Income Taxes (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Increase in valuation allowance	$ 14,000,000	$ 4,500,000
Expired operating loss carryforwards		9,200,000
Uncertain tax position	0
Gross deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryovers	47,179,913	43,399,282
Stock compensation	4,455,016	2,222,537
R&D credit	5,004,252	3,598,910
Capitalized costs	5,155,127
Other	201,865	640,548
Total gross deferred tax assets	61,996,173	49,861,277
Gross deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation		(28,069)
Conversion option discount	(4,217,175)	(6,079,535)
Indefinite-lived intangible asset	(16,879,659)	(16,879,659)
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	(21,096,834)	(22,987,263)
Net deferred tax assets	40,899,339	26,874,014
Less: valuation allowance	(57,778,998)	(43,753,673)
Net deferred tax liabilities after valuation allowance	(16,879,659)	(16,879,659)
Pre tax loss	49,700,000
Domestic loss	23,700,000	$ 36,000,000
Foreign loss	$ 26,000,000
Reconciliation of income tax expense (benefit) at the statutory federal income tax rate and income taxes
Federal income tax expense at statutory rate (as a percent)	34.00%	34.00%
Permanent items (as a percent)	(3.30%)	(1.90%)
State income tax, net of federal benefit (as a percent)	5.80%	6.40%
Effect of rates different than statutory (as a percent)	(7.60%)
Adjustment to NOL and credit carryforwards (as a percent)		(16.3)
Tax credits (as a percent)	1.90%	2.00%
Change in valuation allowance (as a percent)	(30.80%)	(24.20%)
Federal
Net operating loss carryforwards	$ 116,800,000	$ 106,700,000
Federal | R&D
Tax credit carryforward	5,000,000	3,600,000
Expired operating loss carryforwards		2,100,000
State
Net operating loss carryforwards	111,500,000	101,500,000
Shape Pharmaceuticals
Increase in valuation allowance		2,000,000
8.00% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2019
Increase in valuation allowance		$ 6,600,000
U K Subsidiary
Increase in valuation allowance	$ 5,200,000