Consolidated 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]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ (65,693)					$ (65,693)
Temporary equity, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2013		$ 46,014	$ 27,844
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013				301,745
Temporary equity, beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013		3,580,096	1,963,419
Accretion for liquidation preference on preferred stock	(1,133)				$ (99)	(1,034)
Temporary equity, accretion for liquidation preference on preferred stock		$ 732	$ 401
Accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock	(20)					(20)
Temporary equity, accretion for share issuance costs on preferred stock		13	7
Accrual of tax payable on preferred stock	(100)					(100)
Temporary equity, Amortization of warrant discount on preferred stock		6	4
Extinguishment of remaining share issuance costs, warrant discount, redemption option and related tax payable due to conversion of preferred stock	1,458					1,458
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
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
Issuance of Aquinox common stock, net share issuance costs	47,291				47,291
Issuance of Aquinox common stock, net share issuance costs, shares				4,830,000
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
Options exercised, shares				86
Stock-based compensation	855				855
Other comprehensive income (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
Issuance of Aquinox common stock, net share issuance costs	91,793				91,793
Issuance of Aquinox common stock, net share issuance costs, shares				6,325,000
Options exercised	1,120				1,120
Options exercised, shares				191,878
Stock-based compensation	1,506				1,506
Other comprehensive income (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
Issuance of Aquinox common stock, net share issuance costs	$ 70,676				70,676
Issuance of Aquinox common stock, net share issuance costs, shares				6,152,500
Options exercised	$ 440				440
Options exercised, shares	55,663			55,663
Exercise of warrants	$ 43				43
Exercise of warrants, shares				3,001
Stock-based compensation	1,966				1,966
Other comprehensive income (loss)	121						121
Net loss	(37,002)					(37,002)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 144,664				$ 293,111	$ (148,278)	$ (169)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016	23,423,150			23,423,150