Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Hercules Capital, Inc. [Member]	Scilex Pharmaceuticals, Inc [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Scilex Pharmaceuticals, Inc [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Hercules Capital, Inc. [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Scilex Pharmaceuticals, Inc [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated deficit [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Scilex Pharmaceuticals, Inc [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 66,809			$ 2			$ 99,668				$ (32,861)
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013				23,028,100
Issuance of common stock with assignment agreement	209						209
Issuance of common stock with assignment agreement, shares				25,000
Issuance of common stock with exercise of options	304						304
Issuance of common stock with exercise of options, shares				64,000
Issuance of common stock warrants in connection with amended loan and security agreement	322						322
Issuance of common stock | May 2014 [Member]	26,643			$ 1			26,642
Issuance of common stock | October 2014 [Member]	3,420						3,420
Issuance of common stock, shares | May 2014 [Member]				5,479,750
Issuance of common stock, shares | October 2014 [Member]				400,000
Issuance of common stock warrants for cash	41,723			$ 1			41,722
Issuance of common stock warrants for cash, shares				7,188,062
Stock-based compensation	3,940						3,940
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0
Net loss	(34,657)										(34,657)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	108,713			$ 4			176,227				(67,518)
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014				36,184,912
Issuance of common stock with exercise of warrants, shares				3,563
Issuance of common stock with exercise of options	1,699						1,699
Issuance of common stock with exercise of options, shares				276,712
Issuance of common stock upon achievement of milestone, shares				1,306,272
Stock-based compensation	6,972						6,972
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	73,579									$ 73,579
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0
Sale of a noncontrolling interest	49											$ 49
Net loss	(50,074)										(45,811)	(4,263)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 140,938			$ 4			184,898			73,579	(113,329)	(4,214)
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2015	37,771,459			37,771,459
Issuance of common stock with exercise of options	$ 527						524
Issuance of common stock with exercise of options, shares				204,668
Issuance of common stock for private placement and investments, net	108,301			$ 3			108,298
Issuance of common stock for private placement and investments, shares				27,598,235
Issuance of common stock upon acquisition			$ 19,061		$ 1				$ 5,368				$ 13,693
Issuance of common stock upon acquisition, shares					754,911
Cancellation of stock issuance	(50,807)			$ (2)		$ (49,464)	(1,341)
Cancellation of stock issuance, shares				(15,446,343)		7,568,182
Stock-based compensation	4,741						4,741
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	(73,579)									(73,579)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(118)									(118)
Hercules warrant		$ 1,377						$ 1,377
Net loss	(63,937)										(60,923)	(3,014)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 86,502			$ 6		$ (49,464)	$ 303,865			$ (118)	$ (174,252)	$ 6,465
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016	50,882,856			50,882,856		7,568,182