Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit	Treasury Stock	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 855	$ 1,228,037	$ 16	$ (1,315,960)	$ 0	$ (87,052)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	85,543,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exercise of stock options, and issuance of common stock units, stock awards and purchase plan	22	7,059	0	0	0	7,081
Exercise of stock options, and issuance of common stock units, stock awards and purchase plan (in shares)	2,151,000
Issuance of common stock in private placement to a related party, net of expenses of $0.4 million in 2012	107	229,189	0	0	0	229,296
Issuance of common stock in private placement to a related party (in shares)	10,685,000
Stock-based compensation	0	24,162	0	0	0	24,162
Net loss	0	0	0	(18,542)	0	(18,542)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	0	0	83	0	0	83
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	984	1,488,447	99	(1,334,502)	0	155,028
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	98,379,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exercise of stock options, and issuance of common stock units, stock awards and purchase plan	29	26,962	0	0	0	26,991
Exercise of stock options, and issuance of common stock units, stock awards and purchase plan (in shares)	2,964,000
Issuance of common stock in private placement to a related party, net of expenses of $0.4 million in 2012	35	125,995	0	0	0	126,030
Issuance of common stock in private placement to a related party (in shares)	3,505,000
Stock-based compensation	0	25,858	0	0	0	25,858
Conversion of convertible subordinated notes	67	171,164	0	0	0	171,231
Conversion of convertible subordinated notes (in shares)	6,668,000
Capped call options associated with convertible subordinated notes due 2023	0	(35,378)	0	0	0	(35,378)
Net loss	0	0	0	(170,701)	0	(170,701)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	0	0	63	0	0	63
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,115	1,803,048	162	(1,505,203)	0	299,122
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	111,516,000					111,516,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exercise of stock options, and issuance of common stock units, stock awards and purchase plan	17	10,813	0	0	0	10,830
Exercise of stock options, and issuance of common stock units, stock awards and purchase plan (in shares)	1,744,000
Issuance of common stock in private placement to a related party, net of expenses of $0.4 million in 2012	17	38,078	0	0	0	38,095
Issuance of common stock in private placement to a related party (in shares)	1,665,000
Stock-based compensation	0	27,485	0	0	0	27,485
Conversion of convertible subordinated notes	15	31,756	0	0	0	31,771
Conversion of convertible subordinated notes (in shares)	1,520,000
Repurchase of common stock		(3,263)			3,263
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)					(150,000)
Guarantee issued in connection with distribution to Theravance Biopharma, Inc. related to lease agreements		(1,300)				(1,300)
Distribution to Theravance Biopharma, Inc.		(402,787)				(402,787)
Cash dividends declared, $0.50 per common share		(57,852)				(57,852)
Net loss	0	0	0	(168,464)	0	(168,464)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	0	0	(249)	0	0	(249)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 1,164	$ 1,452,504	$ (87)	$ (1,673,667)	$ (3,263)	$ (223,349)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	116,445,000				(150,000)	116,445,000