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Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates


The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and disclosures made in the accompanying notes to the financial statements. Our critical accounting policies that involve significant judgment and estimates include accrued clinical liabilities, income taxes and stock-based compensation. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Reclassifications


Certain amounts in the 2013 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2014 presentation.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents


Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly liquid investments with original maturities from purchase date of three months or less. Our bank accounts have been placed under a control agreement in accordance with our Senior Secured Convertible Notes (“Convertible Notes”).
Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments


Financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, receivables, prepaid expenses, other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses, are carried at cost, which is considered to be representative of their respective fair values because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. Our Convertible Notes outstanding at December 31, 2014 do not have a readily available ascertainable market value, however, the carrying value is considered to approximate its fair value (see Note 3 for further details regarding the fair value of financial instruments).
Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Concentration of Credit Risk


Cash and cash equivalents are financial instruments which potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk. We deposit our cash in financial institutions. At times, such deposits may be in excess of insured limits. We may also invest our excess cash in money market funds, certificates of deposit or United States government and agency obligations. We have established guidelines relative to our diversification of our cash investments and their maturities in an effort to maintain safety and liquidity. These guidelines are periodically reviewed and modified to take advantage of trends in yields and interest rates.
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property and Equipment


Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets (primarily five years). Leasehold improvements are stated at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the lease term.
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Including Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets


If indicators of impairment exist, we assess the recoverability of the affected long-lived assets by determining whether the carrying value of such assets can be recovered through undiscounted future operating cash flows. If impairment is indicated, we measure the amount of such impairment by comparing the carrying value of the asset to the fair value of the asset and records the impairment as a reduction in the carrying value of the related asset with a corresponding charge to operating results. Estimating the undiscounted future cash flows associated with long-lived assets requires judgment and assumptions that could differ materially from actual results.
Clinical Trial Accruals [Policy Text Block]

Accrued Clinical Liabilities


We review and accrue clinical costs based on work performed, which relies on estimates of the progress of the trials and the related expenses incurred. Clinical trial related contracts vary significantly in duration, and may be for a fixed amount, based on the achievement of certain contingent events or deliverables, a variable amount based on actual costs incurred, capped at a certain limit, or contain a combination of these elements. Revisions are charged to expense in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known. Historically, revisions have not resulted in material changes to research and development costs, however, a modification in the protocol of a clinical trial or cancellation of a trial could result in a charge to our results of operations.
Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Research and Development Expenses


All costs of research and development are expensed in the period incurred. Research and development costs primarily consist of salaries and related expenses for personnel, stock-based compensation, fees paid to outside service providers and consultants, facilities costs and materials used in the clinical and preclinical trials and research and development.
Legal Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Patent Costs


We incur fees of outside legal counsel in connection with filing and maintaining its various patent applications. All patent costs are expensed as incurred and included in general and administrative expense in the Statements of Operations.
Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

Stock-Based Compensation Expense


We estimate the fair value of stock-based payment awards using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. This fair value is then amortized using the straight-line single-option method of attributing the value of stock-based compensation to expense over the requisite service periods of the awards. The Black-Scholes option pricing model requires the input of highly complex and subjective assumptions, including each option’s expected life and price volatility of the underlying stock.


As stock-based compensation expense is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Forfeitures are estimated based on historical experience.
Warrants Issued in Equity Financings [Policy Text Block]

Warrants


We have issued warrants to purchase shares of our common stock in conjunction with certain equity financings. The terms of the warrants were evaluated to determine the appropriate classification as equity or a liability.
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes


Accounting Standard Codification No. 740, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, clarifies the accounting for uncertain tax positions. This provision requires that we recognize the impact of a tax position in our financial statements if the position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination and on the technical merits of the position. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2014 was $120,000 which, if recognized, would affect other tax accounts, primarily deferred taxes in future periods, and would not affect our effective tax rate since we maintain a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets (see Note 8 for further details).
Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Comprehensive Income (Loss)


Comprehensive income (loss) is defined as the change in equity during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. Our comprehensive net loss for all periods presented was comprised solely of our net loss and there were no other changes in equity from non-owner sources.
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Earnings per Share


Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period, without consideration of common share equivalents. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury stock method. For purposes of this calculation, stock options, warrants and common stock underlying Convertible Notes are considered to be common stock equivalents and are only included in the calculation of diluted EPS when their effect is dilutive.


Because we have incurred a net loss for all periods presented in the statements of operations, outstanding stock options, warrants and common stock underlying Convertible Notes are not included in the computation of net loss per share because their effect would be anti-dilutive.


The following table includes the number of outstanding stock options, warrants and common stock underlying Convertible Notes not included in the computation as of the dates shown below (in thousands):


   

As of December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 
                         

Stock options outstanding

    7,918       6,356       4,324  

Warrants outstanding

    4,108       3,969       4,219  

Common stock underlying Convertible Notes outstanding

    6,677       6,291       5,927  
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements


In January 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-01, Income Statement—Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20) (“ASU 2015-01”). ASU 2015-01 eliminates the concept of extraordinary items from GAAP. ASU 2015-01 will save time and reduce costs for preparers because they will not have to assess whether a particular event or transaction event is extraordinary (even if they ultimately would conclude it is not). This also alleviates uncertainty for preparers, auditors, and regulators because auditors and regulators no longer will need to evaluate whether a preparer treated an unusual and/or infrequent item appropriately. FASB concluded that ASU 2015-01 will not result in a loss of information because although ASU 2015-01 will eliminate the requirements in Subtopic 225-20 for reporting entities to consider whether an underlying event or transaction is extraordinary, the presentation and disclosure guidance for items that are unusual in nature or occur infrequently will be retained and will be expanded to include items that are both unusual in nature and infrequently occurring. The amendments in ASU 2015-01 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. A reporting entity may apply the amendments prospectively. A reporting entity also may apply the amendments retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is permitted provided that the guidance is applied from the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. We plan to adopt the provisions on ASU 2015-01 in the first quarter of 2016. We do not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.


In August 2014, FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40) (“ASU 2014-15”). ASU 2014-15 requires management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern by incorporating and expanding upon certain principles that are currently in U.S. auditing standards. Specifically, the amendments (1) provide a definition of the term substantial doubt, (2) require an evaluation every reporting period including interim periods, (3) provide principles for considering the mitigating effect of management’s plans, (4) require certain disclosures when substantial doubt is alleviated as a result of consideration of management’s plans, (5) require an express statement and other disclosures when substantial doubt is not alleviated, and (6) require an assessment for a period of one year after the date that the financial satements are issued (or available to be issued). The amendments in ASU 2014-15 are effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. We plan to adopt the provisions on ASU 2014-15 in 2016. We do not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.


In June 2014, FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) (“ASU 2014-12”). ASU 2014-12 requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. ASU 2014-12 is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Earlier adoption is permitted. The amendments in ASU 2014-12 may either be applied (a) prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date or (b) retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earlier annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. We plan to adopt the provisions of ASU 2014-12 in the first quarter of 2016. We do not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.


In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (“ASU 2013-11”). This update provides explicit guidance on the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. We adopted this guidance in 2014 and it did not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or related financial statement disclosures.