Net loss per share - Schedule of Potentially Dilutive Securities Outstanding Excluded from Computations of Diluted Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding (Detail) - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Underwriter [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computations of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	82,500	82,500
Series A Warrants to Purchase Shares of Common Stock [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computations of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	2,425,605	2,425,605
Series C Warrant to Purchase Common Stock [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computations of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	590,415	590,415
Series D Warrant To Purchase Common Stock [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computations of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	2,930,812	2,810,812
Warrants Issued to 2010/2012 Convertible Note Holders to Purchase Common Stock [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computations of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	510,350	510,350
Options to Purchase Common Stock [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computations of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	2,934,857	2,297,639
Warrants Issued in 2009 to Purchase Common Stock [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computations of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	9,259	9,259
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computations of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	0	4,505,405
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computations of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	12,179,000	0
Development Milestone [Member] | Essentialis, Inc. [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Effect of contingently issuable shares	913,379
Indemnification Claims [Member] | Essentialis, Inc. [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Effect of contingently issuable shares	4,566,948