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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Segment | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of operating segment | Segment | 1 |  |
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities | $ 196.1 |  |
United States |  |  |
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Percentage of revenue earned | 85.00% | 96.00% | 89.00%
Percentage of long lived assets | 11.00% | 11.00% |
Maximum |  |  |
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Cash equivalents original maturity period | 3 months |  |
Dynavax GmbH |  |  |
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Currency translation adjustments | $ (1.3) | $ (1.6) | $ 0.5
Currency transaction gain (loss) | $ 0.1 | $ 0.4 | $ (0.2)

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- Definition Accumulated adjustment, net of tax, that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity investments into the reporting currency from the functional currency of the reporting entity, net of reclassification of realized foreign currency translation gains or losses. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e681-108580 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 10A -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669646-108580 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e637-108580 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6915805&loc=d3e32022-110900 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669686-108580 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450520&loc=d3e32583-110901 + Details
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