CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
INCOME
Collaboration income	$ 1,367,186	$ 3,190,106
Grant income	1,115,430	808,512
Other income	183,724	0
TOTAL INCOME	2,666,340	3,998,618
OPERATING EXPENSES
Research and development	10,766,095	16,042,082
General and administrative	4,762,642	4,933,054
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES	15,528,737	20,975,136
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS	(12,862,397)	(16,976,518)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Investment income	38,494	14,407
Interest expense	(398,807)	(344,665)
Forgiveness of loan payable	15,654,133	0
Impairment of in-process research and development	0	(1,500,000)
TOTAL OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)	15,293,820	(1,830,258)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	2,431,423	(18,806,776)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Net unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	8,096	(5,861)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	$ 2,439,519	$ (18,812,637)
Net income (loss) per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ (1.01)
Weighted average number of shares - basic (in shares)	23,193,278	18,551,013
Net income (loss) per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.09	$ (1.01)
Weighted average number of shares - diluted (in shares)	26,788,076	18,551,013