Stock-Based Compensation (Details 2) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 02, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Stock-based compensation
Number of shares of Theravance Biopharma issued for every share of Theravance	0.286
Incremental stock-based compensation expense arising out of spin-off		$ 1,200,000
Stock-based compensation expense		4,732,000	6,446,000	26,013,000	19,704,000
Stock options
Stock-based compensation
Total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock-based compensation		3,500,000		3,500,000
RSUs
Stock-based compensation
Total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock-based compensation		1,500,000		1,500,000
RSAs
Stock-based compensation
Total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock-based compensation		3,600,000		3,600,000
Continuing operations
Stock-based compensation
Stock-based compensation expense		4,732,000	1,968,000	14,384,000	5,871,000
Discontinued operation
Stock-based compensation
Incremental stock-based compensation expense arising out of spin-off		900,000
Stock-based compensation expense		0	4,478,000	11,629,000	13,833,000
Research and development | Continuing operations
Stock-based compensation
Stock-based compensation expense		1,357,000	118,000	2,589,000	426,000
General and administrative | Continuing operations
Stock-based compensation
Stock-based compensation expense		$ 3,375,000	$ 1,850,000	$ 11,795,000	$ 5,445,000