Description of Company and Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Description of Company and Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
Description of Company and Basis of Presentation	1. Description of Company and Basis of Presentation CytRx Corporation ("CytRx" or the "Company") is a biopharmaceutical research and development company engaged in the development of high-value human therapeutics, specializing in oncology. CytRx's oncology pipeline includes three programs in clinical development for cancer indications: INNO-206, tamibarotene and bafetinib. With its tumor-targeted doxorubicin conjugate INNO-206, the Company has initiated an international Phase 2b clinical trial as a treatment for soft tissue sarcomas, is completing an ongoing Phase 1b/2 clinical trial for primarily the same indication, and plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial for advanced pancreatic ductual adenocarcinomas in the first half of 2012. The Company's pipeline also includes tamibarotene, which it is testing in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, international Phase 2b clinical trial in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, and which is in a clinical trial as a treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). CytRx has evaluated bafetinib in the ENABLE Phase 2 clinical trial in high-risk B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), and plans to seek a partner for further development of bafetinib. The accompanying condensed financial statements at March 31, 2012 and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are unaudited, but include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring entries, that management believes to be necessary for a fair presentation of the periods presented. Prior period figures have been reclassified, wherever necessary, to conform to current presentation. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. Balance sheet amounts as of December 31, 2011 have been derived from the Company's audited financial statements as of that date. The financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited financial statements contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. The Company's operating results will fluctuate for the foreseeable future. Therefore, period-to-period comparisons should not be relied upon as predictive of the results in future periods.

1. Description of Company and Basis of Presentation

CytRx Corporation ("CytRx" or the "Company") is a biopharmaceutical research and development company engaged in the development of high-value human therapeutics, specializing in oncology. CytRx's oncology pipeline includes three programs in clinical development for cancer indications: INNO-206, tamibarotene and bafetinib. With its tumor-targeted doxorubicin conjugate INNO-206, the Company has initiated an international Phase 2b clinical trial as a treatment for soft tissue sarcomas, is completing an ongoing Phase 1b/2 clinical trial for primarily the same indication, and plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial for advanced pancreatic ductual adenocarcinomas in the first half of 2012. The Company's pipeline also includes tamibarotene, which it is testing in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, international Phase 2b clinical trial in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, and which is in a clinical trial as a treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). CytRx has evaluated bafetinib in the ENABLE Phase 2 clinical trial in high-risk B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), and plans to seek a partner for further development of bafetinib.

The accompanying condensed financial statements at March 31, 2012 and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are unaudited, but include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring entries, that management believes to be necessary for a fair presentation of the periods presented. Prior period figures have been reclassified, wherever necessary, to conform to current presentation. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. Balance sheet amounts as of December 31, 2011 have been derived from the Company's audited financial statements as of that date.

The financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited financial statements contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. The Company's operating results will fluctuate for the foreseeable future. Therefore, period-to-period comparisons should not be relied upon as predictive of the results in future periods.