Note 14 - Segment Reporting (Details) - Financial Information By Reportable Geographic Segment (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Research and development revenue	$ 2,027,000	$ 737,000	$ 16,288,000	$ 6,418,000
Product royalty revenue	13,595,000	13,890,000	37,271,000	36,521,000
Product sales revenue	5,378,000		10,994,000
Co-promotion revenue		730,000	61,000	3,253,000
Contract and collaboration revenue	163,000	139,000	490,000	433,000
Total revenues	21,163,000	15,496,000	65,104,000	46,625,000
Cost of goods sold	6,267,000		9,457,000
Gross profit	14,896,000	15,496,000	55,647,000	46,625,000
Research and development expenses	4,474,000	5,615,000	14,528,000	14,202,000
Depreciation and amortization	364,000	374,000	1,117,000	1,105,000
Other operating expenses	11,102,000	11,160,000	33,485,000	35,967,000
Income (loss) from operations	(1,044,000)	(1,653,000)	6,517,000	(4,649,000)
Interest income	20,000	68,000	63,000	118,000
Interest expense	(461,000)	(596,000)	(1,449,000)	(1,780,000)
Other non-operating expense, net	(49,000)	8,000	1,776,000	727,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	(1,534,000)	(2,173,000)	6,907,000	(5,584,000)
Capital expenditures	13,000	41,000	153,000	3,738,000
Property and equipment, net	1,278,000		1,278,000		1,540,000
Identifiable assets, net of intercompany loans
Identifiable assets, net of intercompany loans and investments	129,720,000		129,720,000		127,796,000
Americas [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Research and development revenue	2,027,000	665,000	16,288,000	5,878,000
Product royalty revenue	13,595,000	13,890,000	37,271,000	36,521,000
Product sales revenue	170,000		277,000
Co-promotion revenue		730,000	61,000	3,253,000
Contract and collaboration revenue	141,000	141,000	424,000	424,000
Total revenues	15,933,000	15,426,000	54,321,000	46,076,000
Cost of goods sold	3,389,000		3,465,000
Gross profit	12,544,000	15,426,000	50,856,000	46,076,000
Research and development expenses	2,467,000	2,239,000	6,446,000	6,250,000
Depreciation and amortization	309,000	122,000	543,000	366,000
Other operating expenses	8,893,000	9,677,000	27,368,000	32,475,000
Income (loss) from operations	875,000	3,388,000	16,499,000	6,985,000
Interest income	18,000	65,000	54,000	105,000
Other non-operating expense, net	6,000	34,000	(9,000)	67,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	899,000	3,487,000	16,544,000	7,157,000
Capital expenditures	9,000	41,000	40,000	293,000
Property and equipment, net	975,000		975,000		1,276,000
Identifiable assets, net of intercompany loans
Identifiable assets, net of intercompany loans and investments	97,915,000		97,915,000		87,731,000
Europe [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Research and development revenue		72,000		74,000
Product sales revenue	17,000		37,000
Contract and collaboration revenue	12,000	(15,000)	34,000	(30,000)
Total revenues	29,000	57,000	71,000	44,000
Cost of goods sold	4,000		12,000
Gross profit	25,000	57,000	59,000	44,000
Research and development expenses	1,088,000	2,543,000	4,307,000	5,405,000
Depreciation and amortization	47,000	242,000	548,000	709,000
Other operating expenses	1,646,000	1,161,000	3,374,000	2,576,000
Income (loss) from operations	(2,756,000)	(3,889,000)	(8,170,000)	(8,646,000)
Interest income	2,000	3,000	8,000	12,000
Interest expense	(417,000)	(556,000)	(1,326,000)	(1,656,000)
Other non-operating expense, net	95,000	165,000	(169,000)	82,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	(3,076,000)	(4,277,000)	(9,657,000)	(10,208,000)
Capital expenditures	4,000		110,000	3,445,000
Property and equipment, net	121,000		121,000		36,000
Identifiable assets, net of intercompany loans
Identifiable assets, net of intercompany loans and investments	13,420,000		13,420,000		25,465,000
Asia [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Research and development revenue				466,000
Product sales revenue	5,191,000		10,680,000
Contract and collaboration revenue	10,000	13,000	32,000	39,000
Total revenues	5,201,000	13,000	10,712,000	505,000
Cost of goods sold	2,874,000		5,980,000
Gross profit	2,327,000	13,000	4,732,000	505,000
Research and development expenses	919,000	833,000	3,775,000	2,547,000
Depreciation and amortization	8,000	10,000	26,000	30,000
Other operating expenses	563,000	322,000	2,743,000	916,000
Income (loss) from operations	837,000	(1,152,000)	(1,812,000)	(2,988,000)
Interest income			1,000	1,000
Interest expense	(44,000)	(40,000)	(123,000)	(124,000)
Other non-operating expense, net	(150,000)	(191,000)	1,954,000	578,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	643,000	(1,383,000)	20,000	(2,533,000)
Capital expenditures			3,000
Property and equipment, net	182,000		182,000		228,000
Identifiable assets, net of intercompany loans
Identifiable assets, net of intercompany loans and investments	$ 18,385,000		$ 18,385,000		$ 14,600,000