Consolidated and combined statement of convertible preferred stock and stockholders' deficit - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Exchangeable Preferred Shares [Member]	Aquinox Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Inc. [Member] Exchangeable Preferred Shares [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Temporary equity beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2012		$ 29,792	$ 22,184
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ (51,101)					$ (51,101)
Temporary equity beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012		2,236,672	1,584,633
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012				301,745
Temporary equity, issued for cash, net of share issue costs		$ 13,826	$ 3,950
Temporary equity, issued for cash, net of share issue costs, shares		1,325,753	378,786
Temporary equity, warrants exercised		$ 415
Temporary equity, warrants exercised, shares		17,671
Temporary equity, warrant discount of $69 on issuance of Aquinox USA preferred shares		$ (69)
Temporary equity, redemption discount of $467 for AQXP Canada and $1,633 for Aquinox USA on issuance of preferred shares		(1,633)	$ (467)
Temporary equity, accretion for liquidation preference on preferred stock		3,315	2,036
Temporary equity, accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock		77	46
Temporary equity, Amortization of warrant discount on preferred stock		34	22
Temporary equity, amortization of redemption option on preferred stock		257	73
Accrual of tax payable on preferred stock	(738)					(738)
Accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock	(123)					(123)
Accretion for liquidation preference on preferred stock	(5,351)				$ (349)	(5,002)
Stock-based compensation	349				349
Temporary equity, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013		$ 46,014	$ 27,844
Temporary equity ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013		3,580,096	1,963,419
Net loss	(8,729)					(8,729)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	(65,693)					(65,693)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013				301,745
Temporary equity, accretion for liquidation preference on preferred stock		$ 732	$ 401
Temporary equity, accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock		13	7
Temporary equity, Amortization of warrant discount on preferred stock		6	4
Temporary equity, amortization of redemption option on preferred stock		58	17
Temporary equity, extinguishment of remaining share issuance costs, warrant discount, redemption option and related tax payable due to conversion of preferred stock		1,687	551
Accrual of tax payable on preferred stock	(100)					(100)
Options exercised, shares				86
Issuance of Aquinox common stock, net of share issuance costs of $5,839, shares				4,830,000
Accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock	(20)					(20)
Issuance of Aquinox common stock, on purchase of patent rights	186				186
Issuance of Aquinox common stock, on purchase of patent rights, shares				19,762
Issuance of Aquinox common stock, net of share issuance costs of $5,839	47,291				47,291
Conversion of preferred stock into Aquinox USA common stock	77,334	$ (48,510)	$ (28,824)		77,334
Conversion of preferred stock into Aquinox USA common stock, shares		(3,580,096)	(1,963,419)	5,543,515
Extinguishment of remaining share issuance costs, warrant discount, redemption option and related tax payable due to conversion of preferred stock	1,458					1,458
Accretion for liquidation preference on preferred stock	(1,133)				(99)	(1,034)
Stock-based compensation	855				855
Other comprehensive loss	(4)						$ (4)
Net loss	(24,027)					(24,027)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 36,147				125,567	(89,416)	(4)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014	10,695,108			10,695,108
Options exercised, shares	191,878			191,878
Options exercised	$ 1,120				1,120
Issuance of Aquinox common stock, net of share issuance costs of $5,839, shares				6,325,000
Issuance of Aquinox common stock, net of share issuance costs of $5,839	91,793				91,793
Stock-based compensation	1,506				1,506
Other comprehensive loss	(286)						(286)
Net loss	(21,860)					(21,860)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 108,420				$ 219,986	$ (111,276)	$ (290)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2015	17,211,986			17,211,986