Organization	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 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 disorders 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 U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, designated Fast-Track novel oral once-daily inhibitor of Factor Xa, or fXa, is in a Phase 3 clinical trial for extended duration prophylaxis, or preventive treatment, of a form of thrombosis known as venous thromboembolism, or VTE, in acute medically ill patients for 35 days of in-hospital and post-discharge use. Our second Phase 3 compound, Andexanet alfa, an FDA-designated breakthrough therapy and orphan drug, is a recombinant protein designed to reverse anticoagulant activity in patients treated with a fXa inhibitor. Our third product candidate, Cerdulatinib, is an orally available dual kinase inhibitor that inhibits spleen tyrosine kinase, or Syk, and janus kinases, or JAK, enzymes that regulate important signaling pathways. Cerdulatinib is being developed for hematologic, or blood, cancers and inflammatory disorders. We also have a program of highly selective Syk inhibitors, one of which is partnered with Ora, Inc., or Ora. Initial Public and Other Offerings In May 2013, we closed our initial public offering (“IPO”) of 9,686,171 shares of our common stock, which included 1,263,413 shares of common stock issued pursuant to the over-allotment option granted to our underwriters. The public offering price of the shares sold in the offering was $14.50 per share. The total proceeds from the offering to us, net of underwriting discounts and commissions of approximately $9.4 million, were approximately $131.0 million. After deducting offering expenses payable by us of approximately $5.2 million, net proceeds to us were $125.8 million. Upon the closing of the IPO, all shares of convertible preferred stock then outstanding converted into 24,026,797 shares of common stock. In addition, all of our convertible preferred stock warrants were converted into warrants to purchase common stock. In October 2013, we completed a follow-on offering of 6,366,513 shares of our common stock, which included 1,908,803 shares of common stock sold by certain existing stockholders, at a public offering price of $23.75 per share. In November 2013, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option to purchase an additional 954,976 shares from us at the public offering price. The total proceeds from the offering and over-allotment option, net of underwriting discounts and commissions of approximately $7.7 million, were approximately $120.8 million. After deducting offering expenses of approximately $862,000, net proceeds to us were $119.9 million. In October 2014, we completed an underwritten public offering of 6,200,000 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $26.00 per share. In addition, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option to purchase an additional 930,000 shares from us at the public offering price of $26.00. The net proceeds from the offering to us including the over-allotment option, net of underwriting discounts and commissions of approximately $10.2 million were approximately $175.2 million. After deducting offering expenses of approximately $564,000, net proceeds to us were $174.6 million. 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. In December 2015, we completed an underwritten public offering of 3,593,750 shares of our Common Stock, which included 468,750 shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the over-allotment option granted to our underwriters, at a public offering price of $48.00 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 $765,000 were approximately $162.7 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 disorders 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 U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, designated Fast-Track novel oral once-daily inhibitor of Factor Xa, or fXa, is in a Phase 3 clinical trial for extended duration prophylaxis, or preventive treatment, of a form of thrombosis known as venous thromboembolism, or VTE, in acute medically ill patients for 35 days of in-hospital and post-discharge use. Our second Phase 3 compound, Andexanet alfa, an FDA-designated breakthrough therapy and orphan drug, is a recombinant protein designed to reverse anticoagulant activity in patients treated with a fXa inhibitor. Our third product candidate, Cerdulatinib, is an orally available dual kinase inhibitor that inhibits spleen tyrosine kinase, or Syk, and janus kinases, or JAK, enzymes that regulate important signaling pathways. Cerdulatinib is being developed for hematologic, or blood, cancers and inflammatory disorders. We also have a program of highly selective Syk inhibitors, one of which is partnered with Ora, Inc., or Ora.

Initial Public and Other Offerings

In May 2013, we closed our initial public offering (“IPO”) of 9,686,171 shares of our common stock, which included 1,263,413 shares of common stock issued pursuant to the over-allotment option granted to our underwriters. The public offering price of the shares sold in the offering was $14.50 per share. The total proceeds from the offering to us, net of underwriting discounts and commissions of approximately $9.4 million, were approximately $131.0 million. After deducting offering expenses payable by us of approximately $5.2 million, net proceeds to us were $125.8 million. Upon the closing of the IPO, all shares of convertible preferred stock then outstanding converted into 24,026,797 shares of common stock. In addition, all of our convertible preferred stock warrants were converted into warrants to purchase common stock.

In October 2013, we completed a follow-on offering of 6,366,513 shares of our common stock, which included 1,908,803 shares of common stock sold by certain existing stockholders, at a public offering price of $23.75 per share. In November 2013, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option to purchase an additional 954,976 shares from us at the public offering price. The total proceeds from the offering and over-allotment option, net of underwriting discounts and commissions of approximately $7.7 million, were approximately $120.8 million. After deducting offering expenses of approximately $862,000, net proceeds to us were $119.9 million.

In October 2014, we completed an underwritten public offering of 6,200,000 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $26.00 per share. In addition, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option to purchase an additional 930,000 shares from us at the public offering price of $26.00. The net proceeds from the offering to us including the over-allotment option, net of underwriting discounts and commissions of approximately $10.2 million were approximately $175.2 million. After deducting offering expenses of approximately $564,000, net proceeds to us were $174.6 million.

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.

In December 2015, we completed an underwritten public offering of 3,593,750 shares of our Common Stock, which included 468,750 shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the over-allotment option granted to our underwriters, at a public offering price of $48.00 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 $765,000 were approximately $162.7 million.