Commitments and contingencies - Significant Agreements - (Details) - Collaborative Arrangement $ in Millions	1 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2015 USD ($) shares
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Non-refundable upfront payment received	$ 65.0
Premium over fair value on temporary equity issued	5.0
Genzyme
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Non-refundable upfront payment received	65.0
Amount of reduction in milestone or royalty payments to be made by collaborative partner for each program specified	10.0
Per Milestone, maximum milestone payments to be received from collaborative partner	645.0
Regulatory approval milestone \| Genzyme
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Aggregate maximum milestone payments to be received from collaborative partner	265.0
Regulatory approval milestone \| Minimum \| Genzyme
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Per Milestone, maximum milestone payments to be received from collaborative partner	40.0
Regulatory approval milestone \| Maximum \| Genzyme
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Per Milestone, maximum milestone payments to be received from collaborative partner	50.0
Commerical milestone \| Genzyme
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Aggregate maximum milestone payments to be received from collaborative partner	380.0
Commerical milestone \| Minimum \| Genzyme
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Per Milestone, maximum milestone payments to be received from collaborative partner	50.0
Commerical milestone \| Maximum \| Genzyme
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Per Milestone, maximum milestone payments to be received from collaborative partner	100.0
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Program \| Genzyme
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Maximum potential in-kind services to be provided by collaborative partner	5.0
Option exercise payment required from collaborative partner for each program specified	30.0
Split Territory Program \| Genzyme
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Option exercise payment required from collaborative partner for each program specified	20.0
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Series B
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Fair value of temporary equity issued	$ 25.0
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Series B \| Genzyme
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Temporary equity issued (in shares) \| shares	10,000,000
Temporary equity issued	$ 30.0
Premium over fair value on temporary equity issued	$ 5.0

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Value of new stock classified as temporary equity issued during the period.

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In the aggregate, the maximum milestone payments to be received from the collaborative partner.

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Maximum potential in-kind services to be provided by a collaborative partner.

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The non-redeemable upfront fee received by the reporting entity from the collaborative partner.

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The number of anniversary date of the Future Program nomination by the counterparty that triggers a reduction in the milestone or royalty payments to be made by the collaborative partner.

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Option exercise payment required from collaborative partner for each program specified.

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Per milestone, the maximum milestone payments to be received from the collaborative partner.

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The aggregate fair value of temporary equity.

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Number of shares of new stock classified as temporary equity issued during the period upon exchange of convertible debt.

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