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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Use of estimates
Use of estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Amounts included in the financial statements, such those recorded in restructuring charges, can result from a complex series of judgments about future events and uncertainties and can heavily rely on estimates and assumptions. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Research and development costs
Research and development costs
 
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs include salaries and personnel‑related costs, consulting fees, fees paid for contract research services, the costs of laboratory equipment and facilities, development of intellectual property, license fees and other external costs. The Company accounts for government grants as a reduction of research and development expenses. Government grants are recorded at the time the related research and development costs have been incurred by the Company and, accordingly, become eligible for reimbursement. The Company accrues for government grants that have been earned but not yet received.
 
Nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research and development activities are deferred and capitalized. The capitalized amounts are expensed as the related goods are delivered or the services are performed.
Clinical Trial and Pre-Clinical Study Accruals
Clinical Trial and Pre-Clinical Study Accruals
 
Prior to the discontinuation of the Company's research and development activities, the Company estimated pre-clinical study and clinical trial expenses pursuant to contracts with research institutions and contract research organizations that conducted and managed pre-clinical studies and clinical trials on the Company’s behalf. These estimates were based on the level of service performed and the underlying agreement. Further, the Company accrued expenses related to clinical trials based on the level of patient enrollment and other activities according to the related agreements. The Company monitored patient enrollment levels and other activities to the extent reasonably possible and adjusted estimates accordingly. If actual costs incurred or the timing of services varied from the Company's estimate, the Company adjusted the accrual accordingly. On September 20, 2016, the Company announced its decision to close the ongoing Phase 1 study of MRX34 and suspended all research and development activities.
Stock-based compensation
Stock‑based compensation
 
The Company accounts for its stock‑based compensation awards in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). ASC 718 requires all stock‑based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the statements of operations based on their grant date fair values. For stock options granted to employees and to members of the board of directors for their services on the board of directors, the Company estimates the grant date fair value of each option award using the Black‑Scholes option‑pricing model. The use of the Black‑Scholes option‑pricing model requires management to make assumptions with respect to the expected term of the option, the expected volatility of the common stock consistent with the expected life of the option, risk‑free interest rates and expected dividend yields of the common stock. For awards subject to service‑based vesting conditions, the Company recognizes stock‑based compensation expense equal to the grant date fair value of stock options on a straight‑line basis over the requisite service period less actual forfeitures.

Restructuring charges
Restructuring charges

Following the closing of the Phase 1 MRX34 clinical trial, the Company implemented a workforce reduction in the fourth quarter of 2016 to reduce operating expenses while it evaluates strategic alternatives. The majority of severance and benefits payments were settled during the first quarter of 2017. The Company entered into retention agreements with key employees necessary to close the Phase 1 clinical trial of MRX34 and maintain the continued operations of the Company. Under the retention agreements, employees must remain with the Company until June 30, 2017 or until terminated by the Company without cause prior to such date. The Company has recognized the restructuring liability for such retention agreements over each employee's service period.

In accordance with ASC 420, Exit and Disposal Cost Obligations, the Company has also recognized contract termination costs in connection with a leased property it intended to occupy as its corporate headquarters and research facility, as well as a temporary lab in use prior to the discontinuation of the Company's research and development activities. In addition, the Company has recognized asset impairments related to its lab equipment used in the Phase 1 clinical trial, construction in process, and other property and equipment for which the Company does not expect to receive a future benefit.
Fair value measurements
Fair value measurements
 
The Company records money market funds at fair value. ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, establishes a fair value hierarchy for those instruments measured at fair value that distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company’s own assumptions (unobservable inputs). The hierarchy consists of three levels: 
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Level 1 – Unadjusted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
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Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
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Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.
 
The carrying amounts reflected in the balance sheets for cash, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximate their fair values at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, due to their short‑term nature.
 
The Company evaluates transfers between levels at the end of each reporting period. There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 during the six months ended June 30, 2017 or 2016.
 
Restricted Cash
Restricted Cash
 
Restricted cash consisted of cash amounts held for specific or limited purposes and, therefore, not available for general operating activities. In June 2016, the Company secured a standby letter of credit of $2.4 million for the benefit of the Landlord for the Company's lease of approximately 23,578 square feet of office and laboratory space in the event of default. The restricted cash consists of cash providing security under the terms of the G&I Lease described in Note 11.

As a result of the Lease Settlement described in Note 11, the Landlord has released the letter of credit described above to the Company and the balance of restricted cash has been reclassified to cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2017.
Marketable Securities
Marketable Securities
 
Marketable securities with maturities at purchase beyond one year, but less than twenty-four months, may be classified as short-term marketable securities based on their highly liquid nature and because such marketable securities represent the investment of cash that is available for current operations. Marketable securities with maturities at purchase beyond twenty-four months are classified as non-current. Available-for-sale securities are maintained by an investment manager and may consist of U.S. Treasury securities and government agency securities and corporate debt securities. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value with the unrealized gains and losses included in other comprehensive loss as a component of stockholders’ equity until realized. Any premium or discount arising at purchase is amortized and/or accreted to interest income and/or expense over the life of the instrument. Realized gains and losses are determined using the specific identification method and are included in other income.

If any adjustment to fair value reflects a decline in value of the investment, the Company considers all available evidence to evaluate the extent to which the decline is “other-than-temporary.” If the decline is other-than-temporary, the investment is marked to market through a charge to the Company’s statement of operations and comprehensive loss.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
 
In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share Based Payment Accounting ("ASU 2016-09") as part of the FASB simplification initiative. The new standard provides for changes to accounting for stock compensation including 1) excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies related to share-based payment awards will be recognized as income tax expense in the reporting period in which they occur; 2) excess tax benefits will be classified as an operating activity in the statement of cash flow; 3) the option to elect to estimate forfeitures or account for them when they occur; and 4) increase tax withholding requirements threshold to qualify for equity classification. We adopted ASU 2016-09 in the quarter ended March 31, 2017 with an effective date of January 1, 2017 and made a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur. In addition, the Company increased both its net operating loss deferred tax asset and its valuation allowance upon adoption of ASU 2016-09. This did not have an impact on net stockholders' equity as the incremental deferred tax assets were fully offset by a corresponding increase in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance as of March 31, 2017. The cumulative effect of adoption was recorded in the quarter ended March 31, 2017 and did not have a material impact on our condensed financial statements.