Subsequent Event	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Subsequent Event [Abstract]
Subsequent Event	NOTE 12 – SUBSEQUENT EVENT On January 31, 2012, The Company entered into a collaboration and license agreement (the Agreement) with Shire, pursuant to which the Company and Shire will collaborate to research, develop and commercialize human therapeutics and diagnostics for monogenic diseases based on Sangamo's ZFP technology. Under the Agreement, the Company and Shire may develop potential human therapeutic or diagnostic products for seven gene targets. The initial four gene targets are blood clotting Factors VII, VIII, IX and X, and products developed for such initial gene targets would be used for treating or diagnosing hemophilia. Shire has the right, subject to certain limitations, to designate three additional gene targets. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company granted Shire an exclusive, world-wide, royalty-bearing license, with the right to grant sublicenses, to use Sangamo's ZFP technology for the purpose of developing and commercializing human therapeutic and diagnostic products for the gene targets. The initial research term of the Agreement is six years and is subject to extensions upon mutual agreement and under other specified circumstances. The Company is responsible for all research activities through the submission of an Investigative New Drug Application (IND) or European Clinical Trial Application (CTA), while Shire is responsible for clinical development and commercialization of products generated from the research program from and after the acceptance of an IND or CTA for the product. Shire will reimburse Sangamo for its internal and external research program-related costs. Under the Agreement, the Company received an upfront license fee of $13.0 million. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement with Shire, future expenses related to research activities related to the collaboration will be reimbursed by Shire, including employee and external research costs. In addition, for each gene target, Sangamo is eligible to receive milestone payments upon the achievement of specified research, regulatory, clinical development, commercialization and sales milestones. The total amount of potential milestone payments for each of the seven gene targets, assuming the achievement of all specified milestones in the Agreement, is $213.5 million. The milestone payments for each gene target through the acceptance of an IND or CTA submission total $8.5 million. Sangamo will also receive royalty payments that are a tiered double-digit percentage of net sales of products developed under the collaboration. The Agreement may be terminated by (i) Sangamo or Shire, in whole or in part, for the uncured material breach of the other party, (ii) Sangamo or Shire for the bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding of the other party and (iii) Shire, in its entirety, beginning 24 months after the effective date of the Agreement upon 90 days advance written notice. In addition, Shire may terminate the Agreement with respect to an individual gene target at any time, and under certain circumstances may designate a replacement gene target for a terminated gene target

NOTE 12 – SUBSEQUENT EVENT

On January 31, 2012, The Company entered into a collaboration and license agreement (the Agreement) with Shire, pursuant to which the Company and Shire will collaborate to research, develop and commercialize human therapeutics and diagnostics for monogenic diseases based on Sangamo's ZFP technology. Under the Agreement, the Company and Shire may develop potential human therapeutic or diagnostic products for seven gene targets. The initial four gene targets are blood clotting Factors VII, VIII, IX and X, and products developed for such initial gene targets would be used for treating or diagnosing hemophilia. Shire has the right, subject to certain limitations, to designate three additional gene targets. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company granted Shire an exclusive, world-wide, royalty-bearing license, with the right to grant sublicenses, to use Sangamo's ZFP technology for the purpose of developing and commercializing human therapeutic and diagnostic products for the gene targets.

The initial research term of the Agreement is six years and is subject to extensions upon mutual agreement and under other specified circumstances. The Company is responsible for all research activities through the submission of an Investigative New Drug Application (IND) or European Clinical Trial Application (CTA), while Shire is responsible for clinical development and commercialization of products generated from the research program from and after the acceptance of an IND or CTA for the product. Shire will reimburse Sangamo for its internal and external research program-related costs.

Under the Agreement, the Company received an upfront license fee of $13.0 million. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement with Shire, future expenses related to research activities related to the collaboration will be reimbursed by Shire, including employee and external research costs. In addition, for each gene target, Sangamo is eligible to receive milestone payments upon the achievement of specified research, regulatory, clinical development, commercialization and sales milestones. The total amount of potential milestone payments for each of the seven gene targets, assuming the achievement of all specified milestones in the Agreement, is $213.5 million. The milestone payments for each gene target through the acceptance of an IND or CTA submission total $8.5 million. Sangamo will also receive royalty payments that are a tiered double-digit percentage of net sales of products developed under the collaboration.

The Agreement may be terminated by (i) Sangamo or Shire, in whole or in part, for the uncured material breach of the other party, (ii) Sangamo or Shire for the bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding of the other party and (iii) Shire, in its entirety, beginning 24 months after the effective date of the Agreement upon 90 days advance written notice. In addition, Shire may terminate the Agreement with respect to an individual gene target at any time, and under certain circumstances may designate a replacement gene target for a terminated gene target