Basis of Presentation and Description of Business	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Description of Business	Basis of Presentation and Description of Business La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company (the “Company”) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapies intended to significantly improve outcomes in patients suffering from life-threatening diseases. Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2014. The unaudited financial statements contain all normal recurring accruals and adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly the condensed balance sheet of the Company at June 30, 2014, the condensed statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, and the condensed statement of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2014. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. It should be understood that accounting measurements at interim dates inherently involve greater reliance on estimates than at year end. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year or any future interim periods. Corporate Structure The Company was incorporated in 1989 as a Delaware corporation. In June of 2012, the Company reincorporated in the State of California. All common and preferred shares of the Delaware corporation were exchanged for common and preferred shares of the Company. Use of Estimates The preparation of condensed financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the unaudited condensed financial statements and disclosures made in the accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed financial statements. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Reverse Stock Split In January of 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a reverse split of the Company’s common stock, which became effective on January 14, 2014, with an exchange ratio of 1-for-50 (the “2014 Reverse Stock Split”). As a result of the 2014 Reverse Stock Split, every 50 shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock were automatically combined into one share of the Company’s common stock. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the 2014 Reverse Stock Split. Shareholders who were entitled to fractional shares instead became entitled to receive a cash payment in lieu of receiving fractional shares (after taking into account and aggregating all shares of the Company’s common stock then held by such shareholder) equal to the fractional share interest. The 2014 Reverse Stock Split affected all of the holders of the Company’s common stock uniformly. Shares of the Company’s common stock underlying outstanding options were proportionately reduced, and the exercise prices of outstanding options were proportionately increased in accordance with the terms of the agreements governing such securities. Shares of the Company’s common stock underlying outstanding convertible preferred stock were proportionately reduced, and the conversion rates were proportionately decreased in accordance with the terms of the agreements governing such securities. All common stock share and per-share information in the accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been restated to reflect retrospective application of the 2014 Reverse Stock Split for all periods presented, except for par value per share and the number of authorized shares, which were not affected. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist primarily of amounts invested in money market accounts. Net Loss Per Share Basic and diluted net loss per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented. Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period, without consideration for common stock equivalents. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares and common stock equivalents outstanding for the period issuable upon the conversion of preferred stock and exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants. These common stock equivalents are included in the calculation of diluted EPS only if their effect is dilutive. There is no difference between basic and diluted net loss per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014. Potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share because the inclusion of such securities would be antidilutive. As of June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2013, an aggregate of 7.9 million and 94 million potentially dilutive common shares, respectively, related to the outstanding preferred stock and stock options were excluded from the diluted net loss per share. Restricted Cash Restricted cash consists of $37,000 in the form of a certificate of deposit on hand with the Company’s financial institutions as collateral for its San Diego office space. Equipment and Furnishings Equipment and furnishings is stated at cost and has been depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from two to seven years. Depreciation expense of $5,000 and $1,000 was recognized for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Comprehensive Loss The Company’s net loss is equal to its comprehensive loss for all periods presented. Adoption of Recent Accounting Pronouncements In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740). This update improves the reporting for unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carry-forward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carry-forward exists. The update is expected to reduce diversity in practice by providing guidance on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits and will better reflect the manner in which an entity would settle at the reporting date any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position when net operating loss carry-forwards, similar tax losses or tax credit carry-forwards exist. The update is effective prospectively for annual reporting periods (including interim reporting periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2013, which for the Company was January 1, 2014. The adoption of this update did not have a material impact on our unaudited condensed financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This update outlines a new, single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. This new revenue recognition model provides a five-step analysis in determining when and how revenue is recognized. The new model will require revenue recognition to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration a company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim reporting periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2016, which for the Company is January 1, 2017; early adoption is not permitted. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or a modified approach to adopting the guidance. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements. In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 781): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide that a Performance Target Could be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. This update requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant date fair value of the award. This update further clarifies that compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the periods for which the requisite service has already been rendered. This update is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim reporting periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2015, which for the Company is January 1, 2016; early adoption is permitted. Entities may apply the amendments in this update either: (a) prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date; or (b) retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this update will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Basis of Presentation and Description of Business

La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company (the “Company”) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapies intended to significantly improve outcomes in patients suffering from life-threatening diseases.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2014. The unaudited financial statements contain all normal recurring accruals and adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly the condensed balance sheet of the Company at June 30, 2014, the condensed statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, and the condensed statement of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2014. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. It should be understood that accounting measurements at interim dates inherently involve greater reliance on estimates than at year end. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year or any future interim periods.

Corporate Structure

The Company was incorporated in 1989 as a Delaware corporation. In June of 2012, the Company reincorporated in the State of California. All common and preferred shares of the Delaware corporation were exchanged for common and preferred shares of the Company.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of condensed financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the unaudited condensed financial statements and disclosures made in the accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed financial statements. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Reverse Stock Split

In January of 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a reverse split of the Company’s common stock, which became effective on January 14, 2014, with an exchange ratio of 1-for-50 (the “2014 Reverse Stock Split”). As a result of the 2014 Reverse Stock Split, every 50 shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock were automatically combined into one share of the Company’s common stock. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the 2014 Reverse Stock Split. Shareholders who were entitled to fractional shares instead became entitled to receive a cash payment in lieu of receiving fractional shares (after taking into account and aggregating all shares of the Company’s common stock then held by such shareholder) equal to the fractional share interest. The 2014 Reverse Stock Split affected all of the holders of the Company’s common stock uniformly. Shares of the Company’s common stock underlying outstanding options were proportionately reduced, and the exercise prices of outstanding options were proportionately increased in accordance with the terms of the agreements governing such securities. Shares of the Company’s common stock underlying outstanding convertible preferred stock were proportionately reduced, and the conversion rates were proportionately decreased in accordance with the terms of the agreements governing such securities.

All common stock share and per-share information in the accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been restated to reflect retrospective application of the 2014 Reverse Stock Split for all periods presented, except for par value per share and the number of authorized shares, which were not affected.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist primarily of amounts invested in money market accounts.

Net Loss Per Share

Basic and diluted net loss per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented. Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period, without consideration for common stock equivalents. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares and common stock equivalents outstanding for the period issuable upon the conversion of preferred stock and exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants. These common stock equivalents are included in the calculation of diluted EPS only if their effect is dilutive. There is no difference between basic and diluted net loss per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014. Potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share because the inclusion of such securities would be antidilutive. As of June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2013, an aggregate of 7.9 million and 94 million potentially dilutive common shares, respectively, related to the outstanding preferred stock and stock options were excluded from the diluted net loss per share.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash consists of $37,000 in the form of a certificate of deposit on hand with the Company’s financial institutions as collateral for its San Diego office space.

Equipment and Furnishings

Equipment and furnishings is stated at cost and has been depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from two to seven years. Depreciation expense of $5,000 and $1,000 was recognized for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Comprehensive Loss

The Company’s net loss is equal to its comprehensive loss for all periods presented.

Adoption of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740). This update improves the reporting for unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carry-forward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carry-forward exists. The update is expected to reduce diversity in practice by providing guidance on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits and will better reflect the manner in which an entity would settle at the reporting date any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position when net operating loss carry-forwards, similar tax losses or tax credit carry-forwards exist. The update is effective prospectively for annual reporting periods (including interim reporting periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2013, which for the Company was January 1, 2014. The adoption of this update did not have a material impact on our unaudited condensed financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This update outlines a new, single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. This new revenue recognition model provides a five-step analysis in determining when and how revenue is recognized. The new model will require revenue recognition to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration a company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim reporting periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2016, which for the Company is January 1, 2017; early adoption is not permitted. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or a modified approach to adopting the guidance. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 781): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide that a Performance Target Could be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. This update requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant date fair value of the award. This update further clarifies that compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the periods for which the requisite service has already been rendered. This update is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim reporting periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2015, which for the Company is January 1, 2016; early adoption is permitted. Entities may apply the amendments in this update either: (a) prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date; or (b) retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this update will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.