Note 3 - Variable Interest Entities	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Variable Interest Entities [Text Block]	Note 3. Variable Interest Entities The Company consolidates the activities of VIEs of which we are the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the variable interest holder possessing a controlling financial interest through (i) its power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (ii) its obligation to absorb losses or its right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. In order to determine whether the Company owns a variable interest in a VIE, the Company performs qualitative analysis of the entity’s design, organizational structure, primary decision makers and relevant agreements. Consolidated VIE SWK HP Holdings LP (“SWK HP”) - For a discussion of the formation, operations and presentation of SWK HP please see Non-controlling Interests in Note 4 . SWK HP is considered a VIE due to the lack of voting or similar decision-making rights by its equity holders regarding activities that have a significant effect on the economic success of the partnership. The Company’s ownership in SWK HP constitutes variable interests. The Company has determined that it is the primary beneficiary of the SWK HP as (i) the Company has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of SWK HP via its obligations to perform under the partnership agreement, and (ii) the Company has the right to receive residual returns that could potentially be significant to SWK HP. As a result, the Company consolidates SWK HP in its financial statements and the $7 million limited partner interests of SWK HP owned by third parties are reflected as a non-controlling interest in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet. Unconsolidated VIEs Holmdel Pharmaceuticals LP (“Holmdel”) - In December 2012, Holmdel was formed to acquire the U.S. marketing authorization rights to a beta blocker pharmaceutical product indicated for the treatment of hypertension for a total purchase price of $13 million. SWK Holdings GP acquired a direct general partnership interest in SWK HP, which in turn acquired a limited partnership interest in Holmdel. The total investment by SWK HP was $13 million, of which SWK Holdings GP provided $6 million. SWK HP has significant influence over the decisions made by Holmdel. SWK HP will receive quarterly distributions of cash flow generated by the pharmaceutical product according to a tiered scale that is subject to certain cash on cash returns received by SWK HP. Until SWK HP receives a 1x cash on cash return on its interest in Holmdel, SWK HP will receive approximately 87% of the pharmaceutical product’s cash flow. As the cash on cash multiple received by SWK HP Holdings LP increases, SWK HP’s interest in the cash flow generated by the pharmaceutical product decreases, but in no instance will it decline below 45%. Holmdel is considered a VIE because SWK HP’s control over the partnership is disproportionate to its economic interest. This VIE remains unconsolidated as the power to direct the activities of the partnership is not held by the Company. The Company is using the equity method to account for this investment. SWK HP’s ownership in Holmdel approximates 87%. The Company accounts for its interest in the entity on a quarter lag applied on a consistent basis. As the entity was formed in December 2012, the impact to the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) is not material. Moreover, the Company is unable to provide financial statement information related to Holmdel at this time and, accordingly, the preparation of the entity’s financial information is impracticable.

Note 3 - Variable Interest Entities

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Note 3. Variable Interest Entities

The Company consolidates the activities of VIEs of which we are the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the variable interest holder possessing a controlling financial interest through (i) its power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (ii) its obligation to absorb losses or its right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. In order to determine whether the Company owns a variable interest in a VIE, the Company performs qualitative analysis of the entity’s design, organizational structure, primary decision makers and relevant agreements.

Consolidated VIE

SWK HP Holdings LP (“SWK HP”) - For a discussion of the formation, operations and presentation of SWK HP please see Non-controlling Interests in Note 4 . SWK HP is considered a VIE due to the lack of voting or similar decision-making rights by its equity holders regarding activities that have a significant effect on the economic success of the partnership. The Company’s ownership in SWK HP constitutes variable interests. The Company has determined that it is the primary beneficiary of the SWK HP as (i) the Company has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of SWK HP via its obligations to perform under the partnership agreement, and (ii) the Company has the right to receive residual returns that could potentially be significant to SWK HP. As a result, the Company consolidates SWK HP in its financial statements and the $7 million limited partner interests of SWK HP owned by third parties are reflected as a non-controlling interest in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Unconsolidated VIEs

Holmdel Pharmaceuticals LP (“Holmdel”) - In December 2012, Holmdel was formed to acquire the U.S. marketing authorization rights to a beta blocker pharmaceutical product indicated for the treatment of hypertension for a total purchase price of $13 million. SWK Holdings GP acquired a direct general partnership interest in SWK HP, which in turn acquired a limited partnership interest in Holmdel. The total investment by SWK HP was $13 million, of which SWK Holdings GP provided $6 million.

SWK HP has significant influence over the decisions made by Holmdel. SWK HP will receive quarterly distributions of cash flow generated by the pharmaceutical product according to a tiered scale that is subject to certain cash on cash returns received by SWK HP. Until SWK HP receives a 1x cash on cash return on its interest in Holmdel, SWK HP will receive approximately 87% of the pharmaceutical product’s cash flow. As the cash on cash multiple received by SWK HP Holdings LP increases, SWK HP’s interest in the cash flow generated by the pharmaceutical product decreases, but in no instance will it decline below 45%. Holmdel is considered a VIE because SWK HP’s control over the partnership is disproportionate to its economic interest. This VIE remains unconsolidated as the power to direct the activities of the partnership is not held by the Company. The Company is using the equity method to account for this investment. SWK HP’s ownership in Holmdel approximates 87%. The Company accounts for its interest in the entity on a quarter lag applied on a consistent basis. As the entity was formed in December 2012, the impact to the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) is not material. Moreover, the Company is unable to provide financial statement information related to Holmdel at this time and, accordingly, the preparation of the entity’s financial information is impracticable.