Genvec (GNVC) 10-Q 8 May 15 2015 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_And_Entity_Informatio

Document And Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	GENVEC INC
Entity Central Index Key	934473
Trading Symbol	gnvc
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		17,269,962
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-15
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1

CONDENSED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$7,150	$7,968
Investments, at fair value	5,508	6,724
Accounts receivable, net	427	325
Prepaid expenses and other	244	219
Total current assets	13,329	15,236
Property and equipment, net	253	276
Restricted cash	97	97
Total assets	13,679	15,609
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	916	1,146
Accrued expenses and other	697	1,076
Total current liabilities	1,613	2,222
Other long term liabilities	95	89
Total liabilities	1,708	2,311
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 5,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding in 2015 and 2014
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 30,000 shares authorized; 17,270 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014	17	17
Additional paid-in capital	291,803	291,609
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-25	-33
Accumulated deficit	-279,824	-278,295
Total stockholders' equity	11,971	13,298
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$13,679	$15,609

CONDENSED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Paren

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (Parentheticals) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$0.00	$0.00
Preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000	5,000
Preferred stock, shares issued
Preferred stock, shares outstanding
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock, shares authorized	30,000	30,000
Common stock, shares issued	17,270	17,270
Common stock, shares outstanding	17,270	17,270

CONDENSED_STATEMENTS_OF_OPERAT

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues from strategic alliances and research contracts	$405	$2,131
Operating expenses:
General and administrative	1,293	2,397
Research and development	648	698
Total operating expenses	1,941	3,095
Operating loss	-1,536	-964
Other income:
Interest and other income, net	7	1
Net loss	-1,529	-963
Basic and diluted net loss per share	($0.09)	($0.07)
Shares used in computation of basic and diluted net loss per share	16,540	13,648
Comprehensive Loss:
Net loss	-1,529	-963
Unrealized holding gain on securities available for sale	8	12
Comprehensive loss	($1,521)	($951)

CONDENSED_STATEMENTS_OF_CASH_F

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	($1,529)	($963)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	23	100
Bad debt expense	24
Non-cash charges for stock-based compensation	194	98
Loss on disposal of long-lived assets		22
Changes in current assets and liabilities, net	-760	-880
Changes in non-current liabilities, net	6	26
Net cash used in operating activities	-2,042	-1,597
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment		-34
Proceeds from maturities of investment securities	1,224	806
Net cash provided by investing activities	1,224	772
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs		10,767
Net cash provided by financing activities		10,767
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-818	9,942
Beginning balance of cash and cash equivalents	7,968	5,249
Ending balance of cash and cash equivalents	$7,150	$15,191

General

General	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
General Disclosure [Abstract]
General	-1	General
	Basis of Presentation
	The condensed financial statements included herein have been prepared by GenVec, Inc. (GenVec, we, our, or the Company) without audit pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. We believe the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  The condensed financial statements included herein should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC.
	In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and the results of its operations and cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014.  The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for any other interim period or for a full fiscal year.
	Business
	GenVec is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with an entrepreneurial focus on leveraging its proprietary adenovector gene delivery platform to develop a pipeline of cutting-edge therapeutics and vaccines. The Company is a pioneer in the design, testing and manufacture of adenoviral-based product candidates that can deliver on the promise of gene-based medicine. GenVec’s lead product candidate, CGF166, is licensed to Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Inc. (together with Novartis AG and its subsidiary corporations, including Novartis Pharma AG, Novartis) and is currently in a Phase 1/2 clinical study for the treatment of hearing loss and balance disorders. In addition to our internal and partnered pipeline, we also focus on opportunities to license our proprietary technology platform, including vectors and production cell lines, for the development and manufacture of therapeutics and vaccines to the biopharmaceutical industry.
	A key component of our strategy is to develop and commercialize our product candidates through collaborations. GenVec is working with leading companies and organizations such as Novartis, Merial Limited, and the U.S. government to support a portfolio of programs that address the prevention and treatment of a number of significant human and animal health concerns. GenVec’s development programs address therapeutic areas such as hearing loss and balance disorders; as well as vaccines against infectious diseases including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) and malaria. In the area of animal health we are developing vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
	Our core technology has the important advantage of localizing protein delivery in the body. This is accomplished by using our adenovector platform to locally deliver genes to cells, which then direct production of the desired protein. This approach reduces side effects typically associated with systemic delivery of proteins. For vaccines, the goal is to induce an immune response against a target protein or antigen. This is accomplished by using an adenovector to deliver a gene which causes production of an antigen, which then stimulates the desired immune reaction by the body.
	Our research and development activities yield product candidates that utilize our technology platform and represent potential commercial opportunities. For example, preclinical research in hearing loss and balance disorders through the delivery of the atonal gene using GenVec’s adenovector technology may have the potential to restore hearing and balance function. We are working with Novartis on the development of novel treatments for hearing loss and balance disorders. There are currently no effective therapeutic treatments available for patients who have lost all balance function, and hearing loss remains a major unmet medical problem.
	We have multiple vaccines in development leveraging our core adenovector technology including our preclinical programs to develop vaccine candidates for the prevention of RSV and HSV. We also have a program to develop a vaccine for malaria. In the field of animal health, we are working with Merial Limited to commercialize vaccines for the prevention of a major animal health problem, FMD. Development efforts for this program have been supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
	In February 2015, GenVec announced the initiation of the development of a vaccine against EV-D68, a strain of enterovirus responsible for causing potentially serious respiratory illness in people across 49 states and the District of Columbia in 2014. We believe that GenVec’s EV-D68 vaccine program will leverage the success we had with a similar type of virus, FMD, to develop a safe, effective molecular vaccine.
	Our business strategy is focused on entering into collaborative arrangements with third parties to complete the development and commercialization of our product candidates. In the event that third parties take over the development for one or more of our product candidates, the estimated completion date would largely be under the control of that third party rather than us. We cannot forecast with any degree of certainty which proprietary products or indications, if any, will be subject to future collaborative arrangements, in whole or in part, and how such arrangements would affect our development plan or capital requirements. Our programs may also benefit from subsidies, grants or government or agency-sponsored studies that could reduce our development costs.
	In March 2015, GenVec announced a collaboration with TheraBiologics, Inc. to develop cancer therapeutics leveraging both GenVec’s proprietary gene delivery platform and TheraBiologics’ proprietary neural stem cell technology. In exchange for an economic participation in the products being developed under the collaboration, we will contribute technology, know-how, vector construction, and technical and regulatory support to the program. TheraBiologics will be responsible for all other development costs.
	In April 2015, GenVec announced a new research collaboration agreement with the Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology (LMIV) under which Genvec will build new vaccine candidates based on our proprietary adenovectors isolated from gorillas and designed to deliver novel antigens discovered at the LMIV.
	A key element of our business strategy is to pursue, as resources permit, the research and development of a range of product candidates for a variety of indications. We believe our approach will help us diversify the risks associated with our research and development expenditures. To the extent we are unable to maintain a broad range of product candidates, our dependence on the success of one or a few product candidates would increase.
	As a result of the uncertainties involved in our business, we are unable to estimate the duration and completion costs of our research and development projects or when, if ever, and to what extent we will receive cash inflows from the commercialization and sale of a product. Our inability to complete our research and development projects in a timely manner or our failure to enter into collaborative agreements, when appropriate, could significantly increase our capital requirements and could adversely impact our liquidity. These uncertainties could force us to seek additional, external sources of financing from time to time in order to continue with our business strategy. Our inability to raise additional capital, or to do so on terms reasonably acceptable to us, would jeopardize the future success of our business. Our estimated future capital requirements are uncertain and could change materially as a result of many factors, including the progress of our research, development, clinical, manufacturing, and commercialization activities. However, we believe our current cash and investments and committed and expected revenues from our collaborators and strategic alliances are expected to be sufficient to continue our current research, development and collaborative activities into 2017.
	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 at the date of the financial statements, and revenues and expenses during the period. Critical accounting policies involved in applying our accounting policies are those that require management to make assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate was made and those for which different estimates reasonably could have been used for the current period. Critical accounting estimates are also those which are reasonably likely to change from period to period, and would have a material impact on the presentation of our financial condition, changes in financial condition or results of operations. Our most critical accounting estimates relate to accounting policies for strategic alliances and research contract revenues, research and development activities, and stock-based compensation. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
	Revenue Recognition
	Revenue is recognized when all four of the following criteria are met (i) a contract is executed, (ii) the contract price is fixed and determinable, (iii) delivery of the services or products has occurred and (iv) collectability of the contract amounts is considered probable.
	Our collaborative research and development agreements provide for upfront license fees, research payments, and/or substantive milestone payments. Upfront non-refundable fees associated with license and development agreements where we have continuing involvement in the agreement are recorded as deferred revenue and recognized over the estimated service period. If the estimated service period is subsequently modified, the period over which the upfront fee is recognized is modified accordingly on a prospective basis. Non-refundable research and development fees for which no future performance obligations exist are recognized when collection is assured. Substantive milestone payments are considered performance payments and are recognized upon achievement of the milestone if all of the following criteria are met: (i) achievement of the milestone involves a degree of risk and was not reasonably assured at the inception of the arrangement, (ii) substantive effort is involved in achieving the milestone and (iii) the amount of the milestone payment is reasonable in relation to all of the deliverables and payment terms within the arrangement. Determination of whether a milestone meets the aforementioned conditions involves the judgment of management.
	Research and development revenue from cost-reimbursement and cost-plus fixed-fee agreements is recognized as earned based on the performance requirements of the contract. Revisions in revenues, cost, and billing factors, such as indirect rate estimates, are accounted for in the period of change. Reimbursable costs under such contracts are subject to audit and retroactive adjustment. Contract revenues and accounts receivable reported in the financial statements are recorded at the amount expected to be received. Contract revenues are adjusted to actual upon final audit and retroactive adjustment. Estimated contractual allowances are provided based on management’s evaluation of current contract terms and past experience with disallowed costs and reimbursement levels. Payments received in advance of work performed are recorded as deferred revenue.
	Research and development revenue from fixed-price best efforts arrangements is recognized as earned based on the performance requirements of the contract. Revenue under these arrangements is recognized when customer acceptance has been received. During the period of performance, recoverable contract costs are accumulated on the balance sheet in other current assets, but no revenue or profit is recorded prior to customer acceptance of the contractually stated deliverables. Recoverable contract costs that are accumulated on the balance sheet include all direct costs associated with the arrangement and an allocation of indirect costs. Payments received in advance of customer acceptance are recorded as deferred revenue. Once customer acceptance has been received, revenue and recoverable contract costs are recognized. Over the course of the arrangement, we routinely evaluate whether revenue and profitability should be recognized in the current period. Any known or probable losses on projects are charged to operations in the period in which such losses are determined.
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest—Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs.  To simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs, the amendments in this Update require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts.  The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments in this Update.  The amendments in this Update are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016.  Early adoption of the amendments in this Update is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued.  The adoption of this standard will not have any impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
	In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-01, Income Statement — Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20):  Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items. Extraordinary items are transactions or events that are both unusual in nature and infrequent in occurrence, and, currently, are required to be presented separately in an entity’s income statement, net of income tax, after income from continuing operations. The changes eliminate the concept of extraordinary items and, therefore, the presentation of such items will no longer be required.  Notwithstanding this change, an entity will still be required to present and disclose transactions or events that are both unusual in nature and infrequent in occurrence in the notes to the financial statements.  The new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015.  Early adoption is permitted provided that the guidance is applied from the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption.  The adoption of this standard will not have any impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
	In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements — Going Concern (Topic 205), which requires management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related disclosures in certain circumstances. Under the new standard, disclosures are required when conditions or events give rise to substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the financial statement issuance date. The new standard is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and all annual and interim periods thereafter. Early application is permitted. The adoption of this standard will not have any impact on the Company’s financial position and results of operations and, at this time, the Company does not expect any impact on its disclosures.
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes all existing revenue recognition requirements, including most industry-specific guidance. The new standard requires a company to recognize revenue when it transfers goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that the company expects to receive for those goods or services. The new standard will be effective for us on January 1, 2017; however the standard’s effective date may be delayed. We are currently evaluating the potential impact that Topic 606 may have on our financial position and results of operations.
	There are no other new accounting pronouncements issued but not effective until after March 31, 2015 that are expected to have a significant effect on our financial position or results of operations.

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	-2	Fair Value Measurements
	For assets and liabilities measured at fair value we utilize FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Section 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (ASC 820) which defines fair value and establishes a framework for fair value measurements. This standard establishes a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:
	●	Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
	●	Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active and other inputs that are observable (e.g., interest rates, yield curves, volatilities and default rates, among others) or that can be corroborated by observable market data;
	●	Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities, including certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.
	The following table presents information about assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis on the Condensed Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2015:
					Quoted Prices in
					Active Markets for		Significant
			Total Carrying		Identical		Other Observable
			Value on the		Assets/Liabilities		Inputs
	(In thousands)		Balance Sheet		(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	7,150	$	7,150	$	-
	Investments, at fair value:
	Corporate notes and bonds			5,258		-		5,258
	U.S. Government and agency securities			200		-		200
	Equity securities			50		50		-
	Subtotal, Investments, at fair value			5,508		50		5,458
	Total assets at fair value		$	12,658	$	7,200	$	5,458
	The following table presents information about assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis on the Condensed Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2014:
					Quoted Prices in
					Active Markets for		Significant
			Total Carrying		Identical		Other Observable
			Value on the		Assets/Liabilities		Inputs
	(In thousands)		Balance Sheet		(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	7,968	$	7,968	$	-
	Investments, at fair value:
	Corporate notes and bonds			6,475		-		6,475
	U.S. Government and agency securities			200		-		200
	Equity Securities			49		49		-
	Subtotal, Investments, at fair value			6,724		49		6,675
	Total assets at fair value		$	14,692	$	8,017	$	6,675
	We determine fair value for marketable securities with Level 1 inputs through quoted market prices and have classified them as available-for-sale. Our Level 2 investments consist of corporate notes, bonds, and commercial papers maturing at various times into 2016.
	We review all investments for other-than-temporary impairment at least quarterly or as indicators of impairment exist. Indicators of impairment include the duration and severity of the decline in fair value as well as the intent and ability to hold the investment to allow for a recovery in the market value of the investment. In addition, we consider qualitative factors that include, but are not limited to: (i) the financial condition and business plans of the investee, including its future earnings potential, (ii) the investee’s credit rating and (iii) the current and expected market and industry conditions in which the investee operates. If a decline in the fair value of an investment is deemed by management to be other-than-temporary, we write down the cost basis of the investment to fair value, and the amount of the write down is included in net earnings. Such a determination is dependent on the facts and circumstances relating to each investment. We have determined there have been no such impairments in 2015 or 2014; however as of March 31, 2015, the Company has an accumulated unrealized loss of $25,000; $10,000 of which is related to our equity security holding, which has been in a loss position for over twelve months.
	All unrealized holding gains or losses related to our investments in marketable securities are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive loss in stockholders’ equity. The change in accumulated other comprehensive loss was a net unrealized gain of $8,000 and $12,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

StockBased_Compensation_Expens

Stock-Based Compensation Expense	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Stock-Based Compensation Expense	-3	Stock-Based Compensation Expense
	The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense related to employee stock options for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014, which was allocated as follows:
			Three Months Ended
			March 31,
			2015			2014
			(in thousands)
	General and administrative		$	113		$	56
	Research and development			81			42
			$	194		$	98
	We use the Black-Scholes pricing model to value stock options. The estimated fair value of employee stock options granted during the three-months periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was calculated using the Black-Scholes model with the following weighted-average assumptions:
			For the Three			For the Three
			Months Ended			Months Ended
			31-Mar-15			31-Mar-14
	Risk-free interest rate			1.42	%		1.88	%
	Expected dividend yield			0	%		0	%
	Expected volatility			103.64	%		97.91	%
	Expected life (years)			6.23			6.05
	Weighted-average fair value of options granted		$	2.34		$	3.06
	The risk-free interest rate assumptions are based upon various U.S. Treasury rates as of the date of the grants, which was 1.42% for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 1.87% to 1.99% for the three months ended March 31, 2014. The dividend yield is based on the assumption that we do not expect to declare a dividend over the life of the options.
	The volatility assumptions for the 2015 and 2014 periods are based on the weighted average volatility for the most recent one-year period as well as the volatility over the expected life of 6.23 years and 6.05 years, respectively. The expected life of employee stock options represents the weighted average combining the actual life of options that have already been exercised or cancelled with the expected life of all outstanding options. The expected life of outstanding options is calculated assuming the options will be exercised at the midpoint between the applicable vesting date and the full contractual term.
	The Company estimates forfeiture rates at the time of grant and revises these estimates, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Forfeitures are estimated based on the demographics of current option holders and standard probabilities of employee turnover. We do not record tax-related effects on stock-based compensation given our historical and anticipated operating experience and offsetting changes in our valuation allowance which fully reserves against potential deferred tax assets.
	Stock Options
	The following table summarizes the stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2015:
						Weighted				Weighted
						average				average			Aggregate
			Number			exercise				contractual			intrinsic
	(in thousands,		of shares			price				life (years)			value
	except exercise price and contractual term data)
	Stock options outstanding, January 1, 2015			1,679		$	4.74
	Granted			435			2.97
	Expired			(10	)		18.87
	Stock options outstanding at March 31, 2015			2,104		$	4.31				7.56		$	929
	Vested or expected to vest at March 31, 2015			1,902		$	4.46				7.37		$	887
	Exercisable at March 31, 2015			1,178		$	5.55				6.32		$	564
	Unrecognized stock-based compensation related to stock options was approximately $1.8 million as of March 31, 2015. This amount is expected to be expensed over a weighted average period of 3.1 years. There were no options exercised during the three-months periods ended March 31, 2015 or 2014.
	The following table summarizes information about our stock options outstanding and exercisable as of March 31, 2015:
				Outstanding										Exercisable
							Weighted
							average				Weighted					Weighted
							remaining				average					average
	Range of exercise			Number			contractual				exercise			Number		exercise
	prices			of shares			life (in years)				price			of shares		price
				(number of shares in thousands)
	$0.00 - $10.00				1,906			8.06			$	2.77			979	$	2.8
	$10.01 - $20.00				114			2.09				15.57			114		15.57
	$20.01 - $30.00				82			3.75				23.57			83		23.57
	$30.01 - $41.00				2			2.05				41			2		41
					2,104			7.56			$	4.31			1,178	$	5.55
	Restricted Stock Awards
	In September 2013, the Company issued 730,000 restricted shares of common stock under the Company’s 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan. The following table summarizes the status of the Company’s unvested restricted stock as of March 31, 2015:
						Weighted
						Average				Aggregate
			Number			Grant Date				Intrinsic
	(in thousands, except per share data)		of Shares			Fair Value				Value
	Non-vested RSU’s at January 1, 2014			730		$	0.27
	Granted			-			-
	Vested			-			-
	Forfeited			-			-
	Non-vested RSU’s at December 31, 2014			730			-
	Granted			-			-
	Vested			-			-
	Forfeited			-			-
	Non-vested restricted stock units at March 31, 2015			730		$	0.27		$	194
	Expected to vest at March 31, 2015			669		$	0.27		$	178
Restricted stock awarded in 2013 vests 100% two years after the date of grant. The fair value of the grant is charged to operations over the vesting period. Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to restricted stock units was approximately $71,000 as of March 31, 2015. This amount is expected to be expensed over a weighted average period of 0.4 years.

Net_Loss_per_Share

Net Loss per Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Loss per Share	-4	Net Loss per Share
	Basic earnings per share is computed based upon the net loss available to common stock stockholders divided by the weighted average number of common stock shares outstanding during the period. The dilutive effect of common stock equivalents is included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share only when the effect of the inclusion would be dilutive. For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 all common stock equivalent shares associated with our stock option plans, unvested restricted shares, and stock equivalent shares associated with our warrants were excluded from the denominator in the diluted loss per share calculation as their inclusion would have been antidilutive.

Stockholders_Equity

Stockholders' Equity	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity	-5	Stockholders’ Equity
	In January 2014, we filed a $75.0 million shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (the 2014 shelf registration statement), with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The 2014 shelf registration statement was declared effective February 11, 2014 and allows us to obtain financing through the issuance of any combination of common stock, preferred stock or warrants. Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3, in no event will we sell securities in a public primary offering with a value exceeding more than one-third of our public float in any 12-month period so long as our public float remains below $75.0 million. As of April 30, 2015, pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement and the Registered Direct Offering described below we have sold approximately $11.6 million of securities in the aggregate.
	On February 11, 2014, we entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (the EDA) with Roth Capital Partners, LLC (Roth Capital Partners), pursuant to which we may sell from time to time up to $10.0 million of shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, through Roth Capital Partners (the ATM Offering). Sales of shares in the ATM Offering, if any, may be made by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including without limitation directly on the NASDAQ Capital Market, or any other existing trading market for the shares or through a market maker, or, if agreed by the Company and Roth Capital Partners, by any other method permitted by law, including but not limited to in negotiated transactions. The ATM Offering is being made pursuant to the 2014 shelf registration statement. We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of shares in the ATM Offering, if any, for operating costs, working capital and general corporate purposes. At the time of the registered direct offering described immediately below, we suspended the ATM Offering. We will continue to evaluate whether to resume the ATM offering in the future. As of April 30, 2015, we had sold 721,677 shares in the ATM Offering for gross proceeds of approximately $2.6 million.
	On March 18, 2014, we sold 2,870,000 shares of our common stock in a registered direct offering pursuant to the 2014 shelf registration statement (the Registered Direct Offering), at a price of $3.15 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $9.0 million. We intend to use the net proceeds, $8.4 million, from the sale of shares in the Registered Direct Offering for operating costs, working capital and general corporate purposes.
	As of March 31, 2015, pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement and the Registered Direct Offering we have sold 3,591,677 shares of our common stock since the 2014 shelf registration statement became effective on February 11, 2014 for gross proceeds of $11.6 million; all of these sales were completed prior to March 31, 2014. These sales have resulted in proceeds, net of issuance costs of approximately $10.7 million.
	Warrants to purchase common stock were granted to organizations and institutions in conjunction with certain licensing and funding activities. On February 1, 2015, 420,000 warrants with an exercise price of $27.50 issued in February 2010 expired. As a result of the expiration of the warrants on February 1, 2015, we have no outstanding warrants. There were no warrants exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2015.

Collaborative_Agreements

Collaborative Agreements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Collaborative Agreements [Abstract]
Collaborative Agreements	-6	Collaborative Agreements
	In January 2010, we signed a research collaboration and license agreement (the Agreement) with Novartis to discover and develop novel treatments for hearing loss and balance disorders. Under the terms of the Agreement, we licensed the world-wide rights to our preclinical hearing loss and balance disorders program to Novartis. In addition, the Agreement allows us to receive funding from Novartis for a research program focused on developing additional adenovectors for hearing loss. During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, we recognized $92,000 and $3,000, respectively, for work performed under the Agreement.
	Under the Agreement, we are eligible to receive milestones payments of up to $206.6 million; including up to $0.6 million for the achievement of preclinical development activities, up to $26.0 million for the achievement of clinical milestones (including the non-rejection of an IND with respect to a covered product, the first patient visit in Phase I, Phase IIb and Phase III clinical trials), up to $45.0 million for the receipt of regulatory approvals and up to $135.0 million for sales-based milestones. During each of the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011, we recognized $0.3 million of milestone payments as a result of the successful completion of preclinical development activities. In 2012 and 2013, there were no milestone payments received. In February 2014, we achieved the third milestone in the collaboration with Novartis. The $2.0 million milestone was triggered by the non-rejection by the FDA of the IND filed by Novartis for CGF166. In October 2014, we achieved the fourth milestone in the collaboration with Novartis. The $3.0 million milestone was triggered when the first patient was dosed in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial sponsored by Novartis utilizing GenVec technology for the treatment of severe-to-profound bilateral hearing loss.
	As of March 31, 2015, milestones available under the Agreement include $21.0 million of additional clinical milestones, $45.0 million in regulatory milestones, and $135.0 million of sales-based milestones. We are also entitled to royalties on future sales. There have been no milestones achieved during 2015.
	In August 2010, we signed an agreement for the supply of services relating to development materials with Novartis, related to our collaboration in hearing loss and balance disorders. Under this agreement, valued at $14.9 million, we agreed to manufacture clinical trial material for up to two lead candidates. During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 we recognized $0.1 million for each respective period, for services performed under this agreement.
	In March 2015, we announced a collaboration with TheraBiologics, Inc. to develop cancer therapeutics leveraging both GenVec’s proprietary gene delivery platform and TheraBiologics’ proprietary neural stem cell technology. In exchange for an economic participation in the products being developed under the collaboration, we will contribute technology, know-how, vector construction, and technical and regulatory support to the program. TheraBiologics will be responsible for all other development costs.
	In April 2015, we announced a new Research Collaboration Agreement with the Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology (LMIV) under which we will build new vaccine candidates based on our proprietary adenovectors isolated from gorillas and designed to deliver novel antigens discovered at the LMIV.

Litigation

Litigation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Litigation	-7	Litigation
	On February 3, 2012, a putative class action lawsuit captioned Satish Shah v. GenVec, Inc., et al. Civil Action. No. 8:12 CV-00341-DKC was commenced in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland against the Company, Paul H. Fischer, Douglas J. Swirsky and Mark O. Thornton. Following appointment of a Lead Plaintiff group in April 2012, Lead Plaintiffs filed a pleading titled Amended Class Action Complaint for Violations of the Federal Securities Laws on July 6, 2012 (the Amended Class Action Complaint). In the Amended Class Action Complaint, Lead Plaintiffs asserted claims, purportedly on behalf of a class of persons who had purchased or acquired Company common stock between March 12, 2009 and March 30, 2010 (the Class Period), that the Company and the individual defendants had violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, and Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act. Lead Plaintiffs alleged generally that the Company and the individual defendants had made materially false or misleading statements or omissions concerning the prospects for the Company’s leading product candidate at the time, TNFerade, and the outcome of the then-ongoing clinical trial for TNFerade. Lead Plaintiffs alleged that these misrepresentations resulted in the Company’s common stock trading at artificially inflated prices throughout the Class Period. Lead Plaintiffs sought unspecified damages. On September 4, 2012, the Company and the individual defendants moved to dismiss the Amended Class Action Complaint in its entirety for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. On September 20, 2013, the Court granted this motion and dismissed the case in its entirety and with prejudice. Lead Plaintiffs did not file an appeal.
	On March 12, 2012, a putative shareholder derivative action was commenced in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland against certain current and former members of our Board of Directors and the Company as a nominal defendant. The case was styled Garnitschnig v. Horovitz, et al. and generally arose out of the matters alleged to underlie the securities action. The plaintiff, who purported to bring the action derivatively on behalf of the Company, originally alleged that the individual defendants violated their fiduciary duties, wasted corporate assets and were unjustly enriched by the receipt of compensation while serving as our directors. On November 1, 2013, the plaintiff in the Garnitschnig action filed an Amended Verified Shareholder Derivative and Class Action Complaint (the Amended Complaint) that supersedes the previous Complaint and asserted claims for breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, waste of corporate assets and alleged violations of the duty of candor. The plaintiff, who now purported to bring the Amended Complaint both derivatively and as a shareholder class action, alleged that certain current and former members of the Board of Directors exceeded their authority under the Company’s 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the 2011 Plan) by exceeding certain limits applicable to both stock options and restricted stock. The Amended Complaint further alleged that the Company’s Proxy Statement was materially false and misleading for failing to disclose the alleged violations of the 2011 Plan.
	On October 17, 2014, a second putative class and derivative action was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland styled Galitsis v. Swirsky, et. al., Case No. 14-cv-3265. The Galitsis Complaint contains the same allegations and asserts almost all the same claims as those in the Garnitschnig Amended Complaint Shortly after the Galitsis action was filed, counsel for the plaintiff (who was also counsel for the plaintiff in the Garnitschnig action) voluntarily dismissed the Garnitschnig action.
	The Company and the individual defendants vigorously deny all liability with respect to the claims alleged in the Galitsis action. However, the Company considered it desirable that the action be settled to avoid the substantial burden, expense, risk, inconvenience and distraction of continued litigation and to fully and finally resolve the settled claims. On or about November 3, 2014, the parties to the Galitsis action reached an agreement in principle set forth in a Settlement Term Sheet to settle the Galitsis action. Subsequently, on January 23, 2015, the parties executed and filed with the Court a Stipulation of Settlement embodying terms previously set forth in the Settlement Term Sheet. On May 7, 2015, the court entered orders approving the settlement and awarding the plaintiff’s attorneys in the Galitsis action $325,000 in attorneys’ fees and expenses. The court order approving the settlement resolves all of the claims that were or could have been brought in the Galitsis action, including all claims related to awards made pursuant to the 2011 Plan.

Restructuring

Restructuring	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Restructuring	-8	Restructuring
	On January 10, 2014, we relocated our corporate offices from 65 W. Watkins Mill Road in Gaithersburg, MD to 910 Clopper Road, Suite 220N in Gaithersburg, MD. As a result of our relocation, the Company incurred $0.7 million of expense in the first quarter of 2014. This amount comprises $0.6 million for accrued rent expense and $57,000 of accelerated depreciation and amortization for long-lived assets that are not currently expected to be utilized after our relocation. Additionally, the Company incurred $39,000 of accelerated depreciation for long-lived assets that have been taken out of service in the third quarter of 2014. Accrued rent expense for the Company’s lease obligation for the former corporate offices, which ran through October 31, 2014 was paid monthly over the remaining lease term. At March 31, 2015, the liability remaining in accrued expenses related to our former corporate offices is $20,000.
	At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, liabilities of approximately $0 and $128,000, respectively, remain in accrued expenses for the unpaid portion of the severance costs related to the departure of Cynthia Collins, our former President and Chief Executive Officer.

Subsequent_Events

Subsequent Events	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	-9	Subsequent Events
	On April 21, 2015, we announced a new research collaboration agreement with the Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology (LMIV) under which we will build new vaccine candidates based on our proprietary adenovectors isolated from gorillas and designed to deliver novel antigens discovered at the LMIV.
	On April 22, 2015, we announced that Michael Richman, president and chief executive officer at Amplimmune, a member of the AstraZeneca Group, joined our board of directors. Mr. Richman brings his extensive background in building biotechnology companies, strategic planning and deal structuring to GenVec.

General_Policies

General (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation
	The condensed financial statements included herein have been prepared by GenVec, Inc. (GenVec, we, our, or the Company) without audit pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. We believe the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  The condensed financial statements included herein should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC.
	In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and the results of its operations and cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014.  The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for any other interim period or for a full fiscal year.
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 at the date of the financial statements, and revenues and expenses during the period. Critical accounting policies involved in applying our accounting policies are those that require management to make assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate was made and those for which different estimates reasonably could have been used for the current period. Critical accounting estimates are also those which are reasonably likely to change from period to period, and would have a material impact on the presentation of our financial condition, changes in financial condition or results of operations. Our most critical accounting estimates relate to accounting policies for strategic alliances and research contract revenues, research and development activities, and stock-based compensation. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition
	Revenue is recognized when all four of the following criteria are met (i) a contract is executed, (ii) the contract price is fixed and determinable, (iii) delivery of the services or products has occurred and (iv) collectability of the contract amounts is considered probable.
	Our collaborative research and development agreements provide for upfront license fees, research payments, and/or substantive milestone payments. Upfront non-refundable fees associated with license and development agreements where we have continuing involvement in the agreement are recorded as deferred revenue and recognized over the estimated service period. If the estimated service period is subsequently modified, the period over which the upfront fee is recognized is modified accordingly on a prospective basis. Non-refundable research and development fees for which no future performance obligations exist are recognized when collection is assured. Substantive milestone payments are considered performance payments and are recognized upon achievement of the milestone if all of the following criteria are met: (i) achievement of the milestone involves a degree of risk and was not reasonably assured at the inception of the arrangement, (ii) substantive effort is involved in achieving the milestone and (iii) the amount of the milestone payment is reasonable in relation to all of the deliverables and payment terms within the arrangement. Determination of whether a milestone meets the aforementioned conditions involves the judgment of management.
	Research and development revenue from cost-reimbursement and cost-plus fixed-fee agreements is recognized as earned based on the performance requirements of the contract. Revisions in revenues, cost, and billing factors, such as indirect rate estimates, are accounted for in the period of change. Reimbursable costs under such contracts are subject to audit and retroactive adjustment. Contract revenues and accounts receivable reported in the financial statements are recorded at the amount expected to be received. Contract revenues are adjusted to actual upon final audit and retroactive adjustment. Estimated contractual allowances are provided based on management’s evaluation of current contract terms and past experience with disallowed costs and reimbursement levels. Payments received in advance of work performed are recorded as deferred revenue.
	Research and development revenue from fixed-price best efforts arrangements is recognized as earned based on the performance requirements of the contract. Revenue under these arrangements is recognized when customer acceptance has been received. During the period of performance, recoverable contract costs are accumulated on the balance sheet in other current assets, but no revenue or profit is recorded prior to customer acceptance of the contractually stated deliverables. Recoverable contract costs that are accumulated on the balance sheet include all direct costs associated with the arrangement and an allocation of indirect costs. Payments received in advance of customer acceptance are recorded as deferred revenue. Once customer acceptance has been received, revenue and recoverable contract costs are recognized. Over the course of the arrangement, we routinely evaluate whether revenue and profitability should be recognized in the current period. Any known or probable losses on projects are charged to operations in the period in which such losses are determined.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest—Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. To simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs, the amendments in this Update require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments in this Update. The amendments in this Update are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption of the amendments in this Update is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. The adoption of this standard will not have any impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
	In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-01, Income Statement — Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20): Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items. Extraordinary items are transactions or events that are both unusual in nature and infrequent in occurrence, and, currently, are required to be presented separately in an entity’s income statement, net of income tax, after income from continuing operations. The changes eliminate the concept of extraordinary items and, therefore, the presentation of such items will no longer be required. Notwithstanding this change, an entity will still be required to present and disclose transactions or events that are both unusual in nature and infrequent in occurrence in the notes to the financial statements. The new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted provided that the guidance is applied from the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The adoption of this standard will not have any impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
	In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements — Going Concern (Topic 205), which requires management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related disclosures in certain circumstances. Under the new standard, disclosures are required when conditions or events give rise to substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the financial statement issuance date. The new standard is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and all annual and interim periods thereafter. Early application is permitted. The adoption of this standard will not have any impact on the Company’s financial position and results of operations and, at this time, the Company does not expect any impact on its disclosures.
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes all existing revenue recognition requirements, including most industry-specific guidance. The new standard requires a company to recognize revenue when it transfers goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that the company expects to receive for those goods or services. The new standard will be effective for us on January 1, 2017; however the standard’s effective date may be delayed. We are currently evaluating the potential impact that Topic 606 may have on our financial position and results of operations.
	There are no other new accounting pronouncements issued but not effective until after March 31, 2015 that are expected to have a significant effect on our financial position or results of operations.

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule of assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis	The following table presents information about assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis on the Condensed Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2015:
				Quoted Prices in
				Active Markets for		Significant
		Total Carrying		Identical		Other Observable
		Value on the		Assets/Liabilities		Inputs
	(In thousands)	Balance Sheet		(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	7,150	$	7,150	$	-
	Investments, at fair value:
	Corporate notes and bonds		5,258		-		5,258
	U.S. Government and agency securities		200		-		200
	Equity securities		50		50		-
	Subtotal, Investments, at fair value		5,508		50		5,458
	Total assets at fair value	$	12,658	$	7,200	$	5,458
	The following table presents information about assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis on the Condensed Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2014:
				Quoted Prices in
				Active Markets for		Significant
		Total Carrying		Identical		Other Observable
		Value on the		Assets/Liabilities		Inputs
	(In thousands)	Balance Sheet		(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	7,968	$	7,968	$	-
	Investments, at fair value:
	Corporate notes and bonds		6,475		-		6,475
	U.S. Government and agency securities		200		-		200
	Equity Securities		49		49		-
	Subtotal, Investments, at fair value		6,724		49		6,675
	Total assets at fair value	$	14,692	$	8,017	$	6,675

StockBased_Compensation_Expens1

Stock-Based Compensation Expense (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Schedule of stock-based compensation expense related to employee stock options
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2015			2014
		(in thousands)
	General and administrative	$	113		$	56
	Research and development		81			42
		$	194		$	98
Schedule of weighted-average assumptions used in valuation of stock option
		For the Three			For the Three
		Months Ended			Months Ended
		31-Mar-15			31-Mar-14
	Risk-free interest rate		1.42	%		1.88	%
	Expected dividend yield		0	%		0	%
	Expected volatility		103.64	%		97.91	%
	Expected life (years)		6.23			6.05
	Weighted-average fair value of options granted	$	2.34		$	3.06
Schedule of stock option activity
					Weighted				Weighted
					average				average			Aggregate
		Number			exercise				contractual			intrinsic
	(in thousands,	of shares			price				life (years)			value
	except exercise price and contractual term data)
	Stock options outstanding, January 1, 2015		1,679		$	4.74
	Granted		435			2.97
	Expired		(10	)		18.87
	Stock options outstanding at March 31, 2015		2,104		$	4.31				7.56		$	929
	Vested or expected to vest at March 31, 2015		1,902		$	4.46				7.37		$	887
	Exercisable at March 31, 2015		1,178		$	5.55				6.32		$	564
Schedule of summary of stock options outstanding			Outstanding										Exercisable
						Weighted
						average				Weighted					Weighted
						remaining				average					average
	Range of exercise		Number			contractual				exercise			Number		exercise
	prices		of shares			life (in years)				price			of shares		price
			(number of shares in thousands)
	$0.00 - $10.00			1,906			8.06			$	2.77			979	$	2.8
	$10.01 - $20.00			114			2.09				15.57			114		15.57
	$20.01 - $30.00			82			3.75				23.57			83		23.57
	$30.01 - $41.00			2			2.05				41			2		41
				2,104			7.56			$	4.31			1,178	$	5.55
Schedule of unvested restricted stock
					Weighted
					Average				Aggregate
		Number			Grant Date				Intrinsic
	(in thousands, except per share data)	of Shares			Fair Value				Value
	Non-vested RSU’s at January 1, 2014		730		$	0.27
	Granted		-			-
	Vested		-			-
	Forfeited		-			-
	Non-vested RSU’s at December 31, 2014		730			-
	Granted		-			-
	Vested		-			-
	Forfeited		-			-
	Non-vested restricted stock units at March 31, 2015		730		$	0.27		$	194
	Expected to vest at March 31, 2015		669		$	0.27		$	178

Fair_Value_Measurements_Assets

Fair Value Measurements - Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on recurring basis on condensed balance sheet (Details) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring, USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Total Carrying Value on the Balance Sheet
Investments, at fair value:
Subtotal, Investments, at fair value	$5,508	$6,724
Total assets at fair value	12,658	14,692
Total Carrying Value on the Balance Sheet | Cash and cash equivalents
Investments, at fair value:
Total assets at fair value	7,150	7,968
Total Carrying Value on the Balance Sheet | Corporate notes and bonds
Investments, at fair value:
Subtotal, Investments, at fair value	5,258	6,475
Total Carrying Value on the Balance Sheet | U.S. Government and agency securities
Investments, at fair value:
Subtotal, Investments, at fair value	200	200
Total Carrying Value on the Balance Sheet | Equity securities
Investments, at fair value:
Subtotal, Investments, at fair value	50	49
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1)
Investments, at fair value:
Subtotal, Investments, at fair value	50	49
Total assets at fair value	7,200	8,017
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) | Cash and cash equivalents
Investments, at fair value:
Total assets at fair value	7,150	7,968
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) | Corporate notes and bonds
Investments, at fair value:
Subtotal, Investments, at fair value
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) | U.S. Government and agency securities
Investments, at fair value:
Subtotal, Investments, at fair value
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) | Equity securities
Investments, at fair value:
Subtotal, Investments, at fair value	50	49
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Investments, at fair value:
Subtotal, Investments, at fair value	5,458	6,675
Total assets at fair value	5,458	6,675
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Cash and cash equivalents
Investments, at fair value:
Total assets at fair value
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Corporate notes and bonds
Investments, at fair value:
Subtotal, Investments, at fair value	5,258	6,475
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | U.S. Government and agency securities
Investments, at fair value:
Subtotal, Investments, at fair value	200	200
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Equity securities
Investments, at fair value:
Subtotal, Investments, at fair value

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail

Fair Value Measurements - (Detail Textuals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Accumulated unrealized loss	$25,000
Accumulated unrealized loss equity security holding	10,000
Net unrealized gain included in comprehensive income related to marketable securities	$8,000	$12,000

StockBased_Compensation_Expens2

Stock-Based Compensation Expense - Summary of stock based compensation expense related to employee stock options (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$194	$98
Employee stock options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	194	98
Employee stock options | General and administrative
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	113	56
Employee stock options | Research and development
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$81	$42

StockBased_Compensation_Expens3

Stock-Based Compensation Expense - The estimated fair value of employee stock options granted (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected life (years)	6 years 2 months 23 days	6 years 18 days
Stock Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate	1.42%	1.88%
Expected dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%
Expected volatility	103.64%	97.91%
Expected life (years)	6 years 2 months 23 days	6 years 18 days
Weighted-average fair value of options granted	2.34	3.06

StockBased_Compensation_Expens4

Stock-Based Compensation Expense - Stock option activity (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Weighted average contractual life (years)
Stock options outstanding at March 31, 2015	4 months 24 days
Stock Option
Number of shares
Stock options outstanding, January 1, 2015	1,679
Granted	435
Expired	-10
Stock options outstanding at March 31, 2015	2,104
Vested or expected to vest at March 31, 2015	1,902
Exercisable at March 31, 2015	1,178
Weighted average exercise price
Stock options outstanding, January 1, 2015	4.74
Granted	2.97
Expired	18.87
Stock options outstanding at March 31, 2015	4.31
Vested or expected to vest at March 31, 2015	4.46
Exercisable at March 31, 2015	5.55
Weighted average contractual life (years)
Stock options outstanding at March 31, 2015	7 years 6 months 22 days
Vested or expected to vest at March 31, 2015	7 years 4 months 13 days
Exercisable at March 31, 2015	6 years 3 months 26 days
Aggregate intrinsic value
Stock options outstanding at March 31, 2015	929
Vested or expected to vest at March 31, 2015	887
Exercisable at March 31, 2015	564

StockBased_Compensation_Expens5

Stock-Based Compensation Expense - Summary of stock options outstanding (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Outstanding, Weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)	4 months 24 days
Stock Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Outstanding, Number of shares	2,104	1,679
Outstanding, Weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)	7 years 6 months 22 days
Outstanding, Weighted average exercise price	$4.31	$4.74
Exercisable, Number of shares	1,178
Exercisable, Weighted average exercise price	$5.55
Stock Option | $0.00 - $10.00
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Range of exercise prices, minimum	$0
Range of exercise prices, maximum	$10
Outstanding, Number of shares	1,906
Outstanding, Weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)	8 years 22 days
Outstanding, Weighted average exercise price	$2.77
Exercisable, Number of shares	979
Exercisable, Weighted average exercise price	$2.80
Stock Option | $10.01 - $20.00
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Range of exercise prices, minimum	$10.01
Range of exercise prices, maximum	$20
Outstanding, Number of shares	114
Outstanding, Weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)	2 years 1 month 2 days
Outstanding, Weighted average exercise price	$15.57
Exercisable, Number of shares	114
Exercisable, Weighted average exercise price	$15.57
Stock Option | $20.01 - $30.00
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Range of exercise prices, minimum	$20.01
Range of exercise prices, maximum	$30
Outstanding, Number of shares	82
Outstanding, Weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)	3 years 9 months
Outstanding, Weighted average exercise price	$23.57
Exercisable, Number of shares	83
Exercisable, Weighted average exercise price	$23.57
Stock Option | $30.01 - $41.00
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Range of exercise prices, minimum	$30.01
Range of exercise prices, maximum	$41
Outstanding, Number of shares	2
Outstanding, Weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)	2 years 18 days
Outstanding, Weighted average exercise price	$41
Exercisable, Number of shares	2
Exercisable, Weighted average exercise price	$41

StockBased_Compensation_Expens6

Stock-Based Compensation Expense - Unvested restricted stock (Details 4) (Restricted Stock, USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Restricted Stock
Number of Shares
Non-vested RSU's , Beginning Balance	730	730
Granted
Vested
Forfeited
Non-vested RSU's, Ending Balance	730	730
Expected to vest at March 31, 2015	669
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Non-vested RSU's, Beginning Balance		$0.27
Granted
Vested
Forfeited
Non-vested RSU's, Ending Balance	$0.27
Expected to vest at March 31, 2015	$0.27
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Non-vested restricted stock units at March 31, 2015	$194
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Expected to vest at March 31, 2015	$178

StockBased_Compensation_Expens7

Stock-Based Compensation Expense - (Detail Textuals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate, minimum	1.42%	1.87%
Risk-free interest rate, maximum		1.99%
Expected life (years)	6 years 2 months 23 days	6 years 18 days
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	$1,800,000
Weighted average period	3 years 1 month 6 days
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to restricted stock units	$71,000
Weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)	4 months 24 days
Stock Option
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Expected life (years)	6 years 2 months 23 days	6 years 18 days
Weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)	7 years 6 months 22 days
Restricted stock awards
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Fully (100%) vesting period of restricted stock (in years)			2 years
Restricted stock awards | 2011 Plan
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Restricted shares of common stock issued under 2011 Plan				730,000

Stockholders_Equity_Detail_Tex

Stockholders' Equity - (Detail Textuals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 18, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Feb. 11, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Feb. 11, 2014
Class Of Warrant Or Right [Line Items]
Stock issuance maximum limit								$75,000,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)			$0.00				$0.00
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs	10,767,000
Registered Direct Offering
Class Of Warrant Or Right [Line Items]
Number of shares sold under registered direct offering		2,870,000
Offering price		$3.15
Value of shares sold under registered direct offering		9,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs		8,400,000
Roth Equity Distribution Agreement | Registered Direct Offering
Class Of Warrant Or Right [Line Items]
Number of shares sold under registered direct offering			3,591,677
Value of shares sold under registered direct offering			11,600,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs			10,700,000
Roth Equity Distribution Agreement | ATM offering
Class Of Warrant Or Right [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance or sale of equity				10,000,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)									$0.00
Subsequent event | Roth Equity Distribution Agreement | Registered Direct Offering
Class Of Warrant Or Right [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance or sale of equity					11,600,000
Subsequent event | Roth Equity Distribution Agreement | ATM offering
Class Of Warrant Or Right [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance or sale of equity						$2,600,000
Sale of stock, number of shares issued in transaction						721,677

Stockholders_Equity_Detail_Tex1

Stockholders' Equity - (Detail Textuals 1) (Warrant, USD $)	0 Months Ended
	Feb. 01, 2015
Warrant
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]
Outstanding Warrants	420,000
Exercise Price	$27.50
Offering Date	Feb-10
Expiration Date	1-Feb-15

Collaborative_Agreements_Detai

Collaborative Agreements - (Detail Textuals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2010
Collaboration and License Agreement
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Revenue recognized under contract	$92,000	$3,000
Collaborative arrangement expected service revenue	206,600,000
Collaboration and License Agreement | Preclinical Development Activities
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaborative arrangement expected service revenue	600,000
Milestone method, revenue recognized			300,000	300,000
Collaboration and License Agreement | Clinical Milestone Events
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaborative arrangement expected service revenue	26,000,000
Milestone method, revenue recognized	21,000,000
Collaboration and License Agreement | Regulatory Approvals
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaborative arrangement expected service revenue	45,000,000
Collaboration and License Agreement | Sales Milestones
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaborative arrangement expected service revenue	135,000,000
Service Agreements | Novartis
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Service revenue net	2,000,000				3,000,000	14,900,000
Revenue recognition milestone method revenue	$100,000	$100,000
Service Agreements | Novartis | Maximum
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Number of candidate						2

Litigation_Detail_Textuals

Litigation (Detail Textuals) (Subsequent event, USD $)	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2015	Apr. 22, 2015
Subsequent event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Attorneys' fees and expenses	$900,000
Maximum attorneys' fees and expenses		$100,000

Restructuring_Detail_Textuals

Restructuring - (Detail Textuals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Restructuring expenses incurred	$20,000		$700,000
Accrued rent			600,000
Accelerated depreciation and amortization for long-lived assets		39,000	57,000
Severance cost	$0			$128,000