Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Rollforward of Level 3 assets
Balance at beginning of period			$ 17,527,000	$ 17,527,000	$ 33,597,000
Total gains (losses) (realized or unrealized):
Included in earnings				(1,471,000)	(210,000)
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)				2,373,000	3,790,000
Purchases, issuances, sales, and settlements:
Sales				(18,329,000)
Settlements				(100,000)	(19,650,000)
Balance at end of period				0	17,527,000	33,597,000
Advertising Costs
Advertising costs, including promotional expenses and costs related to trade shows				1,800,000	3,100,000	7,400,000
Provision for U.S. product sales allowances and accruals
Discounts and chargebacks				26,517,000	13,851,000	5,113,000
Government and other rebates				6,058,000	8,544,000	16,374,000
Medicaid rebate reserve adjustment	600,000	2,500,000	2,200,000	(621,000)	(2,532,000)	(599,000)
Returns				(1,516,000)	1,259,000	1,334,000
Total provision for U.S. product sales allowances and accruals				30,438,000	21,122,000	22,222,000
Total gross U.S. product sales				88,725,000	73,219,000	81,561,000
Total provision for U.S. product sales allowances and accruals as a percent of total gross U.S. product sales				34.00%	29.00%	27.00%
Typical average period from time of product sale to payment of rebate, up to or longer than				6 months
Discounts
Percentage of prompt payment discount to customers				2.00%
Period within which discount is offered to customers for prompt payment				30 days
Accrued percentage of the prompt payment discount				100.00%
Government and Other Rebates
Reduction in Medicaid rebate reserves				600,000	2,500,000	600,000
Reduction in estimated Medicaid rebate reserve, impact per basic and diluted share (in dollars per share)				$ 0.03	$ 0.12	$ 0.03
Distributor/Wholesaler and Group Purchasing Organization Fees
Period within which fees are billed by the GPO				30 days
Product Returns
Current expiration period for packaged products, minimum				4 years
Current expiration period for packaged products, maximum				5 years
Reduction of reserve for product returns				2,200,000
Expiration period for certain manufactured Feraheme lots				2 years
Product returns provision applied to gross sales				1,500,000
Reduction in estimated product returns reserve, impact per basic and diluted share (in dollars per share)				$ 0.10
Shipping and Handling Costs
Costs for shipping and handling services				$ 200,000	$ 100,000	$ 200,000
Buildings
Property, plant and equipment
Estimated useful lives				40 years
Laboratory and production equipment
Property, plant and equipment
Estimated useful lives				5 years
Furniture and fixtures
Property, plant and equipment
Estimated useful lives				5 years