Marketable securities and fair value measurements.

No definition available.

Name:	ino_MarketableSecuritiesAndFairValueMeasurementsTextualAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ino_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Exercise price of the warrants.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 12
-Section 13
-Sentence Column A

+ Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the cost of equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments for other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleEquitySecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of securities into which the class of warrant or right may be converted. For example, but not limited to, 500,000 warrants may be converted into 1,000,000 shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(i)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSecuritiesCalledByWarrantsOrRights
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized on the income statement for financial instrument classified as a liability measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityGainLossIncludedInEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Balance held at close of period in number of shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Section S99
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12C.Column B)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611225-123010

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Section S99
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-14.Column B)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611322-123010

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12.Column B)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611133-123010

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentOwnedBalanceShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of shares of affiliates held for management investment companies.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Section S99
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-14.Column B)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611322-123010

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesBalanceShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Value of outstanding derivative securities that permit the holder the right to purchase securities (usually equity) from the issuer at a specified price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(i))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_WarrantsAndRightsOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_CommonStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=ino_SecondWarrantMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=ino_FirstWarrantMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Marketable Securities and Fair Value Measurements (Details Textual) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Jul. 01, 2015	Mar. 31, 2012
Marketable Securities and Fair Value Measurements (Textual) [Abstract]
Carryover basis					$ 0
Common stock warrants		$ 1,051,137		$ 1,167,614
Increase/decrease in fair value included in change in fair value of common stock warrants		$ (116,000)	$ 406,000
Using Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Marketable Securities and Fair Value Measurements (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of shares held in an affiliated entity (shares)		1,644,155		1,644,155
Using Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| Common Stock [Member]
Marketable Securities and Fair Value Measurements (Textual) [Abstract]
Investment owned (shares)		395,758
Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Marketable Securities and Fair Value Measurements (Textual) [Abstract]
Common stock warrants				$ 1,167,614
Increase/decrease in fair value included in change in fair value of common stock warrants		$ (116,477)
Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Second warrant [Member]
Marketable Securities and Fair Value Measurements (Textual) [Abstract]
Common stock purchase warrant (in shares)						150,000
Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| First warrant [Member]
Marketable Securities and Fair Value Measurements (Textual) [Abstract]
Common stock purchase warrant (in shares)	50,000
Exercise price of a five-year warrant ($ per share)	$ 24.00