Organization	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization	1. Organization Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company” or “we” or “our” or “us”) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics in the areas of thrombosis, other hematologic diseases and inflammation for patients who currently have limited or no approved treatment options. We were incorporated in September 2003 in Delaware. Our headquarters and operations are located in South San Francisco, California and we operate in one segment. Our Phase 3 programs address significant unmet medical needs in the area of thrombosis, or blood clots. Betrixaban, a Food and Drug Administration, or FDA-designated Fast-Track novel oral once-daily inhibitor of Factor Xa is in a Phase 3 clinical trial for extended duration prophylaxis, or preventive treatment, of a form of thrombosis known as venous thromboembolism, in acute medically ill patients for 35 days of in-hospital and post-discharge use. Our second Phase 3 compound, Andexanet alfa, a FDA-designated breakthrough therapy and orphan drug, is a recombinant protein designed to reverse anticoagulant activity in patients treated with a Factor Xa inhibitor. Andexanet alfa has potential indications to reverse anticoagulant activity in patients taking a direct or indirect Factor Xa inhibitor who suffer a major bleeding episode or require emergency surgery. Our third product candidate Cerdulatinib, is an orally available kinase inhibitor that inhibits spleen tyrosine kinase, or Syk, and janus kinases, or JAK, enzymes that regulate important signaling pathways and is being developed for hematologic, or blood, cancers and inflammatory disorders. We are currently in a Phase 1/2a proof-of-concept study with Cerdulatinib in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In the Phase 1 dose escalation portion of the study, we have yet to reach the maximum tolerated dose and enrollment continues.We have also partnered with Ora, Inc. or Ora for the development of a proprietary Syk specific inhibitor. In March 2015, we completed an underwritten public offering of 2,870,000 shares of our Common Stock, which included 374,348 shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the over-allotment option granted to our underwriters, at a public offering price of $40.00 per share. The net proceeds from the offering to us including the over-allotment option, net of underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses of approximately $358,000, were approximately $108.4 million.

1. Organization

Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company” or “we” or “our” or “us”) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics in the areas of thrombosis, other hematologic diseases and inflammation for patients who currently have limited or no approved treatment options. We were incorporated in September 2003 in Delaware. Our headquarters and operations are located in South San Francisco, California and we operate in one segment.

Our Phase 3 programs address significant unmet medical needs in the area of thrombosis, or blood clots. Betrixaban, a Food and Drug Administration, or FDA-designated Fast-Track novel oral once-daily inhibitor of Factor Xa is in a Phase 3 clinical trial for extended duration prophylaxis, or preventive treatment, of a form of thrombosis known as venous thromboembolism, in acute medically ill patients for 35 days of in-hospital and post-discharge use. Our second Phase 3 compound, Andexanet alfa, a FDA-designated breakthrough therapy and orphan drug, is a recombinant protein designed to reverse anticoagulant activity in patients treated with a Factor Xa inhibitor. Andexanet alfa has potential indications to reverse anticoagulant activity in patients taking a direct or indirect Factor Xa inhibitor who suffer a major bleeding episode or require emergency surgery. Our third product candidate Cerdulatinib, is an orally available kinase inhibitor that inhibits spleen tyrosine kinase, or Syk, and janus kinases, or JAK, enzymes that regulate important signaling pathways and is being developed for hematologic, or blood, cancers and inflammatory disorders. We are currently in a Phase 1/2a proof-of-concept study with Cerdulatinib in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In the Phase 1 dose escalation portion of the study, we have yet to reach the maximum tolerated dose and enrollment continues.We have also partnered with Ora, Inc. or Ora for the development of a proprietary Syk specific inhibitor.

In March 2015, we completed an underwritten public offering of 2,870,000 shares of our Common Stock, which included 374,348 shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the over-allotment option granted to our underwriters, at a public offering price of $40.00 per share. The net proceeds from the offering to us including the over-allotment option, net of underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses of approximately $358,000, were approximately $108.4 million.