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Property, Plant and Equipment - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Depreciation expense | $ 11.7 us-gaap_Depreciation | $ 13.0 us-gaap_Depreciation | $ 13.8 us-gaap_Depreciation
Obligation related to purchase of equipment | 7.2 us-gaap_PurchaseObligation |  |
Obligation related to purchase of equipment liability payable term | 3 years |  |
Land and Building [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Impairment charge |  |  | $ 1.7 us-gaap_ImpairedAssetsToBeDisposedOfByMethodOtherThanSaleAmountOfImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_LandAndBuildingMember

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- Definition Equipment Purchase Obligation Payable Term + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nktr_EquipmentPurchaseObligationPayableTerm
Namespace Prefix: | nktr_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_Depreciation
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Loss recognized as a result of the initial and subsequent write-down of a long-lived asset's carrying amount to fair value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2921-110230 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ImpairedAssetsToBeDisposedOfByMethodOtherThanSaleAmountOfImpairmentLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Minimum amount of purchase arrangement in which the entity has agreed to expend funds to procure goods or services from a supplier. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PurchaseObligation
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_LandAndBuildingMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |