Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	15. Subsequent Events Convertible Note Exchange Agreement On October 20, 2014, the Company entered into a privately negotiated exchange agreement under which it will retire approximately $26.0 million in principal of the Company’s outstanding Series 2012 Notes. The exchange agreement provides for the issuance, by the Company, of shares of common stock and a cash payment for the Series 2012 Notes being exchanged. The Company will issue a number of shares of its common stock and pay a cash payment, in each case as determined pursuant to the terms of the exchange agreement, which utilizes substantially the same calculation for a conversion of the Series 2012 Notes as provided for in the indenture governing the Series 2012 Notes. Such shares of common stock being issued in exchange for the Series 2012 Notes will be issued in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, under Section 3(a)(9) thereof. The Company anticipates the closing of this transaction to occur on or about November 24, 2014, following completion of a 20-day averaging period similar to that required under the indenture. Consummation of this transaction is conditioned on customary closing conditions and there is no assurance the Company will ultimately consummate the acquisition of any of its Series 2012 Notes. Royalty Acquisition On November 6, 2014, PDL acquired a portion of all royalty payments of the University of Michigan’s (“U-M”) worldwide royalty interest in Cerdelga™ (eliglustat) for $65.6 million. Under the terms of the Michigan Royalty Agreement, PDL will receive 75% of all royalty payments due under U-M’s license agreement with Genzyme until expiration of the licensed patents, excluding any patent term extension. Cerdelga, an oral therapy for adult patients with Gaucher disease type 1, was developed by Genzyme, a Sanofi company. Cerdelga was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 19, 2014. In addition to the recent FDA approval, marketing applications for Cerdelga are under review by the European Medicines Agency and other regulatory authorities.

15. Subsequent Events

Convertible Note Exchange Agreement

On October 20, 2014, the Company entered into a privately negotiated exchange agreement under which it will retire approximately $26.0 million in principal of the Company’s outstanding Series 2012 Notes. The exchange agreement provides for the issuance, by the Company, of shares of common stock and a cash payment for the Series 2012 Notes being exchanged. The Company will issue a number of shares of its common stock and pay a cash payment, in each case as determined pursuant to the terms of the exchange agreement, which utilizes substantially the same calculation for a conversion of the Series 2012 Notes as provided for in the indenture governing the Series 2012 Notes. Such shares of common stock being issued in exchange for the Series 2012 Notes will be issued in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, under Section 3(a)(9) thereof. The Company anticipates the closing of this transaction to occur on or about November 24, 2014, following completion of a 20-day averaging period similar to that required under the indenture. Consummation of this transaction is conditioned on customary closing conditions and there is no assurance the Company will ultimately consummate the acquisition of any of its Series 2012 Notes.

Royalty Acquisition

On November 6, 2014, PDL acquired a portion of all royalty payments of the University of Michigan’s (“U-M”) worldwide royalty interest in Cerdelga™ (eliglustat) for $65.6 million. Under the terms of the Michigan Royalty Agreement, PDL will receive 75% of all royalty payments due under U-M’s license agreement with Genzyme until expiration of the licensed patents, excluding any patent term extension. Cerdelga, an oral therapy for adult patients with Gaucher disease type 1, was developed by Genzyme, a Sanofi company. Cerdelga was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 19, 2014. In addition to the recent FDA approval, marketing applications for Cerdelga are under review by the European Medicines Agency and other regulatory authorities.