Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues:
Product sales	$ 215,879	$ 202,409	$ 251,381
Contracts and grants	66,009	70,975	34,790
Total revenues	281,888	273,384	286,171
Operating expenses:
Cost of product sales	46,077	42,171	47,114
Research and development	120,226	124,832	89,295
Selling, general and administrative	76,018	74,282	76,205
Impairment of in-process research and development	9,600	0	0
Income from operations	29,967	32,099	73,557
Other income (expense):
Interest income	134	105	832
Interest expense	(6)	0	0
Other income (expense), net	1,970	(261)	(1,023)
Total other income (expense)	2,098	(156)	(191)
Income before provision for income taxes	32,065	31,943	73,366
Provision for income taxes	13,922	15,830	26,182
Net income	18,143	16,113	47,184
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	5,381	6,906	4,514
Net income attributable to Emergent BioSolutions Inc.	$ 23,524	$ 23,019	$ 51,698
Earnings per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.65	$ 0.65	$ 1.63
Earnings per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.65	$ 0.64	$ 1.59
Weighted-average number of shares - basic (in shares)	36,080,495	35,658,907	31,782,286
Weighted-average number of shares - diluted (in shares)	36,420,662	36,206,052	32,539,500