Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 27, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	GALT
Entity Registrant Name	GALECTIN THERAPEUTICS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001133416
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		16,109,090
Entity Public Float			$ 29,900,000

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 9,364	$ 6,397
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	153	104
Total current assets	9,517	6,501
Property and equipment, net	8	6
Restricted cash and security deposit	6	69
Intangible assets, net	30	36
Total assets	9,561	6,612
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	397	384
Accrued expenses	1,161	1,551
Accrued dividends payable	80	80
Deferred income		200
Total current liabilities	1,638	2,215
Other long-term liabilities	6
Total liabilities	1,644	2,215
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Undesignated stock, $0.01 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2012 and 2011, 8,001,000 shares designated at December 31, 2012 and 2011
Series A 12% convertible preferred stock; 5,000,000 shares authorized, 1,562,500 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 2011	632	632
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2012 and 2011, 16,060,853 and 12,919,538 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively	16	13
Additional paid-in capital	80,535	66,367
Deficit accumulated during the development stage	(80,018)	(69,137)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	1,165	(2,125)
Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders' equity (deficit)	9,561	6,612
Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
Current liabilities:
Convertible preferred stock, value	1,698	1,681
Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
Current liabilities:
Convertible preferred stock, value	2,900	2,687
Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock
Current liabilities:
Convertible preferred stock, value	$ 2,154	$ 2,154

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Undesignated stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Undesignated stock, shares authorized	20,000,000	20,000,000
Undesignated stock, shares designated	8,001,000	8,001,000
Series A 12% convertible preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Series A 12% convertible preferred stock, issued	1,562,500	1,562,500
Series A 12% convertible preferred stock, outstanding	1,562,500	1,562,500
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common stock, issued	16,060,853	12,919,538
Common stock, outstanding	16,060,853	12,919,538
Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
Convertible preferred stock, shares authorized	900,000	900,000
Convertible preferred stock, issued	900,000	900,000
Convertible preferred stock, outstanding	900,000	900,000
Convertible preferred stock, redemption value	$ 1,800,000
Convertible preferred stock, liquidation value	1,800,000
Undesignated stock, shares designated	900,000
Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
Convertible preferred stock, shares authorized	2,100,000	2,100,000
Convertible preferred stock, issued	2,100,000	2,100,000
Convertible preferred stock, outstanding	2,100,000	2,100,000
Convertible preferred stock, redemption value	4,200,000
Convertible preferred stock, liquidation value	4,200,000
Undesignated stock, shares designated	2,100,000
Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock
Convertible preferred stock, shares authorized	1,000	1,000
Convertible preferred stock, issued	220	220
Convertible preferred stock, outstanding	220	220
Convertible preferred stock, redemption value	5,204,000
Convertible preferred stock, liquidation value	$ 2,233,000
Undesignated stock, shares designated	1,000

Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended		150 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating expenses:
Research and development	$ 4,527	$ 3,552	$ 27,610
General and administrative	5,372	6,857	47,036
Total operating expenses	9,899	10,409	74,646
Total operating loss	(9,899)	(10,409)	(74,646)
Other income (expense):
Interest income	24	18	818
Interest expense			(4,451)
Change in fair value of convertible debt instrument			(3,426)
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities		(524)	9,022
Other income	200		691
Total other income (expense)	224	(506)	2,654
Net loss	(9,675)	(10,915)	(71,992)
Preferred stock dividends	(976)	(1,568)	(4,235)
Preferred stock accretion	(230)	(230)	(4,045)
Net loss applicable to common stockholders	$ (10,881)	$ (12,713)	$ (80,272)
Basic and diluted net loss per share	$ (0.72)	$ (1.06)
Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share	15,131	11,986

Consolidated Statement Of Changes In Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock And Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) (USD $)	Total USD ($)	Issuance During Period 1st USD ($)	Issuance During Period 1st Notes Payable USD ($)	Issuance During Period 1st Convertible Notes Payable USD ($)	Issuance During Period 1st Employee Stock Option USD ($)	Issuance During Period 2nd USD ($)	Issuance During Period 2nd Convertible Notes Payable USD ($)	Issuance During Period 2nd Cash USD ($)	Issuance During Period 2nd Private Placement USD ($)	Issuance During Period 3rd USD ($)	Issuance During Period 3rd Private Placement USD ($)	Issuance During Period 4th Notes Payable USD ($)	Issuance During Period 5th Private Placement USD ($)	Issuance During Period 6th Consulting Services USD ($)	Issuance During Period 7th Accrued Liabilities USD ($)	Issuance During Period 8th Private Placement USD ($)	Issuance During Period 9th Private Placement USD ($)	Issuance During Period 10th Private Placement USD ($)	Issuance During Period 11th Private Placement USD ($)	Issuance During Period 12th Cash USD ($)	Issuance During Period 14th USD ($)	Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock USD ($)	Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock Issuance During Period 1st Private Placement USD ($)	Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Transaction 01 USD ($)	Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Issuance During Period 2nd USD ($)	Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Transaction 02 USD ($)	Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Transaction 03 USD ($)	Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Issuance During Period 3rd USD ($)	Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Period 1 USD ($)	Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock USD ($)	Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock Issuance During Period 4th USD ($)	Series B Preferred Stock USD ($)	Consultant USD ($)	Common Stock USD ($)	Common Stock Issuance During Period 1st	Common Stock Issuance During Period 1st Notes Payable	Common Stock Issuance During Period 1st Employee Stock Option	Common Stock Issuance During Period 2nd USD ($)	Common Stock Issuance During Period 2nd Cash	Common Stock Issuance During Period 3rd USD ($)	Common Stock Issuance During Period 3rd Private Placement USD ($)	Common Stock Issuance During Period 4th Notes Payable	Common Stock Issuance During Period 5th Private Placement	Common Stock Issuance During Period 6th Consulting Services	Common Stock Issuance During Period 7th Accrued Liabilities	Common Stock Issuance During Period 8th Private Placement USD ($)	Common Stock Issuance During Period 9th Private Placement	Common Stock Issuance During Period 10th Private Placement	Common Stock Issuance During Period 11th Private Placement USD ($)	Common Stock Issuance During Period 12th Cash USD ($)	Common Stock Issuance During Period 14th USD ($)	Common Stock Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock	Common Stock Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Common Stock Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Common Stock Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock	Common Stock Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock Issuance During Period 4th	Common Stock Consultant	Additional Paid-In Capital USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 1st USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 1st Notes Payable USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 1st Convertible Notes Payable USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 1st Employee Stock Option USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 2nd USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 2nd Convertible Notes Payable USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 2nd Cash USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 2nd Private Placement USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 3rd USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 3rd Private Placement USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 4th Notes Payable USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 5th Private Placement USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 6th Consulting Services USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 7th Accrued Liabilities USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 8th Private Placement USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 9th Private Placement USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 10th Private Placement USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 11th Private Placement USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 12th Cash USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Issuance During Period 14th USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Issuance During Period 2nd USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Issuance During Period 3rd USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Period 1 USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock Issuance During Period 4th USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital Consultant USD ($)	Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock USD ($)	Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock USD ($)	Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock Issuance During Period 1st Private Placement USD ($)	Deficit Accumulated During the Development Stage USD ($)	Deficit Accumulated During the Development Stage Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock USD ($)	Deficit Accumulated During the Development Stage Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock USD ($)	Deficit Accumulated During the Development Stage Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Transaction 01 USD ($)	Deficit Accumulated During the Development Stage Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock USD ($)	Deficit Accumulated During the Development Stage Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Transaction 02 USD ($)	Deficit Accumulated During the Development Stage Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Transaction 03 USD ($)	Deficit Accumulated During the Development Stage Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock USD ($)	Deficit Accumulated During the Development Stage Series B Preferred Stock USD ($)	Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock USD ($)	Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Transaction 01 USD ($)	Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Issuance During Period 2nd USD ($)	Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Series B Preferred Stock USD ($)	Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock USD ($)	Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Transaction 02 USD ($)	Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Transaction 03 USD ($)	Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Issuance During Period 3rd USD ($)	Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Period 1 USD ($)	Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Series B Preferred Stock USD ($)	Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock USD ($)	Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock USD ($)	Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock Issuance During Period 4th USD ($)
Beginning Balance at Jul. 10, 2000
Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs of $1,597,000 in 2012 and $17,000 in 2001 (in shares)																																			114,884
Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs of $1,597,000 in 2012 and $17,000 in 2001	$ 2,221,000																																																										$ 2,221,000
Issuance of shares related to reverse split of common stock																																			3,324
Issuance of restricted common stock																																			454,167
Issuance of restricted common stock																																			1,000																								(1,000)
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants																																			3,419,570
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants	14,307,000																																		3,000																								14,304,000
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of options																																						2,772	398,937
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of options					74,000	362,000																																	1,000																								74,000	361,000
Stock-based compensation expense	11,635,000																																																										11,635,000
Net loss	(71,992,000)																																																																																											(71,992,000)
Issuance of founders shares July 10, 2000 (in shares)																																			2,059,112
Issuance of founders shares July 10, 2000	9,000																																		2,000																								7,000
Convertible preferred stock dividend (in shares)																																																					160,330	298,807	568,721	63,119
Convertible preferred stock dividend																						(47,000)									(33,000)																																																	875,000	1,034,000		2,022,000			224,000							(922,000)	(1,034,000)		(2,022,000)			(257,000)
Beneficial conversion feature	222,000																													1,016,000																													222,000																										1,016,000																								(1,016,000)
Issuance of common stock and beneficial conversion feature related to convertible note in 2001 (in shares)																																			110,054
Issuance of common stock and beneficial conversion feature related to convertible note in 2001	1,036,000																																																										1,036,000
Issuance of common stock in connection with reverse merger of Pro-Pharmaceuticals-NV in 2001 (in shares)																																			203,649
Issuance of common stock in connection with reverse merger of Pro-Pharmaceuticals-NV in 2001	107,000																																																										107,000
Issuance of common stock (in shares)																																					99,705			31,000		537,227	17,647	181,334	2,042	33,618	399,917	219,096	206,019	333,334	1,250,000	2,666,722
Issuance of common stock			1,126,000					602,000			2,861,000	290,000	1,070,000	12,000	302,000	4,410,000	1,319,000	1,898,000	490,000	1,044,000	10,403,000																					1,000					1,000			1,000	1,000	3,000									1,126,000					602,000			2,860,000	290,000	1,070,000	12,000	302,000	4,409,000	1,319,000	1,898,000	489,000	1,043,000	10,400,000
Issuance of Common Stock Warrants				503,000			236,000		261,000	20,000																																																				503,000			236,000		261,000	20,000
Receipt of subscription receivable	150,000																																																										150,000
Reclassification of Warrant Liabilities	3,193,000																																																										3,193,000
Deferred compensation relating to issuance of stock options	455,000																																																										455,000
Stock compensation expense related to fair market revaluation	157,000																																																										157,000
Stock compensation related to the issuance of common shares (in shares)																																			12,515
Stock compensation related to the issuance of common shares	53,000																																																										53,000
Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting principle	(204,000)																																																										(458,000)																																	254,000
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock																								(1,303,000)			(2,057,000)	(685,000)																																																																			(1,303,000)		(2,057,000)	(685,000)				1,303,000				2,057,000	685,000
Issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock (in shares)																																																																																											1,742,500												900,000					2,100,000					225
Issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock																							704,000		1,105,000				2,761,000																																																					1,105,000		2,761,000							704,000												395,000					1,174,000					2,203,000
Stock issued in conversion of convertible securities (in shares)																																				79,367			1,227,972		867,558												30,000				8,334																																	(180,000)																							(5)
Stock issued in conversion of convertible securities		1,745,000				3,948,000				5,330,000																						49,000							1,000		1,000																			1,745,000				3,947,000				5,329,000												72,000							49,000			(72,000)																							(49,000)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	1,165,000																																		16,000																								80,535,000																														632,000			(80,018,000)									1,698,000										2,154,000
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012																																			16,060,853																																																						1,562,500												900,000										220
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2009
Issuance of common stock (in shares)																										770,000
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	(1,694,000)																																		11,000																								54,075,000																														644,000			(56,424,000)									1,664,000				2,474,000						2,073,000
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010																																			10,651,535																																																						1,592,500												900,000				2,100,000						212
Accretion of beneficial conversion feature for Series B-2	(54,000)																																																																																											(54,000)													54,000
Issuance of restricted common stock																																			20,834
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants																																			1,771,383
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants	7,218,000																																		2,000																								7,216,000
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of options	216,443																																		216,440
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of options	234,000																																																										234,000
Stock-based compensation expense	3,245,000																																																										3,245,000
Net loss	(10,915,000)																																																																																											(10,915,000)
Convertible preferred stock dividend (in shares)																																																					30,321	59,588	139,037	17,066
Convertible preferred stock dividend																						1,000									(33,000)																																																	180,000	378,000		881,000			97,000							(179,000)	(378,000)		(881,000)			(130,000)
Issuance of common stock (in shares)																																																																																																																13
Issuance of common stock																																																																																																																130,000
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock																																	(176,000)																																																																			(176,000)				17,000						159,000
Stock issued in conversion of convertible securities (in shares)																																																					5,000			8,334																																		(30,000)																						(5)
Stock issued in conversion of convertible securities																															49,000																																																	12,000						49,000				(12,000)																						(49,000)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	(2,125,000)																																		13,000																								66,367,000																														632,000			(69,137,000)									1,681,000				2,687,000						2,154,000
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011																																			12,919,538																																																						1,562,500												900,000				2,100,000						220
Accretion of beneficial conversion feature for Series B-2	(56,000)																																																																																											(56,000)													56,000
Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs of $1,597,000 in 2012 and $17,000 in 2001 (in shares)																																			2,666,722
Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs of $1,597,000 in 2012 and $17,000 in 2001	10,403,000																																		3,000																								10,400,000
Issuance of shares related to reverse split of common stock																																			3,324
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants																																			12,177
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of options	51,830																																		51,830
Stock-based compensation expense	2,766,000																																																										2,766,000
Net loss	(9,675,000)																																																																																											(9,675,000)
Convertible preferred stock dividend (in shares)																																																					31,250	95,584	223,027	46,053
Convertible preferred stock dividend																															(123,000)																																																	103,000	224,000		522,000			127,000							(103,000)	(224,000)		(522,000)			(127,000)
Issuance of common stock (in shares)																																																										11,348
Issuance of common stock	68,800,000																																	26,000																																																						26,000
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock																																	(174,000)																																																																			(174,000)				17,000						157,000
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 1,165,000																																		$ 16,000																								$ 80,535,000																														$ 632,000			$ (80,018,000)									$ 1,698,000				$ 2,900,000						$ 2,154,000
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012																																			16,060,853																																																						1,562,500												900,000				2,100,000						220

Consolidated Statement Of Changes In Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock And Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended	150 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Issuance of stock, issuance costs	$ 1,597,000	$ 17,000
Issuance During Period 14th
Issuance of stock, issuance costs		1,597,000
Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock \| Issuance During Period 2nd
Issuance of stock, issuance costs		300,000
Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock \| Issuance During Period 3rd
Issuance of stock, issuance costs		188,000
Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock \| Issuance During Period 4th
Issuance of stock, issuance costs		47,000
Cash \| Issuance During Period 2nd
Issuance of stock, issuance costs		49,000
Cash \| Issuance During Period 12th
Issuance of stock, Date		Feb. 25, 2008
Issuance of stock, issuance costs		369,000
Private Placement \| Issuance During Period 3rd
Issuance of stock, issuance costs		212,000
Private Placement \| Issuance During Period 5th
Issuance of stock, issuance costs		18,000
Private Placement \| Issuance During Period 8th
Issuance of stock, issuance costs		128,000
Private Placement \| Issuance During Period 9th
Issuance of stock, issuance costs		559,000
Private Placement \| Issuance During Period 10th
Issuance of stock, issuance costs		466,000
Private Placement \| Issuance During Period 11th
Issuance of stock, issuance costs		485,000
Private Placement \| Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock \| Issuance During Period 1st
Issuance of stock, Date		Feb. 04, 2008
Issuance of stock, issuance costs		$ 52,000

Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended		150 Months Ended
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$ (9,675,000)	$ (10,915,000)	$ (71,992,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	9,000	9,000	555,000
Stock-based compensation expense	2,792,000	3,245,000	12,374,000
Non-cash interest expense			4,279,000
Change in fair value of convertible debt instrument			3,426,000
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities		524,000	(9,022,000)
Write off of intangible assets			351,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Grant receivable		234,000
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(55,000)	(34,000)	(156,000)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(577,000)	1,273,000	1,626,000
Other long-term liabilities	6,000	(12,000)	6,000
Net cash used in operating activities	(7,500,000)	(5,676,000)	(58,553,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment	(5,000)	(5,000)	(431,000)
Change in restricted cash and security deposit	69,000	(10,000)
Increase in patents costs and other assets			(404,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	64,000	(15,000)	(835,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock and warrants	10,403,000		39,093,000
Net proceeds from issuance of convertible debt instruments			10,621,000
Repayment of convertible debt instruments			(1,641,000)
Net proceeds from exercise of common stock warrants and options		6,067,000	11,293,000
Proceeds from shareholder advances			9,000
Net cash provided by financing activities	10,403,000	6,197,000	68,752,000
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	2,967,000	506,000	9,364,000
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	6,397,000	5,891,000
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	9,364,000	6,397,000	9,364,000
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE-Cash paid for interest			114,000
NONCASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Issuance of equity warrants in connection with equity offerings	4,445,000		9,482,000
Conversion of accrued expenses into common stock	26,000		329,000
Cashless exercise of stock options and warrants	235,000	341,000	674,000
Conversion and redemptions of convertible notes and accrued interest into common stock			12,243,000
Conversion of extension costs related to convertible notes into common stock			171,000
Payment of preferred stock dividends in common stock	976,000	1,536,000	4,155,000
Issuance of warrants to induce conversion of notes payable			503,000
Issuance of stock to acquire Pro-Pharmaceuticals-NV			107,000
Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net proceeds from issuance of convertible preferred stock and related warrants			1,691,000
Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net proceeds from issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock and related warrants			1,548,000
Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net proceeds from issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock and related warrants			3,935,000
Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net proceeds from issuance of convertible preferred stock and related warrants		$ 130,000	$ 2,203,000

Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation

1.	Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation

Galectin Therapeutics Inc. (the “Company”) is a development-stage company that is applying its leadership in galectin science and drug development to create new therapies for fibrotic disease and cancer. These candidates are based on the Company’s targeting of galectin proteins which are key mediators of biologic and pathologic function. These compounds also may have application for drugs to treat other diseases and chronic health conditions.

On March 23, 2012, the Company effected a one-for-six reverse stock split. All common share and per share amounts in these financial statements have been adjusted to reflect the effect of the reverse split. On March 28, 2012, the Company sold 2,666,722 shares of common stock and related $5.63 warrants to purchase 1,333,361 shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $12,000,000 (net proceeds of $10,403,000). See Note 6, for further discussion of the transaction.

The Company has operated at a loss since its inception and has had no significant revenues. The Company anticipates that losses will continue for the foreseeable future. At December 31, 2012, the Company had $9,364,000 of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents available to fund future operations. The Company believes that with the cash on hand at December 31, 2012, there is sufficient cash to fund operations through the first quarter of 2014. The Company’s ability to fund operations after its current cash resources are exhausted depends on its ability to obtain additional financing or achieve profitable operations, as to which no assurances can be given. The Company has developed several plans, including cost containment efforts and potential strategic alternatives in the event that such financing cannot be realized by the Company. Accordingly, based on the forecasts and estimates underlying the Company’s current operating plan, the financial statements do not currently include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

As shown in the consolidated financial statements, the Company incurred cumulative net losses applicable to common stockholders of $80.3 million for the cumulative period from inception (July 10, 2000) through December 31, 2012. The Company’s net losses have resulted principally from costs associated with (i) research and development expenses, including clinical trial costs, (ii) general and administrative activities and (iii) the Company’s financing transactions including interest, dividend payments, and the costs related to fair value accounting for the Company’s convertible debt instruments. As a result of planned expenditures for future research, discovery, development and commercialization activities and potential legal cost to protect its intellectual property, the Company expects to incur additional losses and use additional cash in its operations for the foreseeable future. Through December 31, 2012, the Company had raised a net total of $68.8 million in capital through sale and issuance of common stock, common stock purchase warrants, convertible preferred stock and debt securities in public and private offerings. From inception (July 10, 2000) through December 31, 2012, the Company used cash of $58.6 million in its operations.

The Company was founded in July 2000, was incorporated in the State of Nevada in January 2001 under the name “Pro-Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,” and changed its name to “Galectin Therapeutics Inc.” on May 26, 2011. On March 23, 2012, the Company began trading on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol GALT. Prior to March 23, 2012, the Company was traded on the Over-the Counter Bulletin Board (“OTCBB”) under the symbol GALT.OB (previously PRWP.OB) from January 21, 2009 to March 22, 2012 after the Company was delisted from the NYSE Alternext US (“Exchange”), formerly the American Stock Exchange, due to non-compliance with the Exchange minimum shareholders’ equity requirements on January 9, 2009.

The Company is subject to a number of risks similar to those of other development-stage companies, including dependence on key individuals, uncertainty of product development and generation of revenues, dependence on outside sources of capital, risks associated with clinical trials of products, dependence on third-party collaborators for research operations, need for regulatory approval of products, risks associated with protection of intellectual property, and competition with larger, better-capitalized companies. Successful completion of the Company’s development program and, ultimately, the attainment of profitable operations is dependent upon future events, including obtaining adequate financing to fulfill its development activities and achieving a level of revenues adequate to support the Company’s cost structure. There are no assurances that the Company will be able to obtain additional financing on favorable terms, or at all, or successfully market its products.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2.	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect the application of certain accounting policies, as described in this note and elsewhere in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Basis of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and Galectin Therapeutics Security Corp., its wholly-owned subsidiary, which was incorporated in Delaware on December 23, 2003. Galectin Therapeutics Security Corp. holds the cash and cash equivalents that are not required to fund current operating needs. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and judgments that may affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Management’s estimates and judgments include assumptions used in stock option and warrant liability valuations, useful lives of property and equipment and intangible assets, accrued liabilities, deferred income taxes and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Fair Value Measurements. The Company has certain financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value. Fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize observable data such as quoted prices in active markets. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs utilize data points other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly. Fair values determined by Level 3 inputs utilize unobservable data points in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions. The estimated value of accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates their carrying value due to their short-term nature using level 3 inputs as defined above. Included in cash and cash equivalents, as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company had $583,000 and $6,123,000, respectively, invested in money market funds which had calculated net asset values and were therefore classified as Level 2.

Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly-liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less at the time of acquisition to be cash equivalents.

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets. Prepaid expenses and other assets consist principally of prepaid insurance and prepaid rent on the Company’s leased executive office space.

Property and Equipment. Property and equipment, including leasehold improvements, are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation, and are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets of generally three years for computers and office equipment, five years for furniture and fixtures and the shorter of the useful life or life of the lease for leasehold improvements.

Restricted Cash and Security Deposit. Restricted cash consists of security deposits principally for a real estate lease at December 31, 2011. At December 31, 2012, the Company had a security deposit of $6,000 for leased office space.

Intangible Assets. Intangible assets include patent costs, consisting primarily of related capitalized legal fees, which are amortized over an estimated useful life of five years from issuance. Amortization expense in 2012 and 2011 was $6,000 and $3,000, respectively. Gross intangible assets at December 31, 2012 and 2011 totaled $78,000 each year, and accumulated amortization at December 31, 2012 and 2011 totaled $48,000 and $42,000, respectively.

Long-Lived Assets. The Company reviews all long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held or used is measured by comparison of the carrying value of the asset to the future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such asset is considered to be impaired, the impairment recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds the discounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset.

Warrants. The Company has issued common stock warrants in connection with the execution of certain equity and debt financings. Certain warrants were accounted for as derivative liabilities at fair value. Such warrants did not meet the accounting criteria that a contract should not be considered a derivative instrument if it is (1) indexed to its own stock and (2) classified in stockholders’ equity. Changes in fair value of derivative liabilities are recorded in the consolidated statement of operations under the caption “Change in fair value of warrant liabilities.” Warrants that are not considered derivative liabilities are accounted for at fair value at the date of issuance in additional paid-in capital. The fair value of warrants was determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. There were no warrant liabilities as of December 31, 2012 or 2011.

Revenue Recognition. The Company records revenue provided that there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, the price is fixed and determinable, services were rendered and collectability is reasonably assured.

Research and Development Expenses. Costs associated with research and development are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses include, among other costs, salaries and other personnel-related costs, and costs incurred by outside laboratories and other accredited facilities in connection with clinical trials and preclinical studies.

Income Taxes. The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the accounting rules that requires an asset and liability approach to accounting for income taxes based upon the future expected values of the related assets and liabilities. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and for tax loss and credit carry forwards, and are measured using the expected tax rates estimated to be in effect when such basis differences reverse. Valuation allowances are established, if necessary, to reduce the deferred tax asset to the amount that will, more likely than not, be realized.

Comprehensive Income (Loss). Comprehensive income (loss) is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. The Company does not have any items of comprehensive income (loss) other than net losses as reported.

Concentration of Credit Risk. Financial instruments that subject the Company to credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents and certificates of deposit. The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents and certificates of deposit with well-capitalized financial institutions. At times, those amounts may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has no significant concentrations of credit risk.

Stock-Based Compensation. Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the service period, which generally represents the vesting period. For awards that have performance based vesting conditions the Company recognizes the expense over the estimated period that the awards are expected to be earned. The Company generally uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to calculate the grant date fair value of stock options. For options that only vest upon the achievement of market conditions, the Company values the options using a Monte Carlo model to calculate the grant date fair value of the stock options. The expense related to options that vest based on market conditions is not reversed should those options not ultimately vest. The expense recognized over the service period is required to include an estimate of the awards that will be forfeited.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Dec. 31, 2012
Basis of Consolidation	Basis of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and Galectin Therapeutics Security Corp., its wholly-owned subsidiary, which was incorporated in Delaware on December 23, 2003. Galectin Therapeutics Security Corp. holds the cash and cash equivalents that are not required to fund current operating needs. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and judgments that may affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Management’s estimates and judgments include assumptions used in stock option and warrant liability valuations, useful lives of property and equipment and intangible assets, accrued liabilities, deferred income taxes and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Fair Value Measurements	Fair Value Measurements. The Company has certain financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value. Fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize observable data such as quoted prices in active markets. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs utilize data points other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly. Fair values determined by Level 3 inputs utilize unobservable data points in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions. The estimated value of accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates their carrying value due to their short-term nature using level 3 inputs as defined above. Included in cash and cash equivalents, as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company had $583,000 and $6,123,000, respectively, invested in money market funds which had calculated net asset values and were therefore classified as Level 2.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly-liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less at the time of acquisition to be cash equivalents.
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets	Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets. Prepaid expenses and other assets consist principally of prepaid insurance and prepaid rent on the Company’s leased executive office space.
Property and Equipment	Property and Equipment. Property and equipment, including leasehold improvements, are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation, and are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets of generally three years for computers and office equipment, five years for furniture and fixtures and the shorter of the useful life or life of the lease for leasehold improvements.
Restricted Cash and Security Deposit	Restricted Cash and Security Deposit. Restricted cash consists of security deposits principally for a real estate lease at December 31, 2011. At December 31, 2012, the Company had a security deposit of $6,000 for leased office space.
Intangible Assets	Intangible Assets. Intangible assets include patent costs, consisting primarily of related capitalized legal fees, which are amortized over an estimated useful life of five years from issuance. Amortization expense in 2012 and 2011 was $6,000 and $3,000, respectively. Gross intangible assets at December 31, 2012 and 2011 totaled $78,000 each year, and accumulated amortization at December 31, 2012 and 2011 totaled $48,000 and $42,000, respectively.
Long-Lived Assets	Long-Lived Assets. The Company reviews all long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held or used is measured by comparison of the carrying value of the asset to the future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such asset is considered to be impaired, the impairment recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds the discounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset.
Warrants	Warrants. The Company has issued common stock warrants in connection with the execution of certain equity and debt financings. Certain warrants were accounted for as derivative liabilities at fair value. Such warrants did not meet the accounting criteria that a contract should not be considered a derivative instrument if it is (1) indexed to its own stock and (2) classified in stockholders’ equity. Changes in fair value of derivative liabilities are recorded in the consolidated statement of operations under the caption “Change in fair value of warrant liabilities.” Warrants that are not considered derivative liabilities are accounted for at fair value at the date of issuance in additional paid-in capital. The fair value of warrants was determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. There were no warrant liabilities as of December 31, 2012 or 2011.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition. The Company records revenue provided that there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, the price is fixed and determinable, services were rendered and collectability is reasonably assured.
Research and Development Expenses	Research and Development Expenses. Costs associated with research and development are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses include, among other costs, salaries and other personnel-related costs, and costs incurred by outside laboratories and other accredited facilities in connection with clinical trials and preclinical studies.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes. The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the accounting rules that requires an asset and liability approach to accounting for income taxes based upon the future expected values of the related assets and liabilities. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and for tax loss and credit carry forwards, and are measured using the expected tax rates estimated to be in effect when such basis differences reverse. Valuation allowances are established, if necessary, to reduce the deferred tax asset to the amount that will, more likely than not, be realized.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Comprehensive Income (Loss). Comprehensive income (loss) is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. The Company does not have any items of comprehensive income (loss) other than net losses as reported.
Concentration of Credit Risk	Concentration of Credit Risk. Financial instruments that subject the Company to credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents and certificates of deposit. The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents and certificates of deposit with well-capitalized financial institutions. At times, those amounts may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has no significant concentrations of credit risk.
Stock-Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation. Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the service period, which generally represents the vesting period. For awards that have performance based vesting conditions the Company recognizes the expense over the estimated period that the awards are expected to be earned. The Company generally uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to calculate the grant date fair value of stock options. For options that only vest upon the achievement of market conditions, the Company values the options using a Monte Carlo model to calculate the grant date fair value of the stock options. The expense related to options that vest based on market conditions is not reversed should those options not ultimately vest. The expense recognized over the service period is required to include an estimate of the awards that will be forfeited.

Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended														12 Months Ended		150 Months Ended
	Mar. 23, 2012	Mar. 28, 2012	May 10, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Mar. 08, 2010	Jan. 29, 2010	Dec. 08, 2009	Nov. 04, 2009	Sep. 30, 2009	Aug. 12, 2009	Jun. 30, 2009	May 13, 2009	Feb. 12, 2009	Feb. 25, 2008	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 30, 2010	Jul. 02, 2008	Feb. 04, 2008	May 31, 2003	Dec. 31, 2002	Aug. 31, 2001
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Reverse stock split ratio	1.6667
Exercise price of warrant																			7.20	6.00	9.00	32.40	21.00	39.00
Net proceeds from issuance of stock and warrants		$ 10,403,000	$ 536,000	$ 297,000	$ 322,000	$ 308,000	$ 310,000	$ 296,000	$ 305,000	$ 287,000	$ 473,000	$ 801,000	$ 1,548,000	$ 3,381,000
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents															9,364,000	6,397,000	9,364,000	5,891,000
Net losses applicable to common stockholders															(10,881,000)	(12,713,000)	(80,272,000)
Net total capital through sale and issuance of common stock and warrants														1,044,000	68,800,000
Net cash used in operating activities															(7,500,000)	(5,676,000)	(58,553,000)
Common Stock
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock and warrants		2,666,722
Warrants to purchase shares of common stock		1,333,361
Warrant
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Exercise price of warrant		5.63
Common Stock and Warrants
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Gross proceeds from issuance of stock and warrants		12,000,000
Net proceeds from issuance of stock and warrants		$ 10,403,000
Reverse Split
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Reverse stock split ratio	1.6667

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Security deposit for leased office space	$ 6,000
Estimated useful lives of intangible assets	5 years
Amortization expense of intangible assets	6,000	3,000
Gross intangible assets	78,000	78,000
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets	48,000	42,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 \| Money market funds
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Money market funds	$ 583,000	$ 6,123,000
Computer and office equipment
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives of property and equipment	3 years
Furniture and fixtures
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives of property and equipment	5 years

Property and Equipment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 74	$ 321
Less accumulated depreciation	(66)	(315)
Property and equipment-net	8	6
Leasehold improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	2	15
Computer and office equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	13	199
Furniture and fixtures
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 59	$ 107

Accrued Expenses (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Feb. 28, 2009
Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Line Items]
Legal and accounting fees	$ 109	$ 69
Accrued compensation	42	385	1,000
Severance agreement (Note 11)	1,000	1,000
Other	10	97
Total	$ 1,161	$ 1,551

Stockholders' Deficit - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended																									3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				150 Months Ended				1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended	150 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended							12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended					1 Months Ended									1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		16 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		150 Months Ended	1 Months Ended													12 Months Ended		16 Months Ended		12 Months Ended				150 Months Ended	12 Months Ended						1 Months Ended																																12 Months Ended		150 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		150 Months Ended	12 Months Ended						1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended		150 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		150 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 22, 2012	Mar. 23, 2012	Mar. 28, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Dec. 30, 2010	May 10, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Mar. 08, 2010	Jan. 29, 2010	Dec. 08, 2009	Nov. 04, 2009	Sep. 30, 2009	Aug. 12, 2009	Jun. 30, 2009	May 13, 2009	Feb. 12, 2009	Jul. 02, 2008	May 21, 2008	Feb. 25, 2008	Feb. 04, 2008	May 31, 2003	Jan. 31, 2003	Jan. 14, 2003	Sep. 30, 2002	Aug. 31, 2001	Jun. 30, 2008	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2002	Dec. 31, 2001	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 26, 2008	Jan. 14, 2003 Advisor	Dec. 31, 2002 Advisor	Jan. 14, 2003 Finder and Finder's Agents	Dec. 31, 2002 Finder and Finder's Agents	Jan. 14, 2003 Employee	Dec. 31, 2003 Employee	Dec. 31, 2002 Employee	Dec. 31, 2003 Scientific Advisory Services	Dec. 31, 2002 Scientific Advisory Services	Dec. 31, 2011 Series B Directors Person	Dec. 31, 2011 Series B Nominees Person	Dec. 31, 2011 Additional Paid-In Capital	Dec. 31, 2012 Additional Paid-In Capital	Dec. 31, 2011 Minimum	Dec. 31, 2011 Maximum	Dec. 31, 2011 Maximum Series B Nominees Person	Dec. 31, 2002 Public Offering	Dec. 13, 2001 Public Offering	Aug. 12, 2004 Institutional Investors	Apr. 07, 2004 Institutional Investors	Oct. 02, 2003 Institutional Investors	Aug. 12, 2004 Placement Agent	Apr. 07, 2004 Placement Agent	Oct. 02, 2003 Placement Agent	Mar. 22, 2012 Underwriting Agreement	Dec. 31, 2001 Warrant one	Dec. 31, 2001 Warrant two	Feb. 04, 2008 Warrant	Dec. 31, 2011 Warrant	Dec. 31, 2011 Series A and B Warrants	Dec. 31, 2011 Series A One Warrant	Dec. 31, 2011 Series A Two Warrant	Feb. 25, 2008 Warrant three	Feb. 25, 2008 Warrant three Placement Agent	Feb. 25, 2008 Warrant 4	Feb. 25, 2008 Warrant 5	Feb. 25, 2008 Warrant 6	Mar. 22, 2012 Warrant 7	Mar. 28, 2012 Warrant 7	Apr. 30, 2009 Warrant 7	Dec. 31, 2012 Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Feb. 12, 2009 Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2012 Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2009 Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	May 31, 2010 Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2012 Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Additional Paid-In Capital	Dec. 31, 2011 Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Additional Paid-In Capital	Dec. 31, 2012 Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Additional Paid-In Capital	Feb. 12, 2009 Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A One Warrants	Feb. 12, 2009 Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A Two Warrants	Feb. 12, 2009 Series B-1 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class B Warrants	May 10, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Apr. 30, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Mar. 08, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Jan. 29, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Dec. 08, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Nov. 04, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Sep. 30, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Aug. 12, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Jun. 30, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	May 13, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	May 31, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2012 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2012 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Additional Paid-In Capital	Dec. 31, 2011 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Additional Paid-In Capital	Dec. 31, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Additional Paid-In Capital	Dec. 31, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Additional Paid-In Capital	Dec. 31, 2012 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Additional Paid-In Capital	Dec. 31, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Beneficial Conversion Feature	Dec. 31, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Beneficial Conversion Feature	Dec. 31, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Minimum	Dec. 31, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Minimum	Dec. 31, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Maximum	Dec. 31, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Maximum	May 10, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A One Warrants	Apr. 30, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A One Warrants	Mar. 08, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A One Warrants	Jan. 29, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A One Warrants	Dec. 08, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A One Warrants	Nov. 04, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A One Warrants	Sep. 30, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A One Warrants	Aug. 12, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A One Warrants	Jun. 30, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A One Warrants	May 13, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A One Warrants	May 10, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A Two Warrants	Apr. 30, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A Two Warrants	Mar. 08, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A Two Warrants	Jan. 29, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A Two Warrants	Dec. 08, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A Two Warrants	Nov. 04, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A Two Warrants	Sep. 30, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A Two Warrants	Aug. 12, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A Two Warrants	Jun. 30, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A Two Warrants	May 13, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class A Two Warrants	May 10, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class B Warrants	Apr. 30, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class B Warrants	Mar. 08, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class B Warrants	Jan. 29, 2010 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class B Warrants	Dec. 08, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class B Warrants	Nov. 04, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class B Warrants	Sep. 30, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class B Warrants	Aug. 12, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class B Warrants	Jun. 30, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class B Warrants	May 13, 2009 Series B-2 12% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Class B Warrants	Jul. 31, 2011 Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock	Dec. 30, 2010 Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2012 Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2011 Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2012 Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock	Dec. 29, 2010 Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2012 Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock Additional Paid-In Capital	Dec. 31, 2011 Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock Additional Paid-In Capital	Dec. 31, 2012 Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock Additional Paid-In Capital	Dec. 31, 2011 Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock Minimum	Dec. 31, 2011 Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock Maximum	Dec. 31, 2011 Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock Series A Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2011 Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock Series B One Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2011 Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock First Payment	Dec. 31, 2011 Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock Second Payment	Mar. 29, 2013 Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock Subsequent Event	Jan. 31, 2013 Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock Subsequent Event	Feb. 04, 2008 Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2011 Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2008 Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2012 Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2012 Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock Additional Paid-In Capital	Dec. 31, 2011 Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock Additional Paid-In Capital	Dec. 31, 2012 Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock Additional Paid-In Capital	Feb. 04, 2008 Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock Minimum	Dec. 31, 2007 Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock Period 1	Dec. 31, 2008 Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock Period 2	Feb. 04, 2008 Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock First Payment	Feb. 04, 2008 Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock Second Payment	Feb. 04, 2008 Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock Scenario 1	Feb. 04, 2008 Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock Scenario 2	Feb. 12, 2009 Series B Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2011 Series B Preferred Stock	Jan. 31, 2011 Series B Preferred Stock	Jan. 31, 2011 Series B Preferred Stock Minimum
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, shares authorized																											50,000,000	50,000,000			50,000,000
Undesignated stock, shares authorized																											20,000,000	20,000,000			20,000,000
Undesignated stock, designated																											8,001,000	8,001,000			8,001,000																																										5,000,000		900,000																						2,100,000																																												1,000		1,000
Undesignated stock, undesignated																											11,999,000				11,999,000
Shares of common stock issued			2,666,722																1,250,000		399,917		181,334						537,227	114,884																			31,000		333,334	206,019	219,096																					900,000		900,000	900,000							285,000	155,000	167,500	162,500	162,500	155,000	162,500	150,000	250,000	450,000	770,000	1,330,000	2,100,000																																												212
Proceeds from sale of common stock																					$ 4,671,000		$ 1,070,000						$ 2,861,000	$ 2,221,000
Stock issuance costs																			369,000		128,000		18,000						212,000	17,000					3,000														49,000		485,000	466,000	559,000							3,000																																																																																47,000																52,000
Warrants issued			46,378		500												50,000			1,400	18,269								18,334																						333,334	103,010	109,549	16,667	10,301	10,955		56,534	58,350						1,250,000	34,375	500,000										1,800,000				300,000	300,000	1,200,000													4,200,000													95,000	51,667	55,834	54,167	54,167	51,666	54,166	50,000	83,333	150,000	95,000	51,667	55,834	54,167	54,167	51,666	54,166	50,000	83,333	150,000	380,000	206,667	223,334	216,667	216,667	206,666	216,666	200,000	333,333	600,000
Exercise price of warrant					7.20												6.00			9.00	32.40				39.00				21.00																						4.20	31.80	31.74	4.20	31.80	41.16	5.63	39.00	30.00			3.00			3.50	4.20	3.78					3.00
Fair value of warrants																			2,281,000	984,000	261,000				503,000				236,000	886,000																					4,786,000	1,931,000	2,531,000	239,000	154,000	191,000																			1,296,000																			4,148,000	5,333,000
Fair market value of common stock per share																			$ 2.40	$ 3.54		$ 6.00			$ 13.68		$ 2.05		$ 21.00	$ 13.68	$ 2.05															$ 9.00											$ 9.00																																																																																					$ 3.00
Convertible debt outstanding principal and accrued interest																									1,126,000
Conversion price per share																									$ 12.00
Debt conversion, shares issued																									99,705
Debt conversion, warrants issued																									93,801
Common stock warrant term																													10 years
Price of common stock per share																			$ 3.00																															$ 21.00	$ 18.00	$ 21.60	$ 21.00
Proceeds from issuance of common stock																											10,403,000				39,093,000																		602,000		5,515,000	3,983,000	4,041,000
Private placement, number of shares issuable																					416,667			1,666,667																													238,096
Private placement, price per share																					$ 12.00			$ 6.00
Common stock, subscription receivable																													150,000
Common stock issuable for compensation																													29,042				417	28,917	1,625	125	1,167		350		4,226
Additional share Issued																						2,042
Offering Cost payable																						18,000
Common stock issued for compensation, shares																																						350		4,226
Common stock issued for compensation, value																																					27,000	6,000
Expiration date of warrant			May 02, 2016																																																						Mar. 28, 2017								Aug. 25, 2013
Net proceeds from issuance of stock and warrants			10,403,000			536,000	297,000	322,000	308,000	310,000	296,000	305,000	287,000	473,000	801,000	1,548,000			3,381,000																																																									1,548,000		1,105,000																1,463,000	2,472,000					1,028,000	1,732,000		388,000	628,000																																																				1,691,000
Costs for warrants issued to placement agent																			56,000
Fair value of common stock issued																			1,044,000								68,800,000
Fair value assumptions, term of warrants																																																																				5 years	4 months	4 years 1 month 6 days	5 years				5 years																			5 years	5 years
Fair value assumptions, warrants exercise price																																																																				$ 4.20	$ 3.78	$ 4.20	$ 4.20
Fair value assumptions, risk free interest rate																				2.51%																																																2.94%	2.13%	0.78%	1.05%				1.79%																														2.27%	1.98%	2.43%	2.70%
Fair value assumptions, volatility rate																				95.00%																																																95.00%	95.00%	117.00%	119.00%				118.00%																														126.00%	124.00%	129.00%	127.00%
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities																		100,000								356,000		524,000
Warrant liability credited to additional paid in capital																	20,000	502,000								2,160,000
Warrants expired unexercised																																500,000
Exercise price of warrants expired unexercised																																$ 3.78
Proceeds from issuance of warrants																	20,000
Term of warrants																	3 years
Units issued			1,333,361																																																						1,159,445
Number of common stock in each units issued																																																									2
Number of warrant in each units issued																																																									1
Number of common stock to be purchased with each warrant																																																									1
Period of option to purchase additional units to cover over-allotments																																																									45 days
Additional units authorize for issuance to cover over-allotments																																																									173,916
Warrants to purchase shares of common stock issued			1,333,361
Gross proceeds from issuance of stock and warrants			12,000,000
Warrants issuance value	143,000		4,445,000																								4,445,000				9,482,000
Warrant exercise value			5.63																									7,218,000			14,307,000													7,216,000	14,304,000
Reverse stock split ratio		1.6667
Issuance of shares related to reverse split of common stock		3,324
Preferred stock, dividend rate				6.00%																																																																																																																																										6.00%														12.00%	12.00%														12.00%
Stock price per share																																																																																																																																												$ 10,000																$ 6.00												$ 9.00	$ 12.00
Share of Series A Preferred in each unit issued																																																																																																																																																												1
Number of warrant to purchase one share of common stock in each unit issued																																																																																																																																																												1
Dividend per share																																																																																																																																																																			$ 6.00
Dividend, percentage of value weighted average share price																																																																																																																																																												100.00%															100.00%
Number of consecutive trading days prior to dividend payment date																																																																																																																																														10 days														20 days															20 days
Dividend payable date																																																																																																																																																								--03-31	--09-30													--03-30	--09-30
Convertible stock conversion ratio																																																																																																																																																												0.1667															0.667
Minimum closing price of the common stock to require conversion																																																																																																																																																				$ 18.00															$ 18.00
Number of consecutive trading days for conversion of preferred stock																																																																																																																																														15 days														15 days															15 days
Subscription advances received																																																																																																																																																														1,742,500						1,667,500	75,000
Preferred stock issuable																																																																																																																																																																										3,000,000
Preferred stock value																																																																																																																																																																										6,000,000
Common shares issuable upon conversion of preferred stock																																																																										600,000										190,000	103,334	111,667	108,334	108,333	103,333	108,333	100,000	166,666	300,000																																																	1,667																												2,000,000
Warrants issuable																6,000,000
Dividends accrue rate																																																																																																																																																																											15.00%
Convertible stock conversion price																																																																																																																																														$ 6.00																													$ 3.00
Notice period for conversion of preferred stock at the option of the company																																																																																																																																																																											10 days
Number of consecutive trading days for redemption of preferred stock																																																																																																																																																																													30 days
Preferred stock redemption date																																																																																																																																																																												Feb. 12, 2019
Promissory note, interest rate																												15.00%
Number of board of directors																																										2	2					3
Maximum increase in number of shares issuable without approval of the holders of the majority of shares of series B outstanding																																															250,000
Termination notice period																																																													30 days
Number of consecutive trading days																																																															15 days
Market value of common stock																																																															$ 7.50	$ 10.50
Fair value assumptions, dividend rate																																																																											0.00%																			0.00%	0.00%
Preferred stock shares designated for issuance																											5,000,000	5,000,000			5,000,000																																																																																																																	1,000
Preferred stock, par value																																																																																																																																																$ 0.01
Preferred stock, stated value																																																																																																																																																$ 10,000
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock																																																																																																																																												2,120,000
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net																																																																																																																																												2,073,000
Convertible preferred shares																																																																																																																																											5			220													5
Common stocks issued upon conversion of Preferred Stock																											51,830	64,273																																																																																																															8,334			366,676													8,334
Dividend as percentage of net sales																																																																																																																																																						2.50%	1.25%
Convertible preferred stock dividend																																																																														(224,000)	(378,000)	(1,034,000)																		(522,000)	(881,000)			(2,022,000)																																							123,000	33,000	33,000		(127,000)	(97,000)	(224,000)		100,000					241,000			(1,000)		47,000	(103,000)	(180,000)	(875,000)
Post conversion dividend rights issued																																																																																																																																											5																5
Liquidation preference per share after series A preferred stock																																																																																																																																														$ 10,000
Redemption period																																																																																																																																																					30 days
Post conversion redemption right, return on investment multiplier amount																																																																																																																																														10,000
Preferred stock redemption price																																																																																																																																														$ 3.00
Number of trading days ending immediately prior to the date of redemption																																																																																																																																														10 days
Convertible preferred stock, redemption value																																																																											$ 1,800,000																						$ 4,200,000																																												$ 5,204,000		$ 5,204,000											$ 5,151,000

Return on Investment (Detail) (Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011
Period 1
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
ROI Percentage	200.00%
Redemption date	before the second anniversary of the date of issuance;
Period 2
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
ROI Percentage	250.00%
Redemption date	on or after the second anniversary of the date of issuance, but before the third anniversary of the date of issuance;
Period 3
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
ROI Percentage	300.00%
Redemption date	on or after the third anniversary of the date of issuance, but before the fourth anniversary of the date of issuance;
Period 4
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
ROI Percentage	350.00%
Redemption date	on or after the fourth anniversary of the date of issuance, but before the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance;
Period 5
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
ROI Percentage	400.00%
Redemption date	on or after the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance, but before the sixth anniversary of the date of issuance;
Period 6
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
ROI Percentage	450.00%
Redemption date	on or after the sixth anniversary of the date of issuance, but before the seventh anniversary of the date of issuance;
Period 7
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
ROI Percentage	500.00%
Redemption date	on or after the seventh anniversary of the date of issuance, but before the eighth anniversary of the date of issuance; and
Period 8
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
ROI Percentage	550.00%
Redemption date	on or after the eighth anniversary of the date of issuance, but before the ninth anniversary of the date of issuance.

Summary of Warrant Activity (Detail)	12 Months Ended
Summary of Warrant Activity (Detail)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Shares
Beginning Balance	6,673,405	8,585,872
Issued	1,379,739
Cancelled	(616,726)	(141,084)
Exercised	(12,177)	(1,771,383)
Ending Balance	7,424,241	6,673,405

Summary of Information with Regard to Outstanding Warrants Issued in Connection with Equity and Debt Financings and Consultants (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
February 25, 2008 Common Stock Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	Feb. 25, 2008
February 12, 2009 Series B-1 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	Feb. 12, 2009
May 13, 2009 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	May 13, 2009
June 30, 2009 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	Jun. 30, 2009
April 15, 2009 Consultant Warrants
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	Apr. 15, 2009
May 1, 2009 Consultant Warrants
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	May 01, 2009
June 30, 2009 Consultant Warrants
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	Jun. 30, 2009
July 26, 2009 Consultant Warrants
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	Jul. 26, 2009
August 12, 2009 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	Aug. 12, 2009
September 30, 2009 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	Sep. 30, 2009
November 4, 2009 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	Nov. 04, 2009
December 8, 2009 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	Dec. 08, 2009
January 29, 2010 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	Jan. 29, 2010
March 8, 2010 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	Mar. 08, 2010
April 30, 2010 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	Apr. 30, 2010
May 10, 2010 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	May 10, 2010
June 15, 2010 Consultant Warrants
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	Jun. 15, 2010
December 9, 2010 Consultant Warrants
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	Dec. 09, 2010
December 30, 2010 Placement Agent Warrants
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	Dec. 30, 2010
Warrant 4 \| February 25, 2008 Common Stock Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.70
Warrant 5 \| February 12, 2009 Series B-1 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 5 \| May 13, 2009 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 5 \| June 30, 2009 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 5 \| August 12, 2009 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 5 \| September 30, 2009 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 5 \| November 4, 2009 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 5 \| December 8, 2009 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 5 \| January 29, 2010 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 5 \| March 8, 2010 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 5 \| April 30, 2010 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 5 \| May 10, 2010 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.5
Warrant 6 \| February 12, 2009 Series B-1 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 6 \| May 13, 2009 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 6 \| June 30, 2009 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 6 \| August 12, 2009 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 6 \| September 30, 2009 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 6 \| November 4, 2009 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 6 \| December 8, 2009 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 6 \| January 29, 2010 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 6 \| March 8, 2010 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 6 \| April 30, 2010 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.50
Warrant 6 \| May 10, 2010 Series B-2 Transaction
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issued price per share	$ 0.5
First Issuance \| May Twenty Five Twenty Ten Consultant Warrants
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	May 25, 2010
Second Issuance \| May Twenty Five Twenty Ten Consultant Warrants
Equity [Line Items]
Warrant issuance date	May 25, 2010

Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		150 Months Ended								12 Months Ended					2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended								1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended					1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended									12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2009	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2010	Feb. 25, 2008	Feb. 04, 2008	Jan. 31, 2003	Dec. 31, 2002	Dec. 31, 2001	Aug. 31, 2001	Dec. 31, 2011 Scenario 1	Dec. 31, 2011 Scenario 2	Dec. 31, 2012 Cashless	Dec. 31, 2011 Cashless	Dec. 31, 2011 Monte Carlo Option Pricing Model	Feb. 29, 2004 Stock Option	Dec. 31, 2012 Stock Option	Dec. 31, 2011 Stock Option	Dec. 31, 2003 Stock Option	Dec. 31, 2011 Restricted Stock	Mar. 31, 2002 Non Employee Board Member and Former Member of Audit Committee Second Consulting Agreement	Dec. 31, 2002 Non Employee Board Member and Former Member of Audit Committee Second Consulting Agreement	Jun. 30, 2003 Non Employee Board Member and Former Member of Audit Committee Third Consulting Agreement	Dec. 31, 2004 Non Employee Board Member and Former Member of Audit Committee Third Consulting Agreement	Dec. 31, 2003 Non Employee Board Member and Former Member of Audit Committee Third Consulting Agreement	Dec. 31, 2002 Non Employee Board Member and Former Member of Audit Committee Stock Option	Dec. 31, 2002 Non Employee Board Member and Former Member of Audit Committee Stock Option Second Consulting Agreement	Dec. 31, 2004 Non Employee Board Member and Former Member of Audit Committee Stock Options Third Consulting Agreement	Dec. 31, 2003 Non Employee Board Member and Former Member of Audit Committee Stock Options Third Consulting Agreement	Jan. 31, 2003 Board of Directors	Dec. 31, 2011 Board of Directors	Dec. 31, 2010 Board of Directors	Dec. 31, 2009 Board of Directors	Dec. 31, 2004 Board of Directors	Dec. 31, 2003 Board of Directors	Dec. 31, 2004 Board of Directors Stock Option	Dec. 31, 2003 Board of Directors Stock Option	Dec. 31, 2011 Board of Directors Restricted Stock	Nov. 30, 2005 Member of Scientific Advisory Board	May 31, 2003 Member of Scientific Advisory Board	Dec. 31, 2004 Member of Scientific Advisory Board	Dec. 31, 2003 Member of Scientific Advisory Board	Dec. 31, 2005 Member of Scientific Advisory Board Stock Option	Dec. 31, 2004 Member of Scientific Advisory Board Stock Option	Dec. 31, 2003 Member of Scientific Advisory Board Stock Option	Sep. 30, 2003 Board Member and Member of Scientific Advisory Board	Dec. 31, 2003 Board Member and Member of Scientific Advisory Board Stock Option	Oct. 31, 2003 Former Chief Financial Officer	Sep. 30, 2003 Former Chief Financial Officer	Dec. 31, 2003 Former Chief Financial Officer	Oct. 31, 2003 Former Chief Financial Officer Cashless	Oct. 31, 2003 Former Chief Financial Officer Stock Option	Apr. 30, 2004 Investor Relations Firm	Mar. 31, 2004 Investor Relations Firm	Dec. 31, 2005 Investor Relations Firm	Dec. 31, 2004 Investor Relations Firm	Mar. 31, 2004 Investor Relations Firm Stock Option	Dec. 31, 2003 Investor Relations Firm Stock Option Options Vested on December Thirty One Twenty Zero Three	Dec. 31, 2004 Investor Relations Firm Stock Option Options Vested on January and February Twenty Zero Four	Aug. 31, 2012 Consultant	May 31, 2012 Consultant	Nov. 15, 2011 Consultant	Mar. 31, 2009 Consultant	Feb. 28, 2009 Consultant	Apr. 30, 2008 Consultant	Mar. 31, 2008 Consultant	Dec. 31, 2007 Consultant	Mar. 31, 2006 Consultant	Dec. 31, 2011 Consultant	Mar. 31, 2006 Consultant Stock Option	Dec. 31, 2009 Consultant Stock Option	Dec. 31, 2008 Consultant Stock Option	Dec. 31, 2007 Consultant Stock Option	Dec. 31, 2011 Consultant Restricted Stock Scenario 2	Dec. 31, 2012 Minimum	Dec. 31, 2011 Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 Maximum	Apr. 30, 2004 Maximum Investor Relations Firm	Mar. 31, 2004 Maximum Investor Relations Firm	Dec. 31, 2001 Consulting Agreement Non Employee Board Member and Former Member of Audit Committee	Dec. 31, 2003 Consulting Agreement Non Employee Board Member and Former Member of Audit Committee Stock Option	Dec. 31, 2002 Consulting Agreement Non Employee Board Member and Former Member of Audit Committee Stock Option	Dec. 31, 2001 Consulting Agreement Non Employee Board Member and Former Member of Audit Committee Stock Option	Oct. 31, 2001 Stock Incentive Plan Twenty Zero One	Dec. 31, 2012 Stock Incentive Plan Twenty Zero One	Oct. 31, 2001 Stock Incentive Plan Twenty Zero One Minimum	Oct. 31, 2001 Stock Incentive Plan Twenty Zero One Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 Non Employee Director Stock Options Plan, Twenty Zero Three	Dec. 31, 2003 Non Employee Director Stock Options Plan, Twenty Zero Three	Dec. 31, 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan 2009	Feb. 28, 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan 2009	Dec. 31, 2012 Non Qualified Options Plans
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of share based compensation plans		3		3
Number of common stock for issuance upon exercise of grants																																																																																					833,334					166,667		3,333,334
Stock awards, vesting period																																																																																					3 years
Stock options expiration period																																																																																							3 years	10 years
Stock awards, available for future grant																																																																																						291,992			146,557		979,259
Non-plan stock option grants to employees and non-employees																																																																																													1,477,379
Non-plan grants outstanding		3,539,961	3,091,474	3,539,961	1,965,748																																																																																								1,440,045
Expected life		5 years 9 months 22 days	5 years 1 month 17 days	5 years 2 months 9 days												10 years																																																												5 years		10 years
Expected dividend yield used in the option valuation model		0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Stock Option expected to vest only upon achievement of certain market conditions			166,668									83,334	83,334
Total fair value of options vested		$ 2,447,000	$ 2,153,000	$ 13,056,000								$ 5,000,000,000	$ 10,000,000,000
Unrecognized compensation cost		5,628,000		5,628,000												1,006,000
Unrecognized compensation cost, recognition period		3 years 8 months 12 days														5 years 6 months
Annualized volatility		116.00%	131.00%	119.00%												110.00%
Annualized risk free rate		0.90%	1.90%	1.84%												3.50%
Common stock price		$ 2.05		$ 2.05		$ 2.40	$ 3.54	$ 6.00	$ 21.00	$ 13.68	$ 13.68																																																																		$ 9.00
Weighted-average grant-date fair values of options granted		$ 1.77	$ 6.07
Unvested option		1,472,051	1,317,480	1,472,051
Number of stock options exercised		51,830	216,443											90,253	83,334																																					8,334
Stock options exercised		96,000	253,000
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		0	234,000
Number of shares issued in the conversion of options in a noncash transaction		51,830	64,273																																														2,772
Intrinsic value of options exercised		162,000	1,174,000	1,724,000
Number of options vested	83,334	595,420	380,391														10,000			2,500			3,334																																	2,500	7,500							833			833		834
Number of options granted																						4,000		4,000							16,667										1,667						4,167			16,667																															33,334
Exercise price of stock options		$ 2.13	$ 7.02																			$ 21.00									$ 21.00									$ 15.66	$ 21.00						$ 24.30		$ 17.82	$ 24.30				$ 30.96	$ 34.80										$ 0	$ 2.64		$ 3.78	$ 22.50												$ 21.00
Stock option, fair market value																																																																																	239,000
Common stock price per share																						$ 12.96		$ 21.00							$ 16.80									$ 8.10	$ 16.80						$ 14.64						$ 26.70												$ 0.72	$ 2.34		$ 2.76	$ 13.20												$ 13.68
Stock-based compensation expense		2,792,000	3,245,000	12,374,000																								41,000	17,000	40,000							51,000	193,000	18,000					7,000	5,000	13,000		122,000	40,000		74,000					14,000	67,000		29,000	23,000											33,000	24,000	15,000	2,000	110,000							71,000	64,000	147,000
Number of options granted per month																						334
Number of options vest per month																						334		334																															834
Stock option, fair market value																						11,000		33,000							156,000										16,000
Deferred compensation																											11,000
Fair value adjustments of unvested options																									(2,000)	21,000									4,000	82,000						2,000	6,000
Options vesting rate, vested immediately																															33.33%										50.00%
Stock option issued																																								834																10,000		4,167							33,334	8,000		834	2,500
Number of options issuable as services are performed																																																																															10,000	16,667
Number of options vest per month																																																						834
Extension of exercise period																		90 days	90 days
Additional stock-based compensation expense		271,000	63,000
Common stock options granted, shares																																																													4,348	7,000
Fair market value of shares																																																													10,000	16,000
Restricted common stock granted		1,379,739																																416,670
Restricted common stock vested																					46,876											390,628	26,042
Restricted shares, value																																		$ 450,000																													$ 113,000
Restricted shares, value per share																																		$ 1.08																													$ 5.40
Restricted common stock issued																					20,834																																																	20,834

Unvested Restricted Shares (Detail) (USD $)				12 Months Ended
Unvested Restricted Shares (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 Restricted Stock
Number of Shares
Beginning Balance	7,424,241	6,673,405	8,585,872	26,042
Restricted shares issued				20,834
Restricted shares vested				(46,876)
Ending Balance	7,424,241	6,673,405	8,585,872
Weighted average price on grant
Unvested restricted shares outstanding, beginning balance				$ 1.08
Restricted shares issued				$ 8.04
Restricted shares vested				$ 4.17

Changes in Warrant Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Changes in Warrant Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	May 21, 2008	Jun. 30, 2008	Dec. 31, 2011
Warranty Liability [Line Items]
Beginning Balance			$ 861,000
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities	100,000	356,000	524,000
Intrinsic value of liability warrants exercised			$ (1,385)

Dilutive Shares Which Could Exist Pursuant to Exercise of Outstanding Stock Instruments and Which were not Included in Calculation (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Dilutive shares not included in calculation	13,591,312	12,391,989
Warrant
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Dilutive shares not included in calculation	7,424,241	6,673,405
Stock Options
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Dilutive shares not included in calculation	3,539,961	3,091,474
Contingently Issuable Shares
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Dilutive shares not included in calculation	2,627,110	2,627,110

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Feb. 28, 2009	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Operating lease agreements, period					1 year
Base rent			$ 235,000
Operating lease agreements, rent					15,000
Lease expiration date			Sep. 30, 2012
Lease extension period			1 year
Bank deposit						59,000
Operating lease		44,000			216,000	293,000
Operating lease period		1 year
Severance payment due to Dr. Platt				1,000,000	42,000	385,000
Number of options vested				83,334	595,420	380,391
Royalty revenue				50,000,000
Cashless stock option exercisable					2,067,910
Market capitalization				100,000,000
Severance payment period				6 months
Separation based payments	1,000,000
Lawsuit payment	1,000,000
Conversion of share, common stock issued					51,830	64,273
Dividend rights issued			5
Rate of dividend			6.00%
Norcross
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Operating lease agreements, period					26 months
Operating lease agreements, Expiry date					Nov. 30, 2014
Base rent					3,000
Operating lease agreements, Security Deposit					6,000
Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Series C prefer stock converted to common stock			5			220
Conversion of share, common stock issued			8,334			366,676
Rate of dividend						6.00%
Common Stock
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Conversion of share, common stock issued			8,334
Minimum
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Equity investment				$ 10,000,000
Cashless stock option exercisable				50,000

Future Minimum Payments of Operating Lease (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
2013	$ 49
2014	36
Total lease payments	$ 85

Components of Net Deferred Tax Assets (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Components Of Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards	$ 21,753	$ 19,119
Tax credit carryforwards	317	330
Other temporary differences	2,921	2,070
Deferred Tax Assets, Gross, Total	24,991	21,519
Less valuation allowance	(24,991)	(21,519)
Net deferred tax asset

Primary Factors Affecting Income Tax Rates (Detail)	12 Months Ended
Primary Factors Affecting Income Tax Rates (Detail)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Reconciliation of Statutory Tax Rate [Line Items]
Tax benefit at U.S. statutory rates	(34.00%)	(34.00%)
State tax benefit	(5.30%)	(5.30%)
Credit	(0.20%)	(1.00%)
Permanent differences	1.40%	3.50%
Expiring state NOL's	3.30%	3.40%
Changes in valuation allowance	34.80%	33.40%
Effective Income Tax Rate, Continuing Operations, Total	0.00%	0.00%

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance percentage in each of the last two years	100.00%
Benefits related to stock options	$ 707,000
Income tax benefit related to federal research and development credit	61,000
Unrecognized tax benefits	1,082,000
Unrecognized tax benefits which affects effective tax rate	923,000
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	60,886,000
Operating loss carryforwards, expiration year	2032
Research and development credits	223,000
Research and development credits, expiration year	2032
State and Local Jurisdiction
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	25,160,000
Operating loss carryforwards, expiration year	2032
Research and development credits	$ 143,000
Research and development credits, expiration year	2032

Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Detail) (Subsequent Event, USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 01, 2013
Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Estimated budget for work order	$ 2,155,000
Agreement termination notice period	90 days
Breach of contract termination notice period	30 days
Collaborative funding agreement	$ 154,000