Operating leases, expiry year.

No definition available.

Name:	pstv_OperatingLeasesExpiryYear
Namespace Prefix:	pstv_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of contractual obligation, including, but not limited to, long-term debt, lease obligation, purchase obligation, and other commitments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480678/235-10-S99-3

+ Details

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

- Definition

Discount rate used by lessee to determine present value of operating lease payments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)(3)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478964/842-20-50-3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Indicates (true false) whether lessee has option to extend operating lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478964/842-20-50-3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseExistenceOfOptionToExtend
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of terms and conditions of option to extend lessee's operating lease. Includes, but is not limited to, information about option recognized as part of right-of-use asset and lease liability.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseOptionToExtend
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Term of lessee's operating lease renewal, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478964/842-20-50-3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseRenewalTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Term of lessee's operating lease, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseTermOfContract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Present value of lessee's discounted obligation for lease payments from operating lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479041/842-20-45-1

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of lessee's right to use underlying asset under operating lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479041/842-20-45-1

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 440
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482648/440-10-50-6

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis=pstv_PreClinicalResearchStudyObligationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=pstv_CharlottesvilleMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Jul. 01, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Operating leases expiry year	2025
Operating lease right-of-use assets	$ 139,000	$ 202,000
Pre-clinical Research Study Obligations [Member]
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Contractual obligation	$ 0
Charlottesville [Member]
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease, term of contract	12 months
Lessee, operating lease, existence of option to extend [true false]	true
Lessee, operating lease, option to extend	The Charlottesville Lease has a term of 12 months and the Company has the ability to renew for three additional one-year periods.
Lessee, operating lease, renewal term	1 year
Lease liability				$ 80,000
Operating lease discount rate			13.47%	12.76%
Operating lease right-of-use assets			$ 19,000