Note 7 - China Joint Venture	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block]	7. China Joint Venture In 2008, we initiated the transfer of technology and know-how to the China Joint Venture. This technology and know-how contribution gave rise to a basis difference between our investment in the China Joint Venture and our 45% equity interest in the underlying assets of the China Joint Venture. This basis difference was being recognized over 17 years, the estimated life of the transferred assets. We revised our accounting prospectively to account for the calculation of the basis difference between our investment in the China Joint Venture and our 45% equity interest in the underlying net assets of the China Joint Venture. We had originally calculated the amortization of the difference based upon the $4,500,000 of intellectual property (licensed patent rights, know-how, etc.) that has been and was agreed to be contributed to the China Joint Venture. However, as of January 1, 2011, we calculated the amortization of the difference based upon the $2,100,000 of intellectual property that had been contributed to that date and recorded on the financial statements of the China Joint Venture. The cumulative adjustment in the first quarter of 2011 totaled $317,643. We also recognized a revised basis difference of $30,882. Therefore, the net basis difference recognized in the first quarter of 2011 was an expense of $286,761. These expenses are included in our statement of operations under “loss (gain) from investment in former China joint venture.” On June 7, 2011 (the “Signing Date”), we entered into an Equity Sale and Purchase Agreement with an effective date of June 4, 2011 (the “Effective Date”), (which agreement was restated and replaced in July 2011 without altering the substantive terms of the June agreement; as so restated, the “Equity Transfer Agreement”), under which we sold our equity interest in Unigene Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (the “China Joint Venture”), which represents forty-five percent of the registered capital and the profits and losses of the China Joint Venture (the “Equity Interest”). Thereunder, we sold the Equity Interest to China Charmaine Pharmaceutical Company Limited (the “Purchaser”), an affiliate of China Pharmaceutical Group Limited (“CPG”) for an aggregate purchase price of up to $1,050,000, payable in two installments in the amounts and at the times described below. The China Joint Venture was formed between us and CPG’s predecessor under that certain Joint Venture Contract dated June 15, 2000 (the “JV Contract”), those certain Articles of Association dated June 15, 2000 (the “Articles of Association”) and that certain Agreement dated April 23, 2008 (the “Agreement”). We also granted certain licenses and other rights to the China Joint Venture under that certain Technology Transfer Agreement dated April 23, 2008 (the “Technology Transfer Agreement”). Furthermore, in connection with the Technology Transfer Agreement, on May 10, 2008, we entered into a common stock purchase agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which we sold 1,080,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Shares”), at a price of $1.86 per share to Tin Lon Investment Limited, a Hong Kong limited liability company that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CPG, in a private placement. Pursuant to the Equity Transfer Agreement, from the Effective Date through and until the first anniversary of the Closing Date (defined below) (the “Final Payment Date”), we have the option (the “Option”), but not the obligation, upon ten days prior written notice to the Purchaser, to repurchase the Shares at a purchase price of $1.86 per share, if they have not previously been disposed of by the holder. In consideration for the sale and transfer of the Equity Interest: (i) upon the receipt of certain governmental approvals and satisfaction of certain other customary conditions, the Purchaser shall pay the first installment of $600,000 to us (such payment date, the “Closing Date”); and (ii) the Purchaser shall pay the remaining $450,000 (the “Final Payment”) on the date the Option is exercised, provided that if the Option is not exercised on or before the Final Payment Date and the Shares are not otherwise disposed of by the holder, we will forego the Final Payment. Furthermore, as of the Effective Date, we have no further obligations under the JV Contract or the Articles of Association. As of the Signing Date, our investment in the China Joint Venture was $2,873,070 and we had recorded a liability to the China Joint Venture in the amount of $1,200,000 for a net investment of $1,673,070. Due to the expected first payment of $600,000 we recognized a loss of $1,073,070 on the termination and sale of the China Joint Venture. We will recognize a gain if and when we receive the $450,000 contingent final payment.

Note 7 - China Joint Venture

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block]

7. China Joint Venture

In 2008, we initiated the transfer of technology and know-how to the China Joint Venture. This technology and know-how contribution gave rise to a basis difference between our investment in the China Joint Venture and our 45% equity interest in the underlying assets of the China Joint Venture. This basis difference was being recognized over 17 years, the estimated life of the transferred assets. We revised our accounting prospectively to account for the calculation of the basis difference between our investment in the China Joint Venture and our 45% equity interest in the underlying net assets of the China Joint Venture. We had originally calculated the amortization of the difference based upon the $4,500,000 of intellectual property (licensed patent rights, know-how, etc.) that has been and was agreed to be contributed to the China Joint Venture. However, as of January 1, 2011, we calculated the amortization of the difference based upon the $2,100,000 of intellectual property that had been contributed to that date and recorded on the financial statements of the China Joint Venture. The cumulative adjustment in the first quarter of 2011 totaled $317,643. We also recognized a revised basis difference of $30,882. Therefore, the net basis difference recognized in the first quarter of 2011 was an expense of $286,761. These expenses are included in our statement of operations under “loss (gain) from investment in former China joint venture.”

On June 7, 2011 (the “Signing Date”), we entered into an Equity Sale and Purchase Agreement with an effective date of June 4, 2011 (the “Effective Date”), (which agreement was restated and replaced in July 2011 without altering the substantive terms of the June agreement; as so restated, the “Equity Transfer Agreement”), under which we sold our equity interest in Unigene Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (the “China Joint Venture”), which represents forty-five percent of the registered capital and the profits and losses of the China Joint Venture (the “Equity Interest”). Thereunder, we sold the Equity Interest to China Charmaine Pharmaceutical Company Limited (the “Purchaser”), an affiliate of China Pharmaceutical Group Limited (“CPG”) for an aggregate purchase price of up to $1,050,000, payable in two installments in the amounts and at the times described below.

The China Joint Venture was formed between us and CPG’s predecessor under that certain Joint Venture Contract dated June 15, 2000 (the “JV Contract”), those certain Articles of Association dated June 15, 2000 (the “Articles of Association”) and that certain Agreement dated April 23, 2008 (the “Agreement”). We also granted certain licenses and other rights to the China Joint Venture under that certain Technology Transfer Agreement dated April 23, 2008 (the “Technology Transfer Agreement”).

Furthermore, in connection with the Technology Transfer Agreement, on May 10, 2008, we entered into a common stock purchase agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which we sold 1,080,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Shares”), at a price of $1.86 per share to Tin Lon Investment Limited, a Hong Kong limited liability company that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CPG, in a private placement. Pursuant to the Equity Transfer Agreement, from the Effective Date through and until the first anniversary of the Closing Date (defined below) (the “Final Payment Date”), we have the option (the “Option”), but not the obligation, upon ten days prior written notice to the Purchaser, to repurchase the Shares at a purchase price of $1.86 per share, if they have not previously been disposed of by the holder.

In consideration for the sale and transfer of the Equity Interest: (i) upon the receipt of certain governmental approvals and satisfaction of certain other customary conditions, the Purchaser shall pay the first installment of $600,000 to us (such payment date, the “Closing Date”); and (ii) the Purchaser shall pay the remaining $450,000 (the “Final Payment”) on the date the Option is exercised, provided that if the Option is not exercised on or before the Final Payment Date and the Shares are not otherwise disposed of by the holder, we will forego the Final Payment.

Furthermore, as of the Effective Date, we have no further obligations under the JV Contract or the Articles of Association.

As of the Signing Date, our investment in the China Joint Venture was $2,873,070 and we had recorded a liability to the China Joint Venture in the amount of $1,200,000 for a net investment of $1,673,070. Due to the expected first payment of $600,000 we recognized a loss of $1,073,070 on the termination and sale of the China Joint Venture. We will recognize a gain if and when we receive the $450,000 contingent final payment.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for equity method investments and joint ventures. Equity method investments are investments that give the investor the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of an investee. Joint ventures are entities owned and operated by a small group of businesses as a separate and specific business or project for the mutual benefit of the members of the group.

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