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Description of Business
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(1)
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
We are a specialty pharmaceutical and medical device company focused on oncology. Our proprietary technology is designed to administer high-dose chemotherapy and other therapeutic agents to diseased organs or regions of the body, while controlling the systemic exposure of those agents. Our initial focus is on the treatment of primary and metastatic liver cancers. We believe that the proprietary technology is a platform that may have broader applicability, including the use of other drugs to treat the liver, as well as for the treatment of cancers in other organs and regions of the body. In 2010, we announced that our randomized Phase 3 clinical trial for patients with metastatic melanoma in the liver had successfully achieved the study's primary endpoint of extended hepatic progression-free survival. We have also completed a multi-arm Phase 2 trial to treat other liver cancers.

Outside of the United States, our proprietary system to deliver and filter melphalan hydrochloride is marketed as a device under the trade name Delcath Hepatic CHEMOSAT® Delivery System (CHEMOSAT Delivery System for Melphalan). In April 2012, we obtained authorization to affix a CE Mark for the Generation Two CHEMOSAT Delivery System for Melphalan.  The right to affix the CE mark allows the Company to market and sell the CHEMOSAT System for Melphalan in Europe. In October 2012, we satisfied all of the requirements to affix the CE Mark to the Hepatic CHEMOSAT Delivery System device for intra-hepatic arterial delivery and extracorporeal filtration of doxorubicin hydrochloride injection (CHEMOSAT System for Doxorubicin).

In the United States, our proprietary system for the administration of melphalan hydrochloride to the liver is considered a combination drug and device product, and is regulated as a drug by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  We submitted our New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA on August 15, 2012, with the proposed trade name Melblez KitTM (Melblez (melphalan) for Injection for use with the Delcath Hepatic Delivery System) (Melblez Kit), and are seeking approval for commercial sale of the Melblez Kit in the treatment of patients with unresectable metastatic ocular melanoma in the liver. Our NDA was accepted for filing by the FDA on October 15, 2012 and has been designated for standard review with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of June 15, 2013.
 
The CHEMOSAT/Melblez Kit system administers concentrated regional chemotherapy to the liver. This "whole organ" therapy is performed by first isolating the circulatory system of the liver, deliver chemotherapeutic agent, and filtering the blood prior to returning it to the patient. During the procedure, three catheters are placed percutaneously through standard interventional radiology techniques. The catheters temporarily isolate the liver from the body's circulatory system, administer a 30 minute infusion of the chemotherapeutic agent melphalan hydrochloride directly to the liver, and collect drug-laden blood exiting the liver for filtration by proprietary filters. The filters reduce the concentration of chemotherapeutic agent in the blood, thereby minimizing systemic exposure to the drug and related toxic side-effects before the filtered blood is returned to the patient's circulatory system. Through December 31, 2012, the CHEMOSAT/Melblez Kit system has been used on approximately 200 patients through clinical development and early commercial experience in Europe. 
 
The Company has incurred losses since inception. The Company anticipates incurring additional losses until such time, if ever, that it can generate significant sales. Management believes that its capital resources are adequate to fund operations through 2013, but anticipates that additional working capital may be required to continue operations. To the extent additional capital is not available when needed, the Company may be forced to abandon some or all of its development and commercialization efforts, which would have a material adverse effect on the prospects of the business.  Operations of the Company are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, among others, uncertainty of product development; uncertainty regarding regulatory approval; technological uncertainty; uncertainty regarding patents and proprietary rights; comprehensive government regulations; limited commercial manufacturing, marketing or sales experience; and dependence on key personnel.