Organization	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
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 two late stage development programs address significant unmet medical needs in the area of thrombosis, or blood clots. Our lead compound, betrixaban, is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, designated Fast-Track novel oral once-daily inhibitor of Factor Xa. Our second 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 Factor Xa inhibitor. Our third compound, cerdulatinib, is being developed for hematologic, or blood, cancers and inflammatory disorders. 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. We also have an early stage program of highly selective Syk inhibitors, one of which is partnered with Ora, Inc., or Ora, and another early stage program to develop a drug in the field of hypercholesterolemia. Public Offerings 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 two late stage development programs address significant unmet medical needs in the area of thrombosis, or blood clots. Our lead compound, betrixaban, is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, designated Fast-Track novel oral once-daily inhibitor of Factor Xa. Our second 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 Factor Xa inhibitor. Our third compound, cerdulatinib, is being developed for hematologic, or blood, cancers and inflammatory disorders. 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. We also have an early stage program of highly selective Syk inhibitors, one of which is partnered with Ora, Inc., or Ora, and another early stage program to develop a drug in the field of hypercholesterolemia.

Public Offerings

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.