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The aggregate costs incurred (1) in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects, including the costs of developing computer software up to the point in time of achieving technological feasibility, and costs allocated in accounting for a business combination to in-process projects deemed to have no alternative future use.

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Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards - Impact of Adopting ASU 2014-09 (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	$ 24,448,761	$ 20,412,124	$ 25,978,405	$ 30,788,309
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Research and development	22,462,620	23,878,751	47,040,371	48,421,255
General and administrative	7,189,310	6,169,106	16,887,325	13,936,695
Total operating expenses	29,651,930	30,047,857	63,927,696	62,357,950
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	26,360,675		30,112,470
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Research and development	24,374,534		51,174,436
General and administrative	7,189,310		16,887,325
Total operating expenses	31,563,844		68,061,761
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 \| Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	(1,911,914)		(4,134,065)
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Research and development	(1,911,914)		(4,134,065)
General and administrative	0		0
Total operating expenses	(1,911,914)		(4,134,065)
Revenue under collaborative research and development arrangements
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	24,385,852	16,358,316	25,674,898	20,646,902
Revenue under collaborative research and development arrangements \| Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	24,385,852		25,674,898
Revenue under collaborative research and development arrangements \| Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 \| Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	0		0
Revenue under collaborative research and development arrangements with affiliated entities
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	60,319	176,879	208,327	410,209
Revenue under collaborative research and development arrangements with affiliated entities \| Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	60,319		208,327
Revenue under collaborative research and development arrangements with affiliated entities \| Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 \| Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	0		0
Grants and miscellaneous revenue
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	2,590	2,797,647	95,180	8,037,880
Grants and miscellaneous revenue \| Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	1,459,684		2,016,674
Grants and miscellaneous revenue \| Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 \| Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	(1,457,094)		(1,921,494)
Grants and miscellaneous revenue from affiliated entity
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	0	$ 1,079,282	0	$ 1,693,318
Grants and miscellaneous revenue from affiliated entity \| Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	454,820		2,212,571
Grants and miscellaneous revenue from affiliated entity \| Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 \| Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	$ (454,820)		$ (2,212,571)