XML 39 R44.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Leases - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Sep. 30, 2009
sqft
Leases [Line Items]        
Percentage ceiling on rent increases, annually, capital lease 3.00%nktr_PercentageCeilingOnRentIncrease      
San Carlos facility capital leases, termination date Oct. 05, 2016      
Future minimum rental receipts under the San Carlos facility subleases $ 4.8us-gaap_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumSubleaseRentals      
Book value of assets, gross 2.7us-gaap_CapitalLeasedAssetsGross 2.3us-gaap_CapitalLeasedAssetsGross    
Net book value of assets 1.2us-gaap_CapitalLeasesBalanceSheetAssetsByMajorClassNet 1.0us-gaap_CapitalLeasesBalanceSheetAssetsByMajorClassNet    
Operating Sublease term commenced start date August 2010      
Operating Sublease term commenced period 114 months      
Operating Sublease term commenced end date January 31, 2020      
Rent expense for operating leases $ 3.2us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense $ 2.9us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense $ 2.8us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense  
Pfizer, Inc. [Member]        
Leases [Line Items]        
Operating sublease       126,285nktr_OperatingSublease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= nktr_PfizerMember