Composition of Total Revenue - By Product Line (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
License fees and service revenue	$ 3,256	$ 8,625
License fees and service revenues	100.00%	100.00%
Sales Revenue, Services, Net [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
License fees and service revenues	100.00%	100.00%
Sales and marketing [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
License fees and service revenue	$ 2,366	$ 1,933
Sales and marketing [Member] | Sales Revenue, Services, Net [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
License fees and service revenues	72.70%	22.40%
Canada territory [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
License fees and service revenue	$ 0	$ 6,000
Canada territory [Member] | Sales Revenue, Services, Net [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
License fees and service revenues	0.00%	69.60%
Asia and other territories [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
License fees and service revenue	$ 615	$ 422
Asia and other territories [Member] | Sales Revenue, Services, Net [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
License fees and service revenues	18.90%	4.90%
CASI Out-License [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
License fees and service revenue	$ 263	$ 258
CASI Out-License [Member] | Sales Revenue, Services, Net [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
License fees and service revenues	8.10%	3.00%
China territory [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
License fees and service revenue	$ 12	$ 12
China territory [Member] | Sales Revenue, Services, Net [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
License fees and service revenues	0.40%	0.10%