The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual)			12 Months Ended
	Jun. 16, 2015 USD ($)	Feb. 07, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 Patients	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Patients Segment
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Table [Line Items]
Date of completion of business combination with Nuvelo				Jan. 27, 2009
Revenues				$ 0
Description of reverse stock split				1-for-7 reverse split
Reverse stock split				0.143
Concentrations of credit risk				$ 0
Number of segments | Segment				1
Registered Direct Offering
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Table [Line Items]
Proceeds from the issuance of security units		$ 7,900,000
Private Investment In Public Entity Transaction
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Table [Line Items]
Proceeds from the issuance of security units	$ 34,200,000
Phase 3 heart failure (HF) trial of Gencaro | BEST Trial
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Table [Line Items]
Number of patients | Patients				2,708
Phase 2B/Phase 3 | GENETIC-AF Trial
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Table [Line Items]
Number of patients company plans to enroll | Patients				620
Trial endpoint, term				168 days
Phase 2B | GENETIC-AF Trial | Forecast | Minimum
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Table [Line Items]
Number of patients company plans to enroll | Patients			150