Cover [Abstract] Cover [Abstract] Document Information [Table] Document Information [Table] Document Information, Document [Axis] Document Information, Document [Axis] Document [Domain] Document [Domain] Document Information [Line Items] Document Information [Line Items] Document Type Entity Interactive Data Current Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Shell Company Entity Filer Category Entity Small Business Entity Emerging Growth Company Title of 12(b) Security Trading Symbol Security Exchange Name Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Address, State or Province Document Transition Report Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code Entity File Number Entity Tax Identification Number Entity Address, Address Line One Entity Address, Address Line Two Entity Address, City or Town Entity Address, Postal Zip Code City Area Code Local Phone Number Document Quarterly Report Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement [Table] Legal Entity [Axis] Legal Entity [Axis] Entity [Domain] Entity [Domain] Class of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Domain] Class of Stock [Domain] Series A Convertible Preferred Stock [Member] Series A 12% convertible preferred stock Series A Convertible Preferred Stock [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member] Series C super dividend redeemable convertible preferred stock Series C super dividend redeemable convertible preferred stock dividend Statement [Line Items] Statement [Line Items] Assets [Abstract] ASSETS Assets Total assets Other Assets, Noncurrent Other assets Assets, Current [Abstract] Current assets: Assets, Current Total current assets Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current Prepaid expenses and other current assets Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and contingencies (Note 10) Liabilities Total liabilities Liabilities and Equity Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders' equity Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Current liabilities: Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Accounts Payable, Current Accounts payable Dividends Payable, Current Accrued dividends payable Accrued And Other Liabilities Current Accrued expenses and other Represents accrued and other current liabilities. Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Stockholders' equity: Additional Paid in Capital Additional paid-in capital Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Total stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity, Balance Stockholders' Equity, Balance Undesignated Capital Stock, Value Undesignated stock, $0.01 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized, 20,000,000 designated at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively Undesignated Capital Stock, Value Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, 59,275,031 and 57,077,055 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Convertible preferred stock, value Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Retained deficit Temporary Equity, Carrying Amount, Attributable to Parent Convertible preferred stock, value Temporary Equity, Balance Temporary Equity, Balance Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other liabilities Convertible note payable and accrued interest, net of debt discount – related party (Note 4) Convertible note payable and accrued interest, net of debt discount – related party (Note 4) Convertible note payable and accrued interest, net of debt discount related party non current. Derivative Liability, Noncurrent Derivative liability (Note 4) Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference, Value Convertible preferred stock, liquidation value Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Convertible preferred stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, issued Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common stock, outstanding Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Convertible preferred stock, issued Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding Convertible preferred stock, outstanding Temporary Equity, Liquidation Preference Convertible preferred stock, liquidation value Temporary Equity, Shares Authorized Convertible preferred stock, shares authorized Temporary Equity, Aggregate Amount of Redemption Requirement Convertible preferred stock, redemption value Undesignated Capital Stock, Shares Authorized Undesignated stock, shares authorized Undesignated Capital Stock, Shares Authorized Undesignated Capital Stock, Shares, Outstanding Undesignated stock, shares designated Undesignated Capital Stock, Shares, Outstanding Temporary Equity, Shares Issued Convertible preferred stock, shares issued Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding Convertible preferred stock, shares outstanding Temporary Equity, Balance (in shares) Temporary Equity, Balance (in shares) Undesignated Capital Stock, Par Value Undesignated stock, par value Undesignated Capital Stock, Par Value Income Statement [Abstract] Income Statement [Abstract] Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net loss Net loss Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic Net loss applicable to common stockholders Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Other income (expense): Interest Expense Interest expense Investment Income, Interest Interest income Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total other income (expense) Fair Value Adjustment of Warrants Change in fair value of derivative Change in fair value of derivative Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted Net loss per common share — basic and diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic and Diluted Weighted average common shares outstanding — basic and diluted Operating Expenses [Abstract] Operating expenses: General and Administrative Expense General and administrative Operating Expenses Total operating expenses Research and Development Expense Research and development Operating Income (Loss) Total operating loss Preferred Stock Dividends Preferred stock dividends Preferred stock dividends. Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Excluding Exchange Rate Effect NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract] NONCASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Supplemental Dividends on Esop convertible preferred stock Payment of preferred stock dividends in common stock Supplemental Dividends on ESOP convertible preferred stock Reclassification Of Accrued Bonus To Additional Paid In Capital Reclassification of accrued bonus to additional paid in capital Reclassification of accrued bonus to additional paid in capital. Fair value of derivative related to related party convertible note payable Fair value of derivative related to related party convertible note payable. Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash flows from financing activities Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Net proceeds from issuance of common stock Proceeds from Related Party Debt Net proceeds from convertible note payable - related party Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flows from operating activities: Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Prepaid expenses and other assets Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities Paid-in-Kind Interest Non-cash interest expense Share-based Compensation Stock-based compensation expense Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Amortization Amortization of right to use lease asset Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash flows from operating activities Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Series A Preferred Stock [Member] Series A 12% convertible preferred stock Equity Components [Axis] Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Equity Component [Domain] Common Stock [Member] Common Stock [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Retained Deficit Series A1 Preferred Stock [Member] Series A 12% convertible preferred stock Series A1 Preferred Stock [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Additional Paid-In Capital Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital Dividends in Deficit of Retained Earnings Convertible preferred stock dividend Amount of decrease in additional paid in capital dividends in Deficit of Retained Earnings. Preferred Stock Dividends, Shares Convertible preferred stock dividend (in shares) Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Stock-based compensation on expense Shares, Outstanding Stockholders' Equity, Balance (in shares) Stockholders' Equity, Balance (in shares) Stock Issued During Period Value Warrants And Options Exercised Issuance of common stock for exercise of warrants and options Stock issued during period value warrants and options exercised Stock Issued During Period Shares Warrants And Options Exercised Issuance of common stock for exercise of warrants and options (in shares) Stock issued during period shares warrants and options exercised. Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period Stock-based compensation on expense (in shares) Restricted stock awards granted Granted Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues Issuance of common stock Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues Issuance of common stock (in shares) Warrants and options [Axis] Warrants and options [Axis] Warrants and options [Domain] Warrants and options [Domain] Accounting Policies [Abstract] Basis of Accounting [Text Block] Basis of Presentation Payables and Accruals [Abstract] Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Accrued Expenses and Other Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Line of Credit – Related Party Debt Instruments [Abstract] Convertible Note Payable – Related Party Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation Text Block [Abstract] Stock Warrants Text Block Common Stock Warrants Stock Warrants Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value of Financial Instruments Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Loss Per Share Equity [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Common Stock Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Leases [Abstract] Lessee, Operating Leases [Text Block] Leases Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Abstract] Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Schedule of Investments [Text Block] Galectin Sciences LLC Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block] Accrued Expenses Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity [Table Text Block] Summary of Stock Option Activity Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block] Weighted Average Assumptions Used to Determine Fair Value of Options Granted Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Table Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation Expense Related to Common Stock Options, Restricted Common Stock and Common Stock Warrants Schedule of Stockholders' Equity Note, Warrants or Rights [Table Text Block] Common Stock Warrant Activity Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block] Summary of assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Table Text Block] Summary of derivative liability Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block] Summary of roll forward of the derivative liability as follows; Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block] Dilutive Shares Which Could Exist Pursuant to Exercise of Outstanding Stock Instruments and Which were not Included in Calculation Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, Maturity [Table Text Block] Maturity of operating lease Basis Of Presentation [Abstract] Basis of presentation. Credit Facility [Axis] Credit Facility [Axis] Credit Facility [Domain] Credit Facility [Domain] Basis of Presentation [Line Items] Basis of Presentation [Line Items] Currently Estimated Costs of Trail and General Overhead Currently estimated costs of trail and general overhead The currently estimated costs of trail and general overhead. Subsequent Event Type [Axis] Subsequent Event Type [Domain] Title of Individual [Axis] Title of Individual [Axis] Title of Individual [Domain] Relationship to Entity [Domain] Type of Arrangement and Non-arrangement Transactions [Axis] Type Of Arrangement Axis Arrangements and Non-arrangement Transactions [Domain] Range [Axis] Range [Axis] Range [Domain] Range [Domain] Maximum [Member] Maximum Minimum [Member] Minimum Debt Instrument [Axis] Debt Instrument, Name [Domain] Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Table] Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Table] Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Table] Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Line Items] Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Line Items] Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Line Items] Employee-related Liabilities, Current Accrued compensation