Accounting Changes And Error Corrections Policy [Text Block] Accounting Changes And Error Corrections Policy [Text Block] Correction of an Immaterial Error Accounting Policies [Abstract] Accounting Policies [Abstract] Accounts and Other Receivables, Net, Current Receivable from Sanofi Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities Accounts Payable, Current Accounts payable Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts receivable, net Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities [Line Items] Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities [Line Items] Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities [Line Items] Accrued expenses and other current liabilities. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities [Member] Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities [Table] Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities [Table] Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities [Table] Accrued Interest Noncurrent Accrued Interest Noncurrent Accrued interest - note payable to principal stockholder Accrued interest of related party debt. Accrued Interest Of Related Party Debt Accrued interest of related party debt Accrued Liabilities, Current Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Accrued Liabilities Accrued expenses Accrued Professional Fees, Current Professional fees Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Less accumulated depreciation Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive loss Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Additional paid-in capital Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Agreement. Agreements [Axis] Agreements [Axis] Agreements. Agreements [Domain] Agreements [Domain] Alfred Mann Foundation [Member] Alfred Mann Foundation [Member] Mann Foundation Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense Stock-based compensation expense Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable Allowance for doubtful accounts Allowance for Sales Returns [Member] Allowance for Sales Returns Amended Agreement [Member] Amended Agreement [Member] Amended Agreement Amendment Flag Amendment Flag Amortization of Debt Discount (Premium) Accretion expense - debt discount Amortization of notes premium Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs Accretion expense - debt issuance cost Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs and Discounts Accretion of debt issuance costs Amount of leases renewed per month. Amount Of Leases Renewed Per Month Amount of leases renewed per month Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount Anti-dilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share Antidilutive Securities [Axis] Antidilutive Securities [Axis] Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items] Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items] Antidilutive Securities, Name [Domain] Antidilutive Securities, Name [Domain] Area Of Office Space Leased Area Of Office Space Leased Area of office space leased Arrangements and Non-arrangement Transactions [Domain] Arrangements and Non-arrangement Transactions [Domain] Assets Total assets Assets [Abstract] ASSETS Assets, Current Total current assets Assets, Current [Abstract] Current assets: Assets Held-for-sale, Not Part of Disposal Group, Current Asset held for sale Securities or Other Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase [Axis] Securities or Other Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase [Axis] Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Type [Domain] Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Type [Domain] Available Loan Balance Cancelled Available Loan Balance Cancelled Aggregate principal amount cancelled Aventisub LLC [Member] Aventisub LLC [Member] Aventisub LLC Award Type [Axis] Award Type [Axis] Balance Sheet Location [Axis] Balance Sheet Location [Axis] Balance Sheet Location [Domain] Balance Sheet Location [Domain] Before Amendment [Member] Before Amendment [Member] Before Amendment Building Improvements [Member] Building Improvements Building [Member] Buildings Business. Business [Policy Text Block] Business CALIFORNIA California Reported Value Measurement [Member] Carrying Value Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Cash Discount Percent Cash Discount Percent Cash discount as incentive for prompt payment Change In Fair Value Of Warrant Liability Change In Fair Value Of Warrant Liability Change in fair value of warrant liability Change in fair value of warrant liability Collaboration and License Agreement [Member] Collaboration and License Agreement [Member] License and Collaboration Agreement with Sanofi Collaborative Arrangement Disclosure [Text Block] Collaboration Arrangements Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items] Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items] Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and contingencies (Note 10) Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] Commitments and Contingencies [Table] Commitments and Contingencies [Table] Commitments and Contingencies [Table] Common Stock [Member] Common Stock Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock Common stock, $0.01 par value - 140,000,000 shares authorized, 95,776,297 and 95,680,831 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively Compensation Related Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive loss Computer equipment and software. Computer Equipment And Software [Member] Computer Equipment and Software Construction in Progress Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid Cost incurred for construction in progress included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities Construction in Progress [Member] Construction in Progress Contingent Liability Contingent Liability Contingent liability for milestone payments Convertible Debt Securities [Member] Senior Convertible Notes Convertible Notes Payable, Noncurrent Senior convertible notes Cost of Goods Sold Cost of goods sold Cost of Sales, Policy [Policy Text Block] Cost of Goods Sold Costs and Expenses Total expenses Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Expenses: Credit Facility [Axis] Credit Facility [Axis] Credit Facility [Domain] Credit Facility [Domain] Current Fiscal Year End Date Current Fiscal Year End Date Current portion of milestone right liability. Current Portion Of Milestone Right Liability Current portion of milestone rights liability Customer Discounts And Allowances Customer Discounts And Allowances Discounts and allowances for commercial product sales Danbury Facility [Member] Danbury Facility [Member] Danbury Facility Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Amount Conversion of debt Conversion of notes to common shares, value Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Shares Issued Conversion of notes to common shares, shares Conversion Option, shares Debt Conversion, Original Debt, Amount Conversion Option, value Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Borrowings Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate Interest rate (LIBOR) Long-term Debt, Gross Carrying value Net carrying amount Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price Conversion price of shares Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio No of convertible shares Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Consecutive Trading Days Consecutive trading days Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Percentage of Stock Price Trigger Percentage of conversion price equaling stock price Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Trading Days Number of trading days Debt Instrument, Date of First Required Payment Principal repayment schedule, start date Debt Instrument Date Of Last Required Payment Debt Instrument Date Of Last Required Payment Principal repayment schedule, end date Debt Instrument, Decrease, Forgiveness Outstanding loan balance forgive Outstanding loan balance forgiven Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis Description of variable rate interest Debt Instrument, Face Amount Debt facility principal amount Principal amount Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Senior notes, effective interest rate Debt Instrument [Line Items] Debt Instrument [Line Items] Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Maturity date Debt Instrument, Redemption, Description Debt Instrument, redemption description Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage Percentage of repurchase price Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount Unamortized debt discount Debt Instrument, Unamortized Premium Unamortized premium Deerfield Management Company L.P. Deerfield Management Company LP [Member] Deerfield Deferred Collaborative Credit Current Deferred Collaborative Credit Current Deferred payments from collaboration - current Deferred collaborative credit noncurrent. Deferred Collaborative Credit Noncurrent Deferred payments from collaboration - long term Deferred Costs, Noncurrent Deferred cost Debt Issuance Costs, Gross Debt Issuance Cost Deferred Revenue Deferred revenue - nonrefundable license fee Deferred Revenue, Current Deferred revenue Deferred revenue - net Deferred Revenue From Sale Of Raw Insulin Deferred Revenue From Sale Of Raw Insulin Deferred revenue from sale of raw insulin Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction Depreciation, amortization and accretion Depreciation and Other Amortization Expenses [Line Items] Depreciation and Other Amortization Expenses [Line Items] Depreciation and Other Amortization Expenses [Line Items] Depreciation and Other Amortization Expenses [Table] Depreciation and Other Amortization Expenses [Table] Depreciation and Other Amortization Expenses [Table] Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation and amortization expense Derivative Liability, Noncurrent Warrant liability Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation Expense Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Information [Line Items] Document Information [Line Items] Document Information [Table] Document Information [Table] Document Period End Date Document Period End Date Document Type Document Type Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted Net loss per share - basic and diluted Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] Net Income (Loss) Per Share of Common Stock Employee-related Liabilities, Current Salary and related expenses Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized Unrecognized compensation cost, share-based compensation arrangements Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition Weighted average vesting period for unrecognized compensation expense Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Share-based Awards Other than Options Unrecognized compensation expense related to non-option Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Stock Options Unrecognized compensation expense related to options Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense Excess tax benefits related to windfalls Employee Stock Option [Member] Stock Options Entity Central Index Key Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity [Domain] Entity [Domain] Entity Filer Category Entity Filer Category Entity Registrant Name Entity Registrant Name Equity Component [Domain] Equity Component [Domain] Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] Estimate of Fair Value Measurement Facility Agreement [Member] Facility Agreement [Member] Facility Agreement Facility Financing Obligation [Member] Facility Financing Obligation [Member] Facility Financing Obligation Fair Value Adjustment of Warrants Payments Asset Class [Domain] Asset Class [Domain] Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate Warrant liability fair value assumptions, dividend yield Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Term Warrant liability fair value assumptions, remaining term Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate Fair value assumption, stock price volatility Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate Fair value assumption, risk-free rate Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items] Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items] Asset Class [Axis] Asset Class [Axis] Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table] Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table] Fair Value, Hierarchy [Axis] Fair Value, Hierarchy [Axis] Measurement Basis [Axis] Measurement Basis [Axis] Fair Value Measurement [Domain] Fair Value Measurement [Domain] Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate Market discount rate Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 Fair Value Inputs, Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Table Text Block] Fair Values of Warrant Liability which Include Level 3 Instruments Fair Value Hierarchy [Domain] Fair Value Hierarchy [Domain] Fair Value Measurements, Valuation Techniques Valuation technique Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block] Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Table] Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Table] Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Table] Fair value of liability, percentage decrease. Fair value of liability, percentage decrease Fair value of the liability, percentage decrease Fair value of liability percentage decrease if probabilities of meeting milestones percentage decrease. Fair Value Of Liability Percentage Decrease If Probabilities Of Meeting Milestones Percentage Decrease Fair value of the liability, percentage decrease Fair value of the liability, percentage increase. Fair value of liability, percentage increase Fair value of the liability, percentage increase Financial Instrument [Axis] Financial Instrument [Axis] Financial Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure Fair values of financial liabilities, ending balance Fair values of financial liabilities, beginning balance Financial liabilities fair value Other liabilities Financial Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract] Financial liabilities: Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), Realized Loss on foreign currency translation Furniture, fixtures and office equipment. Furniture Fixtures And Office Equipment [Member] Furniture, fixtures and office equipment Gain Loss From Change In Fair Value Of Warrant Liabilities Gain Loss From Change In Fair Value Of Warrant Liabilities Changes in fair value Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt Gain on extinguishment of debt Gross To Net Adjustments [Policy Text Block] Gross To Net Adjustments [Policy Text Block] Gross-to-net Adjustments Income Approach Valuation Technique [Member] Income Approach Valuation Technique Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest Loss before benefit for income taxes Income Statement [Abstract] Income Statement [Abstract] Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax benefit Increase (Decrease) in Accounts and Notes Receivable Receivable from Sanofi Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable, net