Description of Business	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Description of Business	Note 1. Description of Business Novus Therapeutics, Inc. is a development-stage, specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of products for disorders of the ear, nose, and throat (ENT). Unless otherwise indicated, references to the terms the “combined company”, “Novus”, the “Company”, refer to Otic Pharma, Ltd. prior to the consummation of the Merger, and Novus Therapeutics, Inc., upon the consummation of the Merger described herein. The term “Tokai” refers to Tokai Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and its subsidiaries prior to the Merger. Novus, a Delaware corporation, owns 100% of the issued and outstanding common stock or other ownership interest in Otic Pharma, Ltd., a private limited company organized under the laws of the State of Israel. Otic Pharma, Ltd. (“Otic”) owns 100% of the issued and outstanding common stock or other ownership interest in its U.S. subsidiary, Otic Pharma, Inc. All intercompany transactions between the consolidated entities are eliminated in consolidation. *Reverse Merger* On December 21, 2016, Tokai Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Tokai”), a Delaware corporation, Otic, and the shareholders of Otic (each a “Seller” and collectively, the “Sellers”), entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the “Share Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, each Seller agreed to sell to Tokai, and Tokai agreed to purchase from each Seller, all of the common and preferred shares of Otic (“Otic Shares”) owned by such Seller in exchange for the issuance of a certain number of shares of common stock of Tokai, as determined pursuant to the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement (the “Reverse Merger”). The parties amended and restated the Share Purchase Agreement on March 2, 2017. On May 9, 2017, Tokai, Otic, and the Sellers closed the transaction contemplated by the Share Purchase Agreement, and subsequently effected a reverse stock split at a ratio of one-for-nine (see Reverse Stock Split below). On a post-split basis, Tokai issued to the Sellers an aggregate of 4,027,693 shares of Tokai’s common stock in exchange for 836,857 Otic Shares. Following the completion of the Reverse Merger, the business being conducted by Tokai became primarily the business conducted by Otic. In connection with the Reverse Merger, the name of the surviving corporation was changed to “Novus Therapeutics, Inc.” *Private Placement* On January 31, 2017, Novus entered into a stock purchase agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) with certain purchasers named therein (the “Purchasers”), pursuant to which the Purchasers agreed to purchase approximately $4 million of the Company’s common stock through the purchase of 400,400 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $9.99 per share. This transaction closed on May 10, 2017. After giving effect to the issuance of the shares in the private placement, the shareholders of Otic owned approximately 64% of the Company’s common stock. *Reverse Stock Split* On May 11, 2017, Novus effected a reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding common stock and options for common stock at a ratio of one-for-nine. The Company filed an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware effecting such reverse stock split. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and notes give retroactive effect to the reverse stock split for all periods presented. *Liquidity and Financial Condition* For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company has adopted FASB Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 205-40, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern, which requires that management evaluate whether there are relevant conditions and events that, in the aggregate, raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. The Company has experienced recurring net losses and negative cash flows from operating activities since its inception. The Company recorded a net loss of $8.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. As of June 30, 2017, the Company had working capital of $21.7 million and an accumulated deficit of $22.4 million. Management estimates that the Company has sufficient cash resources to meet anticipated cash needs through at least the next 12 months from the date of issuance of these financial statements. Due to continuing research and development activities, the Company expects to continue to incur net losses into the foreseeable future. In order to continue these activities, the Company may need to raise additional funds through future public or private debt and equity financings or strategic collaboration and licensing arrangements. If the Company issues equity or convertible debt securities to raise additional funding, its existing stockholders may experience dilution, it may incur significant financing costs, and the new equity or convertible debt securities may have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of its existing stockholders. If the Company issues debt securities to raise additional funding, it would incur additional debt service obligations, it could become subject to additional restrictions limiting its ability to operate its business, and it may be required to further encumber its assets. Sufficient additional funding may not be available or be available on acceptable terms. If so, the Company may need to delay, reduce the scope of, or put on hold research and development activities while the Company seeks strategic alternatives.

Note 1. Description of Business

Novus Therapeutics, Inc. is a development-stage, specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of products for disorders of the ear, nose, and throat (ENT). Unless otherwise indicated, references to the terms the “combined company”, “Novus”, the “Company”, refer to Otic Pharma, Ltd. prior to the consummation of the Merger, and Novus Therapeutics, Inc., upon the consummation of the Merger described herein. The term “Tokai” refers to Tokai Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and its subsidiaries prior to the Merger.

Novus, a Delaware corporation, owns 100% of the issued and outstanding common stock or other ownership interest in Otic Pharma, Ltd., a private limited company organized under the laws of the State of Israel. Otic Pharma, Ltd. (“Otic”) owns 100% of the issued and outstanding common stock or other ownership interest in its U.S. subsidiary, Otic Pharma, Inc.

All intercompany transactions between the consolidated entities are eliminated in consolidation.

Reverse Merger

On December 21, 2016, Tokai Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Tokai”), a Delaware corporation, Otic, and the shareholders of Otic (each a “Seller” and collectively, the “Sellers”), entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the “Share Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, each Seller agreed to sell to Tokai, and Tokai agreed to purchase from each Seller, all of the common and preferred shares of Otic (“Otic Shares”) owned by such Seller in exchange for the issuance of a certain number of shares of common stock of Tokai, as determined pursuant to the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement (the “Reverse Merger”). The parties amended and restated the Share Purchase Agreement on March 2, 2017.

On May 9, 2017, Tokai, Otic, and the Sellers closed the transaction contemplated by the Share Purchase Agreement, and subsequently effected a reverse stock split at a ratio of one-for-nine (see Reverse Stock Split below). On a post-split basis, Tokai issued to the Sellers an aggregate of 4,027,693 shares of Tokai’s common stock in exchange for 836,857 Otic Shares. Following the completion of the Reverse Merger, the business being conducted by Tokai became primarily the business conducted by Otic. In connection with the Reverse Merger, the name of the surviving corporation was changed to “Novus Therapeutics, Inc.”

Private Placement

On January 31, 2017, Novus entered into a stock purchase agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) with certain purchasers named therein (the “Purchasers”), pursuant to which the Purchasers agreed to purchase approximately $4 million of the Company’s common stock through the purchase of 400,400 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $9.99 per share. This transaction closed on May 10, 2017. After giving effect to the issuance of the shares in the private placement, the shareholders of Otic owned approximately 64% of the Company’s common stock.

Reverse Stock Split

On May 11, 2017, Novus effected a reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding common stock and options for common stock at a ratio of one-for-nine. The Company filed an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware effecting such reverse stock split. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and notes give retroactive effect to the reverse stock split for all periods presented.

Liquidity and Financial Condition

For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company has adopted FASB Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 205-40, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern, which requires that management evaluate whether there are relevant conditions and events that, in the aggregate, raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued.

The Company has experienced recurring net losses and negative cash flows from operating activities since its inception. The Company recorded a net loss of $8.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. As of June 30, 2017, the Company had working capital of $21.7 million and an accumulated deficit of $22.4 million. Management estimates that the Company has sufficient cash resources to meet anticipated cash needs through at least the next 12 months from the date of issuance of these financial statements. Due to continuing research and development activities, the Company expects to continue to incur net losses into the foreseeable future. In order to continue these activities, the Company may need to raise additional funds through future public or private debt and equity financings or strategic collaboration and licensing arrangements. If the Company issues equity or convertible debt securities to raise additional funding, its existing stockholders may experience dilution, it may incur significant financing costs, and the new equity or convertible debt securities may have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of its existing stockholders. If the Company issues debt securities to raise additional funding, it would incur additional debt service obligations, it could become subject to additional restrictions limiting its ability to operate its business, and it may be required to further encumber its assets. Sufficient additional funding may not be available or be available on acceptable terms. If so, the Company may need to delay, reduce the scope of, or put on hold research and development activities while the Company seeks strategic alternatives.