AbbVie. AbbVie [Member] AbbVie [Member] Accounting Policies [Abstract] Accounting Policies [Abstract] Accounting Standards Update 2015-17 [Member] ASU 2015-17 [Member] Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Accrued Expenses, Other Current Liabilities and Other Long-Term Liabilities Accounts Payable, Current Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Trade, Current Accrued vendor manufacturing Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts receivable Accretion (Amortization) of Discounts and Premiums, Investments Amortization of premium on marketable securities Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable for fixed assets (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer). Accrued Fixed Assets Purchases Accrued fixed assets Accrued Income Taxes, Current Income taxes payable Accrued Liabilities and Other Liabilities [Abstract] Accrued expenses and other current liabilities: Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer. Accrued Liabilities And Other Liabilities Current Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Accrued Liabilities, Current Accrued expenses Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable for preclinical and clinical expenses (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer). Accrued Preclinical And Clinical Expenses Current Accrued preclinical and clinical expenses Accrued Professional Fees, Current Accrued professional fees Accrued Rent, Noncurrent Accrued rent expense Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive income AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Additional Funding Agreement Terms [Member] Additional Funding Agreement Terms [Member] Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Additional Paid-In Capital [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncements [Axis] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncements [Axis] Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Stock-based compensation expense Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Adjustment to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Effect from Share-based Compensation, Net Income tax benefit from stock option exercises Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense Compensation expenses Stock-based compensation expense Amendment Flag Amendment Flag Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount Antidilutive common stock equivalents excluded from above Shares excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items] Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items] Arrangements and Non-arrangement Transactions [Domain] Arrangements and Non-arrangement Transactions [Domain] Asset Retirement Obligations, Noncurrent Asset retirement obligation Assets Total assets Assets [Abstract] Assets Assets, Current Total current assets Assets, Current [Abstract] Current assets: Assets, Fair Value Adjustment Adjustment to fair value Assets, Fair Value Disclosure Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Total Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract] Assets: Available-for-sale Securities Available for sale securities, fair value Fair Value Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax Gross Unrealized Gains Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax Gross Unrealized Losses Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis Amortized Cost Available-for-sale Securities, Current Short-term marketable securities Available-for-sale Securities, Noncurrent Long-term marketable securities Marketable securities maturing in greater than one year, aggregate fair value Available-for-sale Securities [Table Text Block] Fair Value of Available-for-Sale Marketable Securities by Type of Security Award Type [Axis] Award Type [Axis] Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block] Basis of Presentation Capital Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid Purchases of fixed assets included in accounts payable and accrued expenses Capital Lease Obligations, Current Capital lease obligation Capital Lease Obligations Incurred Fixed assets financed through capital lease Capital Lease Obligations, Noncurrent Capital lease obligation Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due Total Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Next Twelve Months 2017 Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Five Years 2021 Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Four Years 2020 Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Three Years 2019 Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Two Years 2018 Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter Thereafter Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents [Axis] Cash and Cash Equivalents [Axis] Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure Cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block] Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block] Restricted Cash Amount of cash consideration received under collaboration agreement from collaborator. Cash Consideration Received Under Collaboration Proceed received to fund research activities and preferred stock financing Maximum original maturity period for investments classified as cash equivalents. Cash Equivalents Maturity Period Short-term investments maturity period Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities: Certain Executives [Member] Certain Executives [Member] Certain Executives [Member] Class of Stock [Domain] Class of Stock [Domain] Class of Stock [Line Items] Class of Stock [Line Items] Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights Number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants Agreement date for AbbVie contract. collaboration Agreement Date Abb Vie Collaboration agreement date Agreement date for NIAID contract. collaboration Agreement Date NIH Collaboration agreement date Collaborative Arrangement Disclosure [Text Block] Collaboration Agreements Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items] Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items] Commercial Paper [Member] Commercial Paper [Member] Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and contingencies (Note 12) Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items] Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items] Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items] Commitments And Contingencies [Table] Commitments And Contingencies [Table] Commitments And Contingencies [Table] Common Stock [Member] Common Stock [Member] Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock; $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 19,035,910 and 18,716,834 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block] 401(k) Plan Compensation Related Costs [Abstract] Compensation Related Costs [Abstract] Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive income Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block] Comprehensive Income Computer Equipment [Member] Computer Equipment [Member] Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block] Concentration of Credit Risk and of Significant Customers and Suppliers Construction in Progress [Member] Construction in Progress [Member] Conversion of convertible preferred stock. Conversion Of Convertible Preferred Stock [Member] Conversion of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and Convertible Preferred Stock [Member] Stock Conversion Description [Axis] Stock Conversion Description [Axis] Conversion of Stock, Name [Domain] Conversion of Stock, Name [Domain] Conversion of Stock, Shares Issued Shares of common stock issued upon conversion of preferred stock The value of warrants that were converted to preferred stock. Conversion Of Warrants Into Preferred Stock Exercise of Series 1 warrants into Series 1 nonconvertible preferred stock Corporate Bond Securities [Member] Corporate Bond Securities [Member] Corporate Debt Securities [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member] Costs and Expenses Total operating expenses Current Federal Tax Expense (Benefit) Federal Current Fiscal Year End Date Current Fiscal Year End Date Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations [Abstract] Current income tax (expense) benefit: Current State and Local Tax Expense (Benefit) State Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Federal Deferred Income Taxes and Tax Credits Deferred income taxes Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations [Abstract] Deferred income tax (expense) benefit: Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross Total deferred tax liabilities Deferred Revenue Arrangement Type [Axis] Deferred Revenue Arrangement Type [Axis] Deferred Revenue [Domain] Deferred Revenue [Domain] Deferred State and Local Income Tax Expense (Benefit) State Reclassification of deferred tax assets. Deferred Tax Asset Reclassification Deferred tax assets reclassified as noncurrent Deferred Tax Assets, Gross Total deferred tax assets Deferred Tax Assets, in Process Research and Development Capitalized research and development expenses Deferred Tax Assets, Net Net deferred income tax assets (liabilities) Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Deferred tax assets Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent Deferred tax assets Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance Net deferred tax assets Deferred Tax Assets, Net [Abstract] Deferred tax assets: Deferred Tax Assets, Other Other temporary differences Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards, Research Research and development tax credit carryforwards Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Compensation and Benefits, Share-based Compensation Cost Share-based compensation Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance Valuation allowance Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net [Abstract] Deferred tax liabilities: Deferred Tax Liabilities, Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized gain (loss) Deferred Tax Liabilities, Property, Plant and Equipment Depreciation Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized Benefits charged to operating expenses Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction Depreciation and amortization expense Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Gain (Loss), Net Change in fair value of warrant liability and Series 1 nonconvertible preferred stock, net Change in fair value of warrant liability and Series 1 nonconvertible preferred stock Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Stock-Based Awards Disclosure of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table Text Block] Summary of Restricted Stock Units Activity Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Period End Date Document Period End Date Document Type Document Type Domestic Tax Authority [Member] Federal [Member] Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Net income per common share: Earnings Per Share, Basic Net income per common share-basic Basic Net income (loss) per common share-basic Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract] Basic net income per common share: Earnings Per Share, Diluted Net income per common share-diluted Diluted Net income (loss) per common share-diluted Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract] Diluted net income per common share: Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] Net Income per Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Net Income Per Share Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent Effective income tax rate Effective income tax rate Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent Federal statutory income tax rate Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Change in Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance, Percent Change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Change in Enacted Tax Rate, Percent Change in statutory rate Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Other Adjustments, Percent Other Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, State and Local Income Taxes, Percent State taxes, net of federal benefit Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Credit, Research, Percent Federal research and development tax credit Employee-related Liabilities, Current Accrued payroll and related expenses Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items] Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized Aggregate of unrecognized stock-based compensation cost Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition Weighted average recognition period Employees. Employees [Member] Employees [Member] Employee stock purchase plan. Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member] Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member] Entity Central Index Key Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Public Float Entity Registrant Name Entity Registrant Name Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Equity [Abstract] Equity [Abstract] Equity Component [Domain] Equity Component [Domain] Europe [Member] Europe [Member] Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Income tax benefit from the exercise of stock options Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Income tax benefit from the exercise of stock options Executive Officer [Member] Executive Officer [Member] Fair Value Adjustment of Warrants Change in fair value of warrants Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring [Table] Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring [Table] Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate Dividend yield Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate Risk-free interest rate Fair Value, Hierarchy [Axis] Fair Value, Hierarchy [Axis] Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate Discount rate Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] Level 1 [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Level 2 [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Level 3 [Member] Fair Value Inputs, Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items] Fair Value Inputs, Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items] Fair Value Inputs, Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Table] Fair Value Inputs, Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Table] Fair Value Inputs, Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Table Text Block] Fair Value Measurements of the Company's Warrant Liability and Series 1 Nonconvertible Preferred Stock Period in which outcomes requiring payout upon exercise of warrant is expected to begin. Fair Value Inputs Payout Period Beginning Periods in which payout is expected to occur, beginning Period in which outcomes requiring payout upon exercise of warrant is expected to end. Fair Value Inputs Payout Period Ending Periods in which payout is expected to occur, ending Percentage of likelihood that an outcome would occur that would require a transfer of value upon exercise of warrants, used as an input to measure fair value. Fair Value Inputs Probability Of Payout Probabilities of payout Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items] Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items] Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table] Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table] Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block] Rollforward of Aggregate Fair Values of Warrants and Outstanding Series 1 Nonconvertible Preferred Stock Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block] Fair Value Measurements