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License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments (Details Textual) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Feb. 29, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Research and Development Expense | $ 14,489,000 us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense | $ 6,507,000 us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense | $ 12,287,000 us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense |  |
Operating Leases, Rent Expense | 77,000 us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense | 68,000 us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense | 123,000 us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross | 2,382,500 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross | 222,500 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross | 2,075,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross |  |
Registration Payment Arrangement, Term |  |  | In connection with the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, and pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement executed and delivered by the Company to Intrexon, the Company agreed to file a resale registration statement registering the resale of the First Tranche Shares within 120 days of the closing date of such issuance. |  |
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current | 1,548,000 us-gaap_PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent | 1,591,000 us-gaap_PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent |  |  |
Payments to Acquire in Process Research and Development | 293,000 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInProcessResearchAndDevelopment | 1,000,000 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInProcessResearchAndDevelopment | 87,000 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInProcessResearchAndDevelopment |  |
Exchange percentage of unregistered common stock | 50.00%syn_ExchangePercentageOfUnregisteredCommonStock |  |  |  |
Proceeds from (Repurchase of) Equity, Total | 3,000,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepurchaseOfEquity |  |  |  |
Mark Pimentel [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Common stock Outstanding Percentage | 8.50%syn_CommonStockOutstandingPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = syn_MarkPimentelMember |  |  |  |
Licensing Agreements [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Payments for Fees | 150,000 us-gaap_PaymentsForFees / us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember |  |  |  |
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues | 291,569 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues / us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember |  |  |  |
Patents [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Payments for Fees | 220,000 us-gaap_PaymentsForFees / us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_PatentsMember |  |  |  |
Jeffrey Riley [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested in Period, Fair Value |  |  |  | 1,700,000 us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedInPeriodFairValue1 / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = syn_JeffreyRileyMember |
Officers Compensation |  |  |  | 348,000 us-gaap_OfficersCompensation / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = syn_JeffreyRileyMember |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross |  |  |  | 750,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = syn_JeffreyRileyMember |
C. Evan Ballantyne [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested in Period, Fair Value |  |  |  | 1,000,000 us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedInPeriodFairValue1 / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = syn_CEvanBallantyneMember |
Officers Compensation |  |  |  | 298,000 us-gaap_OfficersCompensation / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = syn_CEvanBallantyneMember |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross |  |  |  | 425,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = syn_CEvanBallantyneMember |
Intrexon [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Research and Development Expense |  |  | 7,800,000 us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = syn_IntrexonMember |  |
Partial Consideration for Execution |  |  |  |  | Intrexon a number of shares of our common stock equal to 9.995% of the number of shares of the Companys common stock issued
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Acquisitions |  |  | 3,552,210 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesAcquisitions / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = syn_IntrexonMember |  |
Development Stage Entities, Equity Issuance, Per Share Amount |  |  | $ 0.001 us-gaap_EquityIssuancePerShareAmount / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = syn_IntrexonMember |  | $ 0.001 us-gaap_EquityIssuancePerShareAmount / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = syn_IntrexonMember
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current | 2,500,000 us-gaap_PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = syn_IntrexonMember |  |  |  |
Intrexon [Member] | Research and Development Arrangement [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current | 1,100,000 us-gaap_PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = syn_IntrexonMember / us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis = us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentArrangementMember |  |  |  |
Prev Abr Llc [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Additional Cash Payment for License Agreement |  |  | 235,000 syn_AdditionalCashPaymentForLicenseAgreement / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = syn_PrevAbrLlcMember |  |
Unregistered Shares Issued to License Agreement |  |  | 625,000 syn_UnregisteredSharesIssuedToLicenseAgreement / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = syn_PrevAbrLlcMember |  |
Additional Consideration Payable |  |  | 50% in cash and 50% in our stock |  |
Options To Be Received Common Stock Shares | 212,843 syn_OptionsToBeReceivedCommonStockShares / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = syn_PrevAbrLlcMember |  |  |  |
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Common stock Outstanding Percentage | 11.50%syn_CommonStockOutstandingPercentage / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = syn_CedarssinaiMedicalCenterMember |  |  |  |
Office Space In Ann Arbor [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Operating Lease Leasing Term |  |  | extend the term of the lease to December 31, 2015 |  |
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Next Twelve Months |  |  | 35,000 us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent / dei_EntityByLocationAxis = syn_OfficeSpaceInAnnArborMember |  |
Office Space In Rockville [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Operating Lease Leasing Term |  |  | one year operating lease that may be renewed for two additional terms of one year |  |
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Next Twelve Months |  |  | 42,000 us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent / dei_EntityByLocationAxis = syn_OfficeSpaceInRockvilleMember |  |
December 31, 2014 [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Next Twelve Months |  |  | 50,000 us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent / syn_AnnualPaymentEffectivePeriodAxis = syn_December312014Member |  |
December 31, 2015 [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Next Twelve Months |  |  | 25,000 us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent / syn_AnnualPaymentEffectivePeriodAxis = syn_December312015Member |  |
Phase I Clinical Trials [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Milestone Payment |  |  | 50,000 syn_MilestonePayment / us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis = syn_PhaseIClinicalTrialsMember |  |
Phase Iii Clinical Trials [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Milestone Payment |  |  | 100,000 syn_MilestonePayment / us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis = syn_PhaseIiiClinicalTrialsMember |  |
Nda Submission In Us [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Milestone Payment |  |  | 250,000 syn_MilestonePayment / us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis = syn_NdaSubmissionInUsMember |  |
European Medicines Agency Approval [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Milestone Payment |  |  | 100,000 syn_MilestonePayment / us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis = syn_EuropeanMedicinesAgencyApprovalMember |  |
Regulatory Approval In Asian Country [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Milestone Payment |  |  | 100,000 syn_MilestonePayment / us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis = syn_RegulatoryApprovalInAsianCountryMember |  |
IND Milestone Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Registration Payment Arrangement, Settlement Alternatives |  |  | The Company also agreed upon the filing of an IND application with the FDA for a Synthetic Product, or alternatively the filing of the first equivalent regulatory filing with a foreign regulatory agency (both as applicable, the IND Milestone Event), to pay Intrexon either (i) $2.0 million in cash, or (ii) that number of shares of Common Stock (the IND Milestone Shares) having a fair market value equaling $2.0 million where such fair market value is determined using published market data of the share price for Common Stock at the close of market on the business day immediately preceding the date of public announcement of attainment of the IND Milestone Event. |  |
Approval Milestone Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Registration Payment Arrangement, Settlement Alternatives |  |  | Upon the first to occur of either first commercial sale of a Synthetic Product in a country or the granting of the regulatory approval of that Synthetic Product (both as applicable, the Approval Milestone Event), the Company agreed to pay to Intrexon either (i) $3.0 million in cash, or (ii) that number of shares of Common Stock (the Approval Milestone Shares) having a fair market value equaling $3.0 million where such fair market value is determined using published market data of the share price for Common Stock at the close of market on the business day immediately preceding the date of public announcement of attainment of the Approval Milestone Event. |  |
Field Expansion Fee [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Registration Payment Arrangement, Settlement Alternatives |  |  | The Field Expansion Fee must be paid completely in either Common Stock or cash, and will comprise either (i) $2.0 million in cash for each target in excess of three total that the Company elects, or (ii) that number of shares of Common Stock (the Field Expansion Fee Shares) having a fair market value equaling $2.0 million for each such target that the Company elects in excess of three where such fair market value is determined using published market data establishing the volume-weighted average price for a share of Common Stock over the 30 day period immediately preceding the date of the Field Expansion Fee Closing. |  |
First Year [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Research Agreement Fixed Fee | 303,287 syn_ResearchAgreementFixedFee / syn_QuarterlyInstallmentsPaymentPeriodAxis = syn_FirstYearMember |  |  |  |
Second Year [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Research Agreement Fixed Fee | 316,438 syn_ResearchAgreementFixedFee / syn_QuarterlyInstallmentsPaymentPeriodAxis = syn_SecondYearMember |  |  |  |
Third Year [Member] |  |  |  |  |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Research Agreement Fixed Fee | $ 328,758 syn_ResearchAgreementFixedFee / syn_QuarterlyInstallmentsPaymentPeriodAxis = syn_ThirdYearMember |  |  |  |

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