- Definition

The aggregate costs incurred (1) in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects, including the costs of developing computer software up to the point in time of achieving technological feasibility, and costs allocated in accounting for a business combination to in-process projects deemed to have no alternative future use.

+ References+ Details

Collaborative and Other Relationships (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Collaborative and Other Relationships (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 ISIS Pharmaceuticals [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 ISIS Pharmaceuticals [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 ISIS Pharmaceuticals [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 ISIS Pharmaceuticals [Member]
Collaborations (Textual) [Abstract]
Upfront Payment					$ 12,000,000	$ 29,000,000
Additional milestone payment					59,000,000	45,000,000
License fee					70,000,000	75,000,000
Expected license fee and regulatory milestone payments					130,000,000	150,000,000
Milestone related to clinical development						18,000,000
Research and development expense	$ 304,217,000	$ 301,391,000	$ 989,738,000	$ 880,668,000			$ 300,000	$ 41,300,000