Consolidated and combined statement of convertible preferred stock and stockholders' deficit (USD $)	Total	Exchangeable Preferred Shares [Member]	Aquinox Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Inc. [Member] Exchangeable Preferred Shares [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ (39,314,581)					$ (39,314,581)
Temporary equity beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2011		27,458,826	20,442,122
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011				301,745
Temporary equity beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011		2,236,672	1,584,633
Temporary equity, accretion for liquidation preference on preferred stock		2,212,708	1,647,432
Temporary equity, accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock		96,406	72,296
Temporary equity, accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock Amortization of warrant discount on preferred stock		23,566	21,882
Stock-based compensation	351,322				351,322
Accretion for liquidation preference on preferred stock	(3,860,140)				(351,322)	(3,508,818)
Accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock	(168,702)					(168,702)
Accrual of tax payable on preferred stock	(394,908)					(394,908)
Net loss	(7,714,198)					(7,714,198)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012	(51,101,207)					(51,101,207)
Temporary equity, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012		29,791,506	22,183,732
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012				301,745
Temporary equity ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012		2,236,672	1,584,633
Temporary equity, issued for cash, net of share issue costs		13,825,822	3,950,228
Issued for cash, net of share issue costs	7				7
Temporary equity, issued for cash, net of share issue costs, shares		1,325,753	378,786
Temporary equity, warrants exercised		415,431
Temporary equity, warrants exercised, shares		17,671
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)	(466,673)
Temporary equity, accretion for liquidation preference on preferred stock		3,315,021	2,036,438
Temporary equity, accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock		77,320	45,754
Temporary equity, accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock Amortization of warrant discount on preferred stock		34,343	21,825
Temporary equity, amortization of redemption option on preferred stock		256,863	73,389
Stock-based compensation	349,321				349,321
Accretion for liquidation preference on preferred stock	(5,351,459)				(349,328)	(5,002,131)
Accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock	(123,074)					(123,074)
Accrual of tax payable on preferred stock	(737,925)					(737,925)
Net loss	(8,729,371)					(8,729,371)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	(65,693,708)					(65,693,708)
Temporary equity, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	73,858,722	46,014,029	27,844,693
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013	301,745			301,745
Temporary equity ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013		3,580,096	1,963,419
Temporary equity, accretion for liquidation preference on preferred stock		731,728	401,165
Temporary equity, accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock		12,901	6,649
Temporary equity, accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock Amortization of warrant discount on preferred stock		6,467	4,187
Temporary equity, amortization of redemption option on preferred stock		58,300	16,623
Temporary equity, extinguishment of remaining share issuance costs, warrant discount, redemption option and related tax payable due to conversion of preferred stock		1,686,549	551,334
Stock-based compensation	99,417				99,417
Accretion for liquidation preference on preferred stock	(1,132,893)				(99,417)	(1,033,476)
Accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock	(19,550)					(19,550)
Accrual of tax payable on preferred stock	(100,291)					(100,291)
Extinguishment of remaining share issuance costs, warrant discount, redemption option and related tax payable due to conversion of preferred stock	1,458,478					1,458,478
Ending balance at Mar. 12, 2014	(65,388,547)					(65,388,547)
Temporary equity, ending balance at Mar. 12, 2014		48,509,974	28,824,651
Temporary equity ending balance, shares at Mar. 12, 2014		3,580,096	1,963,419
Beginning balance, shares at Mar. 12, 2014				301,745
Conversion of preferred stock into Aquinox USA common stock	77,333,851	(48,509,974)	(28,824,651)	7	77,333,844
Conversion of preferred stock into Aquinox USA common stock, shares		(3,580,096)	(1,963,419)	5,543,515
Issuance of Aquinox common stock, net of share issuance costs of $5,838,726	47,291,278			4	47,291,274
Issuance of Aquinox common stock, net of share issuance costs of $5,838,726, shares				4,830,000
Issuance of Aquinox common stock, on purchase of patent rights	186,356				186,356
Issuance of Aquinox common stock, on purchase of patent rights, shares				19,762
Options exercised	460				460
Options exercised, shares				86
Stock-based compensation	754,771				754,771
Other comprehensive loss	(3,855)						(3,855)
Net loss	(24,027,016)					(24,027,016)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 36,147,298			$ 11	$ 125,566,705	$ (89,415,563)	$ (3,855)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014	10,695,108			10,695,108