Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		106 Months Ended	6 Months Ended				12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					24 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012 Solasia	Jun. 30, 2012 Solasia Development-based milestones	Jun. 30, 2012 Solasia Sales-based milestones	Jun. 30, 2012 Harmon Hill LLC Collaboration Agreement	Dec. 31, 2011 Harmon Hill LLC Collaboration Agreement	Dec. 31, 2010 Harmon Hill LLC Collaboration Agreement	Dec. 31, 2009 Harmon Hill LLC Collaboration Agreement	Apr. 08, 2008 Harmon Hill LLC Collaboration Agreement Upon the dosing of the first patient	Apr. 08, 2008 Harmon Hill LLC Monthly Payment Collaboration Agreement	Dec. 31, 2004 DEKK Tec Inc	Oct. 15, 2004 DEKK Tec Inc	Dec. 31, 2006 DEKK Tec Inc Upon the dosing of the first patient	Dec. 31, 2010 DEKK Tec Inc Phase 3	Mar. 16, 2010 DEKK Tec Inc Upon receiving a United States Patent for palifosfamide	Oct. 15, 2004 DEKK Tec Inc Up Front Payment	Jun. 30, 2012 Intrexon Corporation	Jan. 06, 2011 Intrexon Corporation Quarterly Payment	Dec. 31, 2011 Southern Research Institute	Dec. 31, 2010 Southern Research Institute	Dec. 31, 2009 Southern Research Institute	Dec. 31, 2008 Southern Research Institute	Jun. 30, 2012 Southern Research Institute	Dec. 21, 2006 Southern Research Institute Execution Agreement	Dec. 21, 2006 Southern Research Institute Maximum	Aug. 24, 2004 The University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center And The Texas A& M University System Patent	Dec. 31, 2007 The University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center And The Texas A& M University System	Dec. 31, 2004 The University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center And The Texas A& M University System	Jun. 30, 2012 The University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center And The Texas A& M University System	Dec. 31, 2005 The University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center And The Texas A& M University System Upon the commencement of Phase 1 clinical trial	Dec. 31, 2006 The University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center And The Texas A& M University System Upon the dosing of the first patient	Dec. 31, 2007 The University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center And The Texas A& M University System Intellectual Property Rights	Dec. 31, 2006 The University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center And The Texas A& M University System Intellectual Property Rights	Dec. 31, 2005 The University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center And The Texas A& M University System Upon the filing of an Investigation New Drug application (IND) for darinaparsin	Dec. 31, 2007 The University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center And The Texas A& M University System Upon the completion of dosing of the last patient for both Phase 1 clinical trials	Jun. 30, 2012 The University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center And The Texas A& M University System Upon enrollment of the first patient in a multi-center pivotal clinical trial	Dec. 31, 2004 The University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center And The Texas A& M University System Up Front Payment	Nov. 03, 2006 Baxter Healthcare Corporation	Dec. 31, 2007 Baxter Healthcare Corporation Upon the successful U.S. IND application for indibulin	Nov. 03, 2006 Baxter Healthcare Corporation Assets	Nov. 03, 2006 Baxter Healthcare Corporation Inventories	Nov. 03, 2006 Baxter Healthcare Corporation Royalty Payments	Jan. 29, 2010 PPD Development L. P.	Dec. 31, 2010 PPD Development L. P. Upon contract execution	Dec. 31, 2010 PPD Development L. P. Upon a clinical study commencement of enrollment in North America	Jun. 30, 2012 PPD Development L. P. Upon initial clinical study enrollment	Dec. 31, 2011 PPD Development L. P. Upon initial clinical study enrollment	Dec. 13, 2011 Pharmaceutical Research Associates Inc	Jun. 30, 2012 Pharmaceutical Research Associates Inc Upon initial clinical study enrollment	Dec. 31, 2011 Pharmaceutical Research Associates Inc Execution of letter of intent	Jun. 30, 2012 Pharmaceutical Research Associates Inc Upon execution of extensions of the foregoing letter of intent	Jun. 30, 2012 Pharmaceutical Research Associates Inc Upon work order execution
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of products																														2
Licensing fee																				$ 50,000																					$ 125,000
Shares of common stock granted	361,900	516,000	425,400	1,063,900																												250,487
Option to purchase common stock															27,616																	50,222
Sale of stock ,price per share															$ 0.02																	$ 0.002
Shares vested															6,904			6,904																				12,555	25,111
Stock based compensation expenses	1,078,000	612,000	2,290,000	1,314,000	17,591,000																										120,000
Shares expected to vest																																								12,556
Milestone payment																	100,000	300,000	100,000															100,000	250,000	100,000	100,000						625,000					1,800,000	1,100,000	2,600,000	4,000,000		1,000,000	500,000	400,000	700,000
Milestone maximum payment																4,000,000											775,000						4,500,000													8,000,000	18,300,000					19,700,000
Research expenses	18,264,000	9,125,000	32,249,000	33,766,000	161,148,000																							25,000	200,000
Royalty payment																							25,000	25,000	25,000	25,000
Asset Purchase Agreement, additional cash payment for inventory																																												1,100,000	100,000
Annual patent and license prosecution/maintenance fee																																										15,000
Percent of company net profit									1.00%													50.00%
Percentage of revenue agreed to pay which is obtained from sublicensor																						50.00%
Contract termination description																					Our obligation to pay 50% of net profits or revenue described above with respect to these "retained" products will survive termination of the Channel Agreement.
Other expense									120,000	240,000	240,000	240,000
Payment for consulting services fee													500,000	20,000
Upfront payment received						5,000,000
Expected Additional milestone payments to be received							$ 32,500,000	$ 53,500,000