Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Significant Strategic Drug Development Collaborations - Additional Information (Detail)

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Significant Strategic Drug Development Collaborations - Additional Information (Detail)
1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 174 Months Ended
Jan. 23, 2014
shares
Jan. 30, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
USD ($)
Product
shares
Dec. 31, 2011
USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Member]          
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]          
Company issued new shares of common stock, Shares | shares 132,545,504        
Baxter Healthcare Sa And Baxter Healthcare Corporation [Member]          
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]          
Research and development service fees recognized as revenue     $ 0 $ 0 $ 5,000,000
Supply agreement amended period     2010-09    
Research and development recognized as revenue     $ 1,000,000 0 $ 3,000,000
Royalties expiration period     10 years    
Royalties expiration description     The Company's right to receive these royalties in any particular country will expire upon the later of ten years after the first commercial sale of the product in that country or the expiration of patent rights in that particular country.    
Agreement amended period     2014-01    
Baxter Healthcare Sa And Baxter Healthcare Corporation [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]          
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]          
Company issued new shares of common stock value   $ 10,000,000      
Baxter Healthcare Sa And Baxter Healthcare Corporation [Member] | Scenario Forecast [Member]          
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]          
Development receipts     $ 18,000,000    
Regulatory receipts     16,000,000    
Sales target receipts     $ 66,000,000    
Serum Institute Of India Limited [Member]          
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]          
Company issued new shares of common stock value       $ 1,100,000  
Share ownership percentage     10.60% 10.60%  
Description and terms of license and arrangements     In the period from 2004 through 2011, the Company entered into and amended certain license and supply agreements with Serum Institute. The original license agreement with Serum Institute was a collaborative Development and Manufacturing Arrangement ("DMA") to develop agreed upon potential commercial product candidates using the Company's PolyXen technology.    
Company issued new shares of common stock, Shares | shares       2,880,000  
In-process research and development expense       $ 1,100,000  
Number of potential commercial product | Product       14  
License amendment description     Following the 2011 amendment, Serum Institute retained an exclusive license to use the Company’s PolyXen® technology to research and develop one potential commercial product, Polysialylated Erythropoietin (“PSA-EPO”). Serum Institute will be responsible for conducting all pre-clinical and clinical trials required to achieve regulatory approvals within the certain predetermined territories at Serum Institute’s own expense. The royalty payment schedule based on net revenues on the future commercial sales of PSA-EPO under the DMA was also modified as a result of the 2011 amendment.    
Percentage of royalty payments of net sales     25.00%    
Royalty revenue or expense     $ 0 $ 0  
Common stock shares, subscribed | shares       800,000  
Common stock value, subscribed       $ 421,163  
Synbio Llc [Member]          
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]          
Research and development supply service revenues     $ 0 $ 100,000  
Royalties receivable percentage     10.00%    
Royalties payment percentage     10.00%    
Share ownership percentage     45.30% 45.30%  
Minimum [Member] | Baxter Healthcare Sa And Baxter Healthcare Corporation [Member]          
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]          
Percentage of royalties     2.00%    
Minimum [Member] | Serum Institute Of India Limited [Member]          
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]          
Percentage of royalties     2.00%    
Maximum [Member] | Baxter Healthcare Sa And Baxter Healthcare Corporation [Member]          
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]          
Percentage of royalties     3.50%    
Maximum [Member] | Serum Institute Of India Limited [Member]          
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]          
Percentage of royalties     8.00%    
Development And Manufacturing Arrangement [Member] | Serum Institute Of India Limited [Member]          
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]          
Milestone or other research-related payments due under the DMA     $ 0