Organization and Basis of Presentation	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization and Basis of Presentation	Organization and Basis of Presentation Eleven Biotherapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, is a biologics oncology company focused primarily on designing, engineering and developing targeted protein therapeutics ("TPTs"). The Company's TPTs are single protein therapeutics composed of targeting moieties genetically fused via linker domains to cytotoxic protein payloads that are produced through the Company's proprietary one-step manufacturing process. The Company targets tumor cell surface antigens that allow for rapid internalization into the targeted cancer cell and have limited expression on normal cells. The Company has designed its TPTs to overcome the fundamental efficacy and safety challenges inherent in existing antibody drug conjugates ("ADCs"), where a payload is chemically attached to a targeting antibody. Basis of presentation The condensed consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2017 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 and the related information contained within the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s consolidated financial position as of June 30, 2017 and its results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 and its cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. The financial data and the other financial information disclosed in these notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements related to the three and six-month periods are also unaudited. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017 or for any other future annual or interim period. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 24, 2017 (the "2016 Form 10-K"). The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Eleven Biotherapeutics, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiary, Viventia Bio Inc. ("Viventia"), and its indirect subsidiaries, Viventia Bio USA Inc. and Viventia Biotech (EU) Limited. All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The functional currency of Viventia Bio Inc., Viventia Bio USA Inc. and Viventia Biotech (EU) Limited is the U.S. dollar. Consolidated balance sheet accounts of the Company’s subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date while expenses are translated using the average exchange rate in effect during the period. Gains and losses arising from translation of the wholly owned subsidiaries’ financial statements are included in the determination of net income (loss). Liquidity The Company has financed its operations to date primarily through debt and equity offerings and collaboration and licensing arrangements. As of June 30, 2017, the Company had cash and cash equivalents totaling $15.8 million, net working capital of $12.6 million and an accumulated deficit of $136.7 million. The future success of the Company is dependent on its ability to develop its product candidates and ultimately upon its ability to attain profitable operations. The Company is subject to a number of risks similar to other early-stage life science companies, including, but not limited to, successful discovery and development of its product candidates, raising additional capital with favorable terms, development by its competitors of new technological innovations, protection of proprietary technology and market acceptance of the Company’s products. The successful discovery and development of product candidates requires substantial working capital which may not be available to the Company on favorable terms. To date, the Company has no revenue from product sales and management expects continuing operating losses in the future. As of June 30, 2017, the Company had available cash and cash equivalents of $15.8 million, which it believes is not sufficient to fund the Company’s current operating plan through August 14, 2018, which is twelve months from the date of issuance of these financial statements. Management expects to seek additional funds through equity or debt financings or through additional collaboration, licensing transactions or other sources. The Company may be unable to obtain equity or debt financings or enter into additional collaboration or licensing transactions and, if necessary, the Company will be required to implement cost reduction strategies. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Organization and Basis of Presentation

Eleven Biotherapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, is a biologics oncology company focused primarily on designing, engineering and developing targeted protein therapeutics ("TPTs"). The Company's TPTs are single protein therapeutics composed of targeting moieties genetically fused via linker domains to cytotoxic protein payloads that are produced through the Company's proprietary one-step manufacturing process. The Company targets tumor cell surface antigens that allow for rapid internalization into the targeted cancer cell and have limited expression on normal cells. The Company has designed its TPTs to overcome the fundamental efficacy and safety challenges inherent in existing antibody drug conjugates ("ADCs"), where a payload is chemically attached to a targeting antibody.

Basis of presentation

The condensed consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2017 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 and the related information contained within the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s consolidated financial position as of June 30, 2017 and its results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 and its cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. The financial data and the other financial information disclosed in these notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements related to the three and six-month periods are also unaudited. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017 or for any other future annual or interim period. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 24, 2017 (the "2016 Form 10-K").

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Eleven Biotherapeutics, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiary, Viventia Bio Inc. ("Viventia"), and its indirect subsidiaries, Viventia Bio USA Inc. and Viventia Biotech (EU) Limited. All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

The functional currency of Viventia Bio Inc., Viventia Bio USA Inc. and Viventia Biotech (EU) Limited is the U.S. dollar. Consolidated balance sheet accounts of the Company’s subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date while expenses are translated using the average exchange rate in effect during the period. Gains and losses arising from translation of the wholly owned subsidiaries’ financial statements are included in the determination of net income (loss).

Liquidity

The Company has financed its operations to date primarily through debt and equity offerings and collaboration and licensing arrangements. As of June 30, 2017, the Company had cash and cash equivalents totaling $15.8 million, net working capital of $12.6 million and an accumulated deficit of $136.7 million.

The future success of the Company is dependent on its ability to develop its product candidates and ultimately upon its ability to attain profitable operations. The Company is subject to a number of risks similar to other early-stage life science companies, including, but not limited to, successful discovery and development of its product candidates, raising additional capital with favorable terms, development by its competitors of new technological innovations, protection of proprietary technology and market acceptance of the Company’s products. The successful discovery and development of product candidates requires substantial working capital which may not be available to the Company on favorable terms.

To date, the Company has no revenue from product sales and management expects continuing operating losses in the future. As of June 30, 2017, the Company had available cash and cash equivalents of $15.8 million, which it believes is not sufficient to fund the Company’s current operating plan through August 14, 2018, which is twelve months from the date of issuance of these financial statements. Management expects to seek additional funds through equity or debt financings or through additional collaboration, licensing transactions or other sources. The Company may be unable to obtain equity or debt financings or enter into additional collaboration or licensing transactions and, if necessary, the Company will be required to implement cost reduction strategies. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.