Segment information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) Company Segment BusinessUnit	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of independent public companies | Company			2
Number of business segments | Segment			2
Income (loss) from operations	$ (10,947)	$ 14,100	$ (6,956)	$ (7,419)
Total assets	1,056,466		1,056,466		$ 1,037,484
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External revenue	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External revenue	101,487	126,112	212,489	189,745
Income (loss) from operations	(13,620)	21,452	(5,059)	(6,858)
Total assets	1,056,466	943,323	1,056,466	943,323
Biodefense [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External revenue	1,844	2,130	$ 2,418	2,234
Biodefense [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of business units | BusinessUnit			3
External revenue	91,254	119,022	$ 194,223	171,169
Income (loss) from operations	(1,323)	41,694	21,693	23,198
Total assets	945,058	820,503	945,058	820,503
Aptevo [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External revenue	(1,844)	(2,130)	$ (2,418)	(2,234)
Aptevo [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of business units | BusinessUnit			1
External revenue	10,233	7,090	$ 18,266	18,576
Income (loss) from operations	(12,297)	(20,242)	(26,752)	(30,056)
Total assets	$ 111,408	$ 122,820	$ 111,408	$ 122,820