WARRANTS (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	4 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			88 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012
Common stock warrants outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise price (in dollars per share)					$ 80.86
Black-Scholes inputs:
Change in fair value recognized in earnings	$ 1,500		$ 3,200	$ 16,300	$ 5,900	$ 26,900
Warrants [Member]
Common stock warrants outstanding [Abstract]
Number of shares exercisable (in shares)	4,563,000					4,563,000
Exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 3.03	[1]				$ 3.03	[1]
Issued to placement agents in May and June 2008 [Member] | Warrants [Member]
Common stock warrants outstanding [Abstract]
Number of shares exercisable (in shares)	433,000					433,000
Exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 2.36					$ 2.36
Expiration date	May 21, 2013					May 21, 2013
Issued to placement agents in August 2009 [Member] | Warrants [Member]
Common stock warrants outstanding [Abstract]
Number of shares exercisable (in shares)	65,000					65,000
Exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 1.50					$ 1.50
Expiration date	Aug. 21, 2014					Aug. 21, 2014
2009 Merger [Member] | Warrants [Member]
Common stock warrants outstanding [Abstract]
Number of shares exercisable (in shares)	8,000					8,000
Exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 80.86	[1]				$ 80.86	[1]
2009 Merger [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Warrants [Member]
Common stock warrants outstanding [Abstract]
Expiration date	Jun. 11, 2013					Jun. 11, 2013
2009 Merger [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Warrants [Member]
Common stock warrants outstanding [Abstract]
Expiration date	Sep. 26, 2015					Sep. 26, 2015
Issued to registered direct investors in December 2009 [Member] | Warrants [Member]
Common stock warrants outstanding [Abstract]
Number of shares exercisable (in shares)	631,000					631,000
Exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 2.45					$ 2.45
Expiration date	Dec. 22, 2014					Dec. 22, 2014
Issued to private placement investors in August 2010 [Member] | Warrants [Member]
Common stock warrants outstanding [Abstract]
Number of shares exercisable (in shares)	3,095,000					3,095,000
Exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 3.075					$ 3.075
Expiration date	Aug. 12, 2015					Aug. 12, 2015
Issued to placement agent in August 2010 [Member] | Warrants [Member]
Common stock warrants outstanding [Abstract]
Number of shares exercisable (in shares)	98,000					98,000
Exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 3.075					$ 3.075
Expiration date	Aug. 12, 2015					Aug. 12, 2015
December 2009 equity financing [Member]
Assumptions to obtain the fair value of the warrants [Abstract]
Fair value	2,600		2,900	5,900		2,600
Black-Scholes inputs:
Stock price (in dollars per share)	$ 5.85		$ 4.97	$ 4.73		$ 5.85
Exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 2.45		$ 2.45	$ 2.45		$ 2.45
Risk free interest rate (in hundredths)	0.25%		0.22%	0.38%
Volatility (in hundredths)	100.00%		125.00%	116.00%
Expected term	2 years		2 years 3 months	3 years 3 months
Dividend (in hundredths)	0.00%		0.00%	0.00%
December 2009 equity financing, Series A [Member]
Common stock warrants outstanding [Abstract]
Number of shares exercisable (in shares)					1,874,000
December 2009 equity financing, Series B [Member]
Common stock warrants outstanding [Abstract]
Number of shares exercisable (in shares)					1,874,000
August 2010 private placement, Investors and placement agent [Member]
Assumptions to obtain the fair value of the warrants [Abstract]
Fair value	$ 13,800		$ 14,400	$ 17,700		$ 13,800
Black-Scholes inputs:
Stock price (in dollars per share)	$ 5.85		$ 4.97	$ 4.73		$ 5.85
Exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 3.075		$ 3.075	$ 3.075		$ 3.075
Risk free interest rate (in hundredths)	0.31%		0.30%	0.70%
Volatility (in hundredths)	112.00%		125.00%	116.00%
Expected term	2 years 6 months		3 years	4 years
Dividend (in hundredths)	0.00%		0.00%	0.00%
Encode Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Warrants [Member]
Common stock warrants outstanding [Abstract]
Number of shares exercisable (in shares)	233,000					233,000
Exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 2.87					$ 2.87
Expiration date	Dec. 13, 2015					Dec. 13, 2015

[1] Weighted-average exercise price