Preferred Stock - Schedule of Redeemable Convertible Stock at Fair Value upon Issuance (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 19, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Temporary equity, issuance costs		$ 223,910
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Temporary equity, issuance costs	174,153	174,153
Temporary equity, warrant discount of $68,920 on issuance of Aquinox USA preferred shares		68,920
Temporary equity, redemption discount of $466,673 for AQXP Canada and $1,633,357 for Aquinox USA on issuance of preferred shares		1,633,357
Series C Exchangeable Preferred Shares [Member] | Aquinox Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Inc. [Member]
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Temporary equity, issuance costs	49,758	49,758
Temporary equity, redemption discount of $466,673 for AQXP Canada and $1,633,357 for Aquinox USA on issuance of preferred shares		$ 466,673