The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	1. The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Alseres Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) is a biotechnology company engaged in the development of therapeutic and diagnostic products primarily for disorders in the central nervous system. The Company was founded in 1992 and merged with a publicly held company in 1995 (the “Merger”) whereby the Company changed its name to Boston Life Sciences, Inc. Effective June 7, 2007, the Company changed its name to Alseres Pharmaceuticals, Inc. During the period from inception through December 31, 2011, the Company has devoted substantially all of its efforts to business planning, raising financing, furthering the research and development of its technologies, and corporate partnering efforts. Accordingly, the Company is considered to be a “development stage enterprise” as defined in ASC 915, Development Stage Entities and will continue to be so until the commencement of commercial operations. The development stage is from October 16, 1992 (inception) through December 31, 2011. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a basis which assumes that the Company will continue as a going concern which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The uncertainty inherent in the need to raise additional capital and the Company’s recurring losses from operations raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. Basis of Presentation The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of its six subsidiaries where all of the Company’s operations are conducted. As of December 31, 2011 all of the subsidiaries were wholly-owned. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. Reclassifications Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year’s consolidated balance sheet and accompanying notes to conform to the current year presentation. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Changes in estimates are reflected in reported results in the period in which they become known. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid marketable securities purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010 cash equivalents consisted of money market funds. Short-term Investments The Company considers all marketable securities with maturities greater than three months and less than one year at the time of acquisition or purchase to be short-term investments. The Company determines the appropriate classification of its marketable securities at the time of acquisition or purchase and evaluates such designation as of each balance sheet date. As of December 31, 2011, our short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale and are carried on the balance sheet at fair value. The unrealized losses related to these marketable securities have been determined to be temporary and therefore have been included in other comprehensive loss a component of stockholders’ deficit. Fair Value Measurements The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair values as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 due to their short-term nature. Short-term investments are considered available-for-sale as of December 31, 2011 and are carried at fair value. It is not practicable to estimate the fair value of the Company’s convertible debt. However, it is likely that the fair value of the debt would be materially less than the carrying value of the debt because the conversion price of $2.50 is higher than the Company’s stock price of $0.24 as of December 31, 2011 and the Company currently does not have the resources to repay the convertible debt. Property and Equipment Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, ranging from three to five years. Leasehold improvements were recorded at cost and amortized using the straight-line method over the term of the lease which expired on September 30, 2011. The Company periodically assesses the impairment of long-lived assets in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment (ASC 360). The Company reviews long-lived assets, including property and equipment, for impairment whenever changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be fully recoverable. For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 the Company did not record any impairment losses. Reporting Comprehensive Income (Loss) Accounting Standards Codification 220, Comprehensive Income (ASC 220), establishes standards for the reporting and display of comprehensive income (loss) and its components in the financial statements. Comprehensive income (loss) is the total of net income (loss) and all other non-owner changes in equity including such items as unrealized holding gains/losses on securities, foreign currency translation adjustments and minimum pension liability adjustments. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company reported a net loss of $2,882,214 and a comprehensive loss of $2,913,581 as a result of the unrealized loss of $31,367 associated with the FluoroPharma Medical, Inc. shares. For the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company had no such items and as a result, comprehensive income was the same as reported net income of $512,419. Beneficial Conversion Feature In prior periods, the Company issued preferred stock and notes which are convertible into common stock at a discount from the common stock market price at the date of issuance. The amount of the discount associated with such conversion rights represents an incremental yield, i.e. a “beneficial conversion feature”, that is recorded when the consideration allocated to the convertible security, divided by the number of common shares into which the security converts, is below the fair value of the common stock at the date of issuance of the convertible instrument. A beneficial conversion feature associated with preferred stock is recognized as a return to the preferred stockholders and represents a non-cash charge in the determination of net loss attributable to common stockholders. The beneficial conversion feature is recognized in full immediately if there is no redemption date for the preferred stock, or over the period of issuance through the redemption date, if applicable. A beneficial conversion feature associated with debentures, notes or other debt instruments is recognized as discount to the debt and is amortized as additional interest expense using the effective interest method over the remaining term of the debt instrument. Convertible Redeemable Shares In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (ASC 480-10-S99) the Company determined that since the Series F shares are mandatorily redeemable for cash or for a variable, uncapped, number of common shares, they do not qualify for equity classification. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method. Under the liability method, deferred income taxes are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. They are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Company is required to adjust its deferred tax liabilities in the period when tax rates or the provisions of the income tax laws change. Valuation allowances are established to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2011-05, “Presentation of Comprehensive Income.” ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity and requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements. This pronouncement is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. We believe the adoption of the guidance contained in ASU 2011-05 concerns presentation and disclosure only and will not have an impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

1. The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Alseres Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) is a biotechnology company engaged in the development of therapeutic and diagnostic products primarily for disorders in the central nervous system. The Company was founded in 1992 and merged with a publicly held company in 1995 (the “Merger”) whereby the Company changed its name to Boston Life Sciences, Inc. Effective June 7, 2007, the Company changed its name to Alseres Pharmaceuticals, Inc. During the period from inception through December 31, 2011, the Company has devoted substantially all of its efforts to business planning, raising financing, furthering the research and development of its technologies, and corporate partnering efforts. Accordingly, the Company is considered to be a “development stage enterprise” as defined in ASC 915, Development Stage Entities and will continue to be so until the commencement of commercial operations. The development stage is from October 16, 1992 (inception) through December 31, 2011.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a basis which assumes that the Company will continue as a going concern which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The uncertainty inherent in the need to raise additional capital and the Company’s recurring losses from operations raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Basis of Presentation

The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of its six subsidiaries where all of the Company’s operations are conducted. As of December 31, 2011 all of the subsidiaries were wholly-owned. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year’s consolidated balance sheet and accompanying notes to conform to the current year presentation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Changes in estimates are reflected in reported results in the period in which they become known.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid marketable securities purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010 cash equivalents consisted of money market funds.

Short-term Investments

The Company considers all marketable securities with maturities greater than three months and less than one year at the time of acquisition or purchase to be short-term investments. The Company determines the appropriate classification of its marketable securities at the time of acquisition or purchase and evaluates such designation as of each balance sheet date. As of December 31, 2011, our short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale and are carried on the balance sheet at fair value. The unrealized losses related to these marketable securities have been determined to be temporary and therefore have been included in other comprehensive loss a component of stockholders’ deficit.

Fair Value Measurements

The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair values as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 due to their short-term nature. Short-term investments are considered available-for-sale as of December 31, 2011 and are carried at fair value. It is not practicable to estimate the fair value of the Company’s convertible debt. However, it is likely that the fair value of the debt would be materially less than the carrying value of the debt because the conversion price of $2.50 is higher than the Company’s stock price of $0.24 as of December 31, 2011 and the Company currently does not have the resources to repay the convertible debt.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, ranging from three to five years. Leasehold improvements were recorded at cost and amortized using the straight-line method over the term of the lease which expired on September 30, 2011.

The Company periodically assesses the impairment of long-lived assets in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment (ASC 360). The Company reviews long-lived assets, including property and equipment, for impairment whenever changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be fully recoverable. For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 the Company did not record any impairment losses.

Reporting Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Accounting Standards Codification 220, Comprehensive Income (ASC 220), establishes standards for the reporting and display of comprehensive income (loss) and its components in the financial statements. Comprehensive income (loss) is the total of net income (loss) and all other non-owner changes in equity including such items as unrealized holding gains/losses on securities, foreign currency translation adjustments and minimum pension liability adjustments. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company reported a net loss of $2,882,214 and a comprehensive loss of $2,913,581 as a result of the unrealized loss of $31,367 associated with the FluoroPharma Medical, Inc. shares. For the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company had no such items and as a result, comprehensive income was the same as reported net income of $512,419.

Beneficial Conversion Feature

In prior periods, the Company issued preferred stock and notes which are convertible into common stock at a discount from the common stock market price at the date of issuance. The amount of the discount associated with such conversion rights represents an incremental yield, i.e. a “beneficial conversion feature”, that is recorded when the consideration allocated to the convertible security, divided by the number of common shares into which the security converts, is below the fair value of the common stock at the date of issuance of the convertible instrument.

A beneficial conversion feature associated with preferred stock is recognized as a return to the preferred stockholders and represents a non-cash charge in the determination of net loss attributable to common stockholders. The beneficial conversion feature is recognized in full immediately if there is no redemption date for the preferred stock, or over the period of issuance through the redemption date, if applicable. A beneficial conversion feature associated with debentures, notes or other debt instruments is recognized as discount to the debt and is amortized as additional interest expense using the effective interest method over the remaining term of the debt instrument.

Convertible Redeemable Shares

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (ASC 480-10-S99) the Company determined that since the Series F shares are mandatorily redeemable for cash or for a variable, uncapped, number of common shares, they do not qualify for equity classification.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method. Under the liability method, deferred income taxes are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. They are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Company is required to adjust its deferred tax liabilities in the period when tax rates or the provisions of the income tax laws change. Valuation allowances are established to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2011-05, “Presentation of Comprehensive Income.” ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity and requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements. This pronouncement is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. We believe the adoption of the guidance contained in ASU 2011-05 concerns presentation and disclosure only and will not have an impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity.

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