Research And Development Agreements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 days	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Aug. 31, 2011 IntelliPharmaCeutics Corp. [Member]	Jan. 31, 2006 IntelliPharmaCeutics Corp. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 IntelliPharmaCeutics Corp. [Member] days years	Jun. 30, 2010 EMET Pharmaceuticals [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 EMET Pharmaceuticals [Member]	Jan. 31, 2011 Catalent Pharma Solutions GMBH [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Catalent Pharma Solutions GMBH [Member]	Feb. 28, 2007 Optimer Pharmaceutical Corporation [Member]	Mar. 31, 2010 Optimer Pharmaceutical Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Optimer Pharmaceutical Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bioequivalence Studies [Member] IntelliPharmaCeutics Corp. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Food And Drug Administration (FDA's) [Member] IntelliPharmaCeutics Corp. [Member]
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]
Milestone payment					$ 250
Subsequent milestones payable														250	250
Additional development costs				600
Maximum earnings anticipated upon launch of product						2,500
Term of license and commercialization agreement from commercial launch of product, in years						10
Additional milestone payments							5,500
Clinical research services for development of lubiprostone capsules									6,400
Payment for clinical study costs										3,400
Research and development	46,538	50,369	39,235				5,500	500		200
Number of days required for introduction of product						180
Days of ownership	45
Amount exchanged to terminate the agreement											20,000
Milestone payment due from parties under termination agreement												5,000
Gain on sale of product rights and other	125	6,025	3,200									5,000
Royalty income													4,300
Other product related revenues line	$ 4,300