CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit	Treasury Stock	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 984	$ 1,488,447	$ 99	$ (1,334,502)		$ 155,028
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	98,379
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exercise of stock options, and issuance of common stock units, stock awards and purchase plan	$ 29	26,962				26,991
Exercise of stock options, and issuance of common stock units, stock awards and purchase plan (in shares)	2,964
Issuance of common stock in private placement to a related party	$ 35	125,995				126,030
Issuance of common stock in private placement to a related party (in shares)	3,505
Stock based compensation		25,858				25,858
Conversion of convertible subordinated notes	$ 67	171,164				171,231
Conversion of convertible subordinated notes (in shares)	6,668
Capped call options associated with convertible subordinated notes due 2023		(35,378)				(35,378)
Net loss				(170,701)		(170,701)
Other comprehensive income (loss)			63			63
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 1,115	1,803,048	162	(1,505,203)		299,122
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	111,516
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exercise of stock options, and issuance of common stock units, stock awards and purchase plan	$ 17	10,813				10,830
Exercise of stock options, and issuance of common stock units, stock awards and purchase plan (in shares)	1,744
Issuance of common stock in private placement to a related party	$ 17	38,078				38,095
Issuance of common stock in private placement to a related party (in shares)	1,665
Stock based compensation		27,485				27,485
Conversion of convertible subordinated notes	$ 15	31,756				31,771
Conversion of convertible subordinated notes (in shares)	1,520
Repurchase of common stock		3,263			$ (3,263)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)					(150)
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 and $0.75 per common share		(57,852)				(57,852)
Net loss				(168,464)		(168,464)
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(249)			(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				(150)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exercise of stock options, and issuance of common stock units, stock awards and purchase plan	$ 8	(488)				(480)
Exercise of stock options, and issuance of common stock units, stock awards and purchase plan (in shares)	740
Issuance of common stock in private placement to a related party	$ 4	6,524				6,528
Issuance of common stock in private placement to a related party (in shares)	424
Stock based compensation		6,873				6,873
Repurchase of common stock	$ (27)	(25,609)				(25,636)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	(2,676)
Cash dividends declared, $0.50 and $0.75 per common share		(87,906)				(87,906)
Net loss				(18,760)		(18,760)
Other comprehensive income (loss)			85			85
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 1,149	$ 1,351,898	$ (2)	$ (1,692,427)	$ (3,263)	$ (342,645)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	114,933				(150)