Note 10 - Tarsa (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended						1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended								1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2009	Jan. 31, 2012 Series A Preferred Stock [Member] Tarsa [Member]	Oct. 31, 2009 Tarsa [Member]	Apr. 30, 2011 Maximum [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Tarsa [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Tarsa [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Tarsa [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 Tarsa [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Tarsa [Member]	Jul. 08, 2011 Tarsa [Member]	Apr. 08, 2011 Tarsa [Member]	Oct. 31, 2009 Tarsa [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Unigene Ownership of Tarsa [Member]	Oct. 31, 2009 Phase 3 Oral Calcitonin Program [Member]
Number of Venture Capital Funds						3
Proceeds from License																			$ 8,993,000
Number of Shares Acquired (in Shares)								9,215,000		3,662,305								9,215,000
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage										16.00%							26.00%
Equity Method Investments	56,000		56,000								0			0
Related Party Transaction, Other Revenues from Transactions with Related Party	119,658	426,807	998,060	1,062,480					1,040,000		998,000	1,062,000
Investments in Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures, Fair Value Disclosure					3,469,714								651,000		1,301,000	1,518,000
Number of Warrants Purchased (in Shares)							67,435
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments			$ (600,000)	$ (1,375,925)						$ (651,000)