Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		33 Months Ended		0 Months Ended			0 Months Ended			0 Months Ended		0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 Chief Executive Officer	Sep. 30, 2013 Chief Executive Officer	Sep. 30, 2014 Chief Executive Officer	Sep. 30, 2013 Chief Executive Officer	Oct. 31, 2013 Ziopharm Oncology, Inc.	Sep. 30, 2014 Ziopharm Oncology, Inc.	Dec. 17, 2013 Synthetic Biologics, Inc.	Sep. 30, 2014 Synthetic Biologics, Inc.	Dec. 17, 2013 Synthetic Biologics, Inc.	Sep. 30, 2013 Oragenics, Inc.	Sep. 30, 2014 Oragenics, Inc.	Sep. 30, 2013 Oragenics, Inc.	Nov. 20, 2013 Oragenics, Inc. Share Purchase Rights Plan	Nov. 20, 2013 Oragenics, Inc. Share Purchase Rights Plan	Oct. 01, 2013 Fibrocell Science, Inc.	Oct. 01, 2013 Fibrocell Science, Inc.	Sep. 30, 2014 Third Security	Sep. 30, 2013 Third Security	Sep. 30, 2014 Third Security	Sep. 30, 2013 Third Security	Sep. 30, 2014 Related party of Trans Ova Genetics, LC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Total amount of expenses reimbursed																				$ 85	$ 137	$ 173	$ 385
Compensation expense	1,485	1,163		508	388	1,485	1,163
Common stock purchase commitment									50,000
Shares of common stock purchased from collaborative partners								30,982
Purchase commitment									19,018
Maximum percentage of shares of future securities offerings of collaborative partners to which the entity is entitled to purchase											19.99%			30.00%
Additional shares of collaborative partner to which the entity is entitled to purchase on the open market											10.00%
Shares of common stock purchased from collaborative partners										2,000,000			1,300,000			1,100,000		2,439,024
Price per share of common shares												$ 1.00			$ 3.00		$ 2.50		$ 4.10
Related party receivables	11,673		5,285																					1,213
Related party payables	$ 1,159		$ 1,605																					$ 1,055