Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues:
Product sales	$ 202,409	$ 251,381	$ 217,172
Contracts and grants	70,975	34,790	17,614
Total revenues	273,384	286,171	234,786
Operating expense:
Cost of product sales	42,171	47,114	46,262
Research and development	124,832	89,295	74,588
Selling, general and administrative	74,282	76,205	73,786
Income from operations	32,099	73,557	40,150
Other income (expense):
Interest income	105	832	1,418
Interest expense	0	0	(7)
Other income (expense), net	(261)	(1,023)	(50)
Total other income (expense)	(156)	(191)	1,361
Income before provision for income taxes	31,943	73,366	41,511
Provision for income taxes	15,830	26,182	14,966
Net income	16,113	47,184	26,545
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(6,906)	(4,514)	(4,599)
Net income attributable to Emergent BioSolutions Inc.	$ 23,019	$ 51,698	$ 31,144
Earnings per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.64	$ 1.59	$ 0.99
Earnings per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.65	$ 1.63	$ 1.02
Weighted-average number of shares - basic (in shares)	35,658,907	31,782,286	30,444,485
Weighted-average number of shares - diluted (shares)	36,206,052	32,539,500	31,375,305