Basis of Presentation (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation (Policies)	Sep. 30, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Inovio have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2016, condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, are unaudited, but include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) that the Company considers necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 shown herein are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2016, or for any other period. These financial statements, and notes thereto, should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015, included in the Company's Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 11, 2016. The balance sheet at December 31, 2015 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The Company has evaluated subsequent events after the balance sheet date of September 30, 2016 through the date it filed these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements with the SEC. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy	The recent pronouncements below may have a significant effect on the Company's financial statements. Recent pronouncements that are not anticipated to have an impact on or are unrelated to the Company's financial condition, results of operations, or related disclosures are not discussed. Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”), No. 2016-09- In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation. The new guidance simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this standard are effective for the Company's annual year and first fiscal quarter beginning on January 1, 2017 with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the application of this accounting standard update on its financial statements and related disclosures. ASU, No. 2016-02- In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize the following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date: (a) a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and (b) a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. The ASU will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019 with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the application of this accounting standard update on its financial statements and related disclosures. ASU, No. 2014-15- In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements Going Concern, which intends to define management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related disclosure. ASU 2014-15 defines the term substantial doubt and requires an assessment for a period of one year after the date of the issuance of the financial statements. It requires certain disclosures when substantial doubt is alleviated as a result of consideration of management’s plans and requires an express statement and other disclosures when substantial doubt is not alleviated. The guidance becomes effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance will have no impact on the Company's financial statements. ASU, No. 2014-09- In May 2014, the FASB amended the existing accounting standards for revenue recognition, which outlines a comprehensive revenue recognition model and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance. The new standard requires a company to recognize revenue upon transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the expected consideration to be received in exchange for those goods or services. The amended guidance defines a five-step approach for recognizing revenue, which may require a company to use more judgment and make more estimates than under the current guidance. The amended guidance as currently issued will be effective for the Company starting in 2018. The new standard allows for two methods of adoption: (a) full retrospective adoption, meaning the standard is applied to all periods presented, or (b) modified retrospective adoption, meaning the cumulative effect of applying the new standard is recognized as an adjustment to the opening retained earnings balance. The Company is in the process of determining the adoption method it will implement, as well as the effects the adoption will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.