Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 4,019	$ 2,243	$ 902	$ 988	$ 1,337	$ 1,103	$ 1,173	$ 977	$ 8,152	$ 4,590	$ 3,825
Operating costs and expenses	21,823	14,491	45,613	23,002	18,997	36,738	11,706	11,154	104,929	78,595	38,567
Net income (loss) attributable to Sorrento	$ (17,859)	$ 15,891	$ (43,305)	$ (15,650)					(60,923)	(45,811)	(34,657)
Net income (loss) attributable to Sorrento					$ (26,599)	$ (2,079)	$ (10,958)	$ (10,438)	$ (63,937)	$ (50,074)	$ (34,657)
Net income (loss) per share - basic and diluted	$ (0.30)	$ 0.24	$ (0.93)	$ (0.41)	$ (0.62)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.30)	$ (0.29)	$ (1.21)	$ (1.24)	$ (1.30)
Weighted-average shares - basic	58,634	66,193	46,498	37,965					50,360
Weighted-average shares - diluted	58,634	66,527	46,498	37,965					50,360
Weighted-average shares					37,770	37,328	36,315	36,206	50,360	36,909	26,679