Licenses and Royalty Arrangements (Details Textual) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012 Clinical_trial	Jun. 30, 2012 Maximum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Minimum [Member]	Nov. 30, 2009 PentaStaph [Member]	Mar. 31, 2010 NicVAX [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 NicVAX [Member] Clinical_trial	Jun. 30, 2012 NicVAX [Member] Develop Next-Generation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 NicVAX [Member] Maximum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 NicVAX [Member] Minimum [Member]
Licenses and Royalty Arrangements (Textual) [Abstract]
Total consideration received for selling the assets of the vaccine products				$ 46
Upfront payment received on the consideration amount				20
Amount receivable upon achievement of milestones				26
Initial payment received					40
Number of phase III clinical trials	2					2
Option not exercised by GSK, maximum possible milestones							290
Payments related to trial-related milestones	47					47
Payments related to regulatory approval	34					34
Payments related to annual sales	209						209
Percent increase in royalty payments		7.00%	5.00%					7.00%	5.00%
Annual sales targets		$ 600	$ 300					$ 600	$ 300
Expected continuance period of joint steering committee						190 months
End date of GSK upfront payment recognition	through December 2025					through December 2025