Strategic Transactions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Equity [Abstract]
Strategic Transactions	Strategic Transactions. Aralez Investment and Distribution On December 7, 2015, QLT entered into an Amended and Restated Share Subscription Agreement (the Amended and Restated Subscription Agreement) with Tribute Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. (Tribute), POZEN Inc. (POZEN), Aralez Pharmaceuticals plc, (formally known as Aguono Limited) (Aralez Ireland) and certain other investors for the purpose of returning capital to QLT's shareholders in either Aralez Shares (approximately 0.13629 of an Aralez Share for each common share of the Company) or cash, subject to pro-ration (the Aralez Distribution), up to a maximum of $15.0 million funded pursuant to the terms of the Backstop Agreement (as described below). In connection with the Aralez Distribution, on June 8, 2015, QLT entered into a share purchase agreement (as amended, the Backstop Agreement) with Broadfin Healthcare Master Fund, Ltd. (Broadfin) and the JW Partners, LP, JW Opportunities Fund, LLC and JW Opportunities Master Fund, Ltd. (together the JW Parties), pursuant to which Broadfin and the JW Parties agreed to purchase up to $15.0 million of the Aralez Shares from the QLT at $6.25 per share. This arrangement provided QLT’s shareholders with the opportunity to elect to receive, in lieu of Aralez Shares, up to an aggregate of $15.0 million in cash, subject to proration among the shareholders. On February 5, 2016, QLT purchased 7,200,000 Aralez Shares (representing 10.1% of the issued and outstanding Aralez Shares), for an aggregate price of $45.0 million. On April 5, 2016 (the Distribution Date), QLT distributed 4,799,619 Aralez Shares with a fair value of $19.3 million, and $15.0 million of cash to shareholders of record on February 16, 2016. QLT held the Aralez Shares from February 5, 2016 to the Distribution Date and the Aralez Shares were marked-to-market. As a result, QLT recognized a $10.7 million loss during the year ended December 31, 2016, to reflect the change in value from the acquisition date to the Distribution Date. Pursuant to QLT’s financial advisory services agreement with Greenhill dated December 4, 2014 (as amended, the Greenhill Agreement), QLT paid Greenhill a $4.0 million advisory fee in connection with the completion of QLT’s $45.0 million investment in Aralez and exploration of other strategic initiatives described under Note 3 - Terminated Merger Transactions. Private Placement related to Aralez On June 8, 2015, QLT entered into a Share Purchase and Registration Rights Agreement (as amended, the Share Purchase and Registration Rights Agreement) with Broadfin, JW Partners, LP, JW Opportunities Fund, LLC, EcoR1 Capital Fund Qualified, L.P. and EcoR1 Capital Fund, LP (the QLT Investors). The Share Purchase and Registration Rights Agreement provided that QLT would, following the completion of the Aralez Distribution, issue and sell to the QLT Investors a certain number of QLT common shares for an aggregate purchase price of $20.0 million, reflecting a per share purchase price of $1.87. In light of the termination of the InSite Merger Agreement and the board’s determination that QLT’s cash requirements at that time did not justify the dilution that would be caused by this private placement, on April 28, 2016, QLT and the QLT Investors mutually agreed to terminate the Share Purchase and Registration Rights Agreement.

Strategic Transactions.

Aralez Investment and Distribution

On December 7, 2015, QLT entered into an Amended and Restated Share Subscription Agreement (the Amended and Restated Subscription Agreement) with Tribute Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. (Tribute), POZEN Inc. (POZEN), Aralez Pharmaceuticals plc, (formally known as Aguono Limited) (Aralez Ireland) and certain other investors for the purpose of returning capital to QLT's shareholders in either Aralez Shares (approximately 0.13629 of an Aralez Share for each common share of the Company) or cash, subject to pro-ration (the Aralez Distribution), up to a maximum of $15.0 million funded pursuant to the terms of the Backstop Agreement (as described below).

In connection with the Aralez Distribution, on June 8, 2015, QLT entered into a share purchase agreement (as amended, the Backstop Agreement) with Broadfin Healthcare Master Fund, Ltd. (Broadfin) and the JW Partners, LP, JW Opportunities Fund, LLC and JW Opportunities Master Fund, Ltd. (together the JW Parties), pursuant to which Broadfin and the JW Parties agreed to purchase up to $15.0 million of the Aralez Shares from the QLT at $6.25 per share. This arrangement provided QLT’s shareholders with the opportunity to elect to receive, in lieu of Aralez Shares, up to an aggregate of $15.0 million in cash, subject to proration among the shareholders.

On February 5, 2016, QLT purchased 7,200,000 Aralez Shares (representing 10.1% of the issued and outstanding Aralez Shares), for an aggregate price of $45.0 million. On April 5, 2016 (the Distribution Date), QLT distributed 4,799,619 Aralez Shares with a fair value of $19.3 million, and $15.0 million of cash to shareholders of record on February 16, 2016.

QLT held the Aralez Shares from February 5, 2016 to the Distribution Date and the Aralez Shares were marked-to-market. As a result, QLT recognized a $10.7 million loss during the year ended December 31, 2016, to reflect the change in value from the acquisition date to the Distribution Date.

Pursuant to QLT’s financial advisory services agreement with Greenhill dated December 4, 2014 (as amended, the Greenhill Agreement), QLT paid Greenhill a $4.0 million advisory fee in connection with the completion of QLT’s $45.0 million investment in Aralez and exploration of other strategic initiatives described under Note 3 - Terminated Merger Transactions.

Private Placement related to Aralez

On June 8, 2015, QLT entered into a Share Purchase and Registration Rights Agreement (as amended, the Share Purchase and Registration Rights Agreement) with Broadfin, JW Partners, LP, JW Opportunities Fund, LLC, EcoR1 Capital Fund Qualified, L.P. and EcoR1 Capital Fund, LP (the QLT Investors). The Share Purchase and Registration Rights Agreement provided that QLT would, following the completion of the Aralez Distribution, issue and sell to the QLT Investors a certain number of QLT common shares for an aggregate purchase price of $20.0 million, reflecting a per share purchase price of $1.87. In light of the termination of the InSite Merger Agreement and the board’s determination that QLT’s cash requirements at that time did not justify the dilution that would be caused by this private placement, on April 28, 2016, QLT and the QLT Investors mutually agreed to terminate the Share Purchase and Registration Rights Agreement.