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Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Income Taxes [Line Items]      
Total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that would affect the tax rate if recognized $ 1,000,000 $ 500,000  
Gross liabilities to expire in 2012 48,000    
Corporate tax rate 25.00% 25.00% 25.00%
Tax credit carryforwards 6,000 30,000  
Ester Neurosciences Ltd
     
Income Taxes [Line Items]      
Net operating losses that are not likely to be realized in the future 12,000,000    
Ireland | Non-Trading Activity
     
Income Taxes [Line Items]      
Corporate tax rate in Ireland for trading and non-trading activities 25.00%    
Ireland | Trading Activity | Amarin Pharmaceuticals Ireland Limited
     
Income Taxes [Line Items]      
Corporate tax rate in Ireland for trading and non-trading activities 12.50%    
Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom and Israel
     
Income Taxes [Line Items]      
Foreign net operating loss carryforwards 175,700,000    
U.S. Federal
     
Income Taxes [Line Items]      
Tax credit carryforwards 1,200,000    
U.S. Federal | Ester Neurosciences Ltd | Minimum
     
Income Taxes [Line Items]      
U.S Federal tax credit carryforwards, expiration date 2028    
U.S. Federal | Ester Neurosciences Ltd | Maximum
     
Income Taxes [Line Items]      
U.S Federal tax credit carryforwards, expiration date 2030    
State
     
Income Taxes [Line Items]      
Tax credit carryforwards $ 1,400,000    
Foreign Country
     
Income Taxes [Line Items]      
Foreign net operating loss carryforwards, expiration date 2011