Acquisition of Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals, Inc (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Jan. 18, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Closing Price Of Progenics Common Shares			$ 2.83
Original Shares Issued For Acquisition			4,566,210
Shares For Acquisition Held In Escrow			500,000
Shares For Acquisition Returned From Escrow			93,847
Final Shares Issued For Acquisition	4,472,363
Maximum Milestone Payment Specified Commercial Events	$ 23,000,000
Maximum Milestone Payment For Achieving Sales Targets	70,000,000
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Transaction Costs	750,000
Equity issuance costs	45,000	0
Progenics common stock consideration	11,265,000	0
Contingent consideration (pursuant to future milestone obligations)	15,900,000	0		0
Deferred tax liability - long term	12,683,000			0
Intangible assets	32,300,000			0
Goodwill	7,702,000			0
Business Acquisition Transaction Costs Excluded From Pro Forma Information	750,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Revenue	2,231,000	2,312,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net Income (Loss)	(12,462,000)	(20,271,000)
Business Acquisition Pro Forma Earnings Per Share Basic And Diluted	$ (0.25)	$ (0.53)
Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition Contributed Revenue	329,000
Business Acquisition Increase Decrease Net Income Loss	3,175,000
Progenics common stock consideration			11,265,000
Contingent consideration (pursuant to future milestone obligations)			15,900,000
Total consideration			27,165,000
Cash acquired in acquisition of subsidiary			1,888,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Current Assets, Receivables			56,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Current Assets, Prepaid Expense and Other Assets			529,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Property, Plant and Equipment			249,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Current Liabilities			(2,876,000)
Deferred tax liability - long term			(12,683,000)
Total tangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed			(12,837,000)
Intangible assets			32,300,000
Business Acquisition Tangible And Intangible Assets Acquired Liabilities Assumed			19,463,000
Goodwill			$ 7,702,000