Income Taxes - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Valuation allowance, deferred tax assets	$ 131,858,000	$ 97,578,000
Net operating loss carryforwards	166,900,000
Unrecognized tax benefits	7,660,000	7,278,000	$ 5,557,000	$ 1,846,000
Unrecognized tax benefits, net period increase	400,000	1,700,000	3,700,000
Deferred tax assets available to offset uncertain tax position liabilities	7,300,000	6,900,000	$ 5,200,000
Accrued interest or tax penalties recorded	0	$ 0
Undistributed earnings in foreign subsidiaries	1,500,000
General Business Tax Credit Carryforward | Aegerion
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credits carryforwards, amount subject to expiration	30,200,000
Subsidiaries
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards, amount subject to expiration	14,300,000
Subsidiaries | Aegerion
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards, amount subject to expiration	166,600,000
Canada , United States and Switzerland
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Valuation allowance, deferred tax assets	131,900,000
Canada , United States and Switzerland | Net Operating Loss and Research Tax Credit Carryforward
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Increase in deferred tax asset valuation allowance	34,300,000
Domestic Tax Authority | Canada
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	152,600,000
Capital loss carry forwards amount	289,500,000
Domestic Tax Authority | Canada | Research and Development
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	13,500,000
Scientific, research and experimental development pool	13,400,000
Foreign Tax Authority
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Net deferred tax assets	1,000,000
Foreign Tax Authority | Subsidiaries | Aegerion
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Net deferred tax assets	1,100,000
Foreign Tax Authority | U.S.
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	14,300,000
State
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	11,800,000
State | Aegerion
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards, amount subject to expiration	96,900,000
Tax credit carryforwards	$ 200,000