Description of Business and Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Description of Business and Basis of Presentation	Description of Business and Basis of Presentation Description of Business Exicure, Inc. (“Parent”) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing gene regulatory and immuno-oncology therapeutics based on the Company’s proprietary Spherical Nucleic Acid (“SNA”) technology. We believe the design of the Company’s SNAs gives rise to chemical and biological properties that may provide advantages over other nucleic acid therapeutics and enable therapeutic activity outside of the liver. The Company intends to build a leading nucleic acid therapeutics company focused on the discovery and development of therapeutics based on the Company’s proprietary SNA technology, either on its own or in collaboration with pharmaceutical partners. Throughout this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the terms “the Company” and “Exicure” refer to Parent and its 100% owned subsidiary, Exicure Operating Company. Exicure Operating Company holds all material assets, and conducts all business activities and operations, of the Company. References to the “Merger” refer to the September 26, 2017 transaction whereby Max-1 Acquisition Sub, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Max-1 Acquisition Corporation, or Max-1, merged with and into Exicure Operating Company (f/k/a Exicure, Inc.), a privately-held Delaware Corporation referred to herein as Exicure OpCo, with Exicure OpCo remaining as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned operating subsidiary of Max-1 (which then changed its name to Exicure, Inc.). References to the “Private Placement” refers to the transactions following the Merger that occurred in several closings on September 26, 2017, October 27, 2017 and November 2, 2017 in which we sold to accredited investors approximately $31,513 worth of shares of common stock (before deducting placement agent fees and expenses which are approximately $3,966), or 10,504,196 shares, at a price of $3.00 per share. On July 9, 2015, AuraSense Therapeutics, LLC was converted into AuraSense Therapeutics, Inc., a privately-held Delaware corporation, and on the same date changed its name to Exicure, Inc., which actions together are referred to in these notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as the corporate conversion. In connection with the corporate conversion, the accumulated deficit of AuraSense Therapeutics, LLC of $18,837 was reclassified to Additional paid in capital. Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, and for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, have been presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). Principles of Consolidation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Parent and its 100% owned subsidiary, Exicure Operating Company. All intercompany transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation. Going Concern As of March 31, 2018, the Company has generated an accumulated deficit of $56,927 since inception and expects to incur significant expenses and negative cash flows for the foreseeable future. Based on the Company’s current operating plans, existing working capital at March 31, 2018 is not sufficient to sustain operations beyond March 31, 2019. Management believes that it will be able to obtain additional working capital through equity financings, partnerships and licensing, or other arrangements, to fund operations. However, there can be no assurance that such additional financing will be available and, if available, can be obtained on terms acceptable to the Company. If the Company is unable to obtain such additional financing, the Company will need to reevaluate future operating plans. Accordingly, there is substantial doubt regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared as though the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. Unaudited Interim Financial Information The accompanying interim consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2018, the interim consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the interim consolidated statement of changes in stockholders’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2018, and the interim consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, are unaudited. The interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual audited financial statements; and in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments necessary for the fair statement of the Company’s financial position as of March 31, 2018, the results of its operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. The financial data and other information disclosed in these notes related to the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 are unaudited. The results for the three months ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2018, or any other interim periods, or any future year or period. Use of Estimates The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases its estimates on certain assumptions which it believes are reasonable in the circumstance and while actual results could differ from those estimates, management does not believe that any change in those assumptions in the near term would have a significant effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Actual results in future periods could differ from those estimates. Revision of Prior Period Financial Statements In connection with preparing our condensed consolidated interim financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2018, we identified errors that affected prior interim and annual periods related to the timing of recognition of research and development expense related to a contract for the clinical trial of one of our therapeutic candidates. We evaluated whether our previously issued consolidated financial statements were materially misstated and concluded that the errors individually and in the aggregate were not material to any of our previously issued financial statements. We have revised the accompanying comparative financial statements to correct the immaterial errors. The correction of the errors increased prepaid expense and other current assets by $933, decreased accrued expenses by $96, and decreased accumulated deficit by $1,028 at December 31, 2017.

Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Description of Business

Exicure, Inc. (“Parent”) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing gene regulatory and immuno-oncology therapeutics based on the Company’s proprietary Spherical Nucleic Acid (“SNA”) technology. We believe the design of the Company’s SNAs gives rise to chemical and biological properties that may provide advantages over other nucleic acid therapeutics and enable therapeutic activity outside of the liver. The Company intends to build a leading nucleic acid therapeutics company focused on the discovery and development of therapeutics based on the Company’s proprietary SNA technology, either on its own or in collaboration with pharmaceutical partners.

Throughout this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the terms “the Company” and “Exicure” refer to Parent and its 100% owned subsidiary, Exicure Operating Company. Exicure Operating Company holds all material assets, and conducts all business activities and operations, of the Company.

References to the “Merger” refer to the September 26, 2017 transaction whereby Max-1 Acquisition Sub, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Max-1 Acquisition Corporation, or Max-1, merged with and into Exicure Operating Company (f/k/a Exicure, Inc.), a privately-held Delaware Corporation referred to herein as Exicure OpCo, with Exicure OpCo remaining as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned operating subsidiary of Max-1 (which then changed its name to Exicure, Inc.). References to the “Private Placement” refers to the transactions following the Merger that occurred in several closings on September 26, 2017, October 27, 2017 and November 2, 2017 in which we sold to accredited investors approximately $31,513 worth of shares of common stock (before deducting placement agent fees and expenses which are approximately $3,966), or 10,504,196 shares, at a price of $3.00 per share.

On July 9, 2015, AuraSense Therapeutics, LLC was converted into AuraSense Therapeutics, Inc., a privately-held Delaware corporation, and on the same date changed its name to Exicure, Inc., which actions together are referred to in these notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as the corporate conversion. In connection with the corporate conversion, the accumulated deficit of AuraSense Therapeutics, LLC of $18,837 was reclassified to Additional paid in capital.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, and for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, have been presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”).

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Parent and its 100% owned subsidiary, Exicure Operating Company. All intercompany transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation.

Going Concern

As of March 31, 2018, the Company has generated an accumulated deficit of $56,927 since inception and expects to incur significant expenses and negative cash flows for the foreseeable future. Based on the Company’s current operating plans, existing working capital at March 31, 2018 is not sufficient to sustain operations beyond March 31, 2019. Management believes that it will be able to obtain additional working capital through equity financings, partnerships and licensing, or other arrangements, to fund operations. However, there can be no assurance that such additional financing will be available and, if available, can be obtained on terms acceptable to the Company. If the Company is unable to obtain such additional financing, the Company will need to reevaluate future operating plans. Accordingly, there is substantial doubt regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared as though the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The accompanying interim consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2018, the interim consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the interim consolidated statement of changes in stockholders’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2018, and the interim consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, are unaudited. The interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual audited financial statements; and in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments necessary for the fair statement of the Company’s financial position as of March 31, 2018, the results of its operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. The financial data and other information disclosed in these notes related to the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 are unaudited. The results for the three months ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2018, or any other interim periods, or any future year or period.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases its estimates on certain assumptions which it believes are reasonable in the circumstance and while actual results could differ from those estimates, management does not believe that any change in those assumptions in the near term would have a significant effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Actual results in future periods could differ from those estimates.

Revision of Prior Period Financial Statements

In connection with preparing our condensed consolidated interim financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2018, we identified errors that affected prior interim and annual periods related to the timing of recognition of research and development expense related to a contract for the clinical trial of one of our therapeutic candidates. We evaluated whether our previously issued consolidated financial statements were materially misstated and concluded that the errors individually and in the aggregate were not material to any of our previously issued financial statements. We have revised the accompanying comparative financial statements to correct the immaterial errors. The correction of the errors increased prepaid expense and other current assets by $933, decreased accrued expenses by $96, and decreased accumulated deficit by $1,028 at December 31, 2017.