2.4.0.81010 - Disclosure - BASIS OF PRESENTATIONtruefalsefalse1false falsefalseD2013Q2YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001121702duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:001true 1us-gaap_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0BASIS OF PRESENTATION2false 2us-gaap_BusinessDescriptionAndBasisOfPresentationTextBlockus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION   The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared by Metabolix, Inc. (the “Company”) in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements have been condensed or omitted. The year-end consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. The consolidated financial statements, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations for the interim periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012.   The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for any future period or the entire fiscal year. These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012, which are contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 28, 2013.   With the exception of 2012 when the Company recognized $38,885 of deferred revenue from the terminated Telles joint venture, it has recorded net losses since its inception, including the six months ended June 30, 2013. The Company held unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and investments of $31,678 at June 30, 2013. The Company believes that these resources and the cash to be generated from existing grants and expected product sales will be sufficient to meet its projected operating requirements for at least the next twelve months. However, any significant costs incurred to establish a commercial biopolymer manufacturing facility will shorten this liquidity horizon and require that the Company seek additional funds in order to continue and advance its operations. The Company continues to face significant challenges and uncertainties and, as a result, the Company’s available capital resources may be consumed more rapidly than currently expected due to: (a) lower than expected sales of the Company’s new biopolymer products as a result of slow market adoption; (b) increases in capital costs and operating expenses related to the establishment and start-up of commercial manufacturing operations either on its own or with third parties for its biopolymer products; (c) changes the Company may make to the business that affect ongoing operating expenses; (d) changes the Company may make in its business strategy; (e) changes in the Company’s research and development spending plans; and (f) other items affecting the Company’s forecasted level of expenditures and use of cash resources. Accordingly, the Company will need to raise additional funds to support its operating and capital needs. The Company may attempt to obtain additional funding through public or private financing, collaborative arrangements with strategic partners, or through additional credit lines or other debt financing sources to increase the funds available to support operations. However, there is uncertainty regarding whether the Company can successfully execute these actions, and the Company can provide no assurance that it will. Furthermore, if the Company issues equity or debt securities to raise additional funds, its existing stockholders may experience dilution, and the new equity or debt securities may have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of its existing stockholders. If the Company raises additional funds through collaboration, licensing or other similar arrangements, it may be necessary to relinquish valuable rights to its potential products or proprietary technologies, or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to the Company. Without additional funds, the Company may be forced to delay, scale back or eliminate some of its sales and marketing efforts, research and development activities, or other operations and potentially delay product development in an effort to provide sufficient funds to continue its operations. If any of these events occurs, the Company’s ability to achieve its development and commercialization goals would be adversely affected.   </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaThe entire disclosure for the business description and basis of presentation concepts. Business description describes the nature and type of organization including but not limited to organizational structure as may be applicable to holding companies, parent and subsidiary relationships, business divisions, business units, business segments, affiliates and information about significant ownership of the reporting entity. Basis of presentation describes the underlying basis used to prepare the financial statements (for example, US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Other Comprehensive Basis of Accounting, IFRS).No definition available.false0BASIS OF PRESENTATIONfalseBASIS OF PRESENTATIONUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.metabolix.com/role/DisclosureBasisOfPresentation12