Debt (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Payment towards debt obligations			$ 3,219,000	$ 2,793,000
Current portion of long-term debt, net	$ 5,104,000		5,104,000		$ 4,607,000
Long-term debt, net	15,798,000		15,798,000		19,558,000
Interest expense recognized related to loan	657,000	$ 827,000	2,126,000	2,537,000
BioPharma-II
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest expense recognized related to loan	700,000	$ 800,000	2,100,000	2,500,000
Curis Royalty | Credit agreement with BioPharma-II
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal loan amount to Curis Royalty given by BioPharma under credit agreement						$ 30,000,000
Interest rate on loan to Curis Royalty given by BioPharma under credit agreement						12.25%
Percentage equal to the price of the outstanding principal of the loan that may be prepaid						105.00%
Payment towards debt obligations			5,300,000	5,300,000
Current portion of long-term debt, net	5,100,000		5,100,000		4,600,000
Long-term debt, net	$ 15,800,000		15,800,000		19,600,000
Accrued interest on loan amount to Curis Royalty given by BioPharma under credit agreement			200,000		$ 300,000
Curis Royalty | Credit agreement with BioPharma-II | Principal portion
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Payment towards debt obligations			$ 3,200,000	$ 2,800,000