Acquisition of Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals, Inc (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended								9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jan. 18, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Azedra [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 MIP 1404 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Onalta [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Small Molecule [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Minimum [Member] Contingent Consideration Liability [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Maximum [Member] Contingent Consideration Liability [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member]	Jan. 18, 2013 Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Original Shares Issued For Acquisition					4,566,210
Shares For Acquisition Held In Escrow					500,000
Shares For Acquisition Returned From Escrow					93,847
Maximum Milestone Payment Specified Commercial Events	$ 23,000,000		$ 23,000,000
Maximum Milestone Payment For Achieving Sales Targets	70,000,000		70,000,000
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Transaction Costs	0		790,000
Business Acquisition Contributed Revenue													82,000		828,000
Business Acquisition Increase Decrease Net Income Loss													2,238,000		8,597,000
Equity issuance costs in connection with acquisition of subsidiary			45,000	0
Progenics common stock consideration														11,265,000
Acquisition-related contingent consideration liability	15,900,000	0	15,900,000	0		0							15,900,000		15,900,000	15,900,000
Business Entity Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price	11,265,000	0	11,265,000	0												27,165,000
Cash acquired in acquisition of subsidiary																1,888,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Current Assets, Receivables																56,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Current Assets, Prepaid Expense and Other Assets																529,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Property, Plant and Equipment																249,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Current Liabilities																(2,876,000)
Deferred tax liability - long term	(12,683,000)		(12,683,000)			0										(12,683,000)
Business Entity Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Assets Acquired (Liabilities Assumed), Net																(12,837,000)
Intangible assets	32,300,000		32,300,000			0										32,300,000
Business Acquisition Tangible And Intangible Assets Acquired Liabilities Assumed																19,463,000
Goodwill	7,702,000		7,702,000			0										7,702,000
Business Acquisition Transaction Costs Excluded From Pro Forma Information			790,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Revenue	867,000	1,286,000	4,899,000	5,434,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net Income (Loss)	(10,500,000)	(16,408,000)	(35,185,000)	(54,419,000)
Business Acquisition Pro Forma Earnings Per Share Basic And Diluted	$ (0.17)	$ (0.43)	$ (0.65)	$ (1.42)
Acquisition-related contingent consideration liability	15,900,000	0	15,900,000	0		0							15,900,000		15,900,000	15,900,000
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Discount rate							15.00%	18.00%	15.00%	20.00%	10.00%	12.50%
Beginning of significant cash inflows - year							2017	2017	2014	2021	2016	2022
Fair Value							$ 4,900,000	$ 23,200,000	$ 1,500,000	$ 2,700,000