Note 4 - Royalty Monetization (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			1 Months Ended				9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)	May 18, 2014 Scenario, U.S. Dollar worth 100 Yen or Less [Member] Currency Hedge Agreement [Member] USD ($)	May 18, 2014 Currency Hedge Agreement [Member] JPY (¥)	Sep. 30, 2014 Currency Hedge Agreement [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Currency Hedge Agreement [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Currency Hedge Agreement [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Currency Hedge Agreement [Member] JPY (¥)	Sep. 30, 2013 Currency Hedge Agreement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2014 PhaRMA Notes [Member] Obligation Shortfall, 2013 [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 PhaRMA Notes [Member] Obligation Shortfall, 2013 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 PhaRMA Notes [Member] Obligation Shortfall, 2013 [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 PhaRMA Notes [Member] Obligation Shortfall, 2013 [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 PhaRMA Notes [Member] Obligation Shortfall, 2013 [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 PhaRMA Notes [Member] Obligation Shortfall, 2014 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 09, 2011 PhaRMA Notes [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 PhaRMA Notes [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 PhaRMA Notes [Member]	Mar. 09, 2011 JPR Royalty Sub LLC [Member] USD ($)
Note 4 - Royalty Monetization (Details) [Line Items]
Revenue Recognition Royalty and Milestone Revenue Recognized																					$ 30,000,000
Revenue Recognition Royalty and Milestone Revenue Recognized Net																					22,691,000
Private Placement of Senior Secured Notes																		30,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage																		14.00%
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Interest												70,000	1,882,000	446,000					1,844,000
Deduction in Interest															2,356,000	222,000	4,200,000
Percentage of Principal Amount Redemption Price																				100.00%
Yen Rate Per Dollar (in Yen)										100
Payments for (Proceeds from) Hedge, Investing Activities					1,950,000
Minimum Currency Value Required for Payment of Premium on Specified Date (in Yen)						100
Gain (Loss) on Foreign Currency Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments	4,082,000	97,000	732,000	3,168,000			4,082,000	97,000	732,000		3,168,000
Currency Hedge Agreement Amount							0		0
Maximum Amount of Collateral Required to Post							11,700,000		11,700,000
Required Foreign Currency Hedge, Per Dollar (in Yen)										¥ 100