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Convertible Notes (Interest Expense for the May 2015 Notes) (Detail) (May 2015 Notes [Member], USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
May 2015 Notes [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Contractual coupon interest $ 1,454us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebtExcludingAmortization
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pdli_DueMay2015Member
$ 1,455us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebtExcludingAmortization
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pdli_DueMay2015Member
Amortization of debt issuance costs 326pdli_AmortizationOfDebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pdli_DueMay2015Member
315pdli_AmortizationOfDebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pdli_DueMay2015Member
Amortization of debt discount 1,357us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pdli_DueMay2015Member
1,261us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pdli_DueMay2015Member
Total $ 3,137us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pdli_DueMay2015Member
$ 3,031us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pdli_DueMay2015Member