Consolidated Statements of Stockholders Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Polymed	CDE	Common Stock	Common Stock Polymed	Common Stock CDE	Additional Paid-in Capital	Additional Paid-in Capital Polymed	Additional Paid-in Capital CDE	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock	Total Athenex, Inc. Stockholders' Equity	Total Athenex, Inc. Stockholders' Equity Polymed	Total Athenex, Inc. Stockholders' Equity CDE	Non-Controlling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 27,835			$ 24			$ 86,064			$ (56,791)	$ 83	$ (1,545)	$ 27,835
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014				23,649,044								(422,328)
Issuance/sale of common stock	85,368			$ 13			85,355						85,368
Issuance/sale of common stock, shares				13,050,924
Issuance of common stock in connection with acquisition		$ 11,538	$ 14,861		$ 1	$ 1		$ 11,537	$ 14,860					$ 11,538	$ 14,861
Issuance of common stock in connection with acquisition, shares					1,538,464	1,651,264
Cost of equity raise	(13)						(13)						(13)
Stock awarded to directors and officers	2,560			$ 1			2,559						2,560
Stock awarded to directors and officers, shares				410,668
Stock-based compensation cost	8,932						8,932						8,932
Notes receivable from officers	(6,632)						(6,632)						(6,632)
Vesting of restricted stock	4,035						4,035						4,035
Stock options exercised	61						61						61
Stock options exercised, shares				29,760
Repurchase of stock options and warrants	(79)						(79)						(79)
Non-controlling interests	539															$ 539
Net loss	(50,655)									(50,600)			(50,600)			(55)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(306)										(306)		(306)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	98,044			$ 40			206,679			(107,391)	(223)	$ (1,545)	97,560			484
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2015				40,330,124								(422,328)
Issuance/sale of common stock	8,500			$ 1			8,499						8,500
Issuance/sale of common stock, shares				1,133,332
Issuance of common stock in connection with acquisition	2,843			$ 1			2,842						2,843
Issuance of common stock in connection with acquisition, shares				315,810
Stock-based compensation cost	10,977						10,977						10,977
Vesting of restricted stock	8,534						8,534						8,534
Vesting of restricted stock, shares				50,000
Repurchase of common stock, at cost	(5,861)											$ (5,861)	(5,861)
Repurchase of common stock, shares												(1,234,592)
Stock options and warrants exercised	50						50						50
Stock options and warrants exercised, shares				513,440
Non-controlling interests	569															569
Net loss	(87,906)									(87,715)			(87,715)			(191)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(1,081)										(1,081)		(1,081)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2016	34,669			$ 42			237,581			(195,106)	(1,304)	$ (7,406)	33,807			862
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016				42,342,706								(1,656,920)
Issuance/sale of common stock	64,194			$ 7			64,187						64,194
Issuance/sale of common stock, shares				6,900,000
Conversion of bonds	98,929			$ 9			98,920						98,929
Conversion of bonds, shares				8,522,728
Stock-based compensation cost	12,431						12,431						12,431
Stock-based compensation cost, shares				400,000
Research and development licensing fee satisfied with stock	6,250			$ 1			6,249						6,250
Research and development licensing fee satisfied with stock, shares				568,182
Vesting of restricted stock	$ 2,160						2,160						2,160
Vesting of restricted stock, shares				421,982
Stock options exercised, shares	404,698
Repurchase of common stock, shares												(16,000)
Stock options and warrants exercised	$ 2,278			$ 1			2,277						2,278
Stock options and warrants exercised, shares				738,764
Non-controlling interests	49															49
Net loss	(131,396)									(131,170)			(131,170)			(226)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,158										1,158		1,158
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 90,722			$ 60			$ 423,805			$ (326,276)	$ (146)	$ (7,406)	$ 90,037			$ 685
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017				59,894,362								(1,672,920)