AbbVie. AbbVie [Member] AbbVie [Member] Accounting Policies [Abstract] Accounting Policies [Abstract] Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Accrued Expenses 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 purchases Accrued Income Taxes, Current Income taxes payable 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 Accrued Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Accrued expenses: Milestone payments made to 3rd party. Accrued Milestone Payments, Current Milestone payment liability incurred 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 Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive income Additional Funding Agreement Terms [Member] Additional Funding Agreement Terms [Member] Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Additional paid-in capital 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: Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense Compensation expenses 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 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 [Table Text Block] Fair Value of Available-for-Sale Marketable Securities by Type of Security Award Type [Axis] Award Type [Axis] Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block] Nature of the Business and Basis of Presentation Capital Lease Obligations, Current Capital lease obligation Capital Lease Obligations, Noncurrent Capital lease obligation 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, Fair Value Disclosure Cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 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 Certain Executives [Member] Certain Executives [Member] Certain Executives [Member] Class of Stock [Domain] Class of Stock [Domain] Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items] Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items] Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights Number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants Class of Warrant or Right [Table] Class of Warrant or Right [Table] Collaborative Arrangement Disclosure [Text Block] Ongoing Collaboration Agreements Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations Collaboration agreement tiered royalty description 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 11) Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies 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; 18,956,602 and 18,716,834 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive income (loss) Convertible Preferred Stock, Nonredeemable or Redeemable, Issuer Option, Value Series 1 nonconvertible preferred stock Corporate Debt Securities [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member] Costs and Expenses Total operating expenses Current Fiscal Year End Date Current Fiscal Year End Date Deferred Income Taxes and Tax Credits Deferred income taxes Deferred Revenue Arrangement Type [Axis] Deferred Revenue Arrangement Type [Axis] Deferred Revenue [Domain] Deferred Revenue [Domain] Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Deferred tax assets Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent Deferred tax assets 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 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 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 Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Net income (loss) per share: Earnings Per Share, Basic Basic Net income (loss) per share-basic Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract] Basic net income (loss) per share: Earnings Per Share, Diluted Diluted Net income (loss) per share-diluted Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract] Diluted net income (loss) per share: Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Net Income (Loss) Per Share Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent Effective income tax rate Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent Federal statutory income tax rate Eligible Item or Group for Fair Value Option [Axis] Eligible Item or Group for Fair Value Option [Axis] 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 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 Filer Category Entity Filer Category Entity Registrant Name Entity Registrant Name Equity [Abstract] Equity [Abstract] Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options Executive Officer [Member] Executive Officer [Member] 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, 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, Instruments Classified in Shareholders' Equity Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block] Rollforward of Aggregate Fair Values of Warrants Fair Value Hierarchy [Domain] Fair Value Hierarchy [Domain] Amount of transfers of financial instruments classified as an asset or liability between level 1, level 2, and level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Fair Value Measurements Inter Transfers Between Levels Transfers between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Period Increase (Decrease) Decrease in fair value Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations, Recurring Basis, Liability Value Ending Balance Beginning Balance Liabilities Fair Value, Option, Eligible Item or Group [Domain] Fair Value, Option, Eligible Item or Group [Domain] General and Administrative Expense General and administrative General and Administrative Expense [Member] General and Administrative [Member] Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Net income (loss) before income taxes Income Statement [Abstract] Income Statement [Abstract] Income Statement Location [Axis] Income Statement Location [Axis] Income Statement Location [Domain] Income Statement Location [Domain] Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes Income Taxes Paid, Net Cash paid for income taxes Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax expense (benefit) Income tax expense Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Payable Income taxes payable Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities Accrued expenses Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Increase (Decrease) in Other Noncurrent Liabilities Other long-term liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash Increase in restricted cash Increase (Decrease) in Unbilled Receivables Unbilled receivables Interest Expense Interest expense Investment Income, Interest Interest income Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract] Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract] Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block] Marketable Securities Investment Type [Axis] Investment Type [Axis] Investments [Domain] Investments [Domain] Investment Warrants Expiration Date Warrant expiration date JAPAN JAPAN Operating Leases, Rent Expense Rent expense Lease Expiration Date Office lease expiration period Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount Outstanding letter of credit Liabilities Total liabilities Liabilities and Equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Current liabilities: Financial and Nonfinancial Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Total Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract] Liabilities: Liability for Uncertain Tax Positions, Noncurrent Uncertain tax positions Maintenance Costs Maintenance fees Marketable Securities, Current Short-term marketable securities Marketable Securities, Gain (Loss) Gain on sale of marketable securities Marketable Securities, Noncurrent Long-term marketable securities Marketable securities maturing in greater than one year, aggregate fair value Maximum [Member] Maximum [Member] Milestone payments to be received upon achievement of certain goals. Milestone Payments Milestone revenue payment received Milestone Payments And Royalties [Member] Milestone Payments And Royalties [Member] Milestone Payments and Royalties [Member] The maximum amount of payment due under a milestone agreement. Milestone Payments Maximum Amount Company's obligation to pay Milestone payments. Milestone Payments [Member] Milestone Payments [Member] Minimum [Member] Minimum [Member] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash provided by financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Cash flows from financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Cash flows from investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net income Net income (loss) Net income (loss) New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total other income (expense), net Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Other income (expense): The amount due under a license agreement each time the intellectual property is provided to a collaborator. One-time License Costs One-time fee Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Operating expenses: Operating Income (Loss) Income (loss) from operations Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] Other Accrued Liabilities, Current Accrued other Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Total other comprehensive income Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract] Other comprehensive income: Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Net of Tax Net unrealized gains on marketable securities, net of tax of $0, $55, $135 and $58 Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Tax Net unrealized gains on marketable securities, tax Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract] Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract] Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other long-term liabilities Other long-term liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent [Abstract] Other long-term liabilities: Other Revenue, Net Other Paid-in-Kind Interest Non-cash interest expense Paritaprevir 3-DAA Regimen. Paritaprevir Three DAA Regimen [Member] Paritaprevir 3-DAA Regimen [Member] Payables and Accruals [Abstract] Payables and Accruals [Abstract]