| **Accounts Receivable**            | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
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| **Accounts Receivable [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Accounts Receivable                | 5.  Accounts Receivable  September 30,2012 December 31,2011Royalties $728 $1,279Collaborators  314  77Research grants  87  100Other  -  60Total $1,129 $1,516The decrease in accounts receivable as of September 30, 2012 as compared to December 31, 2011, is primarily due to lower Relistor royalties from decreased net sales by Salix during the third quarter of 2012. Since December 31, 2011, we have collected all accounts receivable outstanding on that date. |

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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the various types of trade accounts and notes receivable and for each the gross carrying value, allowance, and net carrying value as of the balance sheet date. Presentation is categorized by current, noncurrent and unclassified receivables.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3,4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 3, 4 -Article 5
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