2.2.0.7 false Contingencies 0215 - Disclosure - Contingencies true false false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 2 Contingencies [Abstract] 0 mdco_ContingenciesAbstract mdco false na duration Contingencies. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Contingencies. false 3 Contingencies 1 us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureTextBlock us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0   <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><b>15. Contingencies</b> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     The Company may be, from time to time, a party to various disputes and claims arising from normal business activities. The Company accrues for loss contingencies when information available indicates that it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or liquidity. However, adjustments, if any, to the Company’s estimates could be material to operating results for the periods in which adjustments to the liability are recorded. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) rejected the Company’s application under the Hatch-Waxman Act for an extension of the term of U.S. Patent No. 5,196,404 (‘404 patent), the principal U.S. patent that covers Angiomax (the patent term extension application filing), because in the PTO’s view the application was not timely filed. The Company filed suit against the PTO, the FDA and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeking to set aside the denial of the patent term extension application filing. On August 3, 2010, the court granted the Company’s motion for summary judgment and ordered the PTO to consider the patent term extension application timely filed. On August 5, 2010, the PTO granted an interim extension of the term of the ‘404 patent until August 13, 2011. The period for the government to appeal the court’s August 3, 2010 decision expired on October 5, 2010 without government appeal. The PTO has sent the patent term extension application to the FDA for a determination on the length of the extension of the ‘404 patent. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     On August 19, 2010, APP Pharmaceuticals, LLC (APP) filed a motion to intervene for the purpose of appeal in the Company’s case against the PTO, the FDA and HHS. On September 13, 2010, the court issued an order denying APP’s motion to intervene. On September 1, 2010, as amended on September 17, 2010, APP filed a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit of the district court’s August 3<sup style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">, </sup>2010 and September 13, 2010 orders (and all related and underlying orders). On October 5, 2010, the Company filed a motion to dismiss APP’s appeal and the Company is awaiting a decision by the court. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     The Company has entered into agreements with the law firms involved in the patent term extension application filing that suspend the statute of limitations on any claims against them for failing to make a timely filing. The Company has entered into a similar agreement with Biogen Idec, one of its licensors for Angiomax, relating to any claims, including claims for damages and/or license termination, that Biogen Idec may bring relating to the patent term extension application filing. Such claims by Biogen Idec could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or business. The Company is currently in discussions with the law firms involved in the patent term extension application filing and with Biogen Idec and Health Research Inc. with respect to the possible resolution of potential claims among the parties. </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock Includes disclosure of commitments and contingencies. This element may be used as a single block of text to encapsulate the entire disclosure including data and tables. 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