Nature of operations	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Nature of operations	Nature of operationsNeoleukin Therapeutics, Inc. (“Neoleukin” or “the Company”) has historically been a biopharmaceutical company creating next generation immunotherapies for cancer, inflammation, and autoimmunity using de novo protein design technology. Based on decisions made by our Board of Directors in November 2022 and March 2023, the Company has restructured operations to significantly reduce its workforce, discontinue development of NL-201, a de novo protein that was in Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of cancer, and suspend all research and development activities in order to conserve capital and focus on other strategic alternatives for the Company. Such alternatives may include a sale, merger, divestiture of assets, licensing or other strategic transaction

The entire disclosure for the nature of an entity's business, major products or services, principal markets including location, and the relative importance of its operations in each business and the basis for the determination, including but not limited to, assets, revenues, or earnings. For an entity that has not commenced principal operations, disclosures about the risks and uncertainties related to the activities in which the entity is currently engaged and an understanding of what those activities are being directed toward.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 275
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99393423&loc=d3e5967-108592

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 275
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2134479

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