statutory tax rate and the Company's effective tax rate from continuing operations is as follows, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011:
		2013			2012			2011
	Tax at U.S. federal statutory rate		(35	)%		(35	)%		(35	)%
	Change in valuation allowance		35			34			38
	Permanent items		2			1			1
	Tax credits		(1	)		—			(4	)
	Other		(1	)		—			—
	Effective tax rate		0	%		0	%		0	%
	The total gross unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2013, is $1.7 million and relates to state tax exposures, of which $160,000 would affect the effective tax rate if recognized.
	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits in 2013 and 2012, is as follows (in thousands):
		2013			2012			2011
	Unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1	$	1,215		$	1,215		$	1,171
	Gross increase/(decrease) for tax positions of prior years		447			—			44
	Gross increase/(decrease) for tax positions of current year		—			—			—
	Settlements		—			—			—
	Lapse of statute of limitations		—			—			—
	Unrecognized tax benefits balance at December 31	$	1,662		$	1,215		$	1,215
	The total unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2013, of $1.7 million includes approximately $1.5 million of unrecognized tax benefits that have been netted against the related deferred tax assets. The remaining balance recorded on the Company's consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, is as follows (in thousands):
		2013			2012
	Total unrecognized tax benefits	$	1,662		$	1,215
	Amounts netted against deferred tax assets		(1,502	)		(1,055	)
	Unrecognized tax benefits recorded on consolidated balance sheets	$	160		$	160
	As of December 31, 2013, the Company had accrued $45,000 for payment of interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits. To the extent accrued interest and penalties do not ultimately become payable, amounts accrued will be reduced and reflected as a reduction of the overall income tax provision in the period that such determination is made. During 2013, $6,000 of interest was recognized.
	Although the Company files U.S. federal, various state, and foreign tax returns, the Company's only major tax jurisdictions are the U.S., California and New Jersey. The Company's income tax return for the year ended December 31, 2007, is currently under examination by the California Franchise Tax Board. Based on the progress of the audit to date, the Company believes adjustments may be made in early years that will reduce tax attributes available to offset tax due in 2007. Therefore, the Company has $160,000 of unrecognized tax benefits recorded on its consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2013.
	The Internal Revenue Service completed its audit of the Company's income tax return for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008, with no adjustments. The Company is currently under examination by the State of New Jersey for the years ended December 31, 2007 through 2009. Because the Company used net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes to offset its taxable income on its 2007 income tax returns for U.S. federal and California, such attributes can be adjusted by these taxing authorities until the statute closes on the year in which such attributes were utilized. Tax years 1991 to 2013 remain subject to examination by the appropriate governmental agencies due to tax loss carryovers from those years.
	The Company is in various stages of the examination process in connection with all of its tax audits and it is difficult to determine when these examinations will be settled. It is reasonably possible that over the next 12-month period the Company may experience an increase or decrease in its unrecognized tax benefits. It is not possible to determine either the magnitude or range of any increase or decrease at this time.

Segment_Information_and_Concen

Segment Information and Concentration of Customers and Suppliers	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Information and Concentration of Customers and Suppliers	'
Segment Information and Concentration of Customers and Suppliers	'
	Note 17. Segment Information and Concentration of Customers and Suppliers
	The Company operates in one business segment—the development and commercialization of novel therapeutic products. Therefore, results of operations are reported on a consolidated basis for purposes of segment reporting, consistent with internal management reporting. Disclosures about product revenues by geographic area; revenues and accounts receivable from major customers, and major suppliers are presented below.
	Revenue
	Revenue was as follows for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
		2013			2012
	Net product revenue:
	Qsymia	$	23,718		$	2,012
	STENDRA or SPEDRA		1,526			—
	Total net product revenue		25,244			2,012
	License revenue		55,838			—
	Total revenue	$	81,082		$	2,012
	Geographic Information
	Outside the United States, the Company sells products principally in the EU. The geographic classification of product sales was based on the location of the customer. The geographic classification of all other revenues was based on the domicile of the entity from which the revenues were earned.
	Certain geographic information with respect to revenues was as follows (in thousands):
	Total revenue by geographic region for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, was as follows (in thousands):
		Years Ended December 31,
		2013						2012
		U.S			ROW			U.S		ROW
	Qsymia—Net product revenue	$	23,718		$	—		$	2,012	$	—
	STENDRA/SPEDRA—Net product revenue		1,080			446			—		—
	Total net product revenue		24,798			446			2,012		—
	STENDRA/SPEDRA—License revenue		30,393			25,445	-1		—		—
	Total revenue	$	55,191		$	25,891		$	2,012	$	—
	-1
	$21.0 million of which is attributable to Germany.
	Major customers
	Revenues from significant customers as a percentage of total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, is as follows:
		2013			2012
	Auxilium		39	%		—	%
	Menarini		26	%		—	%
	CVS		9	%		50	%
	Walgreens		6	%		39	%
	Express Scripts, Inc.		3	%		10	%
	Accounts receivable at December 31, 2013 and 2012 by significant customer as a percentage of the total gross accounts receivable balance are as follows:
		2013			2012
	Menarini		41	%		—	%
	Amerisource Bergen		26	%		—	%
	McKesson		13	%		—	%
	Cardinal Health, Inc.		12	%		—	%
	CVS		1	%		51	%
	Walgreens		1	%		44	%
	Express Scripts, Inc.		1	%		1	%
	Major suppliers
	The Company relies on third-party sole-source manufacturers to produce its clinical trial materials, raw materials and finished goods. Catalent Pharma Solutions, LLC, or Catalent, which supplied the product for the Phase 3b/4 program for Qsymia, is the Company's sole source of clinical and commercial supplies for Qsymia. MTPC is currently the Company's sole-source supplier for the API and the tablets for STENDRA (avanafil). In August 2012, the Company entered into an amendment to its agreement with MTPC that permits the Company to manufacture the API and STENDRA tablets for avanafil itself or through third-party suppliers at any time. The transition away from MTPC supply will need to occur on or before June 2015. The Company does not have any manufacturing facilities and intends to continue to rely on third parties for the supply of the starting materials, API and tablets. Third-party manufacturers may not be able to meet the Company's needs with respect to timing, quantity or quality.
	The Company has entered into an agreement with PDI, Inc., or PDI, a third-party contract sales organization, to assist with the hiring of sales representatives and the promotion of Qsymia to physicians. Although alternative third-party contract sales organizations exist, the Company would be adversely affected if PDI does not perform its obligations under the agreement.
	During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company incurred expenses for work performed by a third-party clinical research organization, or CRO, for Qsymia and STENDRA post-approval studies that accounted for 29% and 13%, respectively, of total research and development expenses. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company did not have any third-party CROs that accounted for 10% or more of total research and development expenses.

401k_Plan

401(k) Plan	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
401(k) Plan	'
401(k) Plan	'
	Note 18. 401(k) Plan
	All of the Company's full-time employees are eligible to participate in the VIVUS 401(k) Plan. Employer-matching contributions for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were $565,000, $329,000 and $181,000, respectively.

Legal_Matters

Legal Matters	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Legal Matters	'
Legal Matters	'
	Note 19. Legal Matters
	Securities Related Class Action Lawsuits
	The Company and two of its officers were defendants in a putative class action lawsuit captioned Kovtun v. Vivus, Inc., et al., Case No. 4:10-CV-04957-PJH, in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California. The action, filed in November 2010, alleged violations of Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the federal Securities Exchange Act of 1934 based on allegedly false or misleading statements made by the defendants in connection with the Company's clinical trials and NDA for Qsymia as a treatment for obesity. The Court granted defendants' motions to dismiss both plaintiff's Amended Class Action Complaint and Second Amended Class Action Complaint; by order dated September 27, 2012, the latter dismissal was with prejudice and final judgment was entered for defendants the same day. On October 26, 2012, plaintiff filed a Notice of Appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Briefing of the appeal is complete, and the parties are awaiting word on whether the Court of Appeals wishes to entertain oral argument.
	Additionally, certain of the Company's officers and directors are defendants in a shareholder derivative lawsuit captioned Turberg v. Logan, et al., Case No. CV-10-05271-PJH, pending in the same federal court. In the plaintiff's Verified Amended Shareholder Derivative Complaint filed June 3, 2011, the plaintiff largely restated the allegations of the Kovtun action and alleged that the directors breached fiduciary duties to the Company by purportedly permitting the Company to violate the federal securities laws as alleged in the Kovtun action. The same individuals are also named defendants in consolidated shareholder derivative suits pending in the California Superior Court, Santa Clara County, under the caption Inre VIVUS, Inc. Derivative Litigation, Master File No. 11 0 CV188439. The allegations in the state court derivative suits are substantially similar to the other lawsuits. The Company is named as a nominal defendant in these actions, neither of which seeks any recovery from the Company. The parties have agreed to stay the derivative lawsuits pending the outcome of the appeal of the securities class action.
	The Company and its directors cannot predict the outcome of the various shareholder lawsuits, but they believe the various shareholder lawsuits are without merit and intend to continue vigorously defending them.
	On July 12, 2013, various current and former officers and directors of the Company were named as defendants in a separate shareholder derivative lawsuit filed in the California Superior Court, Santa Clara County, and captioned Ira J. Gaines IRA, et al. v. Leland F. Wilson, et al., Case No.1-13-CV-249436. The lawsuit generally alleges breaches of the fiduciary duty of care in connection with the launch of Qsymia, breaches of the duty of loyalty and insider trading by some defendants for selling Company stock while purportedly being aware that the Qsymia launch would be less successful than predicted and corporate waste. Again, the Company is named as a nominal defendant, and no recovery from the Company is sought. As with the other shareholder litigation, the Company does have certain indemnification obligations to the named defendants, including to advance defense costs to the individuals. The Company also maintains directors' and officers' liability insurance that it believes affords coverage for much of the anticipated cost of the proceedings, subject to the policies' terms and conditions. The individual defendants deny the material allegations and have indicated an intention to defend them vigorously. On October 21, 2013, the Company filed a demurrer seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed in its entirety for failure to make a pre-suit demand upon the Company's Board of Directors or plead sufficient facts to show that such demand would have been futile. Briefing on the demurrer is complete and oral argument is presently scheduled for March 14, 2014.
	Proxy Related Lawsuit
	On July 16, 2013, First Manhattan, the owner of approximately 9.9% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company, commenced an action in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, naming the then-serving members of the board of directors of the Company as defendants and the Company as a nominal defendant. The action was captioned First Manhattan Co. v. Leland F. Wilson, et al., C.A. No. 8731-VCL. In its verified complaint, First Manhattan alleged that the Company's directors breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the Board's decision to adjourn the annual stockholders meeting from July 15, 2013 until July 18, 2013. The verified complaint sought declaratory and injunctive relief, including enjoining the defendants from soliciting proxies, directing the inspector of elections to certify the election of directors based on votes that were present and prepared to be voted on July 15, 2013, before the annual stockholders meeting was adjourned, and prohibiting defendants from taking any actions as directors of the Company. The verified complaint did not seek damages from the Company or the defendant board members. The parties entered into a settlement agreement on July 18, 2013, and the action was dismissed with prejudice on July 19, 2013. As part of the settlement agreement with First Manhattan, the Company paid the reasonable and documented expenses incurred by First Manhattan in connection with its proxy contest, which totaled approximately $2.9 million.
	Other Matters
	In the normal course of business, the Company receives claims and makes inquiries regarding patent and trademark infringement and other related legal matters. The Company believes that it has meritorious claims and defenses and intends to pursue any such matters vigorously. Additionally, the Company in the normal course of business may become involved in lawsuits and subject to various claims from current and former employees including wrongful termination, sexual discrimination and employment matters. Employees may be more likely to file employment-related claims following termination of their employment. Employment-related claims also may be more likely following a poor performance review. Although there may be no merit to such claims or legal matters, the Company may be required to allocate additional monetary and personnel resources to defend against these type of allegations. The Company believes the disposition of the current lawsuit and claims is not likely to have a material effect on its financial condition or liquidity.
	The Company and its directors believe that the various shareholder lawsuits are without merit, and they intend to vigorously defend the various actions.

Subsequent_Events_Unaudited

Subsequent Events (Unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Subsequent Events (Unaudited)	'
Subsequent Events (Unaudited)	'
	Note 20. Subsequent Events (Unaudited)
	On January 21, 2014, the Company received a notice of tax refund from the state of New Jersey in settlement of an audit and acceptance of a refund claim for the tax year ended December 31, 2007. As of December 31, 2013, the Company did not consider receiving the refund as probable and therefore had not recorded an income tax receivable. The Company expects to receive a refund of approximately $357,000 (net of expenses) in the quarter ended March 31, 2014.

Selected_Financial_Data_Unaudi

Selected Financial Data (Unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Selected Financial Data (Unaudited)	'
Selected Financial Data (Unaudited)	'
	Note 21. Selected Financial Data (Unaudited)
	Selected Quarterly Financial Data (in thousands)
		Quarter Ended,
		March 31			June 30			September 30			December 31
	2013
	Total revenue	$	4,112		$	5,534		$	27,379		$	44,057
	Total gross profit (loss)	$	(2,055	)	$	514		$	26,638		$	40,892
	Operating expenses	$	57,909		$	56,979		$	68,056		$	52,752
	Net loss from continuing operations	$	(53,768	)	$	(55,635	)	$	(48,379	)	$	(17,164	)
	Net income from discontinued operations	$	192		$	123		$	175		$	—
	Basic and diluted net (loss) per share:
	Continuing operations	$	(0.53	)	$	(0.55	)	$	(0.48	)	$	(0.17	)
	Discontinued operations	$	0		$	0		$	0		$	0
	2012
	Total revenue	$	—		$	—		$	41		$	1,971
	Total gross profit	$	—		$	—		$	37		$	1,788
	Operating expenses	$	18,772		$	24,317		$	40,573		$	58,255
	Net loss from continuing operations	$	(18,762	)	$	(24,266	)	$	(40,476	)	$	(56,229	)
	Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	$	(16	)	$	218		$	80		$	(430	)
	Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share:
	Continuing operations	$	(0.20	)	$	(0.24	)	$	(0.40	)	$	(0.56	)
	Discontinued operations	$	0		$	0		$	0		$	0

SCHEDULE_IIVALUATION_AND_QUALI

SCHEDULE II-VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
SCHEDULE II-VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS	'
SCHEDULE II-VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS	'
	VIVUS, Inc.
	SCHEDULE II—VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
	(in thousands)
	Each of the following valuation and qualifying accounts are reported as assets and liabilities of continuing and discontinued operations in the consolidated balance sheets for all periods presented.
		Balance at		Charged		Charges			Balance at
		Beginning of		to		Utilized			End of
		Period		Operations*					Period
	Allowance for Cash Discounts
	Fiscal year ended December 31, 2011	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	—
	Fiscal year ended December 31, 2012	$	—	$	57	$	—		$	57
	Fiscal year ended December 31, 2013	$	57	$	1,050	$	(973	)	$	134
	*
	Amount charged to operations during fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, includes $750,000 and $53,000, respectively, for cash discount allowances related to revenue recognized during each fiscal year. The remaining amounts for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, were recorded on the consolidated balance sheets net of deferred revenue at the end of each period, respectively.

Business_and_Significant_Accou1

Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Business and Significant Accounting Policies	'
Reclassifications	'
	Reclassifications
	Certain prior year amounts in the consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation.
Principles of Consolidation	'
	Principles of Consolidation
	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of VIVUS, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiaries: VIVUS International LP, VIVUS Real Estate LLC, VIVUS International Limited, VIVUS U.K. Limited and VIVUS B.V. Limited. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. On December 31, 2005, VIVUS U.K. Limited became a dormant company. On July 22, 2011, VIVUS Real Estate LLC was cancelled.
Use of Estimates	'
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including critical accounting policies or estimates related to available-for-sale securities, debt instruments, research and development expenses, income taxes, inventories, contingencies and litigation and share-based compensation. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, information received from third parties and on various market specific and other relevant assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	'
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	The Company considers highly liquid investments with maturities from the date of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, all cash equivalents are invested in money market funds and U.S. Treasury securities. These investments are recorded at fair value.
	As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the temporary unrealized gains (losses) on cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities, net of tax, were included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Available-for-Sale Securities	'
	Available-for-Sale Securities
	The Company focuses on liquidity and capital preservation in its investments in available-for-sale securities. The Company's investment policy, as approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, allows it to invest its excess cash balances in money market and marketable securities, primarily U.S. Treasury securities and debt securities of U.S. government agencies, corporate debt securities and asset-backed securities in accordance with its investment policy. The Company periodically evaluates its investments to determine if impairment charges are required.
	The Company determines the appropriate classification of marketable securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such designation at each balance sheet date. Marketable securities have been classified and accounted for as available-for-sale. The Company may or may not hold securities with stated maturities greater than 12 months until maturity. In response to changes in the availability of and the yield on alternative investments as well as liquidity requirements, the Company may sell these securities prior to their stated maturities. As these securities are viewed by the Company as available to support current operations, securities with maturities beyond 12 months are classified as current assets.
	Securities are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as a component of stockholders' equity, unless the decline in value is deemed to be other-than-temporary and the Company intends to sell such securities before recovering their costs, in which case such securities are written down to fair value and the loss is charged to other-than-temporary loss on impaired securities. The Company evaluates its investment securities for other-than-temporary declines based on quantitative and qualitative factors. Any realized gains or losses on the sale of marketable securities are determined on a specific identification method, and such gains and losses are reflected as a component of interest income.
	As of December 31, 2013, the Company's available-for-sale securities have original contractual maturities up to 23 months. However, the Company may or may not hold securities with stated maturities greater than 12 months until maturity. In response to changes in the availability of and the yield on alternative investments as well as liquidity requirements, the Company may sell these securities prior to their stated maturities. As these securities are viewed by the Company as available to support current operations, securities with maturities beyond 12 months are classified as current assets. Due to their short-term maturities, the Company believes that the fair value of its bank deposits, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their carrying value.
Fair Value Measurements	'
	Fair Value Measurements
	Financial instruments include cash equivalents, available-for-sale securities, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Available-for-sale securities are carried at estimated fair value. The carrying value of cash equivalents, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their estimated fair value due to the relatively short-term nature of these instruments.
	Debt instruments are initially recorded at fair value, with coupon interest and amortization of debt issuance discounts recognized in the statement of operations as interest expense at each period end while such instruments are outstanding. If the Company issues shares to discharge the liability, the debt obligation is derecognized and common stock and additional paid-in capital are recognized on the issuance of those shares.
	The Company's Convertible Notes contain a conversion option that is classified as equity. The Company determined the fair value of the liability component of the debt instrument and allocated the excess amount from the initial proceeds to the conversion option. The fair value of the debt component was determined by estimating a risk adjusted interest rate, or market yield, at the time of issuance for similar notes that do not include the conversion feature, or equity component. This excess is reported as a debt discount and is amortized as non-cash interest expense, using the interest method, over the expected life of the Convertible Notes.
	Issuance costs related to the equity component of the Convertible Notes were charged to additional paid-in capital. The remaining portion related to the debt component is being amortized and recorded as additional interest expense over the expected life of the Convertible Notes. In connection with the issuance of the Convertible Notes, the Company entered into capped call transactions with certain counterparties affiliated with the underwriters. The fair value of the purchased capped calls was recorded to stockholders' equity.
	The authoritative literature for fair value measurements established a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs in measuring fair value. These tiers are as follows: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted market prices in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as significant unobservable inputs (entity developed assumptions) in which little or no market data exists.
	The Convertible Notes are accounted for in accordance with ASC 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options. Under ASC 470-20, issuers of convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion, including partial cash settlement, are required to separately account for the liability (debt) and equity (conversion option) components. The Company analyzed the conversion feature to determine if it was required to be bifurcated and treated as a derivative liability and determined that it did not. Rather, the Company is required to separately account for the liability and equity components of the convertible debt instrument. The Company determined the fair value of the liability component by estimating a risk adjusted interest rate, or market yield, at the time of issuance for similar notes that do not include the equity component. To arrive at the appropriate risk adjusted rate, or market yield, for the Convertible Notes, the Company performed (i) a synthetic credit rating analysis estimating the issuer level credit rating of the Company using a regression model; (ii) research on appropriate market yields using option adjusted spread indications for similar credit ratings, and (iii) considered the market yield implied for the Convertible Notes from a binomial lattice model, or Level 3 inputs. The risk adjusted interest rate was used to compute the initial fair value of the liability component of $154.7 million. The excess of the proceeds received from the Convertible Notes over the amount allocated to the liability component, of $95.3 million, is allocated to the equity component and recorded to additional paid-in capital. This excess is reported as a debt discount and is amortized as non-cash interest expense, using the interest method, over the expected life of the Convertible Notes. The conversion option will not be subsequently remeasured as long as it continues to meet conditions for equity classification.
	In connection with the issuance of the Convertible Notes, the Company incurred $8.2 million of issuance costs, which primarily consisted of investment banker, legal and other professional fees. The portion of the costs related to the equity component of $3.1 million was charged to additional paid-in capital. The remaining portion related to the debt component of $5.1 million was recorded as a deferred charge and included in non-current assets, and is being amortized and recorded as additional interest expense over the expected life of the Convertible Notes.
Concentration of Credit Risk	'
	Concentration of Credit Risk
	Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents, available-for-sale-securities, and accounts receivable. The Company has established guidelines to limit its exposure to credit risk by placing investments with a number of high credit quality institutions, in U.S. Treasury securities or diversifying its investment portfolio and placing investments with maturities that maintain safety and liquidity within the Company's liquidity needs.
Accounts Receivable, Allowances for Doubtful Accounts and Cash Discounts	'
	Accounts Receivable, Allowances for Doubtful Accounts and Cash Discounts
	The Company extends credit to its customers for product sales resulting in accounts receivable. Customer accounts are monitored for past due amounts. Past due accounts receivable, determined to be uncollectible, are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts. Allowances for doubtful accounts are estimated based upon past due amounts, historical losses and existing economic factors, and are adjusted periodically. The Company offers cash discounts to its customers, generally 2% of the sales price, as an incentive for prompt payment. The estimate of cash discounts is recorded at the time of sale. The Company accounts for the cash discounts by reducing revenue and accounts receivable by the amount of the discounts it expects the customers to take. The accounts receivable are reported in the consolidated balance sheets, net of the allowances for doubtful accounts and cash discounts. There is no allowance for doubtful accounts at December 31, 2013 or 2012. The allowance for cash discounts is $134,000 at December 31, 2013, and $57,000 at December 31, 2012.
Inventories	'
	Inventories
	Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method for all inventories, which are valued using a weighted average cost method calculated for each production batch. Inventory includes the cost of the active pharmaceutical ingredients, or APIs, raw materials and third-party contract manufacturing and packaging services. Indirect overhead costs associated with production and distribution are allocated to the appropriate cost pool and then absorbed into inventory based on the units produced or distributed, assuming normal capacity, in the applicable period.
	Inventory costs of product shipped to customers, but not yet recognized as revenue, are recorded within inventories on the consolidated balance sheets and are subsequently recognized to cost of goods sold when revenue recognition criteria have been met.
	The Company's policy is to write down inventory that has become obsolete, inventory that has a cost basis in excess of its expected net realizable value and inventory in excess of expected requirements. The estimate of excess quantities is subjective and primarily dependent on the Company's estimates of future demand for a particular product. If the estimate of future demand is inaccurate based on actual sales, the Company may increase the write down for excess inventory for that product and record a charge to inventory impairment and commitment fee in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of inventory on hand for potential excess amount over demand using the same lower of cost or market approach as that used to value the inventory. As a result of this evaluation, for the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recognized a total charge of $10.2 million for Qsymia inventories on hand in excess of demand, plus a purchase commitment fee. There were no such charges in the year ended December 31, 2012.
	Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method for all inventories, which are valued using a weighted average cost method calculated for each production batch. The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of inventory on hand for potential excess amount over demand using the same lower of cost or market approach as that used to value the inventory.
Property and Equipment	'
	Property and Equipment
	Property and equipment is stated at cost and includes leasehold improvements, computers and software and furniture and fixtures. For financial reporting, depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of two to seven years for computers, software, furniture and fixtures. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the expected lease term or the estimated useful lives. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance, which do not extend the useful life of the property and equipment, are expensed as incurred. Upon retirement, the asset cost and related accumulated depreciation are relieved from the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Gains and losses associated with dispositions are reflected as a component of other income, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
	Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.
Deferred Financing Costs	'
	Deferred Financing Costs
	Deferred financing costs, which are included in other assets, are amortized as interest expense over the contractual terms of the related credit facilities.
Revenue Recognition	'
	Revenue Recognition
	Product Revenue:
	The Company recognizes revenue from the sales of Qsymia, and STENDRA or SPEDRA when: (i) persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred and title has passed, (iii) the price is fixed or determinable and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured. Revenue from sales transactions where the customer has the right to return the product is recognized at the time of sale only if: (i) the Company's price to the customer is substantially fixed or determinable at the date of sale, (ii) the customer has paid the Company, or the customer is obligated to pay the Company and the obligation is not contingent on resale of the product, (iii) the customer's obligation to the Company would not be changed in the event of theft or physical destruction or damage of the product, (iv) the customer acquiring the product for resale has economic substance apart from that provided by the Company, (v) the Company does not have significant obligations for future performance to directly bring about resale of the product by the customer, and (vi) the amount of future returns can be reasonably estimated.
	Product Revenue Allowances:
	Product revenue is recognized net of cash consideration paid to the Company's customers, wholesalers and certified pharmacies, for services rendered by the wholesalers and pharmacies in accordance with the wholesalers and certified pharmacy services network agreements, and include a fixed rate per prescription shipped from home delivery pharmacies and monthly program management and data fees. These services are not deemed sufficiently separable from the customers' purchase of the product; therefore, they are recorded as a reduction of revenue at the time of revenue recognition.
	Other product revenue allowances include certain prompt pay discounts and allowances offered to the Company's customers, program rebates and chargebacks. These product revenue allowances are recognized as a reduction of revenue at the later of the date at which the related revenue is recognized or the date at which the allowance is offered. The Company also offers discount programs to patients. Calculating certain of these items involves estimates and judgments based on sales or invoice data, contractual terms, utilization rates, new information regarding changes in these programs' regulations and guidelines that would impact the amount of the actual rebates or chargebacks. The Company reviews the adequacy of product revenue allowances on a quarterly basis. Amounts accrued for product revenue allowances are adjusted when trends or significant events indicate that adjustment is appropriate and to reflect actual experience.
	Qsymia was approved by the FDA in July 2012. The Company sells Qsymia product in the U.S. to wholesalers and select certified pharmacies through their home delivery pharmacy services networks, which are collectively, its customers. Under this arrangement, title and risk of loss transfer to the Company's customers upon delivery of the product to their distribution facilities. Wholesalers, in turn, sell product to certified retail pharmacies. Both mail order and retail certified pharmacies in turn, sell and dispense directly to patients either at their retail pharmacies or through their mail order home delivery service.
	The Company shipped initial orders of Qsymia to its customers in September 2012, and in July 2013 the Company expanded its distribution network to include certified retail pharmacies in accordance with the FDA-approved amendment to the Company's NDA for Qsymia. Qsymia has a 36-month shelf life and the Company grants rights to its customers to return unsold product three months prior to and up to 12 months after product expiration and issue credits that may be applied against existing or future invoices. Given the Company's limited history of selling Qsymia and the lengthy return period, the Company has not been able to reliably estimate expected returns of Qsymia at the time of shipment, and therefore it recognizes revenue when units are dispensed to patients through prescriptions, at which point, the product is not subject to return. The Company obtains the prescription shipment data from the pharmacies to determine the amount of revenue to recognize.
	The Company will continue to recognize revenue for Qsymia based upon prescription sell-through until it has sufficient historical information to reliably estimate returns. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had recorded deferred revenue of $10.3 million related to shipments of Qsymia, which represents product shipped to its customers, but not yet dispensed to patients through prescriptions. A corresponding accounts receivable is also recorded for this amount, as the payments from customers are not contingent upon the sale of product to patients.
	The commercialization of STENDRA was launched by the Company's collaboration partner Auxilium in the U.S. in December 2013, and the commercialization of SPEDRA is expected to be launched in the EU-5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom), by the Company's collaboration partner Menarini in the first half of 2014. The Company sells STENDRA or SPEDRA through its commercialization partners: Auxilium in the U.S., Menarini in the EU plus Australia and New Zealand, and Sanofi in Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, and the CIS, including Russia, who are its customers. The Company's commercialization partners for STENDRA or SPEDRA sell product through their distribution channels to patients. Under the Company's product supply agreements, as long as product meets specified product dating criteria at the time of shipment to the partner, the Company's commercialization partners do not have a right of return or credit for expired product. However, given STENDRA or SPEDRA's 48-month shelf life and lack of selling history, the Company has not been able to reliably estimate expected returns of product at the time of shipment for certain initial product supply orders under these agreements that retain a right of return or credit for product supplied that does not meet the commercialization partners' criteria. Therefore, for these orders, the Company recognizes revenue when units are dispensed to patients through prescriptions, at which point, the product is not subject to return. The Company obtains the prescription shipment data from its commercialization partners to determine the amount of revenue to recognize. The Company supplied certain initial orders of STENDRA or SPEDRA product with a right of return or credit, which did not meet the required specifications of its partners. In addition, the Company allocated a portion of the manufacturing milestone payment received from Sanofi in 2013 to product that was supplied in the first quarter of 2014, based on relative estimated selling prices. As a result, the Company had $6.7 million in deferred revenue related to STENDRA or SPEDRA product supply as of December 31, 2013.
	Revenue from Multiple-Element Arrangements:
	The Company accounts for multiple-element arrangements, such as license and commercialization agreements in which a customer may purchase several deliverables, in accordance with ASC Topic 605-25, Revenue Recognition—Multiple-Element Arrangements, or ASC 605-25. The Company evaluates if the deliverables in the arrangement represent separate units of accounting. In determining the units of accounting, management evaluates certain criteria, including whether the deliverables have value to its customers on a stand-alone basis. Factors considered in this determination include whether the deliverable is proprietary to the Company, whether the customer can use the license or other deliverables for their intended purpose without the receipt of the remaining elements, whether the value of the deliverable is dependent on the undelivered items, and whether there are other vendors that can provide the undelivered items. Deliverables that meet these criteria are considered a separate unit of accounting. Deliverables that do not meet these criteria are combined and accounted for as a single unit of accounting.
	When deliverables are separable, the Company allocates non-contingent consideration to each separate unit of accounting based upon the relative selling price of each element. When applying the relative selling price method, the Company determines the selling price for each deliverable using vendor-specific objective evidence, or VSOE, of selling price, if it exists, or third-party evidence, or TPE, of selling price, if it exists. If neither VSOE nor TPE of selling price exists for a deliverable, the Company uses best estimated selling price, or BESP, for that deliverable. Significant management judgment may be required to determine the relative selling price of each element. Revenue allocated to each element is then recognized based on when the following four basic revenue recognition criteria are met for each element: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered; (iii) the price is fixed or determinable; and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.
	Determining whether and when some of these criteria have been satisfied often involves assumptions and judgments that can have a significant impact on the timing and amount of revenue the Company reports. Changes in assumptions or judgments, or changes to the elements in an arrangement, could cause a material increase or decrease in the amount of revenue reported in a particular period.
	ASC Topic 605-28, Revenue Recognition—Milestone Method (ASC 605-28), established the milestone method as an acceptable method of revenue recognition for certain contingent, event-based payments under research and development arrangements. Under the milestone method, a payment that is contingent upon the achievement of a substantive milestone is recognized in its entirety in the period in which the milestone is achieved. A milestone is an event: (i) that can be achieved based in whole or in part on either the Company's performance or on the occurrence of a specific outcome resulting from the Company's performance, (ii) for which there is substantive uncertainty at the date the arrangement is entered into that the event will be achieved, and (iii) that would result in additional payments being due to the Company. The determination that a milestone is substantive requires judgment and is made at the inception of the arrangement. Milestones are considered substantive when the consideration earned from the achievement of the milestone is: (i) commensurate with either the Company's performance to achieve the milestone or the enhancement of value of the item delivered as a result of a specific outcome resulting from the Company's performance to achieve the milestone, (ii) relates solely to past performance, and (iii) is reasonable relative to all deliverables and payment terms in the arrangement.
	Other contingent, event-based payments received for which payment is either contingent solely upon the passage of time or the results of a collaborative partner's performance are not considered milestones under ASC 605-28. In accordance with ASC 605-25, such payments will be recognized as revenue when all of the four basic revenue recognition criteria are met.
	Revenues recognized for royalty payments are recognized as earned in accordance with the terms of the license and commercialization agreements.
	In accordance with ASC 605-25, VIVUS identified the license and related know-how and supply services as separate deliverables under the agreements. The Company determined that the license and related know-how and supply services individually represent separate units of accounting because each deliverable has stand-alone value. The Company determined that the license and related know-how have stand-alone value based on various facts and circumstances in the arrangement, including Menarini's option to sublicense. Although Menarini is precluded from reselling the license, Menarini's ability to use the delivered license and related know-how for its intended purpose without the receipt of the remaining deliverable indicated that the license and related know-how have stand-alone value.
	VIVUS determined that the supply services have stand-alone value because: (i) the manufacturing process is not proprietary to the Company; (ii) a third-party manufacturer produces the product, and (iii) Menarini may at any time with notice to the Company elect to accept assignment of VIVUS's agreements with the third-party manufacturer, or manufacture the licensed product itself or contract with a third-party manufacturer to produce it.
	The Company allocated the non-contingent consideration relating to the stand-alone, non-contingent deliverables on the basis of relative selling price, which is BESP because VSOE or TPE are unavailable for these deliverables. The objective of BESP is to determine the price at which the Company would transact a sale if the product or service were sold on a stand-alone basis. BESP for the license is based on discounted future projected cash flows relating to the licensed territories. Revenue related to the license was recognized in 2013 when the license and all related knowledge and data had been transferred. BESP for the supply services is based on third-party costs to manufacture the licensed product, plus a mark-up consistent with similar agreements. Revenues allocated to the supply services will be recognized when the product has met all required specifications and the related title and risk of loss and damages have been transferred to Menarini. The Company has determined that achievement of any and all of the milestones is dependent solely upon the results of Menarini and therefore none of the milestones are deemed to be substantive. Royalties to be received from Menarini will be recognized by the Company based upon the net sales of the product by Menarini. As of December 31, 2013, $5.1 million in revenue from the initial product delivered in 2013 under the Menarini Supply Agreement has been deferred until the product has met all required specifications and the related title and risk of loss and damages have been transferred.
Cost of Goods Sold	'
	Cost of Goods Sold
	Cost of goods sold for units dispensed to patients through prescriptions, or shipped to customers without a right of return or credit, includes the inventory costs of APIs, third-party contract manufacturing costs, packaging and distribution costs, royalties, cargo insurance, freight, shipping, handling and storage costs, and overhead costs of the employees involved with production. Specifically, cost of goods sold for Qsymia dispensed to patients includes the inventory costs of the APIs, third-party contract manufacturing and packaging and distribution costs, royalties, cargo insurance, freight, shipping, handling and storage costs, and overhead costs of the employees involved with production; while cost of goods sold for STENDRA shipped to partners includes the inventory costs of purchased tablets, royalties, freight, shipping and handling costs. The cost of goods sold associated with deferred revenue on Qsymia and STENDRA product shipments is recorded as deferred costs, which are included in inventories in the consolidated balance sheets, until such time as the deferred revenue is recognized.
Research and Development Expenses	'
	Research and Development Expenses
	Research and development, or R&D, expenses include license fees, related compensation, consultants' fees, facilities costs, administrative expenses related to R&D activities and clinical trial costs incurred by clinical research organizations or CROs, and research institutions under agreements that are generally cancelable, among other related R&D costs. The Company also records accruals for estimated ongoing clinical trial costs. Clinical trial costs represent costs incurred by CRO and clinical sites and include advertising for clinical trials and patient recruitment costs. These costs are recorded as a component of R&D expenses and are expensed as incurred. Under the Company's agreements, progress payments are typically made to investigators, clinical sites and CROs. The Company analyzes the progress of the clinical trials, including levels of patient enrollment, invoices received and contracted costs when evaluating the adequacy of accrued liabilities. Significant judgments and estimates must be made and used in determining the accrued balance in any accounting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates under different assumptions. Revisions are charged to expense in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known.
	In addition, the Company has obtained rights to patented intellectual properties under several licensing agreements for use in research and development activities. Non-refundable licensing payments made for intellectual properties that have no alternative future uses are expensed to research and development as incurred.
Advertising Expenses	'
	Advertising Expenses
	Advertising expenses are charged to expense as incurred. The Company incurred $26.1 million in 2013 and $16.1 million in 2012 in advertising and sales promotion costs related to its marketed product Qsymia.
Share-Based Payments	'
	Share-Based Payments
	The Company follows the fair value method of accounting for share-based compensation arrangements in accordance with FASB ASC topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, or ASC 718. Compensation expense is recognized, using a fair-value based method, for all costs related to share-based payments including stock options and restricted stock units and stock issued under the employee stock purchase plan. The Company estimates the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value of each option award is estimated on the grant date using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The expected term, which represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding, is derived by analyzing the historical experience of similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual terms of the share-based awards, vesting schedules and expectations of future employee behavior. Expected volatilities are estimated using the historical share price performance over the expected term of the option. The Company also considers other factors such as its planned clinical trials and other company activities that may affect the volatility of VIVUS's stock in the future but determined that, at this time, the historical volatility was more indicative of expected future stock price volatility. The risk-free interest rate for the period matching the expected term of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. The Black-Scholes Model also requires a single expected dividend yield as an input. The Company does not anticipate paying any dividends in the near future. The Company develops pre-vesting forfeiture assumptions based on an analysis of historical data.
	In accordance with ASC 718, all unamortized expense for options that were expected to vest on the date of grant and the modified fair value of the options that were not expected to vest on the date of grant (due to expected forfeitures) were immediately expensed.
Non-Recurring Charges	'
	Non-Recurring Charges
	The Company's non-recurring charges consist of proxy contest expenses and restructuring charges including employee severance, one-time termination benefits and ongoing benefits related to the reduction of its workforce, facilities and other exit costs. Liabilities for costs associated with a restructuring activity are recognized when the liability is incurred, as opposed to when management commits to a restructuring plan. In addition, liabilities associated with restructuring activities are measured at fair value. One-time termination benefits are expensed at the date the entity notifies the employee, unless the employee must provide future service, in which case the benefits are expensed ratably over the future service period. Ongoing benefits are expensed when restructuring activities are probable and the benefit amounts are estimable. Other costs primarily consist of legal, consulting, and other costs related to employee terminations and are expensed when incurred. Termination benefits are calculated in accordance with the VIVUS, Inc. Amended and Restated Change in Control and Severance Agreement or the termination benefits plan, as applicable.
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	The Company makes certain estimates and judgments in determining income tax expense for financial statement purposes. These estimates and judgments occur in the calculation of certain tax assets and liabilities, which arise from differences in the timing of recognition of revenue and expense for tax and financial statement purposes.
	As part of the process of preparing the Company's consolidated financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which the Company operates. This process involves the Company estimating its current tax exposure under the most recent tax laws and assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
	The Company assesses the likelihood that it will be able to recover its deferred tax assets. The Company considers all available evidence, both positive and negative, including historical levels of income, expectations and risks associated with estimates of future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. If it is not more likely than not that the Company will recover its deferred tax assets, the Company will increase its provision for taxes by recording a valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets that the Company estimates will not ultimately be recoverable. As a result of the Company's analysis of all available evidence, both positive and negative, as of December 31, 2013, it was considered more likely than not that the Company's deferred tax assets would not be realized. However, should there be a change in the Company's ability to recover its deferred tax assets, the Company would recognize a benefit to its tax provision in the period in which the Company determines that it is more likely than not that it will recover its deferred tax assets.
	The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax benefits as a component of its provision for income taxes.
	FASB ASC topic 740, Income Taxes, or ASC 740, prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a company's income tax return, and also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. ASC 740-10 utilizes a two-step approach for evaluating uncertain tax positions. Step one, Recognition, requires a company to determine if the weight of available evidence indicates that a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. Step two, Measurement, is based on the largest amount of benefit, which is more likely than not to be realized on ultimate settlement.
	ASC 718 prohibits recognition of a deferred income tax asset for excess tax benefits due to stock option exercises that have not yet been realized through a reduction in income taxes payable. Post-adoption of ASC 718, the unrecognized deferred tax benefits totaled $18.1 million, of which $81,000 have been accounted for as a credit to additional paid-in capital, as they have been realized through a reduction in income taxes payable.
Discontinued operations	'
	Discontinued operations
	On November 5, 2010, the Company completed the sale of the MUSE product to Meda AB. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded some minor adjustments related to the MUSE disposition, primarily adjustments to its sales reserves for accrued product returns.
Foreign Currency Transactions	'
	Foreign Currency Transactions
	Transactions in foreign currencies are initially recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated into the Company's functional currency at the rates prevailing on the balance sheet date.
	Non-monetary items carried at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the initial transaction dates.
	Exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items, and on the retranslation of monetary items, are included in the profit and loss account for the period. Exchange differences arising on the retranslation of non-monetary items carried at fair value are included in other expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the period.
Contingencies and Litigation	'
	Contingencies and Litigation
	The Company is periodically involved in disputes and litigation related to a variety of matters. When it is probable that the Company will experience a loss, and that loss is quantifiable, the Company records appropriate reserves. The Company records legal fees and costs as an expense when incurred.
Net Income (Loss) Per Share	'
	Net Income (Loss) Per Share
	The Company computes basic net income (loss) per share applicable to common shareholders based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income (loss) per share is based on the weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares, which represent shares that may be issued in the future upon the exercise of outstanding stock options or upon a net share settlement of the Company's Convertible Notes. Common share equivalents are excluded from the computation in periods in which they have an anti-dilutive effect. Stock options for which the price exceeds the average market price over the period have an anti-dilutive effect on net income per share and, accordingly, are excluded from the calculation. As discussed in Note 12, the triggering conversion conditions that allow holders of the Convertible Notes to convert have not been met. If such conditions are met and the note holders opt to convert, the Company may choose to settle in cash, common stock, or a combination thereof; however, if this occurs, the Company has the intent and ability to net share settle this debt security; thus the Company uses the treasury stock method for earnings per share purposes. Due to the effect of the capped call instrument purchased in relation to the Convertible Notes, there would be no net shares issued until the market value of the Company's stock exceeds $20 per share, and thus there would be no impact on diluted net income per share. Further, when there is a net loss, other potentially dilutive common equivalent shares are not included in the calculation of net loss per share since their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.
	The computation of basic and diluted net loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, are as follows:
		2013			2012			2011
		(In thousands, except per share data)
	Net loss	$	(174,456	)	$	(139,881	)	$	(46,140	)
	Net loss per share—basic and diluted	$	(1.72	)	$	(1.42	)	$	(0.55	)
	Shares used in the computation of net loss per share—basic and diluted		101,174			98,289			84,392
	As the Company recognized a net loss from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, 7,027,000, 4,172,000 and 5,357,000 potentially dilutive options outstanding were not included in the computation of diluted net loss, respectively, because the effect would have been anti-dilutive.
Recent Accounting Requirements	'
	Recent Accounting Requirements
	There have been no recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements during the year ended December 31, 2013 that are of significance, or potential significance to the Company.

Business_and_Significant_Accou2

Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Business and Significant Accounting Policies	'
Schedule of computation of basic and diluted net loss per share	'
		2013			2012			2011
		(In thousands, except per share data)
	Net loss	$	(174,456	)	$	(139,881	)	$	(46,140	)
	Net loss per share—basic and diluted	$	(1.72	)	$	(1.42	)	$	(0.55	)
	Shares used in the computation of net loss per share—basic and diluted		101,174			98,289			84,392

Cash_Cash_Equivalents_and_Avai1

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Available-for-Sale Securities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Available-for-Sale Securities	'
Schedule of fair value and amortized cost of cash, cash equivalents, and available-for-sale securities by major security type	'
	As of December 31, 2013 (in thousands):
	Cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale	Amortized			Gross		Gross			Estimated
	securities	Cost			Unrealized		Unrealized			Fair Value
					Gains		Losses
	Cash and money market funds	$	103,262		$	—	$	—		$	103,262
	U.S. Treasury securities		239,959			69		(4	)		240,024
	Total		343,221			69		(4	)		343,286
	Less amounts classified as cash equivalents		(103,262	)		—		—			(103,262	)
	Total available-for-sale securities	$	239,959		$	69	$	(4	)	$	240,024
	As of December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
	Cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale	Amortized			Gross		Gross			Estimated
	securities	Cost			Unrealized		Unrealized			Fair Value
					Gains		Losses
	Cash and money market funds	$	58,605		$	—	$	—		$	58,605
	U.S. Treasury securities		155,948			33		—			155,981
	Total		214,553			33		—			214,586
	Less amounts classified as cash equivalents		(58,605	)		—		—			(58,605	)
	Total available-for-sale securities	$	155,948		$	33	$	—		$	155,981

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Inventories	'
Schedule of inventory, net	'
	Inventories, net of $7.5 million in write downs, consist of (in thousands):
		Balance as of
		December 31,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Raw materials	$	28,545	$	5,139
	Work in process		12		2,635
	Finished goods		14,793		17,506
	Deferred costs		5,153		73
	Inventories, net	$	48,503	$	25,353

Prepaid_Expenses_and_Other_Ass1

Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets	'
Schedule of prepaid expenses and other assets	'
	Prepaid expenses and other assets consist of (in thousands):
		Balance as of
		December 31,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Prepaid insurance	$	3,617	$	6,979
	Prepaid sales and marketing expenses		5,187		5,735
	Prepaid medical affairs expenses		444		1,782
	Manufacturing capacity commitment fees		461		2,300
	Withholding tax receivable		5,560		—
	Debt issuance costs		1,247		—
	Other prepaid expenses and assets		3,422		2,363
	Total	$	19,938	$	19,159

Property_and_Equipment_Tables

Property and Equipment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Property and Equipment.	'
Schedule of property and equipment	'
	Property and equipment consist of (in thousands):
		Balance as of
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Computers and software	$	2,301		$	2,056
	Furniture and fixtures		936			692
	Manufacturing equipment		213			269
	Leasehold improvements		758			351
			4,208			3,368
	Accumulated depreciation		(2,254	)		(1,417	)
	Property and equipment, net	$	1,954		$	1,951

NonCurrent_Assets_Tables

Non-Current Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Non-Current Assets	'
Schedule of non-current assets	'
	Non-current assets consist of (in thousands):
		Balance as of
		December 31,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Debt issuance costs	$	4,620	$	—
	Other non-current assets		1,281		287
	Total	$	5,901	$	287

Accrued_and_Other_Liabilities_

Accrued and Other Liabilities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accrued and Other Liabilities	'
Schedule of accrued and other liabilities	'
	Accrued and other liabilities consist of (in thousands):
		Balance as of
		December 31,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Accrued employee compensation and benefits	$	3,408	$	3,859
	Accrued manufacturing costs		4,071		4,135
	Accrued sales and marketing expenses		970		2,908
	Accrued interest on debt (see Note 12)		5,541		—
	Accrued research and clinical expenses		1,755		1,372
	Accrued restructuring costs (see Note 9)		4,577		—
	Other accrued liabilities		3,671		1,503
	Liabilities of discontinued operations		—		903
	Total	$	23,993	$	14,680

NonRecurring_Charges_Tables

Non-Recurring Charges (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Non-Recurring Charges	'
Schedule of activity for the proxy contest and cost reduction plan (the restructuring accrual)	'
	The following table sets forth activity for the proxy contest and cost reduction plan (the restructuring accrual) for the year ended December 31, 2013, the balance of which is primarily comprised of employee severance costs (in thousands):
		Proxy			Employee			Facilities-			Total
		contest			severance			related			Cash
		costs			costs			costs			Expense
	Balance of accrued employee severance and facilities-related costs at December 31, 2012	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
	Charges		8,862			8,546			1,211			18,619
	Payments		(8,862	)		(2,037	)		(189	)		(11,088	)
	Balance of accrued employee severance and facilities-related costs at December 31, 2013	$	—		$	6,509		$	1,022		$	7,531
	*
	In addition to the above non-recurring charges, as previously described, the Company incurred $14.1 million in non-cash share-based compensation expense for an aggregated total of $32.7 million in non-recurring charges for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Schedule of balance of the accured employee severance and facilities-related costs anticipated to be paid out	'
	The balance of the accrued employee severance and facilities-related costs at December 31, 2013 is anticipated to be paid out as follows (in thousands):
	2014	$	4,705
	2015		2,581
	2016		80
	2017		55
	2018		46
	Thereafter		64
		$	7,531

LongTerm_Debt_Tables

Long-Term Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Long-Term Debt.	'
Schedule of debt	'
	The following table summarizes information on the debt (in thousands) as of:
		December 31,
		2013
	Convertible Senior Notes due 2020:
	Fair value of the liability component	$	154,737
	Accumulated accretion of discount		8,369
	Net carrying value	$	163,106
	Senior Secured Notes due 2018:
	Carrying value	$	50,000
	Total Notes:
	Fair value of the liability component	$	204,737
	Accumulated accretion of discount		8,369
	Net carrying amount (Long-term debt)	$	213,106

Stock_Option_and_Purchase_Plan1

Stock Option and Purchase Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stock Option and Purchase Plans	'
Summary of restricted stock unit award activity	'
		Number of			Weighted
		Restricted			Average
		Stock Units			Grant Date
					Fair Value
	Restricted stock units outstanding December 31, 2011		—			—
	Granted		35,000		$	24.88
	Vested		—			—
	Forfeited		—			—
	Restricted stock units outstanding, December 31, 2012		35,000		$	24.88
	Granted		144,500		$	12.63
	Vested		(33,296	)		(14.15	)
	Forfeited		(146,204	)		(13.83	)
	Restricted stock units outstanding, December 31, 2013		—		$	—
Summary of stock option award activity	'
		Years Ended December 31,
		2013						2012						2011
		Number of			Weighted-			Number of			Weighted-			Number of			Weighted-
		Shares			Average			Shares			Average			Shares			Average
					Exercise						Exercise						Exercise
					Price						Price						Price
	Balance at beginning of year		8,510,917		$	10.33			8,575,434		$	6.17			7,919,013		$	5.71
	Options:
	Granted		4,166,292		$	12.86			2,850,118		$	17.8			1,289,790		$	8.72
	Exercised		(2,375,688	)	$	5.79			(2,648,882	)	$	5			(482,172	)	$	4.88
	Cancelled		(1,395,070	)	$	14.54			(265,753	)	$	9.28			(151,197	)	$	8.32
	Balance at end of year		8,906,451		$	12.06			8,510,917		$	10.33			8,575,434		$	6.17
	Exercisable at end of year		6,616,555		$	11			4,781,301		$	6.32			6,120,210		$	5.38
	Weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the year				$	8.32					$	11.91					$	5.91
Schedule of stock options outstanding and exercisable, by range of exercise prices	'
		Options Outstanding								Options Exercisable
	Range of Exercise Prices	Number			Weighted-		Weighted-			Number			Weighted-
		Outstanding at			Average		Average			Exercisable			Average
		December 31,			Remaining		Exercise			December 31,			Exercise
		2013			Contractual		Price			2013			Price
					Life
	$3.13 - $10.19		3,318,235		3.4 years		$	7.23			3,296,690		$	7.22
	$12.04 - $12.84		3,215,931		5.2 years		$	12.29			2,466,649		$	12.22
	$12.90 - $25.74		2,372,285		7.1 years		$	18.52			853,216		$	22.08
	$3.13 - $25.74		8,906,451		5.1 years		$	12.06			6,616,555		$	11
Schedule of estimated share-based compensation expense	'
	Total estimated share-based compensation expense, related to all of the Company's share-based awards, recognized for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was comprised as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
		2013			2012			2011
	Research and development	$	2,361		$	3,487		$	1,917
	Selling, general and administrative		15,964			12,451			5,436
	Non-recurring charges		14,072			—			—
	Share-based compensation expense before taxes		32,397			15,938			7,353
	Related income tax benefits		—			—			—
	Share-based compensation expense, net of taxes	$	32,397		$	15,938		$	7,353
Schedule of share-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures associated with each type of award	'
	The following table summarizes share-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures associated with each type of award (in thousands):
		2013			2012			2011
	Share-based compensation, net of taxes:
	Restricted stock units	$	471		$	292		$	—
	Stock options		31,610			15,531			7,259
	Employee stock purchase plan		316			115			94
		$	32,397		$	15,938		$	7,353
Schedule of weighted average assumptions used in estimating the fair value of stock options	'
		2013			2012			2011
	Expected life (in years)		4.88			5.54			5.93
	Volatility		83.35	%		82.49	%		77.46	%
	Risk-free interest rate		1.12	%		1	%		2.59	%
	Dividend yield		—			—			—

Commitments_Tables

Commitments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments	'
Schedule of future minimum lease payments under operating leases	'
	Future minimum lease payments under operating leases at December 31, 2013, were as follows (in thousands):
	2014	$	1,550
	2015		2,013
	2016		2,063
	2017		1,917
	2018		1,899
	Thereafter		2,602
		$	12,044
Schedule of rent expenses under operating leases	'
	Rent expense under operating leases in fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, was as follows (in thousands):
		Years Ended
		December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Rent expense	$	2,867	$	912	$	671

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Taxes	'
Schedule of significant components of deferred income tax assets	'
	Significant components of the Company's deferred income tax assets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, are as follows (in thousands):
		2013			2012
	Deferred tax assets:
	Net operating loss carry forwards	$	202,289		$	154,865
	Research and development credit carry forwards		16,659			13,192
	Stock-based compensation		15,476			9,386
	Accruals and other		18,927			5,528
	Depreciation		218			185
	Deferred revenue		4,009			420
			257,578			183,576
	Valuation allowance		(257,578	)		(183,576	)
	Total	$	—		$	—
Schedule of (loss)/income from continuing operations before (benefit)/provision for income taxes	'
	The (benefit)/provision for income taxes is based upon (loss)/income from continuing operations before (benefit)/provision for income taxes as follows, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
		2013			2012			2011
	Loss before income taxes:
	Domestic	$	(174,083	)	$	(138,599	)	$	(46,836	)
	International		(766	)		(1,107	)		—
	Loss before taxes	$	(174,849	)	$	(139,706	)	$	(46,836	)
Income Tax Disclosures	'
Schedule of reconciliation between the U.S. federal statutory tax rate and effective tax rate from continuing operations	'
		2013			2012			2011
	Tax at U.S. federal statutory rate		(35	)%		(35	)%		(35	)%
	Change in valuation allowance		35			34			38
	Permanent items		2			1			1
	Tax credits		(1	)		—			(4	)
	Other		(1	)		—			—
	Effective tax rate		0	%		0	%		0	%
Schedule of reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits	'
	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits in 2013 and 2012, is as follows (in thousands):
		2013			2012			2011
	Unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1	$	1,215		$	1,215		$	1,171
	Gross increase/(decrease) for tax positions of prior years		447			—			44
	Gross increase/(decrease) for tax positions of current year		—			—			—
	Settlements		—			—			—
	Lapse of statute of limitations		—			—			—
	Unrecognized tax benefits balance at December 31	$	1,662		$	1,215		$	1,215
Schedule of unrecognized tax benefits recorded on consolidated balance sheets	'
	The remaining balance recorded on the Company's consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, is as follows (in thousands):
		2013			2012
	Total unrecognized tax benefits	$	1,662		$	1,215
	Amounts netted against deferred tax assets		(1,502	)		(1,055	)
	Unrecognized tax benefits recorded on consolidated balance sheets	$	160		$	160
Continuing operations	'
Income Tax Disclosures	'
Schedule of components of (benefit)/provision for income taxes	'
	The (benefit)/provision for income taxes consists of the following components for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
		2013			2012			2011
	Current
	Federal	$	—		$	—		$	—
	State		97			27			190
	Foreign		—			—			—
	Total current (benefit)/provision for income taxes	$	97		$	27		$	190
	Deferred
	Federal	$	—		$	—		$	—
	State		—			—			—
	Foreign		—			—			—
	Total deferred benefit for income taxes	$	—		$	—		$	—
	Total (benefit)/provision for income taxes from continuing operations	$	97		$	27		$	190

Segment_Information_and_Concen1

Segment Information and Concentration of Customers and Suppliers (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Information and Concentration of Customers and Suppliers	'
Schedule of revenue	'
	Revenue was as follows for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
		2013			2012
	Net product revenue:
	Qsymia	$	23,718		$	2,012
	STENDRA or SPEDRA		1,526			—
	Total net product revenue		25,244			2,012
	License revenue		55,838			—
	Total revenue	$	81,082		$	2,012
Schedule of geographic information with respect to revenues	'
	Total revenue by geographic region for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, was as follows (in thousands):
		Years Ended December 31,
		2013						2012
		U.S			ROW			U.S		ROW
	Qsymia—Net product revenue	$	23,718		$	—		$	2,012	$	—
	STENDRA/SPEDRA—Net product revenue		1,080			446			—		—
	Total net product revenue		24,798			446			2,012		—
	STENDRA/SPEDRA—License revenue		30,393			25,445	-1		—		—
	Total revenue	$	55,191		$	25,891		$	2,012	$	—
	-1
	$21.0 million of which is attributable to Germany.
Total revenues | Customer concentration	'
Concentration of Customers	'
Schedule of significant customers concentration	'
		2013			2012
	Auxilium		39	%		—	%
	Menarini		26	%		—	%
	CVS		9	%		50	%
	Walgreens		6	%		39	%
	Express Scripts, Inc.		3	%		10	%
Gross accounts receivable | Credit concentration	'
Concentration of Customers	'
Schedule of significant customers concentration	'
		2013			2012
	Menarini		41	%		—	%
	Amerisource Bergen		26	%		—	%
	McKesson		13	%		—	%
	Cardinal Health, Inc.		12	%		—	%
	CVS		1	%		51	%
	Walgreens		1	%		44	%
	Express Scripts, Inc.		1	%		1	%

Selected_Financial_Data_Unaudi1

Selected Financial Data (Unaudited) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Selected Financial Data (Unaudited)	'
Schedule of selected quarterly financial data	'
	Selected Quarterly Financial Data (in thousands)
		Quarter Ended,
		March 31			June 30			September 30			December 31
	2013
	Total revenue	$	4,112		$	5,534		$	27,379		$	44,057
	Total gross profit (loss)	$	(2,055	)	$	514		$	26,638		$	40,892
	Operating expenses	$	57,909		$	56,979		$	68,056		$	52,752
	Net loss from continuing operations	$	(53,768	)	$	(55,635	)	$	(48,379	)	$	(17,164	)
	Net income from discontinued operations	$	192		$	123		$	175		$	—
	Basic and diluted net (loss) per share:
	Continuing operations	$	(0.53	)	$	(0.55	)	$	(0.48	)	$	(0.17	)
	Discontinued operations	$	0		$	0		$	0		$	0
	2012
	Total revenue	$	—		$	—		$	41		$	1,971
	Total gross profit	$	—		$	—		$	37		$	1,788
	Operating expenses	$	18,772		$	24,317		$	40,573		$	58,255
	Net loss from continuing operations	$	(18,762	)	$	(24,266	)	$	(40,476	)	$	(56,229	)
	Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	$	(16	)	$	218		$	80		$	(430	)
	Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share:
	Continuing operations	$	(0.20	)	$	(0.24	)	$	(0.40	)	$	(0.56	)
	Discontinued operations	$	0		$	0		$	0		$	0

Business_and_Significant_Accou3

Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 02, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jul. 05, 2013	Dec. 11, 2013
	item	item		License and commercialization agreement	License and commercialization agreement
				SPEDRA	STENDRA/SPEDRA
				Menarini Group	item
				Minimum
				item
Business	'	'	'	'	'
Number of approved FDA therapies, Qsymia and STENDRA	'	2	'	'	'
BMI of patients to discuss safety and efficacy of Qnexa, one	'	30	'	'	'
BMI of patients to discuss safety and efficacy of Qnexa, two	'	27	'	'	'
Minimum number of weight-related comorbidity considered to discuss safety and efficacy of Qnexa	'	1	'	'	'
Number of previously approved drugs from which low doses of active ingredients incorporated	'	2	'	'	'
Number of main mechanisms that impact eating behavior	'	2	'	'	'
Number of certified retail pharmacies nationwide in which Qsymia is available	8,000	37,000	'	'	'
License, Commercialization, and Development Agreements with Third Parties	'	'	'	'	'
Number of European countries covered under the license agreement	'	'	'	40	'
Number of countries worldwide in which product is expected to be commercialized under the license and commercialization agreement	'	'	'	'	100
Accumulated deficit	'	($660,602)	($486,146)	'	'

Business_and_Significant_Accou4

Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts Receivable, Allowances for Doubtful Accounts and Cash Discounts	'	'
Cash discount (as a percent)	2.00%	'
Available-for-Sale Securities	'	'
Minimum maturity period for available-for-sale securities	'12 months	'
Minimum maturity period for available-for-sale securities to support current operations securities to classify as current assets	'12 months	'
Allowance for doubtful accounts	'	'
Accounts Receivable, Allowances for Doubtful Accounts and Cash Discounts	'	'
Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts	$0	$0
Reserve for cash discount	'	'
Accounts Receivable, Allowances for Doubtful Accounts and Cash Discounts	'	'
Allowance for cash discounts	$134,000	$57,000

Business_and_Significant_Accou5

Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 3) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Inventories	'	'	'
Total charge for inventories on hand in excess of demand, plus a purchase commitment fee	'	$10,225,000	$0
Property and equipment	'	'	'
Qsymia shelf life period	'36 months	'	'
Period prior to the product expiration date during which customers have right to return the product	'3 months	'	'
Period after the product expiration date during which customers have right to return the product	'12 months	'	'
Advertising Expenses	'	'	'
Advertising and sales promotion expenses incurred	'	$26,100,000	$16,100,000
Computers and software | Minimum	'	'	'
Property and equipment	'	'	'
Estimated useful lives for computers, software, furniture and fixtures	'	'2 years	'
Computers and software | Maximum	'	'	'
Property and equipment	'	'	'
Estimated useful lives for computers, software, furniture and fixtures	'	'7 years	'
Furniture and fixtures | Minimum	'	'	'
Property and equipment	'	'	'
Estimated useful lives for computers, software, furniture and fixtures	'	'2 years	'
Furniture and fixtures | Maximum	'	'	'
Property and equipment	'	'	'
Estimated useful lives for computers, software, furniture and fixtures	'	'7 years	'

Business_and_Significant_Accou6

Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 4) (USD $)	1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
				Minimum	Qsymia	License and commercialization agreement
						STENDRA or SPEDRA
						Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
License and Commercialization Agreement and Commercial Supply Agreement for STENDRA with Auxilium	'	'	'	'	'	'
Product shelf life period	'36 months	'	'	'	'	'48 months
Current deferred revenue	'	$17,255	$1,150	'	$10,300	$6,700
Market price of capped call transactions in relation to the convertible notes (in dollars per share)	'	'	'	$20	'	'

Business_and_Significant_Accou7

Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 5) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Business and Significant Accounting Policies	'	'	'
Net loss	($174,456)	($139,881)	($46,140)
Net loss per share-basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	($1.72)	($1.42)	($0.55)
Shares used in the computation of net loss per share-basic and diluted	101,174,000	98,289,000	84,392,000
Continuing operations	'	'	'
Anti-dilutive Securities	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	7,027,000	4,172,000	5,357,000

Cash_Cash_Equivalents_and_Avai2

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Available-for-Sale Securities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities, Amortized Cost	'	'	'	'
Available-for-sale securities including cash and cash equivalents, Amortized Cost	$343,221	$214,553	'	'
Less amounts classified as cash equivalents, Amortized Cost	-103,262	-58,605	-39,554	-37,216
Available-for-sale securities, Amortized Cost	239,959	155,948	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	69	33	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	-4	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities, Estimated Fair Value	'	'	'	'
Available-for-sale securities including cash and cash equivalents, Estimated Fair Value	343,286	214,586	'	'
Less amounts classified as cash equivalents, Estimated Fair Value	-103,262	-58,605	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, Estimated Fair Value	240,024	155,981	'	'
Maximum original contractual maturities of available for sale securities	'23 months	'	'	'
Cash and money market funds	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities, Amortized Cost	'	'	'	'
Available-for-sale securities including cash and cash equivalents, Amortized Cost	103,262	58,605	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities, Estimated Fair Value	'	'	'	'
Available-for-sale securities including cash and cash equivalents, Estimated Fair Value	103,262	58,605	'	'
U.S. Treasury securities	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities, Amortized Cost	'	'	'	'
Available-for-sale securities including cash and cash equivalents, Amortized Cost	239,959	155,948	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	69	33	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	-4	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities, Estimated Fair Value	'	'	'	'
Available-for-sale securities including cash and cash equivalents, Estimated Fair Value	$240,024	$155,981	'	'

Cash_Cash_Equivalents_and_Avai3

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Available-for-Sale Securities (Details 2) (Recurring basis, USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Level 2	'	'
Fair value measurements	'	'
Assets where Level 2 or Level 3 valuation techniques were used	$0	$0
Liabilities where Level 2 or Level 3 valuation techniques were used	0	0
Level 3	'	'
Fair value measurements	'	'
Assets where Level 2 or Level 3 valuation techniques were used	0	0
Liabilities where Level 2 or Level 3 valuation techniques were used	$0	$0

Inventories_Details

Inventories (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Inventories	'	'
Inventory write-downs	$7,500,000	'
Inventory balances	'	'
Raw materials	28,545,000	5,139,000
Work in process	12,000	2,635,000
Finished goods	14,793,000	17,506,000
Deferred costs	5,153,000	73,000
Inventories, net	48,503,000	25,353,000
Total charge for inventories on hand in excess of demand, plus a purchase commitment fee	$10,225,000	$0

Prepaid_Expenses_and_Other_Ass2

Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets	'	'
Prepaid insurance	$3,617	$6,979
Prepaid sales and marketing expenses	5,187	5,735
Prepaid medical affairs expenses	444	1,782
Manufacturing capacity commitment fees	461	2,300
Withholding tax receivable	5,560	'
Debt issuance costs	1,247	'
Other prepaid expenses and assets	3,422	2,363
Total	$19,938	$19,159

Property_and_Equipment_Details

Property and Equipment (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property and Equipment	'	'
Property and equipment, gross	$4,208	$3,368
Accumulated depreciation	-2,254	-1,417
Property and equipment, net	1,954	1,951
Computers and software	'	'
Property and Equipment	'	'
Property and equipment, gross	2,301	2,056
Furniture and fixtures	'	'
Property and Equipment	'	'
Property and equipment, gross	936	692
Manufacturing equipment	'	'
Property and Equipment	'	'
Property and equipment, gross	213	269
Leasehold improvements	'	'
Property and Equipment	'	'
Property and equipment, gross	$758	$351

NonCurrent_Assets_Details

Non-Current Assets (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Non-Current Assets	'	'
Debt issuance costs	$4,620	'
Other non-current assets	1,281	287
Total	$5,901	$287

Accrued_and_Other_Liabilities_1

Accrued and Other Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accrued and Other Liabilities	'	'
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	$3,408	$3,859
Accrued manufacturing costs	4,071	4,135
Accrued sales and marketing expenses	970	2,908
Accrued interest on debt (see Note 12)	5,541	'
Accrued research and clinical expenses	1,755	1,372
Accrued restructuring costs (see Note 9)	4,577	'
Other accrued liabilities	3,671	1,503
Liabilities of discontinued operations	'	903
Total	$23,993	$14,680

NonCurrent_Accrued_and_Other_L1

Non-Current Accrued and Other Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Restructuring charges	'
Non-current accrued and other liabilities	$3
Non-current accrued and other liabilities	'
Restructuring charges	'
Non-current accrued and other liabilities	$3

NonRecurring_Charges_Details

Non-Recurring Charges (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended							0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Jul. 18, 2013
	item			Non-recurring charges	Proxy contest costs	Employee severance costs	Facilities-related costs	Nonrecurring transaction
								Proxy Related Lawsuits
Non-recurring charges	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with proxy solicitation	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$2,900,000
Number of employees reduced	20	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of employees reduced (as a percent)	17.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Activity for the proxy contest and cost reduction plan	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Charges	18,619,000	'	'	'	8,862,000	8,546,000	1,211,000	'
Payments	-11,088,000	'	'	'	-8,862,000	-2,037,000	-189,000	'
Balance of accrued employees severance and facilities-related costs accrued at the end of the period	7,531,000	'	'	'	'	6,509,000	1,022,000	'
Lease expiration date	'	'	'	'	'	'	31-May-20	'
Additional disclosures	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Non-cash share-based compensation expense	32,397,000	15,938,000	7,353,000	14,072,000	'	'	'	'
Non-recurring charges	32,691,000	'	'	32,700,000	'	'	'	'
Accrued severance and facilities-related costs, Current	4,577,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accrued severance and facilities-related costs, Non-current	3,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Restructuring accrual anticipated to be paid out	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
2014	4,705,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
2015	2,581,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
2016	80,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
2017	55,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
2018	46,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Thereafter	64,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total	$7,531,000	'	'	'	'	$6,509,000	$1,022,000	'

Deferred_Revenue_Details

Deferred Revenue (Details)

1 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Jul. 05, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

USD ($)

USD ($)

Qsymia

Upfront payments

License and commercialization agreement

License and commercialization agreement

License and commercialization agreement

License and commercialization agreement

License and commercialization agreement

License and commercialization agreement

License and commercialization agreement

USD ($)

Qsymia

SPEDRA

SPEDRA

SPEDRA

SPEDRA

STENDRA or SPEDRA

Royalties

Royalties

USD ($)

Menarini Group

Menarini Group

Menarini Group

Menarini Group

Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

SPEDRA

SPEDRA

EUR (€)

USD ($)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

Menarini Group

Menarini Group

EUR (€)

USD ($)

DEFERRED REVENUE

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Current deferred revenue

'

$17,255,000

$1,150,000

$10,300,000

$10,300,000

'

'

$10,600,000

€ 8,000,000

$6,700,000

€ 8,000,000

$10,600,000

Non-Current deferred revenue

'

10,360,000

'

'

'

'

'

10,600,000

8,000,000

6,700,000

'

'

Prepayment received for future royalties

'

'

'

'

'

'

6,700,000

'

'

'

6,700,000

'

Prepayment received for future royalties before withholding tax

'

'

'

'

'

'

€ 8,000,000

'

'

'

€ 8,000,000

'

Reimbursable withholding tax rate (as a percent)

'

'

'

'

'

16.00%

16.00%

'

'

'

16.00%

'

Qsymia shelf life period

'36 months

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'48 months

'

'

License_Commercialization_and_1

License, Commercialization and Supply Agreements (Details)	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jul. 05, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Jul. 05, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
	USD ($)	USD ($)	License and commercialization agreement	License and commercialization agreement	License and commercialization agreement	License and commercialization agreement	License and commercialization agreement	Supply agreement
			SPEDRA	SPEDRA	SPEDRA	SPEDRA	SPEDRA	USD ($)
			Menarini Group	Menarini Group	Menarini Group	Menarini Group	Menarini Group
			EUR (€)	EUR (€)	USD ($)	EUR (€)	Minimum
							item
License, Commercialization and Supply Agreements	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of European countries covered under the license agreement	'	'	'	'	'	'	40	'
Termination period of the agreement from the launch of the product	'	'	'10 years	'	'	'	'	'
Payment for non-refundable, non-creditable license fee received	'	'	€ 6,700,000	'	'	'	'	'
Payment for non-refundable, non-creditable license fee received before reimbursable withholding tax	'	'	8,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Reimbursable withholding tax rate (as a percent)	'	'	16.00%	16.00%	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from payments for regulatory milestone	'	'	6,700,000	'	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from payments for regulatory milestone before reimbursable withholding tax	'	'	8,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Reimbursable withholding tax rate on payment of regulatory milestone (as a percent)	'	'	16.00%	'	'	'	'	'
Prepayment received for future royalties	'	'	'	6,700,000	'	'	'	'
Prepayment received for future royalties before withholding tax	'	'	'	8,000,000	'	'	'	'
Current deferred revenue	17,255,000	1,150,000	'	'	10,600,000	8,000,000	'	5,100,000
License revenue	$55,838,000	'	'	'	$21,000,000	€ 16,000,000	'	'

License_Commercialization_and_2

License, Commercialization and Supply Agreements (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Oct. 10, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Oct. 10, 2013	Oct. 10, 2013	Dec. 11, 2013	Oct. 10, 2013
			License and commercialization agreement	License and commercialization agreement	License and commercialization agreement	License and commercialization agreement	License and commercialization agreement	License and commercialization agreement
			STENDRA	STENDRA	STENDRA	Approval by the FDA	Milestone based on net sales target met	Milestone based on net sales target met
			Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	STENDRA	Maximum	STENDRA
					Maximum	Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.		Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
						Forecast		Forecast
License, Commercialization and Supply Agreements	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Termination period of the agreement from the launch of the product	'	'	'10 years	'	'	'	'	'
Period from the STENDRA launch in the U.S after which the agreement can be terminated by the counterparty	'	'	'1 year	'	'	'	'	'
Notice period for termination of the agreement by the counterparty after one year anniversary of the STENDRA launch in the U.S	'	'	'180 days	'	'	'	'	'
Notice period for termination of the agreement by the counterparty upon the entry of a generic avanafil product into the market	'	'	'30 days	'	'	'	'	'
Period available to the counterparty to cure the exclusion from participation in the U.S. federal healthcare programs in order to avoid the termination of the agreement by the entity	'	'	'	'	'120 days	'	'	'
Upfront payments received	'	'	$30,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Amount of regulatory milestone payment which the entity is eligible to receive	'	'	'	'	'	15,000,000	45,000,000	255,000,000
License revenue	55,838,000	'	'	30,400,000	'	'	'	'
Revenue recognized from initial product delivered	$25,244,000	$2,012,000	'	$1,100,000	'	'	'	'

License_Commercialization_and_3

License, Commercialization and Supply Agreements (Details 3) (USD $)

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 11, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 11, 2013

Dec. 11, 2013

Jul. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Nov. 18, 2013

STENDRA/SPEDRA

License and commercialization agreement

License and commercialization agreement

License and commercialization agreement

License and commercialization agreement

License and commercialization agreement

License and commercialization agreement

Commercial Supply Agreement

Commercial Supply Agreement

Manufacturing and Supply Agreement for Avanafil Tablets

STENDRA/SPEDRA

STENDRA/SPEDRA

Manufacturing milestone payments

Manufacturing milestone payments

Regulatory milestone payments

Milestone based on net sales target met

Sanofi Chimie

STENDRA/SPEDRA

Sanofi Winthrop Industrie

Sanofi

Sanofi

Maximum

Sanofi

Maximum

Maximum

Sanofi

License, Commercialization and Supply Agreements

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Upfront payments received

'

'

'

$5,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from payments for manufacturing milestone

'

'

'

1,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amount of regulatory milestone payment which the entity is eligible to receive

'

'

'

'

'

3,500,000

'

6,000,000

45,000,000

'

'

'

License revenue

55,838,000

'

'

'

4,400,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenue recognized from initial product delivered

25,244,000

2,012,000

1,526,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

446,000

'

Current deferred revenue

$17,255,000

$1,150,000

'

'

'

'

$1,600,000

'

'

'

'

'

Initial term

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'

'5 years

Additional period of auto-renewal

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2 years

'

'2 years

License_Commercialization_and_4

License, Commercialization and Supply Agreements (Details 4) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		156 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	147 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
	Development, license and clinical trial and commercial supply agreement	Development, license and clinical trial and commercial supply agreement	Development, license and clinical trial and commercial supply agreement	Development of Combination Therapy under Assignment Agreement	Development of Combination Therapy under Assignment Agreement
	Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation or MTPC	Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation or MTPC	Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation or MTPC
License, Commercialization and Supply Agreements	'	'	'	'	'
Milestone payment paid	$2	$3	$15	'	'
Cost of products purchased	9.9	7.4	'	'	'
Potential future milestone payments upon the achievement of threshold sales	6	'	'	'	'
Threshold sales level for milestone payments	250	'	'	'	'
Terms of agreement	'10 years	'	'	'	'
Payments made to date	'	'	'	'	$1.20
Options issued to purchase common stock (in shares)	'	'	'	60,000	'

LongTerm_Debt_Details

Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $)

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

29-May-13

Dec. 31, 2013

21-May-13

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 25, 2013

Mar. 25, 2013

Mar. 25, 2013

Apr. 09, 2013

Mar. 25, 2013

Minimum

Convertible Senior Notes Due 2020

Convertible Senior Notes Due 2020

Convertible Senior Notes Due 2020

Convertible Senior Notes Due 2020

Convertible Senior Notes Due 2020

Senior Secured Notes Due 2018

Senior Secured Notes Due 2018

Senior Secured Notes Due 2018

Senior Secured Notes Due 2018

Senior Secured Notes Due 2018

Senior Secured Notes Due 2018

Senior Secured Notes Due 2018

Additional Paid-In Capital

Non-current assets

Purchase of a debt-like instrument from BioPharma

Purchase of a debt-like instrument from BioPharma

Purchase of a debt-like instrument from BioPharma

Purchase of a debt-like instrument from BioPharma

Purchase of a debt-like instrument from BioPharma

Purchase of a debt-like instrument from BioPharma

Minimum

Maximum

Initial closing

Secondary closing

Long-term debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amount of offering

'

'

$30,000,000

'

$220,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest rate (as a percent)

'

'

'

'

4.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net proceeds from offering

290,247,000

'

241,800,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

48,400,000

'

Shares of common stock into which debt is convertible

'

'

'

16,826,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Conversion rate in proportion to principal amount of Convertible Notes

'

'

'

0.0673038

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Conversion price per share (in dollars per share)

'

'

'

$14.86

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Initial fair value of the liability component

204,737,000

'

'

154,737,000

154,700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Carrying value of the equity component

'

'

'

'

95,300,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt issuance costs

'

'

'

8,200,000

'

3,100,000

5,100,000

1,600,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total interest expense recognized

'

'

'

14,300,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amortization of debt discount

'

'

'

8,400,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amortization of deferred financing costs

'

'

'

444,000

'

'

'

'

329,000

'

'

'

'

'

Remaining expected life

'

'

'

'4 years 10 months 24 days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cap price of capped call transactions (in dollars per share)

'

$20

'

$20

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Fair value of capped calls

'

'

'

34,700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amount received

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

50,000,000

'

Amount received in funding and facility payments

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

500,000

'

Additional discretionary amount receivable

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

60,000,000

Additional discretionary amount receivable in funding and facility payments

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

600,000

Amount of reasonable and documented out-of-pocket legal costs and fees for which entity is responsible

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

300,000

'

'

Scheduled quarterly payment amount as a percentage of net sales

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

25.00%

'

'

'

Amount due as a percentage of net sales, if scheduled quarterly payments are less than 25% of the net sales

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

25.00%

'

'

'

'

Make-whole premium ratio

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.03

'

'

'

'

Annual implied effective interest rate (as a percent)

'

'

'

15.20%

'

'

'

'

13.38%

'

'

'

'

'

Imputed interest

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$5,200,000

'

'

'

'

'

LongTerm_Debt_Details_2

Long-Term Debt (Details 2) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	21-May-13
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Long-term debt	'	'
Fair value of the liability component	$204,737	'
Accumulated accretion of discount	8,369	'
Net carrying amount (Long term debt)	213,106	'
Short term portion of long term debt	0	'
Convertible Senior Notes Due 2020	'	'
Long-term debt	'	'
Fair value of the liability component	154,737	154,700
Accumulated accretion of discount	8,369	'
Net carrying amount (Long term debt)	163,106	'
Senior Secured Notes Due 2018	'	'
Long-term debt	'	'
Net carrying amount (Long term debt)	$50,000	'

Stockholders_Equity_Details

Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended			12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Mar. 06, 2012	Aug. 24, 2011	Apr. 26, 2007	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Aug. 01, 2011
			item	item		1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Capital stock	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock, shares authorized	'	'	'	200,000,000	200,000,000	'
Common stock, shares issued	'	'	'	103,161,000	100,659,000	'
Common stock, shares outstanding	'	'	'	103,161,000	100,659,000	'
Common stock, shares issued/sold	9,000,000	6,889,098	'	'	'	'
Common stock sale price of shares (in dollars per share)	'	$6.65	'	'	'	'
Gross proceeds from issuance of common stock	$202,500,000	$45,800,000	'	'	'	'
Fees and expenses related to offering of common stock	$10,500,000	$529,000	'	'	'	'
Common stock shares registered to be issued under share-based payment award plans	'	'	'	'	'	600,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	'	'	'	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Preferred stock, shares authorized	'	'	'	5,000,000	5,000,000	'
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	'	'	'	$1	$1	'
Number of rights per common stock share issued as dividend	'	'	1	'	'	'
Exercise price of preferred stock for each right (in dollars per share)	'	'	'	$26	'	'
Minimum percentage of common stock to be acquired for rights to become exercisable	'	'	'	15.00%	'	'
Redemption price per right (in dollars per right)	'	'	'	0.001	'	'
Multiplier of the exercise price that the right holder has right to receive in value of acquiring company's common stock	'	'	'	2	'	'
Preferred stock, shares issued	'	'	'	0	0	'
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	'	'	'	0	0	'

Stock_Option_and_Purchase_Plan2

Stock Option and Purchase Plans (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2010	Jan. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 29, 2010	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 25, 2010
	Stand-Alone Stock Option Agreement	Stock options	Stock options	Stock options	Stock options	Restricted stock units	Restricted stock units	2001 Stock Option Plan	2010 Equity Incentive Plan	2010 Equity Incentive Plan
Stock Option and Purchase Plans	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Shares reserved and unissued	'	'	1,976,823	'	'	'	'	32,000	'	'
Expiration period of awards granted	'	'	'10 years	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Vesting period	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'4 years	'
Number of shares authorized	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	8,400,000
Number of shares reserved but not issued pursuant to awards under 2001 Stock Option Plan	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	99,975
Number of shares reserved but not issued pursuant to options outstanding under 2001 Stock Option Plan	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	8,111,273
Number of Restricted Stock Units	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted stock units outstanding at the beginning of the period (in shares)	'	'	'	'	'	35,000	'	'	'	'
Granted (in shares)	'	'	'	'	'	144,500	35,000	'	'	'
Vested (in shares)	'	'	'	'	'	-33,296	'	'	'	'
Forfeited (in shares)	'	'	'	'	'	-146,204	'	'	'	'
Restricted stock units outstanding at the end of the period (in shares)	'	'	'	'	'	'	35,000	'	'	'
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted stock units outstanding at the beginning of the period (in dollars per shares)	'	'	'	'	'	$24.88	'	'	'	'
Granted (in dollars per share)	'	'	'	'	'	$12.63	$24.88	'	'	'
Vested (in dollars per share)	'	'	'	'	'	($14.15)	'	'	'	'
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	'	'	'	'	'	($13.83)	'	'	'	'
Restricted stock units outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per shares)	'	'	'	'	'	'	$24.88	'	'	'
Number of Shares	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of year (in shares)	'	8,906,451	8,510,917	8,575,434	7,919,013	'	'	'	'	'
Granted (in shares)	400,000	1,128,100	4,166,292	2,850,118	1,289,790	'	'	'	'	'
Exercised (in shares)	'	'	-2,375,688	-2,648,882	-482,172	'	'	'	'	'
Cancelled (in shares)	'	'	-1,395,070	-265,753	-151,197	'	'	'	'	'
Balance at end of year (in shares)	'	'	8,906,451	8,510,917	8,575,434	'	'	'	'	'
Exercisable at end of year (in shares)	'	'	6,616,555	4,781,301	6,120,210	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of year (in dollars per share)	'	$12.06	$10.33	$6.17	$5.71	'	'	'	'	'
Granted (in dollars per share)	'	'	$12.86	$17.80	$8.72	'	'	'	'	'
Exercised (in dollars per share)	'	'	$5.79	$5	$4.88	'	'	'	'	'
Cancelled (in dollars per share)	'	'	$14.54	$9.28	$8.32	'	'	'	'	'
Balance at end of year (in dollars per share)	'	'	$12.06	$10.33	$6.17	'	'	'	'	'
Exercisable at end of year (in dollars per share)	'	'	$11	$6.32	$5.38	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the year (in dollars per share)	'	'	$8.32	$11.91	$5.91	'	'	'	'	'

Stock_Option_and_Purchase_Plan3

Stock Option and Purchase Plans (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Range of Exercise Prices $3.13 - $10.19	'
Summary of Stock Options	'
Exercise price, low end of the range (in dollars per share)	$3.13
Exercise price, high end of the range (in dollars per share)	$10.19
Options Outstanding	'
Number Outstanding at end of the period (in shares)	3,318,235
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	'3 years 4 months 24 days
Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$7.23
Options Exercisable	'
Number Exercisable at the end of the period (in shares)	3,296,690
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$7.22
Range of Exercise Prices $12.04 - $12.84	'
Summary of Stock Options	'
Exercise price, low end of the range (in dollars per share)	$12.04
Exercise price, high end of the range (in dollars per share)	$12.84
Options Outstanding	'
Number Outstanding at end of the period (in shares)	3,215,931
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	'5 years 2 months 12 days
Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$12.29
Options Exercisable	'
Number Exercisable at the end of the period (in shares)	2,466,649
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$12.22
Range of Exercise Prices $12.90 - $25.74	'
Summary of Stock Options	'
Exercise price, low end of the range (in dollars per share)	$12.90
Exercise price, high end of the range (in dollars per share)	$25.74
Options Outstanding	'
Number Outstanding at end of the period (in shares)	2,372,285
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	'7 years 1 month 6 days
Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$18.52
Options Exercisable	'
Number Exercisable at the end of the period (in shares)	853,216
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$22.08
Range of Exercise Prices $3.13 - $25.74	'
Summary of Stock Options	'
Exercise price, low end of the range (in dollars per share)	$3.13
Exercise price, high end of the range (in dollars per share)	$25.74
Options Outstanding	'
Number Outstanding at end of the period (in shares)	8,906,451
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	'5 years 1 month 6 days
Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$12.06
Options Exercisable	'
Number Exercisable at the end of the period (in shares)	6,616,555
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$11

Stock_Option_and_Purchase_Plan4

Stock Option and Purchase Plans (Details 3) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 17, 2011	Jun. 04, 2003	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2004
	Stock options	Stock options	Stock options	Stock options	1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan	1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan	1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan	1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan	1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan	1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Stock Option and Purchase Plans	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding options	'	$6.60	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Aggregate intrinsic value of exercisable options	'	$6.60	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Shares available for grant	'	1,976,823	'	'	'	'	498,095	'	'	'
Shares granted	1,128,100	4,166,292	2,850,118	1,289,790	'	'	'	'	'	'
Shares reserved for issuance to employees	'	'	'	'	2,000,000	1,400,000	'	'	'	800,000
Maximum percentage of base compensation that can be contributed by the eligible employee	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	10.00%
Percentage of purchase price of common stock at fair market value	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	85.00%
Additional term	'	'	'	'	'	'10 years	'	'	'	'
Increase in the number of authorized shares	'	'	'	'	600,000	600,000	'	'	'	'
Plan term that was removed in an amendment to the plan	'	'	'	'	'20 years	'	'	'	'	'
Cumulative number of shares issued under the plan	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,501,905	'	'	'
Weighted average fair value of share issued (in dollars per share)	'	'	'	'	'	'	$3.53	$3.72	$3.21	'

Stock_Option_and_Purchase_Plan5

Stock Option and Purchase Plans (Details 4) (USD $)

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

item

Proxy contest costs

Employee severance costs

Restricted stock units

Restricted stock units

Stock options

Stock options

Stock options

Employee stock purchase plan

Employee stock purchase plan

Employee stock purchase plan

Employee stock purchase plan

Research and development

Research and development

Research and development

Selling, general and administrative

Selling, general and administrative

Selling, general and administrative

Non-recurring charges

Inventory

Inventory

Maximum

Share-Based Compensation Expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Share-based compensation expense before taxes

$32,397,000

$15,938,000

$7,353,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$2,361,000

$3,487,000

$1,917,000

$15,964,000

$12,451,000

$5,436,000

$14,072,000

'

'

Share-based compensation expense, net of taxes

32,397,000

15,938,000

7,353,000

'

'

471,000

292,000

31,610,000

15,531,000

7,259,000

316,000

115,000

94,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of employees reduced

20

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of employees reduced (as a percent)

17.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Additional share-based compensation expense related to the automatic acceleration of vesting of unvested stock options held by the terminated employees

'

'

'

'

1,200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total share-based compensation cost capitalized as part of cost of inventory

'

'

'

12,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

480,000

196,000

Net share-based compensation expense, per common share:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Unrecognized estimated compensation expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$12,200,000

'

'

$66,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Weighted average remaining requisite service period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'1 year 3 months 18 days

'

'

'

'

'

'1 month

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Weighted average assumptions for fair value of each option using the Black-Scholes option pricing model

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Expected life

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'4 years 10 months 17 days

'5 years 6 months 14 days

'5 years 11 months 5 days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Volatility (as a percent)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

83.35%

82.49%

77.46%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Risk-free interest rate (as a percent)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.12%

1.00%

2.59%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Commitments_Details

Commitments (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				0 Months Ended
	Feb. 14, 2012	Nov. 30, 2006	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 14, 2012	Dec. 11, 2012	Dec. 11, 2012	Dec. 11, 2012
	item					Facilities-related costs	Expansion premises space for corporate headquarters	Evelyn lease	Evelyn lease	Evelyn lease
							sqft	item	Minimum	Maximum
								sqft
Lease Commitments	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Period of lease	'	'30 months	'	'	'	'	'60 months	'	'	'
Number of amendments	4	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Base monthly rent (in dollars per square foot)	'	'	'	'	'	'	2.75	'	'	'
Base monthly rent	'	'	'	'	'	'	$13,513	'	'	'
Area of property (in square feet)	'	'	'	'	'	'	4,914	45,240	'	'
Extended period of lease	'	'	'	'	'	'	'1 year	'	'	'
Lease initial term	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'84 months	'	'
Annual rental rate (in dollars per square foot)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	31.2	'	'
Abatement period of monthly installments of rent	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'7 months	'12 months
Number of options available for lease renewal	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1	'	'
Operating lease, renewal term	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'3 years	'	'
Number of rights to accelerate termination date	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1	'	'
Operating leases accelerated termination period	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'60 months	'	'
Number of monthly installments of rent and proportionate share of expenses and taxes payable to landlord on exercising acceleration termination date	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	6	'	'
Lease year till which rent and proportionate share of expenses and taxes payable to landlord	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	5	'	'
Cost of initial alterations rent (in dollars per square foot)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	7	'	'
Lease expiration date	'	'	'	'	'	31-May-20	'	'	'	'
Restructuring accruals	'	'	7,531,000	'	'	1,022,000	'	'	'	'
Future minimum lease payments under operating leases	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
2014	'	'	1,550,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
2015	'	'	2,013,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
2016	'	'	2,063,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
2017	'	'	1,917,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
2018	'	'	1,899,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Thereafter	'	'	2,602,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total	'	'	12,044,000	'	'	3,600,000	'	'	'	'
Rent expenses under operating lease	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Rent expense	'	'	$2,867,000	$912,000	$671,000	'	'	'	'	'

Income_Taxes_Details

Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Deferred tax assets:	'	'
Net operating loss carry forwards	$202,289	$154,865
Research and development credit carry forwards	16,659	13,192
Stock-based compensation	15,476	9,386
Accruals and other	18,927	5,528
Depreciation	218	185
Deferred revenue	4,009	420
Deferred tax assets, gross	257,578	183,576
Valuation allowance	($257,578)	($183,576)

Income_Taxes_Details_2

Income Taxes (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating loss carryforwards	'	'	'
Net increase in valuation allowance	$74,000,000	$47,900,000	$22,600,000
Deferred tax liabilities	0	'	'
Unrecognized deferred tax benefits	18,100,000	'	'
Unrecognized deferred tax benefits related to stock option exercises, accounted for as a credit to additional paid-in capital realized through a reduction in income taxes payable	81,000	'	'
Federal income tax	'	'	'
Operating loss carryforwards	'	'	'
Net operating loss carryforwards to reduce future taxable income	545,100,000	'	'
State income tax	'	'	'
Operating loss carryforwards	'	'	'
Net operating loss carryforwards to reduce future taxable income	$229,100,000	'	'

Income_Taxes_Details_3

Income Taxes (Details 3) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Loss before income taxes:	'	'	'
Domestic	($174,083,000)	($138,599,000)	($46,836,000)
International	-766,000	-1,107,000	'
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	-174,849,000	-139,706,000	-46,836,000
Current	'	'	'
State	97,000	27,000	190,000
Total current (benefit)/provision for income taxes	97,000	27,000	190,000
Total (benefit)/provision for income taxes from continuing operations	97,000	27,000	190,000
Federal income tax	'	'	'
Credit carryforwards	'	'	'
Tax credit carryforwards to reduce future taxable income	13,900,000	'	'
State income tax	'	'	'
Credit carryforwards	'	'	'
Tax credit carryforwards to reduce future taxable income	$4,300,000	'	'

Income_Taxes_Details_4

Income Taxes (Details 4) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2008	Dec. 31, 2007
				Internal Revenue Service	Internal Revenue Service
Reconciliation between the U.S. federal statutory tax rate and effective tax rate from continuing operations	'	'	'	'	'
Tax at U.S. federal statutory rate (as a percent)	-35.00%	-35.00%	-35.00%	'	'
Change in valuation allowance (as a percent)	35.00%	34.00%	38.00%	'	'
Permanent items (as a percent)	2.00%	1.00%	1.00%	'	'
Tax credits (as a percent)	-1.00%	'	-4.00%	'	'
Other	-1.00%	'	'	'	'
Effective tax rate (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	'	'
Reconciliation of beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits	'	'	'	'	'
Unrecognized tax benefits at the beginning of period	$1,215,000	$1,215,000	$1,171,000	'	'
Gross increase/(decrease) for tax positions of prior years	447,000	'	44,000	'	'
Unrecognized tax benefits balance as the ending of period	1,662,000	1,215,000	1,215,000	'	'
Unrecognized tax benefits recorded on consolidated balance sheets	'	'	'	'	'
Total unrecognized tax benefits	1,662,000	1,215,000	1,215,000	'	'
Amounts netted against deferred tax assets	-1,502,000	-1,055,000	'	'	'
Unrecognized tax benefits recorded on consolidated balance sheets	160,000	160,000	'	'	'
Portion of unrecognized tax benefits that, would affect the effective tax rate, if recognized	160,000	'	'	'	'
Additional disclosure	'	'	'	'	'
Interest and penalties accrued on unrecognized tax benefits	45,000	'	'	'	'
Interest recognized on unrecognized tax benefits	6,000	'	'	'	'
Income tax examination	'	'	'	'	'
Adjustments related to audit of the entity's income tax return	'	'	'	$0	$0

Segment_Information_and_Concen2

Segment Information and Concentration of Customers and Suppliers (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
							item
Segment Information and Concentration of Customers and Suppliers	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of operating segments	'	'	'	'	'	'	1	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net product revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	$25,244,000	$2,012,000
License revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	55,838,000	'
Total revenue	44,057,000	27,379,000	5,534,000	4,112,000	1,971,000	41,000	81,082,000	2,012,000
Qsymia	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net product revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	23,718,000	2,012,000
STENDRA or SPEDRA	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net product revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	$1,526,000	'

Segment_Information_and_Concen3

Segment Information and Concentration of Customers and Suppliers (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Geographic Information	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net product revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	$25,244,000	$2,012,000
License revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	55,838,000	'
Total revenue	44,057,000	27,379,000	5,534,000	4,112,000	1,971,000	41,000	81,082,000	2,012,000
U.S.	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Geographic Information	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net product revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	24,798,000	2,012,000
Total revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	55,191,000	2,012,000
ROW	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Geographic Information	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net product revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	446,000	'
Total revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	25,891,000	'
Qsymia	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Geographic Information	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net product revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	23,718,000	2,012,000
Qsymia | U.S.	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Geographic Information	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net product revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	23,718,000	2,012,000
STENDRA or SPEDRA	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Geographic Information	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net product revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,526,000	'
STENDRA or SPEDRA | U.S.	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Geographic Information	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net product revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,080,000	'
License revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	30,393,000	'
STENDRA or SPEDRA | ROW	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Geographic Information	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net product revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	446,000	'
License revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	25,445,000	'
STENDRA or SPEDRA | Germany	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Geographic Information	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
License revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	$21,000,000	'

Segment_Information_and_Concen4

Segment Information and Concentration of Customers and Suppliers (Details 3)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Total revenues | Customer concentration | Auxilium	'	'
Concentration of Customers	'	'
Concentration risk percentage	39.00%	'
Total revenues | Customer concentration | Menarini	'	'
Concentration of Customers	'	'
Concentration risk percentage	26.00%	'
Total revenues | Customer concentration | CVS	'	'
Concentration of Customers	'	'
Concentration risk percentage	9.00%	50.00%
Total revenues | Customer concentration | Walgreens	'	'
Concentration of Customers	'	'
Concentration risk percentage	6.00%	39.00%
Total revenues | Customer concentration | Express Scripts, Inc.	'	'
Concentration of Customers	'	'
Concentration risk percentage	3.00%	10.00%
Gross accounts receivable | Credit concentration | Menarini	'	'
Concentration of Customers	'	'
Concentration risk percentage	41.00%	'
Gross accounts receivable | Credit concentration | CVS	'	'
Concentration of Customers	'	'
Concentration risk percentage	1.00%	51.00%
Gross accounts receivable | Credit concentration | McKesson	'	'
Concentration of Customers	'	'
Concentration risk percentage	13.00%	'
Gross accounts receivable | Credit concentration | Cardinal Health, Inc.	'	'
Concentration of Customers	'	'
Concentration risk percentage	12.00%	'
Gross accounts receivable | Credit concentration | Walgreens	'	'
Concentration of Customers	'	'
Concentration risk percentage	1.00%	44.00%
Gross accounts receivable | Credit concentration | Express Scripts, Inc.	'	'
Concentration of Customers	'	'
Concentration risk percentage	1.00%	1.00%
Gross accounts receivable | Credit concentration | Amerisource Bergen	'	'
Concentration of Customers	'	'
Concentration risk percentage	26.00%	'

Segment_Information_and_Concen5

Segment Information and Concentration of Customers and Suppliers (Details 4) (Research and Development Expenses)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
		Third party manufacturer	Third party manufacturer
		Qsymia and STENDRA post-approval studies CRO	Qsymia and STENDRA post-approval studies CRO
Concentration of Suppliers	'	'	'
Threshold for disclosure as a percentage of total research and development expenses	10.00%	'	'
Expenses accounted for ten percent or more of total research and development expenses (as a percent)	'	29.00%	13.00%

401k_Plan_Details

401(k) Plan (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
401(k) Plan	'	'	'
401(k) Plan employer-matching contributions	$565,000	$329,000	$181,000

Legal_Matters_Details

Legal Matters (Details) (USD $)	Jul. 16, 2013	Nov. 30, 2010	Jul. 12, 2013	Jul. 18, 2013
	First Manhattan	Federal securities class action lawsuit	Shareholder derivative lawsuit	Proxy Related Lawsuits
		person		First Manhattan
Securities Related Class Action Lawsuits	'	'	'	'
Loss contingency, number of officers, defendants in lawsuit	'	2	'	'
Amount of damages sought	'	'	$0	'
Outstanding shares of common stock owned (as a percent)	9.90%	'	'	'
Reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with proxy solicitation	'	'	'	$2,900,000

Subsequent_Events_Unaudited_De

Subsequent Events (Unaudited) (Details) (Subsequent event, Forecast, USD $)	Jan. 21, 2014
Subsequent event | Forecast	'
Subsequent events	'
Refund (net of expenses)	$357,000

Selected_Financial_Data_Unaudi2

Selected Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Selected Financial Data (Unaudited)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenue	$44,057	$27,379	$5,534	$4,112	$1,971	$41	'	'	$81,082	$2,012	'
Total gross profit (loss)	40,892	26,638	514	-2,055	1,788	37	'	'	'	'	'
Operating expenses	52,752	68,056	56,979	57,909	58,255	40,573	24,317	18,772	235,696	141,917	47,076
Net loss from continuing operations	-17,164	-48,379	-55,635	-53,768	-56,229	-40,476	-24,266	-18,762	-174,946	-139,733	-47,026
Net income from discontinued operations	'	$175	$123	$192	($430)	$80	$218	($16)	$490	($148)	$886
Basic and diluted net (loss) per share:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	($0.17)	($0.48)	($0.55)	($0.53)	($0.56)	($0.40)	($0.24)	($0.20)	($1.72)	($1.42)	($0.56)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0.01

SCHEDULE_IIVALUATION_AND_QUALI1

SCHEDULE II-VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Allowance for Cash Discounts	'	'
Changes in valuation and qualifying accounts reported as assets and liabilities of continuing and discontinued operations	'	'
Balance at Beginning of Period	$57,000	'
Charged to Operations	1,050,000	57,000
Charges Utilized	-973,000	'
Balance at End of Period	134,000	57,000
Cash discount allowances related to revenue recognized	'	'
Changes in valuation and qualifying accounts reported as assets and liabilities of continuing and discontinued operations	'	'
Charged to Operations	$750,000	$53,000