Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Accrued Expenses Accounts payable Accretion on redeemable convertible preferred stock. Accretion of Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock Accretion of Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock Accrued Liabilities, Current Accrued expenses Additional Paid in Capital Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid-In Capital Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Stock-based compensation expense Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Amendment Flag Total assets Total assets ASSETS Total current assets Total current assets Current assets: Basis of Presentation Cash and cash equivalents CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS NONCASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Cashless exercise of stock options Cashless exercise of stock options Change in fair value of warrant Change in fair value of warrant liabilities Change in fair value of warrant liabilities Class of Stock [Domain] Agreement with PROCAPS S.A. and Research Grants Commitments and contingencies (Note 9) Commitments and Contingencies Convertible preferred stock dividend (in shares) Common Stock Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, issued Common stock, outstanding Common stock, $0.001 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, 74,056,869 and 63,909,155 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Conversion Of Accrued Liabilities To Common Stock Conversion of accrued expenses into common stock Current Fiscal Year End Date Conversion of extension costs related to convertible notes into common stock Conversion and redemption of convertible notes and accrued interest into common stock Deferred revenue Depreciation and amortization Development Stage Enterprise, Deficit Accumulated During Development Stage Deficit accumulated during the development stage Development Stage Enterprise, Deficit Accumulated During Development Stage [Member] Deficit Accumulated During the Development Stage Stock-Based Compensation Accrued dividends payable Convertible preferred stock dividend Convertible preferred stock dividend Document - Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document - Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Information [Line Items] Document Period End Date Document Type Net loss per common share - basic and diluted Loss Per Share Entities [Table] Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity [Domain] Entity Filer Category Entity Registrant Name Equity Component [Domain] Fair Value of Financial Instruments General and administrative Grant receivable Write off of intangible assets Income Statement [Abstract] Accounts payable and accrued expenses Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Increase (Decrease) in Other Noncurrent Liabilities Other long-term liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Other Receivables Grant receivable Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets Change in restricted cash Change in restricted cash Intangible assets, net Interest Expense Interest expense SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE - Cash paid for interest Interest income Issuance of equity warrants in connection with equity offerings Issuance of equity warrants in connection with equity offerings Issuance of warrants to induce conversion of notes payable Issuance of warrants to induce conversion of notes payable Legal Entity [Axis] Total liabilities Total liabilities Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders' equity (deficit) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders' equity (deficit) LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Current liabilities: Net cash provided by financing activities Net cash provided by financing activities CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Net cash used in investing activities Net cash used in investing activities CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Net cash used in operating activities Net cash used in operating activities CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net loss Net loss Net loss applicable to common stockholders Net loss applicable to common stockholders Total other income (expense) Total other income (expense) Other income (expense): Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Total operating expenses Total operating expenses Operating expenses: Total operating loss Total operating loss Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other long-term liabilities Other income Non-cash interest expense Increase in patents costs and other assets Increase in patents costs and other assets Purchases of property and equipment Purchases of property and equipment Preferred stock accretion Preferred stock accretion Preferred stock dividends Preferred stock dividends Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Convertible preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Convertible preferred stock, issued Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding Convertible preferred stock, outstanding Preferred Stock Series A 12% convertible preferred stock; 5,000,000 shares authorized, 1,562,500 and 1,592,500 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Prepaid expenses and other current assets Net proceeds from issuance of convertible debt instruments The cash inflow associated with the amount received from holders exercising their stock options and the cash inflow from other equity not otherwise defined in the taxonomy. Proceeds from exercise of common stock warrants and options Net proceeds from issuance of stock and warrants Proceeds from shareholder advances Property and equipment, net Repayment of convertible debt instruments Repayment of convertible debt instruments Research and development Restricted cash Series A 12% convertible preferred stock Series B-1 Preferred Stock Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Series B2 Preferred Stock Series B-2 12% redeemable convertible preferred stock Series C super dividend convertible preferred stock Share-based Compensation Stock-based compensation expense Shares, Outstanding Ending Balance (in shares) Beginning Balance (in shares) Class of Stock [Axis] Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Statement [Line Items] Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Statement [Table] Total stockholders' equity (deficit) Ending Balance Beginning Balance Total stockholders' equity (deficit) Stockholders' equity (deficit): Common Stock Warrants Issuance of stock to acquire Pro-Pharmaceuticals-NV Conversion of Series A to common stock (in shares) Issuance of Series C super dividend convertible preferred stock (in shares) Issuance of restricted common stock Issuance of common stock upon exercise of options (in shares) Number of shares issued during the period as a result of the exercise of warrants. Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants (in shares) Conversion of Series A to common stock Issuance of Series C super dividend convertible preferred stock Issuance of common stock upon exercise of options Value stock issued during the period as a result of the exercise of warrants. Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants Subsequent Events Supplemental Dividends on ESOP convertible preferred stock Payment of preferred stock dividends in common stock Accretion of beneficial conversion feature for Series B-2 Accretion of beneficial conversion feature for Series B-2 Convertible preferred stock, value Convertible preferred stock, liquidation value Convertible preferred stock, redemption value Temporary Equity, Shares Authorized Convertible preferred stock, shares authorized Temporary Equity, Shares Issued Convertible preferred stock, issued Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding Convertible preferred stock, outstanding Trading Symbol Undesignated Capital Stock, No Par Value Undesignated stock, par value Undesignated Capital Stock, Shares Authorized Undesignated stock, shares authorized Undesignated Capital Stock, Shares, Outstanding Undesignated stock, designated Undesignated Capital Stock, Value Undesignated stock, $0.01 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, 8,001,000 designated at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 Unrealized Gain (Loss) In Debt Instrument Fair Value Change in fair value of convertible debt instrument Change in fair value of convertible debt instrument Warrant liabilities Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding where Basic and Diluted are the same and reported as a single line Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted