Note 8 - Commitments and Contingencies (Detail) (USD $)			3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Nov. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2012 Europe [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Past U.S. Based Sales [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Future U.S. Based Sales [Member]
RoyaltyRevenueGeographicConcentration			41.00%
Gain Contingency, Unrecorded Amount (in Dollars)	$ 1,000,000,000
Royalty Rate				3.75%	3.75%
Number of Genentech's Claims Dismissed by Court		2
Number of PDL's Claims Upheld by Court		4
Number of PDL's claims for relief relating to the 2003 settlement agreement		5
Number of PDL's claims dismissed by the court		1
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due (in Dollars)	108,200,000
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss (in Dollars)	$ 10,700,000