Commitments and contingencies (Details Textual) - USD ($)				1 Months Ended
	May 02, 2016	Nov. 02, 2015	Oct. 08, 2015	May 31, 2016	Feb. 29, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2015
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights				107,802
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights				$ 7.50
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities				$ 1,000,000
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Equity Interests Issued and Issuable				750,000
Moleculin LLC [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments for Other Fees				306,186
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities						$ 1,250,067
Patent Law Firm [Member] | Minimum Fee and patent Expenses [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Contractual Obligation, Total									$ 42,504	$ 65,504
Bonwick Capital Partners LLC [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Letter Agreements Terms					the Company agreed to: a) pay success fees equal to 7% of the gross proceeds from any form of financing; and b) issue five-year warrants to purchase 7% of the Company’s equity securities sold with a cashless exercise provision, exercisable at 125% of the price per share of the Company’s common stock paid by investors in the transaction. In addition, the Company agreed to reimburse Bonwick for all of its out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the offering, not to exceed $25,000, and fees and expenses of their counsel not to exceed $100,000.
Success Fee Percentage					7.00%
Class of Warrant or Right, Percentage of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights					7.00%
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price Percentage Threshold					125.00%
Payments for Underwriting Expense					$ 50,000
Bonwick Capital Partners LLC [Member] | IPO [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Reimburement of Expenses				6,266
Payments of Stock Issuance Costs				$ 646,872
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights				107,802
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights				$ 7.50
Bonwick Capital Partners LLC [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Reimbursement Payable, Offering Costs					25,000
Reimbursement Payable, Fees and Expenses of Counsel					$ 100,000
Intertech Bio INC [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments for Royalties				$ 64,004
MD Anderson [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments for Royalties				$ 44,004
MD Anderson [Member] | Minimum Fee and patent Expenses [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Contractual Obligation, Total			$ 98,108						$ 45,000	98,108
MD Anderson [Member] | Minimum Annual Royalty [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Contractual Obligation, Total			65,504
Patent and Technology License Agreement [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Contractual Obligation, Total							$ 91,186	$ 175,000		$ 125,000
Payments for Royalties		$ 125,000
License Agreement, Maintenance Fee	$ 20,000
License Agreement, Maintenance Fee Annual Increase	10,000
Payments for Other Fees			300,000
License Agreement, Maintenance Fee - Maximum Payable Per Year	100,000
Patent and Technology License Agreement [Member] | First Sale of Licensed Product [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Contractual Obligation Minimum Annual Royalty Payment Due After First Sale	$ 200,000
Patent and Technology License Agreement [Member] | Servicing Fee payable [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Contractual Obligation, Due First Anniversary April 2, 2013											$ 10,000
Contractual Obligation, Due Second Anniversary											20,000
Contractual Obligation, Due Third Anniversary											40,000
Contractual Obligation, Due Fourth Anniversary											60,000
Contractual Obligation, Due Fifth Anniversary											80,000
Contractual Obligation, Due Sixth Anniversary											100,000
Patent and Technology License Agreement [Member] | Minimum Annual Royalty [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Contractual Obligation, Due in Next Fiscal Year, After Product Approval											200,000
Contractual Obligation, Due in Second Year, After Product Approval											400,000
Contractual Obligation, Due in Third Year, After Product Approval											$ 600,000
Patent and Technology License Agreement [Member] | Letter Agreement [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments for Other Fees			$ 691,186