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Business and Basis of Presentation (Additional Information) (Detail) - USD ($) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 2 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Feb. 13, 2017 | Jul. 13, 2016 | Jan. 12, 2016 | Apr. 10, 2015 | Mar. 18, 2015 | Nov. 18, 2014 | Apr. 10, 2015 | Feb. 28, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Aug. 07, 2017 | Mar. 15, 2017 | Feb. 06, 2017 | Jul. 29, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2016 | May 10, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2013 | May 08, 2013
Schedule Of Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 18,073,000 | $ 18,083,000 | $ 29,730,000 | $ 23,650,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 19,590,000 |  | $ 47,787,000 |
Issuance of common stock, shares |  |  | 988,636 |  |  |  |  | 3,541,077 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Price per unit |  |  | $ 22.00 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Exercise price (usd per share) |  | $ 13.00 | $ 28.40 |  |  |  |  |  | $ 79.40 | $ 79.40 | $ 79.40 |  |  |  |  | $ 8.60 |  | $ 30.20 |  | $ 49.4
Proceeds from issuance of shares, net underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses |  |  | $ 20,200,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
debenture outstanding |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 19,100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 10,000,000
Highly-liquid debt instruments maturity days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 90 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 243,000 | $ 365,000 | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest bearing accounts |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 17,583,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of shares availabe from warrants |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9,109
Debt instrument, covenant, compensating cash balance |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13,200,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Secured Debentures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule Of Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Principle amount of debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 25,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Funding NeuVax in 2019 | Subsequent Event |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule Of Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Funding commitment in 2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 3,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule Of Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of common stock, shares |  | 1,400,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,872,803 | 1,607,934 | 331,650 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Price per unit |  | $ 9.00 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of common stock upon redemption |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,150,660 | 20,403 |  | 273,351 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Out-Of-The-Money Warrants | Subsequent Event |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule Of Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of shares availabe from warrants |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,556,851 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Underwritten Public Offering |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule Of Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of common stock, shares |  |  |  |  | 1,217,948 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Exercise price (usd per share) |  |  |  |  | $ 41.60 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from issuance of shares, net underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses |  |  |  | $ 5,400,000 |  |  | $ 40,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of shares availabe from warrants |  |  |  |  | 0.50 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Underwritten Public Offering | Common Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule Of Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of common stock, shares | 17,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Price per unit | $ 1.00 |  | $ 1.00 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from underwritten public offering | $ 17,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Exercise price (usd per share) | $ 1.10 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from issuance of shares, net underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses | $ 15,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Redepmtion of debt through issuance of common stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 3,950,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of common stock upon redemption |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,518,663 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Decrease in restricted cash and cash equivalent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 3,950,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
debenture outstanding |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 13,617,702 |  |  |  |  |  |
Lincoln Park Capital, LLC Purchase Agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule Of Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of common stock, shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 150,000 | 135,000 | 230,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Remaining authorized repurchase amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,100,000 |  |  |  |  |
Lincoln Park Capital, LLC Purchase Agreement | Common Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule Of Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of common stock, shares |  |  |  |  |  | 31,561 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Galena Biopharma, Inc | Subsequent Event |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule Of Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage by Parent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 32.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Galena Biopharma, Inc | SELLAS | Subsequent Event |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule Of Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of voting interests acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 67.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum | Equipment and Furnishings [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule Of Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum | Equipment and Furnishings [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule Of Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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