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Investment in Viking (Details Textual) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands, shares in Millions |  | 1 Months Ended | 11 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jan. 01, 2016 USD ($) | May 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares | Apr. 30, 2015 | May 31, 2014 USD ($) program | May 04, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2015
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Note receivable from Viking |  |  |  |  |  | $ 4,782 |  |  |
Purchase of Viking common stock |  |  |  |  |  | 9,000 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
Investment in Viking |  |  |  |  |  | 29,728 |  |  |
Loss recorded (percent) |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |
Gain on deconsolidation of Viking |  |  |  |  |  | 28,190 | 0 | 0 |
Equity in net losses from Viking |  |  |  |  |  | (5,143) | 0 | 0 |
Change in fair value of Viking convertible notes |  |  |  |  |  | (765) | 0 | 0 |
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of programs licensed | program |  |  |  | 5 |  |  |  |  |
Amendment period |  |  | 1 year |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Convertible loan facility extended |  |  |  | $ 2,500 |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate (percent) |  |  |  | 5.00% |  |  |  |  |
Repayment in equity (percent) |  |  | 200.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Common Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Aggregate value of shares received in Viking IPO |  | $ 29,200 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares of Viking stock purchased (shares) | shares |  | 1.1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase of Viking common stock |  | $ 9,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares received pursuant to MLA amendment (shares) | shares |  | 3.7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Aggregate ownership, percent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 49.40%
IPO | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Aggregate ownership after IPO (percent) |  |  | 49.90% |  |  |  |  |  |
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Note receivable from Viking |  |  |  |  | $ 5,500 |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investee |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment in Viking |  |  |  |  | $ 34,900 |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investee | Common Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Initial offering price per share (in usd per share) | $ / shares |  | $ 8.00 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investee | IPO | Common Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares sold in Viking IPO | shares |  | 3.5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Initial offering price per share (in usd per share) | $ / shares |  | $ 8.00 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Aggregate offering price |  | $ 27,600 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Metabasis Therapeutics |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contingent liability change in amount |  |  |  |  |  | 1,200 | $ (500) | $ 4,200 |
Metabasis Therapeutics | Scenario, Forecast |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contingent liability change in amount | $ (2,600) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common Stock Received Pursuant to Master License Agreement | Metabasis Therapeutics |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contingent liability change in amount |  |  |  |  |  | $ 800 |  |  |

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