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License Agreements (Additional Information) (Detail) - USD ($) | 9 Months Ended
--- | ---
Sep. 30, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2014
License And Collaboration Agreements [Line Items] |  |
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross | $ 0 | $ 2,315,000
M D Anderson Cancer Center [Member] |  |
License And Collaboration Agreements [Line Items] |  |
Annual maintenance fee | 200,000 |
Milestone payment for Phase 3 | $ 200,000 |

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- Definition Annual Maintenance Fee + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | gale_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Future Milestone Payment + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | gale_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition License And Collaboration Agreements [Line Items] + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | gale_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Investing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
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Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |