Collaboration Agreements (Details) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended								12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Sales Based Milestone USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Milestone Payment [Member] CAD	Dec. 31, 2013 Milestone Payment [Member] CAD	Dec. 31, 2012 Milestone Payment [Member] CAD	Dec. 31, 2014 Milestone Payment [Member] Glybera [Member] CAD	Dec. 31, 2014 Teva [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Teva [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Teva [Member] Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Teva [Member] Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Teva [Member] Clinical Milestone USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Teva [Member] Regulatory Milestone USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Teva [Member] Sales Based Milestone USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Teva [Member] TV-45070 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 Genentech [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Genentech [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Genentech [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Genentech [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Genentech [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Genentech [Member] Regulatory Milestone USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Genentech [Member] Sales Based Milestone USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Genentech [Member] Preclinical And Clinical Milestone USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Genentech [Member] GDC-0276 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 Genentech Affiliate [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Isis [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Isis [Member] USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2010 Isis [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2009 Merck [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Merck [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Merck [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Merck [Member] USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2010 Merck [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2009 Merck [Member] Regulatory Milestone USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2009 Merck [Member] Preclinical And Clinical Milestone USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2014 Genome BC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Genome BC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Genome BC [Member]
Collaboration Agreements (Details) [Line Items]
Proceeds from milestone payments					0	547	198									$ 41,000															$ 2,000	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Potential Milestone Payments Receivable								1,000		335,000			20,000	285,000	30,000		2,000				621,000	387,500	180,000	53,500										5,000	43,000	21,000
Collaboration revenue	28,366	27,352	14,300	0					0									8,000	5,000	0
Co-Promotion Interest											20.00%	30.00%
Notice Period for Termination of Agreement										60 days											3 months						90 days
Notice period for termination in the event of a material breach under the agreement										90 days											90 days						60 days			90 days
Proceeds from upfront fee																	1,500								10,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Private Placement																										4,455
Notes Receivable for upfront fee																													1,500
Research and development	11,768	12,303	10,455																									2,000
Sharing in Development Cost																														50.00%
Potential increase in milestone payments receivable due to co-funding option																														$ 86,500
Research Funding Arrangement, Rights and Obligations																																						The number of shares to which Genome BC was entitled under each quarter’s subscription rights were proportional to their funding amount paid to the Company for that quarter, calculated by: the quotient of (a) one-half of the Genome BC funding amount to the Company for that quarter divided by (b) the greatest of: (i) CAD$51.71; (ii) the converted U.S. dollar share price; and (iii) the most recent issue price of the Company’s common shares. The subscription rights were automatically exchangeable into common shares of the Company on a 1:1 basis on a date three years after the subscription rights were issued without additional cash consideration being paid by Genome BC.
Issuance of common shares, net of issuance costs (in Shares)																																					10,201
Common Stock, Shares Subscribed but Unissued																																						0	13,364