Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Items
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		10,239,594,000
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 156,512	$ 467,034	$ 97,838	$ (511,329)	$ 102,969
Net loss	(23,009)			(23,009)
Stock-based compensation expense	2,330		2,330
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		313,095,000
Exercise of stock options	5,508	$ 8,077	(2,569)
Shares issued in connection with vesting of RSUs (in shares)		12,800,000
Shares issued in connection with vesting of RSUs	0	$ 222	(222)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		10,565,489,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	141,341	$ 475,333	97,377	(534,338)	102,969
Net loss	(52,870)			(52,870)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(382)				(382)
Stock-based compensation expense	797		797
Shares issued in connection with the Acquisition of Aegerion (in shares)		6,060,288,000
Shares issued in connection with Acquisition of Aegerion	59,381	$ 59,381
Shares issued in a private placement net of share issuance costs (in shares)		1,904,546,000
Shares issued in private placement, net of share issuance costs	21,481	$ 16,545	4,936
Cash distribution to shareholders	(15,000)		(15,000)
Aralez shares distributed to shareholders	(19,296)		(19,296)
Uncertain tax position liability recovery	335		335
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		18,530,323,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2016	135,787	$ 551,259	69,149	(587,208)	102,587
Net loss	(126,710)			(126,710)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	1,215				1,215
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 4,537		4,537
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	70,820,000	70,820,000
Exercise of stock options	$ 499	$ 666	(167)
Vesting of restricted stock, net of shares withheld for taxes (in shares)		100,792,000
Vesting of restricted stock, net of shares withheld for taxes	(390)		(390)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		18,701,935,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	14,938	$ 551,925	73,185	(713,974)	$ 103,802
Adoption of ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation	$ 0		$ 56	$ (56)