Share-based compensation - Summary of share-based compensation expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Share-based compensation
Share-based compensation expense	$ 2,619	$ 2,447	$ 7,351	$ 5,978
Unrecognized compensation costs	26,117		$ 26,117
Weighted-average remaining period for recognition (in years)			2 years 6 months 29 days
Research and development expenses \| Employees
Share-based compensation
Share-based compensation expense	895	1,131	$ 2,694	2,612
Selling, general and administrative expense \| Employees
Share-based compensation
Share-based compensation expense	1,724	1,316	4,657	3,366
Share options
Share-based compensation
Share-based compensation expense	1,160	638	3,315	2,347
Unrecognized compensation costs	15,651		$ 15,651
Weighted-average remaining period for recognition (in years)			3 years 3 months 15 days
Restricted share units ("RSUs")
Share-based compensation
Share-based compensation expense	667	728	$ 1,953	1,960
Unrecognized compensation costs	4,994		$ 4,994
Weighted-average remaining period for recognition (in years)			1 year 1 month 24 days
Performance share units ("PSUs")
Share-based compensation
Share-based compensation expense	792	$ 1,081	$ 2,083	$ 1,671
Unrecognized compensation costs	$ 5,472		$ 5,472
Weighted-average remaining period for recognition (in years)			1 year 10 months 2 days

Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 14.F)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96867065&loc=d3e5047-113901

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(1)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96867065&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96867065&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

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