Consolidated statements of stockholders' equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Non-voting convertible preferred stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 144,664			$ 293,111	$ (148,278)	$ (169)
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016			23,423,150
Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting standard at Dec. 31, 2016				41	(41)
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016	144,664			293,152	(148,319)	(169)
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016			23,423,150
Options exercised	468			468
Options exercised, shares			49,280
Stock-based compensation	3,839			3,839
Other comprehensive income	99					99
Net loss	(50,183)				(50,183)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	98,887			297,459	(198,502)	(70)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017			23,472,430
Options exercised	$ 602			602
Options exercised, shares	64,938		64,938
Stock-based compensation	$ 4,698			4,698
Other comprehensive income	70					70
Net loss	(31,585)				(31,585)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	72,672			302,759	(230,087)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2018			23,537,368
Issuance of common stock for Former Neoleukin common stock (Note 3)	15,055			15,055
Issuance of common stock for Former Neoleukin common stock (Note 3), shares			4,589,771
Issuance of convertible preferred stock for Former Neoleukin common stock (Note 3)	33,432			33,432
Issuance of convertible preferred stock for Former Neoleukin common stock (Note 3), shares		101,927
Conversion of convertible preferred stock into common shares
Conversion of convertible preferred stock into common shares (share)	10,192,700	(101,927)
Issuance of common stock, net of share issuance costs	$ 80,691			80,691
Issuance of common stock, net of share issuance costs (share)			10,263,750
Issuance of shares to University of Washington	41			41
Issuance of shares to University of Washington (share)			12,647
Conversion of common stock to pre-funded warrants
Conversion of common stock to pre-funded warrants (share)			(10,925,481)
Options exercised	$ 1,555			1,555
Options exercised, shares	326,094		326,094
Stock-based compensation	$ 7,683			7,683
Net loss	(69,442)				(69,442)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 141,687			$ 441,216	$ (299,529)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2019			37,996,849