Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	2. Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Endocyte, Inc. and its subsidiaries and all intercompany amounts have been eliminated as of December 31, 2014 and 2015. The accompanying financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 include only the accounts of Endocyte, Inc. as the Company dissolved Endocyte Europe GmbH and Endocyte Europe B.V. in the fourth quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, respectively. There were no intercompany transactions in the year ended December 31, 2016 and no intercompany balances as of December 31, 2016. The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Subsequent events have been evaluated through the date of issuance, which is the same as the date this Form 10-K is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual amounts may differ from those estimates. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers cash and all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist primarily of FDIC insured deposits with multiple banks and money market instruments that are maintained by an investment manager. Investments Investments consist primarily of investments in U.S. Treasuries, U.S. Government agency obligations and corporate debt securities, which could also include commercial paper, that are maintained by an investment manager. U.S. government agency investments relate to investments in Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Federal Home Loan Bank. Management determines the appropriate classification of marketable securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such classification as of each balance sheet date. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income. Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary on available-for-sale securities are included in other income. The Company considers and accounts for other-than-temporary impairments according to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 320, Investments — Debt and Equity Securities (“ASC 320”). The cost of securities sold is based on the specific-identification method. Discounts and premiums on debt securities are amortized to interest income and expense over the term of the security. Property and Equipment Property and equipment are stated at cost and are being depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives, which range from three to seven years. Licenses and Patents Licenses and patent costs are expensed as incurred as the Company does not believe there is an alternate future use for the costs. Licenses are classified as research and development expenses and patents are classified as general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. Long-Lived Assets The Company reviews long-lived assets, including property and equipment, for impairment when events or changes in business conditions indicate that their full carrying value may not be fully recoverable. Leases The Company evaluates all leases to determine whether they should be accounted for as operating or capital leases. Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenues from license and collaboration agreements when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the fee is fixed or determinable, and there is reasonable assurance that the related amounts are collectible in accordance with ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”). The Company’s license and collaboration agreements may contain multiple elements, including grants of licenses to intellectual property rights, agreement to provide research and development services and other deliverables. The deliverables under such arrangements are evaluated under ASC Subtopic 605-25, Multiple-Element Arrangements (“ASC 605-25”). Under ASC 605-25, each required deliverable is evaluated to determine whether it qualifies as a separate unit of accounting based on whether the deliverable has “stand-alone value” to the customer. The arrangement’s consideration that is fixed or determinable, excluding contingent milestone payments, is then allocated to each separate unit of accounting based on the relative selling price of each deliverable. In general, the consideration allocated to each unit of accounting is recognized as the related goods or services are delivered, limited to the consideration that is not contingent upon future deliverables. Upfront payments for licensing the Company’s intellectual property are evaluated to determine if the licensee can obtain stand-alone value from the license separate from the value of the research and development services and other deliverables in the arrangement to be provided by the Company. If at the inception of an arrangement the Company determines that the license does not have stand-alone value separate from the research and development services or other deliverables, the license, services and other deliverables are combined as one unit of account and upfront payments are recorded as deferred revenue on the balance sheet and are recognized in a manner consistent with the final deliverable. Subsequent to the inception of an arrangement, the Company evaluates the remaining deliverables for separation as items in the arrangement are delivered. When stand-alone value is identified, the related consideration is recorded as revenue in the period in which the license or other intellectual property rights are delivered. In those circumstances where research and development services or other deliverables are combined with the license, and multiple services are being performed such that a common output measure to determine a pattern of performance cannot be discerned, the Company recognizes amounts received on a straight line basis over the performance period. Such amounts are recorded as collaboration revenue. Any subsequent reimbursement payments, which are contingent upon the Company’s future research and development expenditures, will be recorded as collaboration revenue and will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the performance period using the cumulative catch up method. The costs associated with these activities are reflected as a component of research and development expense in the statements of operations in the period incurred. In the event of an early termination of a collaboration agreement, any deferred revenue is recognized in the period in which all obligations of the Company under the agreement have been fulfilled. Milestone payments under collaborative arrangements are triggered either by the results of the Company’s research and development efforts, achievement of regulatory goals or by specified sales results by a third-party collaborator. Milestones related to the Company’s development-based activities may include initiation of various phases of clinical trials and applications and acceptance for product approvals by regulatory agencies. Due to the uncertainty involved in meeting these development-based milestones, the determination is made at the inception of the collaboration agreement whether the development-based milestones are considered to be substantive (i.e. not just achieved through passage of time). In addition, the amounts of the payments assigned thereto are considered to be commensurate with the enhancement of the value of the delivered intellectual property as a result of the Company’s performance. Because the Company’s involvement is necessary to the achievement of development-based milestones, the Company would account for development-based milestones as revenue upon achievement of the substantive milestone events. Milestones related to sales-based activities may be triggered upon events such as first commercial sale of a product or when sales first achieve a defined level. Since these sales-based milestones would be achieved after the completion of the Company’s development activities, the Company would account for the sales-based milestones in the same manner as royalties, with revenue recognized upon achievement of the milestone. Royalties based on reported sales of licensed products will be recognized based on contract terms when reported sales are reliably measurable and collectability is reasonably assured. To date, none of the Company’s products have been approved and therefore the Company has not earned any royalty revenue from product sales. In territories where the Company and a collaborator may share profit, the revenue would be recorded in the period earned. The Company often is required to make estimates regarding drug development and commercialization timelines for compounds being developed pursuant to a collaboration agreement. Because the drug development process is lengthy and the Company’s collaboration agreements typically cover activities over several years, this approach often results in the deferral of significant amounts of revenue into future periods. In addition, because of the many risks and uncertainties associated with the development of drug candidates, the Company’s estimates regarding the period of performance may change in the future. Any change in the Company’s estimates or a termination of the arrangement could result in substantial changes to the period over which the revenues are recognized. Research and Development Expenses Research and development expenses represent costs associated with the ongoing development of SMDCs and companion imaging agents and include salaries and employee benefits, supplies, facility costs related to research activities, and expenses for clinical trials. The Company records accruals for clinical trial expenses based on the estimated amount of work completed. The Company monitors patient enrollment levels and related activities to the extent possible through internal reviews, correspondence, and discussions with research organizations. In the event that a clinical trial is terminated early, the Company records, in the period of termination, an accrual for the estimated remaining costs to complete the trial. Upfront payments made in connection with business collaborations and research and development arrangements are evaluated under ASC Subtopic 730-20, Research and Development Arrangements. Upfront payments made in connection with business development collaborations are expensed as research and development costs, as the assets acquired do not have alternative future use. Amounts related to future research and development are capitalized as prepaid research and development and are expensed over the service period based upon the level of services provided. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had approximately $1.0 million of capitalized research and development costs included in prepaid expenses. Stock-Based Compensation The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation pursuant to ASC Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”), which requires the recognition of the fair value, or calculated value for nonpublic entities, of stock-based compensation in net income. Stock-based compensation consists of stock options, which are granted at exercise prices at or above the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the dates of grant, service-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance-based RSUs (“PRSUs”), and shares available for purchase under the Company’s 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). For PRSUs issued by the Company, stock-based compensation expense would be recognized if and when the Company determines that it is probable that the performance conditions will be achieved. For RSUs issued by the Company, stock-based compensation expense is recognized ratably over the service period. The Company recognizes compensation cost based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718. Net Income (Loss) Per Share The Company calculates basic net income (loss) per share based on the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares. The Company calculates diluted net income (loss) per share based on the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares plus the effect of dilutive securities. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method in accordance with the provision of ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). ASC 740 requires recognition of deferred taxes to provide for temporary differences between financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred taxes are measured using enacted tax rates expected to be in effect in a year in which the basis difference is expected to reverse. The Company continues to record a valuation allowance for the full amount of deferred tax assets, which would otherwise be recorded for tax benefits relating to operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, as realization of such deferred tax assets cannot be determined to be more likely than not. The Company accounts for uncertain income tax positions recognized in the financial statements in accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2009-06. This guidance prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and provides guidance on derecognition of tax benefits, classification on the balance sheet, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. Segment Information Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise engaging in business activities for which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company had performed clinical trials globally and established a subsidiary in The Netherlands to assist in the administration of filing applications in Europe and a subsidiary in Switzerland for commercial pre-launch activities in Europe. The applications filed in Europe were withdrawn in May 2014 and the pre-launch activities in Europe ceased. The Company dissolved Endocyte Europe GmbH in the fourth quarter of 2015 and dissolved Endocyte Europe B.V. in the first quarter of 2016. All long-lived assets are held in the U.S. The Company views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Endocyte, Inc. and its subsidiaries and all intercompany amounts have been eliminated as of December 31, 2014 and 2015. The accompanying financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 include only the accounts of Endocyte, Inc. as the Company dissolved Endocyte Europe GmbH and Endocyte Europe B.V. in the fourth quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, respectively. There were no intercompany transactions in the year ended December 31, 2016 and no intercompany balances as of December 31, 2016. The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Subsequent events have been evaluated through the date of issuance, which is the same as the date this Form 10-K is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual amounts may differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers cash and all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist primarily of FDIC insured deposits with multiple banks and money market instruments that are maintained by an investment manager.

Investments

Investments consist primarily of investments in U.S. Treasuries, U.S. Government agency obligations and corporate debt securities, which could also include commercial paper, that are maintained by an investment manager. U.S. government agency investments relate to investments in Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Federal Home Loan Bank. Management determines the appropriate classification of marketable securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such classification as of each balance sheet date. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income. Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary on available-for-sale securities are included in other income. The Company considers and accounts for other-than-temporary impairments according to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 320, Investments — Debt and Equity Securities (“ASC 320”). The cost of securities sold is based on the specific-identification method. Discounts and premiums on debt securities are amortized to interest income and expense over the term of the security.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost and are being depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives, which range from three to seven years.

Licenses and Patents

Licenses and patent costs are expensed as incurred as the Company does not believe there is an alternate future use for the costs. Licenses are classified as research and development expenses and patents are classified as general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews long-lived assets, including property and equipment, for impairment when events or changes in business conditions indicate that their full carrying value may not be fully recoverable.

Leases

The Company evaluates all leases to determine whether they should be accounted for as operating or capital leases.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenues from license and collaboration agreements when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the fee is fixed or determinable, and there is reasonable assurance that the related amounts are collectible in accordance with ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”). The Company’s license and collaboration agreements may contain multiple elements, including grants of licenses to intellectual property rights, agreement to provide research and development services and other deliverables. The deliverables under such arrangements are evaluated under ASC Subtopic 605-25, Multiple-Element Arrangements (“ASC 605-25”). Under ASC 605-25, each required deliverable is evaluated to determine whether it qualifies as a separate unit of accounting based on whether the deliverable has “stand-alone value” to the customer. The arrangement’s consideration that is fixed or determinable, excluding contingent milestone payments, is then allocated to each separate unit of accounting based on the relative selling price of each deliverable. In general, the consideration allocated to each unit of accounting is recognized as the related goods or services are delivered, limited to the consideration that is not contingent upon future deliverables.

Upfront payments for licensing the Company’s intellectual property are evaluated to determine if the licensee can obtain stand-alone value from the license separate from the value of the research and development services and other deliverables in the arrangement to be provided by the Company. If at the inception of an arrangement the Company determines that the license does not have stand-alone value separate from the research and development services or other deliverables, the license, services and other deliverables are combined as one unit of account and upfront payments are recorded as deferred revenue on the balance sheet and are recognized in a manner consistent with the final deliverable. Subsequent to the inception of an arrangement, the Company evaluates the remaining deliverables for separation as items in the arrangement are delivered. When stand-alone value is identified, the related consideration is recorded as revenue in the period in which the license or other intellectual property rights are delivered.

In those circumstances where research and development services or other deliverables are combined with the license, and multiple services are being performed such that a common output measure to determine a pattern of performance cannot be discerned, the Company recognizes amounts received on a straight line basis over the performance period. Such amounts are recorded as collaboration revenue. Any subsequent reimbursement payments, which are contingent upon the Company’s future research and development expenditures, will be recorded as collaboration revenue and will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the performance period using the cumulative catch up method. The costs associated with these activities are reflected as a component of research and development expense in the statements of operations in the period incurred. In the event of an early termination of a collaboration agreement, any deferred revenue is recognized in the period in which all obligations of the Company under the agreement have been fulfilled.

Milestone payments under collaborative arrangements are triggered either by the results of the Company’s research and development efforts, achievement of regulatory goals or by specified sales results by a third-party collaborator. Milestones related to the Company’s development-based activities may include initiation of various phases of clinical trials and applications and acceptance for product approvals by regulatory agencies. Due to the uncertainty involved in meeting these development-based milestones, the determination is made at the inception of the collaboration agreement whether the development-based milestones are considered to be substantive (i.e. not just achieved through passage of time). In addition, the amounts of the payments assigned thereto are considered to be commensurate with the enhancement of the value of the delivered intellectual property as a result of the Company’s performance. Because the Company’s involvement is necessary to the achievement of development-based milestones, the Company would account for development-based milestones as revenue upon achievement of the substantive milestone events. Milestones related to sales-based activities may be triggered upon events such as first commercial sale of a product or when sales first achieve a defined level. Since these sales-based milestones would be achieved after the completion of the Company’s development activities, the Company would account for the sales-based milestones in the same manner as royalties, with revenue recognized upon achievement of the milestone. Royalties based on reported sales of licensed products will be recognized based on contract terms when reported sales are reliably measurable and collectability is reasonably assured. To date, none of the Company’s products have been approved and therefore the Company has not earned any royalty revenue from product sales. In territories where the Company and a collaborator may share profit, the revenue would be recorded in the period earned.

The Company often is required to make estimates regarding drug development and commercialization timelines for compounds being developed pursuant to a collaboration agreement. Because the drug development process is lengthy and the Company’s collaboration agreements typically cover activities over several years, this approach often results in the deferral of significant amounts of revenue into future periods. In addition, because of the many risks and uncertainties associated with the development of drug candidates, the Company’s estimates regarding the period of performance may change in the future. Any change in the Company’s estimates or a termination of the arrangement could result in substantial changes to the period over which the revenues are recognized.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses represent costs associated with the ongoing development of SMDCs and companion imaging agents and include salaries and employee benefits, supplies, facility costs related to research activities, and expenses for clinical trials. The Company records accruals for clinical trial expenses based on the estimated amount of work completed. The Company monitors patient enrollment levels and related activities to the extent possible through internal reviews, correspondence, and discussions with research organizations. In the event that a clinical trial is terminated early, the Company records, in the period of termination, an accrual for the estimated remaining costs to complete the trial.

Upfront payments made in connection with business collaborations and research and development arrangements are evaluated under ASC Subtopic 730-20, Research and Development Arrangements. Upfront payments made in connection with business development collaborations are expensed as research and development costs, as the assets acquired do not have alternative future use. Amounts related to future research and development are capitalized as prepaid research and development and are expensed over the service period based upon the level of services provided. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had approximately $1.0 million of capitalized research and development costs included in prepaid expenses.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation pursuant to ASC Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”), which requires the recognition of the fair value, or calculated value for nonpublic entities, of stock-based compensation in net income. Stock-based compensation consists of stock options, which are granted at exercise prices at or above the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the dates of grant, service-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance-based RSUs (“PRSUs”), and shares available for purchase under the Company’s 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). For PRSUs issued by the Company, stock-based compensation expense would be recognized if and when the Company determines that it is probable that the performance conditions will be achieved. For RSUs issued by the Company, stock-based compensation expense is recognized ratably over the service period. The Company recognizes compensation cost based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718.

Net Income (Loss) Per Share

The Company calculates basic net income (loss) per share based on the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares. The Company calculates diluted net income (loss) per share based on the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares plus the effect of dilutive securities.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method in accordance with the provision of ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). ASC 740 requires recognition of deferred taxes to provide for temporary differences between financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred taxes are measured using enacted tax rates expected to be in effect in a year in which the basis difference is expected to reverse. The Company continues to record a valuation allowance for the full amount of deferred tax assets, which would otherwise be recorded for tax benefits relating to operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, as realization of such deferred tax assets cannot be determined to be more likely than not.

The Company accounts for uncertain income tax positions recognized in the financial statements in accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2009-06. This guidance prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and provides guidance on derecognition of tax benefits, classification on the balance sheet, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition.

Segment Information

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise engaging in business activities for which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company had performed clinical trials globally and established a subsidiary in The Netherlands to assist in the administration of filing applications in Europe and a subsidiary in Switzerland for commercial pre-launch activities in Europe. The applications filed in Europe were withdrawn in May 2014 and the pre-launch activities in Europe ceased. The Company dissolved Endocyte Europe GmbH in the fourth quarter of 2015 and dissolved Endocyte Europe B.V. in the first quarter of 2016. All long-lived assets are held in the U.S. The Company views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment.