| **Employee Savings Plan**            | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
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| **Employee Savings Plan [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| Employee Savings Plan                | 11. Employee Savings PlanThe terms of the amended and restated Progenics Pharmaceuticals 401(k) Plan (the Amended Plan), among other things, allow eligible employees to participate in the Amended Plan by electing to contribute to the Amended Plan a percentage of their compensation to be set aside to pay their future retirement benefits. During the three years ended December 31, 2011, we matched 50% of those employee contributions that are equal to 5%-8% of compensation and are made by eligible employees to the Amended Plan (the Matching Contribution). In addition, we may also make a discretionary contribution each year on behalf of all participants who are non-highly compensated employees. We made Matching Contributions of approximately $597, $594 and $718 to the Amended Plan for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. No discretionary contributions were made during those years. |

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| - Definition
The entire disclosure for an entity's employee compensation and benefit plans, including, but not limited to, postemployment and postretirement benefit plans, defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution plans, non-qualified and supplemental benefit plans, deferred compensation, share-based compensation, life insurance, severance, health care, unemployment and other benefit plans.
+ References
No definition available.
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