Lease financing liability Lease Financing Liability, Current Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current portion of rental payments associated with landlord-financed laboratory leasehold improvements. Lease financing liability, net of current portion Lease Financing Liability, Non Current Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the noncurrent portion of rental payments associated with landlord-financed laboratory leasehold improvements. Collaboration Revenues [Abstract] Collaboration revenues: Research And Development Revenue Research and development revenue Aggregate revenue earned by the Company during the period under its collaboration agreements for reimbursement of research and development services, reimbursement of development costs, amortization of up-front payments and certain milestone payments. Deferred rent Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Rent The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the amount payable that is the result of the cumulative difference between actual rent payable and rental expense recognized on a straight-line basis. Payments on financed leasehold improvements Payments on Financed Leasehold Improvements The cash outflow for the payment of rent related to landlord-financed laboratory leasehold improvements. Issuance of common stock for payment of Parivid milestone Issuance of Common Stock for Payment of Parivid Milestone Stock issued in lieu of cash as consideration for milestone achieved. Collaboration and License Agreements Document and Entity Information Research and Development Including Share-based Compensation Expense Share-based compensation expense, Research and development The aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration which is classified as research and development expense. General and Administrative Including Share-based Compensation Expense Share-based compensation expense, General and administrative The aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration which is classified as general and administrative expense. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS Statement [Table] Class of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Domain] Preferred Stock Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock Statement [Line Items] Statement Assets [Abstract] Assets Assets, Current [Abstract] Current assets: Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Cash and cash equivalents Marketable securities, available for sale Available-for-sale Securities, Current Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts receivable Unbilled Contracts Receivable Unbilled revenue Assets, Current Total current assets Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current Prepaid expenses and other current assets Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net Intangible assets, net (Note 6) Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Noncurrent Restricted cash Assets Total assets Marketable securities Available-for-sale Securities, Noncurrent Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Current liabilities: Accounts Payable, Current Accounts payable Accrued Liabilities, Current Accrued expenses Deferred Revenue, Current Deferred revenue Capital Lease Obligations, Current Capital lease obligations Deferred Rent Credit, Current Deferred rent Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Deferred Revenue, Noncurrent Deferred revenue, net of current portion Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other long term liabilities Liabilities Total liabilities Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Preferred stock Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 100,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, 51,209 and 49,747 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common stock, shares outstanding Sales Revenue, Goods, Net Product revenue Total collaboration revenue Revenues Operating Expenses [Abstract] Operating expenses: Research and development Research and Development Expense General and Administrative Expense General and administrative Operating Expenses Total operating expenses Operating Income (Loss) Operating income Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Other income (expense): Additional Paid in Capital Additional paid-in capital Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive loss Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated deficit Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Total stockholders' equity Liabilities and Equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Capital Lease Obligations, Noncurrent Capital lease obligations, net of current portion Commitments and contingencies (Note 15) Commitments and Contingencies Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding Preferred stock, shares outstanding Investment Income, Interest Interest income Interest Expense Interest expense Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total other income (expense) Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other expense Net income per share: Net Income Per Share Earnings Per Share, Basic Basic (in dollars per share) Earnings Per Share, Diluted Diluted (in dollars per share) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Weighted average shares outstanding: Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Basic (in shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Diluted (in shares) Statement, Scenario [Axis] Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation and amortization Share-based Compensation Share-based compensation expense Accretion (Amortization) of Discounts and Premiums, Investments Amortization of premium on investments Amortization of Intangible Assets Amortization of intangibles Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Loss on disposal of assets Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Unbilled Receivables Unbilled revenue Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities Accrued expenses Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue Deferred revenue Other current liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Liabilities Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Noncurrent Assets Other long term liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Other Noncurrent Liabilities Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Purchases of property and equipment Purchases of marketable securities Payments to Acquire Available-for-sale Securities Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Available-for-sale Securities Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity Proceeds from public offering of common stock, net of issuance costs Repayments of Lines of Credit Principal payments on line of credit Principal payments on capital lease obligations Repayments of Debt and Capital Lease Obligations Proceeds from Issuance of Shares under Incentive and Share-based Compensation Plans, Including Stock Options Proceeds from issuance of common stock under stock plans Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Supplemental Cash Flow Information: Interest Paid Cash paid for interest Supplemental Non-Cash Information: Noncash Investing and Financing Items [Abstract] CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS The Company Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] The Company Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Net Income Per Share Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value Measurements Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities [Text Block] Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities Intangible Assets Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Intangible Assets Collaborative Arrangement Disclosure [Text Block] Collaboration and License Agreements Share-Based Payments Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Share-Based Payments Subsequent Events Subsequent Events [Text Block] Subsequent Events Legal Contingencies Legal Contingencies Legal Matters and Contingencies [Text Block] Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Amendment Description Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity: Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic Net income Net income Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Cash Flows from Operating activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Cash Flows from Investing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Cash Flows from Financing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash provided by financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Continuing Operations (Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash for Operating Activities Restricted cash Payments to Acquire Intangible Assets Milestone payment related to developed technology