Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Apr. 29, 2022
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Registrant Name	Nuvation Bio Inc.
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2022
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2022
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Central Index Key	0001811063
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-39351
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	85-0862255
Entity Address, Address Line One	1500 Broadway
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 1401
Entity Address, City or Town	New York
Entity Address, State or Province	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	10036
Local Phone Number	208-6102
City Area Code	332
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		218,139,125
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share
Trading Symbol	NUVB
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Redeemable Warrants [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Redeemable Warrants, each whole warrantexercisable for one share of Common Stock at anexercise price of $11.50 per share
Trading Symbol	NUVB.WS
Security Exchange Name	NYSE