Description of Business	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Description of Business	Note 1. Description of Business Novus Therapeutics, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing products for disorders of the ear, nose, and throat. Unless otherwise indicated, references to the terms “Novus,” “our,” ‘us,” “we”, or the “Company” refer to Novus Therapeutics, Inc. In 2017, Otic Pharma, Ltd. (“Otic”) consummated a reverse merger with Tokai Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Tokai”), pursuant to which, among other things, Tokai purchased from Otic and its stockholders all of the common and preferred shares of Otic in exchange for the issuance of a certain number of shares of common stock of Tokai (the “Reverse Merger”). Following the Reverse Merger, Tokai changed its name to Novus Therapeutics, Inc.

The entire disclosure for the business description and basis of presentation concepts. Business description describes the nature and type of organization including but not limited to organizational structure as may be applicable to holding companies, parent and subsidiary relationships, business divisions, business units, business segments, affiliates and information about significant ownership of the reporting entity. Basis of presentation describes the underlying basis used to prepare the financial statements (for example, US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Other Comprehensive Basis of Accounting, IFRS).

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122369

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 275
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2134479

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