Significant Accounting Policies, Stock-Based Compensation Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Stock-based Compensation Expense [Abstract]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 20,103	$ 13,305
Stock Options [Member]
Unrecognized Compensation Expense [Abstract]
Unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock options	$ 88,900
Weighted average period for recognition	1 year 6 months
Stock Options [Member] \| Board of Directors [Member]
Stock-based Compensation Expense [Abstract]
Options granted (in shares)	0	0
RSUs [Member]
Stock-based Compensation Expense [Abstract]
Vesting period	4 years
Unrecognized Compensation Expense [Abstract]
Unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested RSUs	$ 23,800
Weighted average period for recognition	1 year 8 months 12 days
RSUs [Member] \| Employees [Member]
Stock-based Compensation Expense [Abstract]
Weighted-average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 43.88
RSUs [Member] \| Board of Directors [Member]
Stock-based Compensation Expense [Abstract]
Units granted (in shares)	0	0
Research, Development and Patent Expenses [Member]
Stock-based Compensation Expense [Abstract]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 14,770	$ 10,486
General and Administrative [Member]
Stock-based Compensation Expense [Abstract]
Stock-based compensation expense	5,333	2,819
Akcea Therapeutics [Member]
Stock-based Compensation Expense [Abstract]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 3,200	$ 600

Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.F)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(1)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 14
-Section F

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Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based awards, other than options, awarded to employees as compensation.

+ References

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- Definition

Unrecognized cost of unvested options awarded to employees as compensation.

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Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Gross number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

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The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the reporting period as calculated by applying the disclosed option pricing methodology.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (d)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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