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Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) program d $ / shares shares | May 08, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Aug. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Discrete income tax benefit | $ 900,000 |  |  |  |
Outstanding warrants to purchase shares of Viking's common stock (shares) | shares |  |  |  |  | 3,264,643
Warrant exercise price (USD per share) | $ / shares |  |  |  |  | $ 125.08
Note receivable, interest and principal reduction per dollar of value |  | 0.50 |  |  |
Working capital deficit |  | $ 7,500,000 |  |  |
Equity component of currently redeemable convertible notes |  | $ 21,597,000 |  | $ 29,563,000 |
Business days for repayment of principal |  | 3 days |  |  |
Consecutive trading days | d |  | 50 |  |  |
2019 convertible senior notes |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Principal amount outstanding |  | $ 245,000,000 |  | 245,000,000 |
2019 convertible senior notes | Senior Notes |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Principal amount outstanding |  |  |  |  | $ 245,000,000.0
Interest rate (as a percent) |  |  |  |  | 0.75%
Retained Earnings | Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative effect of new accounting principle in period of adoption | 17,900,000 |  |  |  |
Retained Earnings | Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Forfeiture Rate Component |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative effect of new accounting principle in period of adoption | $ 300,000 |  |  |  |
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership (percent) |  | 22.10% |  |  |
Market value of investment in Viking |  | $ 12,000,000 |  |  |
Outstanding warrants to purchase shares of Viking's common stock (shares) | shares |  | 1,500,000 |  |  |
Warrant exercise price (USD per share) | $ / shares |  | $ 1.50 |  |  |
Number of programs licensed to Viking | program |  | 5 |  |  |
Note receivable, stated interest rate (percent) |  | 2.50% |  |  |
Note Receivable, Cash Repayment Due |  |  | $ 200,000 |  |
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Assets, fair value |  | $ 173,637,000 |  | 126,187,000 |
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Investment in warrants |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Assets, fair value |  | 1,110,000 |  | 684,000 |
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Note receivable Viking Therapeutics, Inc. |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Assets, fair value |  | 3,007,000 |  | 3,207,000 |
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Assets, fair value |  | 3,863,000 |  | 3,738,000 |
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Investment in warrants |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Assets, fair value |  | 1,100,000 |  | 700,000 |
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Note receivable Viking Therapeutics, Inc. |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Assets, fair value |  | 0 |  | 0 |
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Assets, fair value |  | 3,007,000 |  | 3,207,000 |
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Investment in warrants |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Assets, fair value |  | 0 |  | 0 |
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Note receivable Viking Therapeutics, Inc. |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Assets, fair value |  | $ 3,000,000 |  | $ 3,207,000 |

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