Preferred Stock - Schedule of Redeemable Convertible Stock at Fair Value upon Issuance (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Conversion of preferred stock into Aquinox USA common stock	$ 77,334
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Temporary equity beginning balance, shares	662,875	662,875
Conversion of preferred stock into Aquinox USA common stock	(662,875)
Temporary equity ending balance, shares		662,875
Temporary equity beginning balance	$ 11,157	$ 10,308
Temporary equity, accretion for liquidation preference on preferred stock	160	831
Accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock	50	18
Conversion of preferred stock into Aquinox USA common stock	$ (11,367)
Temporary equity, ending balance		$ 11,157
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Temporary equity beginning balance, shares	1,573,797	1,573,797
Conversion of preferred stock into Aquinox USA common stock	(1,573,797)
Temporary equity ending balance, shares		1,573,797
Temporary equity beginning balance	$ 21,091	$ 19,483
Temporary equity, accretion for liquidation preference on preferred stock	298	1,551
Accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock	99	33
Temporary equity, amortization of warrant discount	85	24
Conversion of preferred stock into Aquinox USA common stock	$ (21,573)
Temporary equity, ending balance		$ 21,091
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Temporary equity beginning balance, shares	1,343,424
Conversion of preferred stock into Aquinox USA common stock	(1,343,424)
Temporary equity ending balance, shares		1,343,424
Temporary equity beginning balance	$ 13,766
Temporary equity, accretion for liquidation preference on preferred stock	273
Accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock	149
Temporary equity, amortization of redemption option discount	1,379
Conversion of preferred stock into Aquinox USA common stock	$ (15,567)
Temporary equity, ending balance		$ 13,766
Series A Exchangeable Preferred Shares [Member] | Aquinox Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Inc. [Member]
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Temporary equity beginning balance, shares	791,016	791,016
Conversion of preferred stock into Aquinox USA common stock	(791,016)
Temporary equity ending balance, shares		791,016
Temporary equity beginning balance	$ 13,329	$ 12,320
Temporary equity, accretion for liquidation preference on preferred stock	190	988
Accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock	75	21
Conversion of preferred stock into Aquinox USA common stock	$ (13,594)
Temporary equity, ending balance		$ 13,329
Series B Exchangeable Preferred Shares [Member] | Aquinox Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Inc. [Member]
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Temporary equity beginning balance, shares	793,617	793,617
Conversion of preferred stock into Aquinox USA common stock	(793,617)
Temporary equity ending balance, shares		793,617
Temporary equity beginning balance	$ 10,684	$ 9,863
Temporary equity, accretion for liquidation preference on preferred stock	154	781
Accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock	44	18
Temporary equity, amortization of warrant discount	27	22
Conversion of preferred stock into Aquinox USA common stock	$ (10,909)
Temporary equity, ending balance		$ 10,684
Series C Exchangeable Preferred Shares [Member] | Aquinox Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Inc. [Member]
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Temporary equity beginning balance, shares	378,786
Conversion of preferred stock into Aquinox USA common stock	(378,786)
Temporary equity ending balance, shares		378,786
Temporary equity beginning balance	$ 3,831
Temporary equity, accretion for liquidation preference on preferred stock	61
Accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock	42
Temporary equity, amortization of redemption option discount	393
Conversion of preferred stock into Aquinox USA common stock	$ (4,327)
Temporary equity, ending balance		$ 3,831