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Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  |
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Jan. 31, 2010 right | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) shares | Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) shares | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) segment shares | Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Aug. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of operating segments | segment |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |
Earnings (Loss) Per Share |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common shares excluded from computation | shares |  | 3,540,806 | 3,343,719 | 3,522,063 | 3,803,007 |  |
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturity period of cash and cash equivalents, maximum |  |  |  | 3 months |  |  |
Maturity period of short term investments, minimum |  |  |  | 3 months |  |  |
Inventory, Net [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Inventory write downs |  | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |  |
Property and Equipment |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation |  |  |  | 100,000 | 100,000 |  |
Contingent Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase of commercial license rights |  |  |  | 92,504,000 | 0 |  |
Lease Obligations |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lease exit obligations |  | 0 |  | $ 0 |  | $ 934,000 |
Equipment | Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property and Equipment |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life of assets |  |  |  | 3 years |  |  |
Equipment | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property and Equipment |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life of assets |  |  |  | 10 years |  |  |
Cydex Pharmaceuticals, Inc |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contingent Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of liability |  | 6,700,000 |  | $ 6,700,000 |  | 9,500,000 |
Contingent liability change in amount |  | (1,200,000) | (900,000) | (1,600,000) | (3,100,000) |  |
Cydex Pharmaceuticals, Inc | Revenue Sharing |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contingent Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase of commercial license rights |  | 1,400,000 | 800,000 | 4,400,000 | 3,900,000 |  |
Metabasis Therapeutics |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contingent Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of liability |  | 2,300,000 |  | 2,300,000 |  | 4,000,000 |
Contingent liability change in amount |  | (200,000) | (3,200,000) | 1,000,000 | 1,900,000 |  |
Number of contingent value rights | right | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of contingent value rights per series of contingent value rights | right | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of contingent value rights issued for each share | right | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |
Contingent value rights, frequency of cash payment | 6 months |  |  |  |  |  |
Contingent liability, cash payment |  | 0 | $ 500,000 | 2,600,000 | $ 800,000 |  |
2019 convertible senior notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Convertible Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Principal amount outstanding |  | $ 245,000,000 |  | $ 245,000,000 |  | $ 245,000,000 |
2019 convertible senior notes | Senior Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Convertible Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Principal amount outstanding |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 245,000,000.0
Interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.75%
Director |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Relationships between the CorMatrix Parties |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mr. Aryeh's owenership percentage in CorMatrix (percent, less than) |  | 1.00% |  | 1.00% |  |  |

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