Note 4 - Novartis Agreement (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2004
Finite-Lived License Agreements, Gross			$ 18,700,000
Licenses Revenue	262,689	262,689
Potential Milestone Payments	5,000,000
Aggregate Amount (Member)
Licenses Revenue	13,700,000
Recognized in Quarter (Member)
Licenses Revenue	$ 223,000	$ 223,000

Revenue earned during the period relating to consideration received from another party for the right to use, but not own, certain of the entity's intangible assets. Licensing arrangements include, but are not limited to, rights to use a patent, copyright, technology, manufacturing process, software or trademark. Licensing fees are generally, but not always, fixed as to amount and not dependent upon the revenue generated by the licensing party. An entity may receive licensing fees for licenses that also generate royalty payments to the entity.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(e))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

Name:	us-gaap_LicensesRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration