Condensed consolidated and combined balance sheets (Unaudited) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents (Note 4)	$ 15,869,234	$ 11,006,392
Short-term investments	24,134,541	2,820,600
Accounts and other amounts receivable	76,243	27,946
Prepayments and deposits	283,853	63,975
Deferred offering costs		1,377,438
Total current assets	40,363,871	15,296,351
Property and equipment	97,581	75,465
Long-term investments	8,140,052
Other	13,864	277,290
Total assets	48,615,368	15,649,106
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	4,571,782	2,350,660
Current portion of bank loan (Note 5)	0	250,000
Other		19,445
Total current liabilities	4,571,782	2,620,105
Warrant liabilities (Note 8)	63,708	221,320
Redemption option on preferred stock (Note 3)		800,206
Accrued tax payable on preferred stock (Note 3)		1,797,412
Bank loan (Note 5)	0	2,036,489
Other		8,560
Total liabilities	4,635,490	7,484,092
Redeemable convertible preferred stock (Note 3)
Redeemable convertible preferred stock		73,858,722
Preferred stock (Note 3)
Additional paid-in capital	125,297,630
Accumulated deficit	(81,325,064)	(65,693,708)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	7,301
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	43,979,878	(65,693,708)
Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock, and stockholders' equity (deficit)	48,615,368	15,649,106
Aquinox Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Inc. [Member] | Series A Exchangeable Preferred Shares [Member]
Redeemable convertible preferred stock (Note 3)
Redeemable convertible preferred stock		13,329,639
Aquinox Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Inc. [Member] | AQXP Canada, Series B Exchangeable Preferred Shares [Member]
Redeemable convertible preferred stock (Note 3)
Redeemable convertible preferred stock		10,684,093
Aquinox Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Inc. [Member] | Series C Exchangeable Preferred Shares [Member]
Redeemable convertible preferred stock (Note 3)
Redeemable convertible preferred stock		3,830,961
Aquinox USA [Member]
Common stock (Note 6)
Common stock	11
Preferred stock (Note 3)
Preferred stock	0	0
Aquinox USA [Member] | Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Redeemable convertible preferred stock (Note 3)
Redeemable convertible preferred stock		11,157,138
Aquinox USA [Member] | Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Redeemable convertible preferred stock (Note 3)
Redeemable convertible preferred stock		21,091,150
Aquinox USA [Member] | Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Redeemable convertible preferred stock (Note 3)
Redeemable convertible preferred stock		$ 13,765,741