Document and Entity Information Product Development and Licensing Agreements Revenue from Product Development and Licensing Agreements This element represents revenue from product development and licensing agreements. Contracts and Grants Revenue from Contracts and Grants This element represents revenue earned during the period arising from products sold or services provided under the terms of a contract. Also include revenue earned during the period from non-repayable sum of money awarded to an entity to carry out a specific purpose as provided in grant agreements. SIGNIFICANT REVENUE ARRANGEMENTS Significant Revenue Arrangements Disclosure [Text Block] This element may be used to capture the complete disclosure pertaining to an entity's significant revenue contracts and arrangements. SIGNIFICANT REVENUE ARRANGEMENTS COLLABORATION AGREEMENTS Amendment Description Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Accretion (Amortization) of Discounts and Premiums, Investments Amortization and Premium of Marketable Securities Document Period End Date Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Type Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Additional Paid-In Capital Amortization of Intangible Assets Amortization of Acquired Intangible Assets Amortization of Intangible Assets CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS Amortization of Debt Discount (Premium) Non-Cash Interest Expense Cash Acquired from Acquisition Cash Acquired in the CuraGen acquisition Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period Cash Paid for Interest Interest Paid Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Prepaid and Other Current Assets Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities: COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common Stock, Shares Issued Balance (in shares) Balance (in shares) Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Common Stock, Value, Issued Common Stock, $.001 Par Value; 297,000,000 Shares Authorized; 58,735,636 and 44,210,636 Shares Issued and Outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive Loss Comprehensive Income (Loss) Note [Text Block] Comprehensive Loss Convertible Subordinated Debt, Current Convertible Subordinated Debt Convertible Subordinated Debt, Noncurrent Convertible Subordinated Debt Liabilities, Current Total Current Liabilities Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Current Liabilities: Deferred Revenue, Current Current Portion of Deferred Revenue Deferred Revenue, Noncurrent Deferred Revenue Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents, Continuing Operations Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents Share-based Compensation Stock-Based Compensation Expense Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets Gain on Sale of Assets Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment Loss (Gain) on Sales or Disposal of Assets General and Administrative Expense General and Administrative CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other Assets Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) Intangible Assets, Net Goodwill Goodwill Interest Expense Interest Expense Liabilities Total Liabilities Liabilities and Equity Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Marketable Securities, Current Marketable Securities Net Cash Used in Operating Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations Cash Flows from Operating Activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Net Loss Net Loss Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic Nonoperating Income (Expense) Investment and Other Income, Net Operating Income (Loss) Operating Loss Revenues Total Revenue Revenues [Abstract] REVENUE: Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Net of Tax Unrealized Gain on Marketable Securities RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Convertible Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Convertible Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding Convertible Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Convertible Preferred Stock, Par Value (in dollars per share) Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Net Proceeds from Stock Issuances Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt Issuance of Term Loan Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Marketable Securities Sales and Maturities of Marketable Securities Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets Proceeds from Sales or Disposal of Assets Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property and Equipment, Net PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET Payments to Acquire Marketable Securities Purchases of Marketable Securities Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Acquisition of Property and Equipment Repayments of Subordinated Debt Related Party Loan Due to Medarex Repayments of Other Long-term Debt Payments of Other Liabilities Payment of Convertible Subordinated Debt Repayments of Convertible Debt Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated Deficit Royalty Revenue Product Royalties Royalty Expense Royalty Current Portion of Term Loan Secured Debt, Current Term Loan, less Current Portion Secured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies Text Block CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Stockholders' Equity: Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Stockholders' Equity Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Intangible Assets and Goodwill Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Assets, Current Total Current Assets Assets, Current [Abstract] Current Assets: Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Shares Used in Calculating Diluted Net Loss per Share (Note 3) (in shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Shares Used in Calculating Basic Net Loss per Share (Note 3) (in shares) Common Stock Common Stock [Member] PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Research and Development Expense Research and Development Assets. Total Assets Other Liabilities, Current Current Portion of Long-Term Liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other Long-Term Liabilities Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] Statement [Table] Statement, Scenario [Axis] Assets [Abstract] ASSETS Statement [Line Items] Statement Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value Measurements SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited) Quarterly Financial Information [Text Block] Cash Flows from Investing Activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Cash Flows from Financing Activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Stockholders' Equity, Period Increase (Decrease) Stockholders' Equity, Period Increase (Decrease) Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue Deferred Revenue Other Assets, Noncurrent Other Assets Net Loss Per Share Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities Other Liabilities Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common Stock, Par Value (in dollars per share) Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Total Stockholders' Equity Balance Balance Balance Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income Tax Benefit Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Convertible Preferred Stock, $.01 Par Value; 3,000,000 Shares Authorized; No Shares Issued and Outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 Comprehensive Loss COMPREHENSIVE LOSS: Increase (Decrease) in Accounts and Other Receivables Accounts and Other Receivables Marketable Securities, Gain (Loss) Realized (Gain) Loss on Sales and Maturities of Marketable Securities Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Additional Paid-In Capital Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Accumulated Deficit Retained Earnings [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Equity Component [Domain] Long-term Debt [Text Block] Term Loan Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues Shares Issued in Underwritten Offering Stock Issued During Period, Value, Employee Stock Purchase Plan Shares Issued under Stock Option and Employee Stock Purchase Plans Stock Issued During Period, Value, Acquisitions Shares Issued in Connection with the CuraGen acquisition Shares Issued in Underwritten Offering (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Employee Stock Purchase Plans Shares Issued under Stock Option and Employee Stock Purchase Plans (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Acquisitions Shares Issued in Connection with the CuraGen acquisition (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Period Increase (Decrease) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Period Increase (Decrease) Other Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Other Long-Term Liabilities Collaborative Arrangement Disclosure [Text Block] COLLABORATION AGREEMENTS Costs and Expenses [Abstract] OPERATING EXPENSE: Costs and Expenses Total Operating Expense Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Flow Information Non-Cash Tax Benefit Other Noncash Income Tax Expense Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Net Loss Per Share Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation and Amortization Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] BUSINESS COMBINATIONS Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingent Liabilities Marketable Securities [Text Block] Marketable Securities Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to Reconcile Net Loss to Net Cash Used in Operating Activities: Accounts Payable, Current Accounts Payable Accrued Liabilities, Current Accrued Expenses Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income: Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Share-Based Compensation Stock Granted During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures Shares Issued to Executive Officers Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Net Loss Before Income Taxes Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current Prepaid and Other Current Assets Accounts and Other Receivables, Net, Current Accounts and Other Receivables Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Continuing Operations Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents ACCRUED EXPENSES Basis of Presentation Marketable Securities Accounts Payable, Accrued Liabilities, and Other Liabilities Disclosure, Current [Text Block] ACCRUED EXPENSES BUSINESS COMBINATIONS COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES. Shares Issued in Connection with Cantor Agreement Stock Issued During Period, Value, Other Shares Issued in Connection with Cantor Agreement (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Other Income Taxes Intangible Assets and Goodwill Fair Value Measurements Term Loan Other Long-Term Liabilities RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited) Stock-Based Compensation Basis of Accounting [Text Block] Basis of Presentation Significant Accounting Policies Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Common Share (Note 3) (in dollars per share)