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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		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	$ 2,000,868	$ 2,644,543	$ 27,979,273	$ 33,432,852
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Research and development	21,851,858	25,510,239	68,892,229	73,931,494
General and administrative	6,791,693	6,319,775	23,679,018	20,256,470
Total operating expenses	28,643,551	31,830,014	92,571,247	94,187,964
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	4,578,594		34,691,063
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Research and development	24,429,584		75,604,019
General and administrative	6,791,693		23,679,018
Total operating expenses	31,221,277		99,283,037
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 \| Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	(2,577,726)		(6,711,790)
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Research and development	(2,577,726)		(6,711,790)
General and administrative	0		0
Total operating expenses	(2,577,726)		(6,711,790)
Revenue under collaborative research and development arrangements
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	1,813,287	351,272	27,488,185	20,998,174
Revenue under collaborative research and development arrangements \| Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	1,813,287		27,488,185
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	184,990	129,133	393,317	539,342
Revenue under collaborative research and development arrangements with affiliated entities \| Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	184,990		393,317
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	2,591	1,456,216	97,771	9,494,096
Grants and miscellaneous revenue \| Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	1,628,433		3,645,107
Grants and miscellaneous revenue \| Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 \| Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	(1,625,842)		(3,547,336)
Grants and miscellaneous revenue from affiliated entity
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	0	$ 707,922	0	$ 2,401,240
Grants and miscellaneous revenue from affiliated entity \| Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	951,884		3,164,454
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	$ (951,884)		$ (3,164,454)