Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net loss	$ (68,512)	$ (50,785)	$ (45,719)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	26,492	31,869	25,352
Stock-based compensation	12,412	12,084	11,809
Accretion of debt discount	5,710	5,250	4,818
Amortization of deferred financing costs, recorded to interest expense on 2018 Convertible Notes (Note 15)	696	662	599
Bad debt expense (recovery)	57	0	(85)
Unrealized foreign currency exchange (gain) loss	(153)	(157)	6,033
Loss on 2018 Convertible Note purchase (Note 15)	25	0	0
Change in cash surrender value of corporate owned life insurance	(137)	0	0
Income tax recognition on unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities	(2,217)	0	0
Impairment of intangible assets (Note 3(g))	0	7,160	0
Change in fair value of contingent consideration related to the EVOMELA and Talon acquisitions (Note 10)	649	(676)	(987)
Research and development expense	0	0	7,790
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	(9,494)	40,245	(21,671)
Other receivables	6,895	(7,017)	2,070
Inventories	(5,800)	1,863	4,253
Prepaid expenses	(423)	(446)	(718)
Deferred tax assets	0	0	1,724
Other assets	(2,043)	(1,731)	(13,161)
Accounts payable and other accrued obligations	(4,033)	(28,298)	5,304
Accrued payroll and benefits	790	(233)	1,594
Drug development liability	(1,556)	(1,100)	(1,957)
Acquisition-related contingent obligations	(1,300)	0	0
Deferred revenue	(2,985)	(3,511)	9,803
Deferred tax liabilities	(104)	210	(602)
Other long-term liabilities	2,153	1,355	124
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(40,459)	6,744	(3,627)
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(78)	(223)	(934)
Payment for corporate-owned life insurance premiums	(601)	0	0
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities	0	3,061	4,093
Capitalized cash milestone payment upon FDA approval of BELEODAQ	0	0	(25,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(679)	2,838	(21,841)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	203	1,482	1,906
Proceeds from sale of stock under employee stock purchase plan	668	627	639
Purchase and retirement of restricted stock to satisfy employees' tax liability at vesting	(1,397)	(638)	(1,733)
Payment of contingent consideration related to EVOMELA acquisition (Note 10(b))	(4,700)	0	0
Proceeds from common stock sold under an at-market-issuance sales agreement (Note 7)	73,869	0	0
Purchase of 2018 Convertible Notes (Note 15)	(9,014)	0	0
Purchase of warrants related to the conversion hedge of 2018 Convertible Notes (Note 15)	(330)	0	0
Proceeds from sale of call options related to the conversion hedge of 2018 Convertible Notes (Note 15)	351	0	0
Dividends paid upon conversion of Series E Convertible Voting Preferred Stock (Note 7)	(6)	0	0
Net cash provided by financing activities	59,644	1,471	812
Effect of exchange rates on cash and equivalents	(25)	(1,254)	(1,708)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	18,481	9,799	(26,364)
Cash and equivalents — beginning of year	139,741	129,942	156,306
Cash and equivalents — end of year	158,222	139,741	129,942
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid for income taxes	11	335	329
Cash paid for interest	3,300	3,300	3,227
BELEODAQ [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Research and development expense	$ 2,419	$ 0	$ 0