| **Organization and Business**            | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             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| **Organization and Business [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             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| Organization and Business                | 1. Organization and BusinessProgenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Progenics," "we" or "us") has been engaged in research and development for proprietary and in-licensed biotechnology product candidates in oncology, virology, supportive care and gastroenterology. In 2011, we licensed our first commercial product, RELISTOR� (methylnaltrexone bromide) subcutaneous injection, to Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading gastrointestinal disease specialty company. Salix is marketing RELISTOR directly through its specialty sales force in the U.S. and sublicensing the drug to regional companies elsewhere except Japan, where we have previously licensed to Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. the subcutaneous formulation of the drug. In addition to the FDA-approved indication for advanced illness patients, a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for subcutaneous RELISTOR in non-cancer pain patients has an action date under the U.S. Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) of April 27, 2012. We and Salix recently announced successful top-line data from the ongoing phase 3 trial of oral methylnaltrexone in non-cancer pain patients. Our current principal sources of revenue from operations are upfront, commercialization milestone, royalty and revenue-sharing payments from Salix's RELISTOR operations.Progenics also continues its research and development efforts for drug candidates focused on oncology. Our principal product candidate is PSMA ADC, a fully human monoclonal antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) directed against prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a protein found at high levels on the surface of prostate cancer cells and also on the neovasculature of a number of other types of solid tumors. We expect that the ongoing Phase 1 trial of PSMA ADC will be completed in 2012 and if the results are successful we plan then to commence a Phase 2 trial of PSMA ADC in advanced prostate cancer.Also in oncology, we are allocating additional financial and personnel resources to our pre-clinical development work on novel multiplex phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors that may be effective in blocking signaling pathways that are critical in the growth of aggressive cancers. We are seeking to in-license or acquire opportunities in the oncology field and related supportive, diagnostic and/or other areas that are complementary to these ongoing initiatives and our oncology focus generally. As we have expanded our focus on oncology, we have terminated programs directed toward hepatitis C infection and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine therapy, and are working to out-license other programs not within the Company's new focus.Progenics commenced principal operations in 1988, became publicly traded in 1997 and throughout has been engaged primarily in research and development efforts, establishing corporate collaborations and related activities. Certain of our intellectual property rights are held by wholly owned subsidiaries. None of our subsidiaries other than PSMA Development Company LLC (PSMA LLC) had operations during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 or 2009. All of our operations are conducted at our facilities in Tarrytown, New York. We operate under a single research and development segment.RELISTOR (methylnaltrexone bromide) subcutaneous injection is a first-in-class therapy for opioid-induced constipation (OIC) which we developed over the course of the last decade and since 2008 has been approved for sale in the United States and over 50 other countries worldwide, including countries in the European Union, Canada and Australia. Marketing applications are pending elsewhere throughout the world. Under our 2011 License Agreement, Salix is responsible for further developing and commercializing subcutaneous RELISTOR, including completing clinical development necessary to support regulatory marketing approvals for potential new indications and formulations of the drug. Through December 31, 2011, we have received under this Agreement a $60.0 million upfront cash payment and $0.2 million in respect of Salix ex-U.S. sublicensee revenue and are eligible to receive (i) up to $40.0 million upon U.S. marketing approval for subcutaneous RELISTOR in non-cancer pain patients, (ii) up to $50.0 million upon U.S. marketing approval of an oral formulation of RELISTOR, (iii) up to $200.0 million of commercialization milestone payments upon achievement of specified U.S. sales targets, (iv) royalties ranging from 15 to 19 percent of net sales by Salix and its affiliates, and (v) 60% of any upfront, milestone, reimbursement or other revenue (net of costs of goods sold, as defined, and territory-specific research and development expense reimbursement) Salix receives from sublicensees outside the U.S. In the event that either marketing approval is subject to a Black Box Warning or Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS), payment of a portion of the milestone amount would be deferred, and subject, to achievement of the first commercialization milestone.Progenics began developing RELISTOR in 2001 and continued development and commercialization worldwide except Japan with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, now a Pfizer Inc. subsidiary, pursuant to a 2005 collaboration agreement that was terminated in October 2009.Funding and Financial Matters. At December 31, 2011, we held $70.1 million in cash and cash equivalents which, we expect will be sufficient to fund operations as currently anticipated beyond one year. We may require additional funding in the future and if we are unable to enter into favorable collaboration, license, asset sale, capital raising or other financing transactions, we will have to reduce, delay or eliminate spending on some current operations, and/or reduce salary and other overhead expenses, to extend our remaining operations. At December 31, 2011, cash, cash equivalents and auction rate securities increased to $73.4 million from $51.5 million at December 31, 2010.In April 2008, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program to acquire up to $15.0 million of our outstanding common shares, under which we have $12.3 million remaining available. Purchases may be discontinued at any time. We did not repurchase any common shares during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009. |

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The entire disclosure for organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure.
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