Document And Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Document And Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 03, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Document Type	10-K
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		17,935,982
Entity Public Float			$ 81.1
Amendment Flag	false
Trading Symbol	XENE
Entity Central Index Key	0001582313
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 17,095	$ 58,651
Marketable securities	47,051
Accounts receivable	200	315
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,329	1,900
Total current assets	65,675	60,866
Prepaid expenses, long term	408	1,094
Property, plant and equipment, net (note 5)	1,404	1,989
Total assets	67,487	63,949
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (note 6)	3,516	2,625
Deferred revenue		157
Total current liabilities	3,516	2,782
Deferred tenant inducements	70	133
Total liabilities	3,586	2,915
Shareholders’ equity:
Common shares, without par value; unlimited shares authorized; issued and outstanding: 17,930,590 (December 31, 2015 - 14,385,336) (note 7b)	173,246	148,634
Additional paid-in capital	34,326	33,083
Accumulated deficit	(142,681)	(119,693)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(990)	(990)
Shareholders' equity	63,901	61,034
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	67,487	63,949
Commitments and contingencies (note 10)

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]
Common shares, without par value
Common shares, shares authorized	Unlimited	Unlimited
Common shares, Issued	17,930,590	14,385,336
Common shares, Outstanding	17,930,590	14,385,336

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenue:
Collaboration revenue (note 9)	$ 1,767	$ 15,573	$ 28,366
Royalties	36	4	4
Revenues	1,803	15,577	28,370
Operating expenses:
Research and development	19,828	15,152	11,768
General and administrative	6,792	9,786	5,496
Total operating expenses	26,620	24,938	17,264
Income (loss) from operations	(24,817)	(9,361)	11,106
Other income (expense):
Interest income	504	542	568
Foreign exchange gain (loss)	1,316	(6,933)	1,344
Net income (loss)	$ (22,997)	$ (15,752)	$ 13,018
Net income (loss) per common share (note 3m):
Basic	$ (1.48)	$ (1.10)	$ 4.11
Diluted	$ (1.48)	$ (1.10)	$ 3.28
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (note 3m):
Basic	15,493,474	14,281,837	3,165,572
Effects of dilutive securities
Stock options			798,225
Diluted	15,493,474	14,281,837	3,963,797
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment			$ (3,501)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ (22,997)	$ (15,752)	$ 9,517

Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity (Deficit) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands

Total

Preferred Stock [Member]

Series A Preferred Stock [Member]

Preferred Stock [Member]

Series B Preferred Stock [Member]

Preferred Stock [Member]

Series E Preferred Stock [Member]

Common Stock [Member]

Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]

Retained Earnings [Member]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]

^[1]

Balance at Dec. 31, 2013

$ (78,372)

$ 2,939

$ 8,683

$ 90,866

$ 6,147

$ 29,722

$ (116,752)

$ 2,511

Balance (in Shares) at Dec. 31, 2013

1,151,468

994,885

4,322,126

1,344,627

Net income (loss)

13,018

Conversion of Series A, B and E convertible preferred shares

102,488

$ (2,939)

$ (8,683)

$ (90,866)

$ 102,488

Conversion of series A, B and E convertible preferred shares (in Shares)

(1,151,468)

(994,885)

(4,322,126)

7,725,924

Issuance of common shares, net of issuance costs

38,373

$ 38,373

Issuance of common shares, net of issuance costs (in Shares)

5,095,000

Cumulative translation adjustment

(3,501)

Stock-based compensation expense

760

Issuance of common shares on conversion of subscription rights

$ 124

(124)

Issuance of common shares on conversion of subscription rights (in Shares)

13,365

Issued pursuant to exercise of stock options

$ 13

$ 25

(12)

Issued pursuant to exercise of stock options (in Shares)

2,417

Balance at Dec. 31, 2014

$ 72,779

$ 147,157

30,346

(103,734)

(990)

Balance (in Shares) at Dec. 31, 2014

14,181,333

Net income (loss)

(15,752)

Stock-based compensation expense

2,077

Issued pursuant to exercise of stock options

$ 278

$ 1,477

(992)

(207)

Issued pursuant to exercise of stock options (in Shares)

270,254

204,003

Fair value adjustment upon reclassification of stock options (note 3l)

$ 1,652

1,652

Balance at Dec. 31, 2015

61,034

$ 148,634

33,083

(119,693)

(990)

Balance (in Shares) at Dec. 31, 2015

14,385,336

Net income (loss)

(22,997)

Issuance of common shares, net of issuance costs

23,832

$ 23,832

Issuance of common shares, net of issuance costs (in Shares)

3,450,000

Stock-based compensation expense

2,186

Issued pursuant to exercise of stock options

$ 132

$ 780

(657)

Issued pursuant to exercise of stock options (in Shares)

121,292

^[2]

95,254

Fair value adjustment upon reclassification of stock options (note 3l)

$ (286)

(286)

Balance at Dec. 31, 2016

$ 63,901

$ 173,246

$ 34,326

$ (142,681)

$ (990)

Balance (in Shares) at Dec. 31, 2016

17,930,590

[1]	At December 31, 2016, our accumulated other comprehensive loss is entirely related to historical cumulative translation adjustments from the application of U.S. dollar reporting when the functional currency of the Company was the Canadian dollar as described in note 3n.
[2]	During the year ended December 31, 2016, 47,413 (2015 - 70,438) stock options were exercised for the same number of common shares in exchange for cash. In the same period, the Company issued 47,841 (2015 - 133,565) common shares for the cashless exercise of 73,879 (2015 - 199,816) stock options.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (22,997)	$ (15,752)	$ 13,018
Items not involving cash:
Depreciation and amortization	864	1,038	738
Stock-based compensation	2,161	3,729	760
Deferred tenant inducements	(63)	(63)	(66)
Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss	(1,300)	6,902	72
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	121	(107)	209
Prepaid expenses, and other current assets	571	(1,214)	(573)
Prepaid expenses, long term	686	(1,094)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	547	80	518
Deferred revenue	(157)	(11,622)	(14,410)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(19,567)	(18,103)	266
Investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(279)	(551)	(1,529)
Purchase of marketable securities	(47,563)		(15,254)
Proceeds from marketable securities		10,745	13,539
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(47,842)	10,194	(3,244)
Financing activities:
Deferred financing fees			(1,533)
Issuance of common shares pursuant to exercise of stock options	132	278	13
Issuance of common shares, net of issuance costs (note 7a)	23,832		42,644
Net cash provided by financing activities	23,964	278	41,124
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	1,889	(5,744)	(4,070)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(41,556)	(13,375)	34,076
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	58,651	72,026	37,950
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	17,095	58,651	72,026
Supplemental disclosures:
Interest received	341	659	574
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash transactions:
Issuance of common shares on conversion of subscription rights			124
Financing fees included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities			39
Fair value of options exercised on a cashless basis	$ 404	$ 744
Conversion of convertible preferred shares into common shares			$ 102,488

Nature of the Business

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Nature of the business

1.	Nature of the business:

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (the “Company”), incorporated in 1996 under the British Columbia Business Corporations Act and continued federally in 2000 under the Canada Business Corporation Act, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing a pipeline of differentiated therapeutics for orphan indications that it intends to commercialize on its own, and for larger market indications that it intends to partner with global pharmaceutical companies.

Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant accounting policies

3.	Significant accounting policies:

(a)

Use of estimates:

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP 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 revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Significant areas of estimates include, but are not limited to, the timing of revenue recognition, the determination of stock-based compensation and the amounts recorded as accrued liabilities. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Estimates and assumptions are reviewed quarterly. All revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimates are revised and in any future periods affected.

(b)

Cash and cash equivalents:

Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into cash with terms to maturity of three months or less when acquired. Cash equivalents are recorded at cost plus accrued interest. The carrying value of these cash equivalents approximates their fair value.

(c)

Marketable securities:

Marketable securities are investments with original maturities exceeding three months, and have remaining maturities of less than one year. Marketable securities accrue interest based on a fixed interest rate for the term. The carrying value of marketable securities is recorded at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates their fair value.

(d)

Intellectual Property

The costs incurred in establishing and maintaining patents for intellectual property developed internally are expensed in the period incurred.

(e)

Property, plant and equipment:

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and/or accumulated impairment losses, if any. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed in the period incurred.

Property, plant and equipment are amortized over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method based on the following rates:

Asset		Rate
Research equipment		5 years
Office furniture and equipment		5 years
Computer equipment		3 years
Leasehold improvements		Over the lesser of lease term or estimated useful life

(f)

Impairment of long-lived assets:

The Company monitors its long-lived assets for indicators of impairment. If such indicators are present, the Company assesses the recoverability of affected assets by determining whether the carrying value of such assets is less than the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows of the assets. If such assets are found not to be recoverable, the Company measures the amount of such impairment by comparing the carrying value of the assets to the fair value of the assets, with the fair value generally determined based on the present value of the expected future cash flows associated with the assets. No impairment of long-lived assets was noted during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.

(g)

Concentration of credit risk and of significant customers:

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents were held at two major financial institutions in Canada. Such deposits may be in excess of insured limits in the event of non-performance by the institutions; however, the Company does not anticipate non-performance.

Collaborators whose collaboration research and development revenue accounted for 10% or more of total revenues were as follows:

	Year ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
Genentech	$	1,651	$	4,563	$	15,764
Teva		116		11,010		12,588

(h)

Financial instruments and fair value:

We measure certain financial instruments and other items at fair value.

To determine the fair value, we use the fair value hierarchy for inputs used to measure fair value of financial assets and liabilities. This hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels: Level 1 (highest priority), Level 2, and Level 3 (lowest priority).

•

Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments.

•

Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (i.e., interest rates, yield curves, etc.), and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market corroborated inputs).

•

Level 3 - Inputs are unobservable and reflect the Company’s assumptions as to what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The Company develops these inputs based on the best information available.

Assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements. Changes in the observability of valuation inputs may result in a reclassification of levels for certain securities within the fair value hierarchy.

The Company’s Level 1 assets include cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities with quoted prices in active markets. The carrying amount of accounts receivables, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates fair value due to the nature and short-term of those instruments. As quoted prices for the liability classified stock options are not readily available, the Company has used a Black-Scholes pricing model to estimate fair value using Level 3 inputs as defined above.

(i)

Revenue recognition:

The Company recognizes revenue when all of the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered; (iii) the Company’s price to the collaborator is fixed or determinable; and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.

The Company generates revenue primarily through collaboration agreements.

Under these collaboration agreements, the Company is eligible to receive non-refundable upfront payments, funding for research and development services, milestone payments, other contingent payments and royalties. In assessing the appropriate revenue recognition related to a collaboration agreement, the Company first determines whether an arrangement includes multiple elements, such as the delivery of intellectual property rights and research and development services. Revenues associated with multiple element arrangements are attributed to the various elements based on their relative fair values or are recognized as a single unit of accounting when relative fair values are not determinable.

Non-refundable upfront payments are recorded as deferred revenue on the balance sheet and are recognized as collaboration revenue over the estimated period of research performance that is consistent with the terms of the research and development obligations contained in the collaboration agreement. The Company periodically reviews the estimated period of performance based on the progress made under each arrangement.

The Company recognizes funding related to full-time equivalent staffing funded through collaboration agreements as revenue on a gross basis as it performs or delivers such related services in accordance with the agreement terms, provided that it will receive payment for such services upon standard payment terms.

The Company recognizes revenue contingent upon its achievement of a milestone in its entirety, in the period the milestone is achieved, only if the milestone meets certain criteria and is considered to be substantive. Payments received upon the occurrence of milestones that are non-substantive are deferred and recognized as revenue over the estimated period of performance applicable to the associated collaborative agreement.

(j)

Research and development costs:

Research and development costs are expensed in the period incurred.

Certain development activity costs, such as preclinical costs, manufacturing costs and clinical trial costs, are a component of research and development costs and include fees paid to contract research organizations, investigators and other vendors who conduct certain product development activities on behalf of the Company. The amount of expenses recognized in a period related to service agreements is based on estimates of the work performed using an accrual basis of accounting. These estimates are based on patient enrollment, services provided and goods delivered, contractual terms and experience with similar contracts. The Company monitors these factors and adjusts the estimates accordingly. Payments made to third parties under these arrangements in advance of the receipt of the related services are recorded as prepaid expenses until the services are rendered.

(k)

Stock-based compensation:

The Company grants stock options to employees, directors and officers pursuant to a stock option plan described in note 7c.

Employee stock-based compensation expense is measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense, net of actual forfeitures, over the requisite service period with a corresponding increase in additional paid-in capital. Stock-based compensation expense is amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award, which is generally the vesting period of the award. Any consideration received on exercise of stock options is credited to share capital.

(l)

Liability classified stock options:

Stock option awards accounted for under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 718 - Compensation - Stock Options (“ASC 718”) that provide for an exercise price that is not denominated in: (a) the currency of the market in which a substantial portion of the Company’s equity securities trades, (b) the currency in which the optionee’s pay is denominated, or (c) the Company’s functional currency, are classified as liabilities. Following the change in functional currency on January 1, 2015, described in (n) below, options granted to members of the Company’s board of directors and certain consultants with exercise prices denominated in Canadian dollars were subject to liability accounting, resulting in a reclassification of these awards from additional paid-in capital to liability classified stock options.

In September 2015, the Company modified certain compensation arrangements to be denominated in Canadian dollars. Following this modification, options denominated in Canadian dollars that were granted to members of the Company’s board of directors and certain consultants met the criteria for equity classification with fair value at the modification date calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and reclassified from liability classified stock options back to additional paid-in capital. The modified awards are accounted for as equity awards from the date of modification.

Stock options awards accounted for under ASC 815 - Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”), that provide for an exercise price which is not denominated in the Company’s functional currency are required to be classified as liabilities. Certain stock option awards with exercise prices denominated in Canadian dollars are accounted for under ASC 815 and classified as liabilities. As of December 31, 2016, such liability classified stock options totaled $261 (2015 - $nil) and are included in the consolidated balance sheet as accounts payable and accrued expenses.

Liability classified stock options are re-measured at fair value using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model at each balance sheet date until exercised or cancelled, with changes in fair value recognized as general and administrative stock-based compensation expense or additional paid-in capital for ASC 718 awards or general and administrative stock-based compensation expense for ASC 815 awards for the period. The Black-Scholes option pricing model uses various inputs to measure fair value, including fair value of the Company’s underlying common shares at the grant date, expected term, expected volatility, risk-free interest rate and expected dividend yield of the Company’s common shares.

(m)

Net income (loss) per common share:

Basic net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income (loss) per common share is computed by adjusting the numerator and denominator of the basic net income (loss) per share calculation for the potential impact of dilutive securities.

For the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, all stock options were anti-dilutive and were excluded from the diluted weighted average common shares outstanding for those periods. For the year ended December 31, 2014, 154,057 stock options were excluded from the calculation of net income per common share because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

(n)

Foreign currency translation:

The Company’s reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of the Company changed to U.S. dollars from Canadian dollars on January 1, 2015 based on management’s analysis of the changes in the primary economic environment in which the Company operates. The Company’s reporting currency did not change. The change in functional currency is accounted for prospectively from January 1, 2015 and prior year financial statements have not been restated for the change in functional currency.

For all relevant periods, foreign currency revenue and expense transactions were recorded using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions.

For periods prior to January 1, 2015, the effects of exchange rate fluctuations on translating foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities into Canadian dollars were included in the statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) as foreign exchange gain (loss). Revenue and expense transactions were translated into the U.S. dollar reporting currency at the balance sheet date at average exchange rates during the period, and assets and liabilities were translated at end of period exchange rates, except for equity transactions, which were translated at historical exchange rates. Translation gains and losses from the application of the U.S. dollar as the reporting currency while the Canadian dollar was the functional currency are included as part of the cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment, which is reported as a component of shareholders’ equity under accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

For periods commencing January 1, 2015, monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Opening balances related to non-monetary assets and liabilities are based on prior period translated amounts, and nonmonetary assets and nonmonetary liabilities incurred after January 1, 2015 are translated at the approximate exchange rate prevailing at the date of the transaction. Revenue and expense transactions are translated at the approximate exchange rate in effect at the time of the transaction. Foreign exchange gains and losses are included in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) as foreign exchange gain (loss).

(o)

Income taxes:

Deferred income taxes are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and net operating loss and credit carryforwards. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured at enacted rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences and carryforwards are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided when realization of deferred income tax assets does not meet the more-likely-than-not criterion for recognition.

(p)

Deferred tenant inducements:

Deferred tenant inducements, which include leasehold improvements paid for by the landlord and free rent, are recorded as liabilities on the balance sheet and recognized as a reduction of rent expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

(q)

Segment and geographic information:

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment.

(r)

Comparative figures:

Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the consolidated financial statement presentation adopted for the current year.

Future Changes in Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Accounting Changes And Error Corrections [Abstract]

Future changes in accounting policies

4.	Future changes in accounting policies:

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued amendments to clarify the principles of recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard that would remove inconsistencies in revenue requirements, leading to improved comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities and industries. The amendments stipulate that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Additional disclosure will also be required about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. In August 2015, the FASB issued an update deferring the effective date of the new revenue standard by one year. The new guidance will be effective for public entities for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017 instead of the originally contemplated effective date of December 15, 2016.

In March, April and May 2016, the FASB issued amendments to the new revenue standard to clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations and identifying performance obligations and licensing as well as to address certain narrow-scope improvements and practical expedients at transition with the same effective date as the new revenue standard. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued amendments to lease accounting requiring the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under previous U.S. GAAP. The new guidance retains a distinction between finance leases and operating leases, with cash payments from operating leases classified within operating activities in the statement of cash flows. These amendments will be effective for public entities for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Property, Plant and Equipment

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant and Equipment

5.	Property, plant and equipment:

Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:

	December 31,
	2016			2015
Research equipment	$	6,789		$	6,925
Office furniture and equipment		1,045			1,040
Computer equipment		2,283			2,236
Leasehold improvements		6,370			6,370
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		(15,083	)		(14,582	)
Net book value	$	1,404		$	1,989

Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Payables And Accruals [Abstract]

Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

6.	Accounts payable and accrued expenses:

Accounts payable and accrued expenses consisted of the following:

	December 31,
	2016		2015
Trade payables	$	1,463	$	1,088
Employee compensation, benefits, and related accruals		872		762
Consulting and contracted research		1,029		506
Professional fees		93		214
Other		59		55
Total	$	3,516	$	2,625

Share Capital

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Stockholders Equity Note [Abstract]

Share Capital

7.	Share capital:

(a)

Financing:

On November 10, 2014, the Company completed an initial public offering (“IPO”) of 4,600,000 of its common shares at a purchase price of $9.00 per common share. On November 10, 2014, the Company also completed a private placement, in which the Company issued 495,000 of its common shares to an affiliate of Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, at a price of $9.00 per common share. The Company received $38.5 million of proceeds, net of underwriting discounts and commissions but before offering expenses, from the IPO and $4.1 million of proceeds, net of underwriters’ fees but before offering expenses, from the concurrent private placement.

Immediately prior to the closing of the IPO, all outstanding Series A and B redeemable convertible preferred shares were converted into common shares on a 1:1 basis and Series E redeemable convertible preferred shares were converted into common shares on a 1:1.2 basis, subject to certain adjustments. These adjustments differed for some of the Company’s outstanding Series E preferred shares depending on the date of issue, resulting in different conversion ratios for different Series E preferred shares. All outstanding convertible preferred shares were converted into 7,725,924 common shares and 10,201 outstanding subscription rights were converted into 10,201 common shares. Following the IPO, there were no preferred shares or subscription rights outstanding.

On September 13, 2016, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of 3,450,000 of its common shares at a public offering price of $7.50 per common share. The Company received approximately $24.3 million of proceeds, net of underwriting discounts and commissions but before offering expenses.

(b)

Authorized share capital:

Immediately prior to the closing of the Company’s IPO, all outstanding Series A, B, C, D and E preferred shares were converted into common shares.

Post IPO, the Company’s authorized share capital consists of an unlimited number of common and preferred shares without par value.

(c)

Stock-based compensation:

On June 25, 2014, the shareholders of the Company approved the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) which permits the grant of stock-based compensation awards to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company. The Company’s pre-existing stock option plan (the “Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan”) was limited to the granting of stock options as equity incentive awards whereas the 2014 Plan also allows for the issuance of restricted shares, restricted share units, share appreciation rights and performance shares. The 2014 Plan replaced the Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan. No further options will be granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan.

The Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan provided for the grant of options for the purchase of common shares to directors, officers, employees and consultants prior to the Company’s IPO. The options granted under the Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan vest on a graduated basis over a four-year period or less and each option’s maximum term is ten years. The Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan will continue to govern the options granted thereunder.

Under the 2014 Plan, options granted generally vest on a graduated basis over a four-year period or less. The exercise price of the options is determined by the Board but must at least be equal to the fair market value of the common shares on the date of grant. Options may be exercised over a maximum term of ten years. As of December 31, 2016, a total of 65,132 stock options remain to be granted under the 2014 Plan. The number of common shares available for issuance under the 2014 Plan was increased by 500,000 in January 2017 as approved by the Board in accordance with the terms of the 2014 Plan.

Summary of stock option activity is as follows:

	Number of			Weighted Average Exercise Price				Aggregate
	Options			CAD $		U.S. $		Intrinsic Value
Outstanding, January 1, 2014		1,333,099			3.98		3.88		8,300
Granted		205,170			10.84		9.35
Exercised		(2,417	)		6.07		5.23		23
Forfeited, cancelled or expired		(51,634	)		5.96		5.14
Outstanding, December 31, 2014		1,484,218			4.88		4.20		15,551
Granted		529,288			18.73		14.67
Exercised		(270,254	)		4.66		3.65		2,426
Forfeited, cancelled or expired		(21,780	)		11.21		8.78
Outstanding, December 31, 2015		1,721,472			9.62		6.95		1,880
Granted		323,794			9.79		7.39
Exercised⁽¹⁾		(121,292	)		3.67		2.77		568
Forfeited, cancelled or expired		(13,151	)		14.98		11.31
Outstanding, December 31, 2016		1,910,823			9.84		7.32		4,464
Exercisable, December 31, 2016		1,292,012			7.77		5.78		4,351

(1)	During the year ended December 31, 2016, 47,413 (2015 - 70,438) stock options were exercised for the same number of common shares in exchange for cash. In the same period, the Company issued 47,841 (2015 - 133,565) common shares for the cashless exercise of 73,879 (2015 - 199,816) stock options.

The following table summarizes the stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2016:

	Options Outstanding								Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices	Number of Options Outstanding		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life		Weighted Average Exercise Price				Number of Options Exercisable		Weighted Average Exercise Price
			(years)		CAD $		U.S. $				CAD $		U.S. $
$1.93 - $2.31		228,570		4.90		2.67		1.99		227,222		2.67		1.99
$2.32 - $4.86		615,475		2.98		3.74		2.78		615,475		3.74		2.78
$4.87 - $7.72		467,592		8.90		9.98		7.42		118,964		10.06		7.48
$7.73 - $7.91		1,200		9.79		10.62		7.90		—		—		—
$7.92 - $17.70		263,116		7.16		12.24		9.10		162,924		11.84		8.81
$17.71 - $18.23		333,800		7.61		23.88		17.76		166,891		23.88		17.76
$18.24 - $21.82		1,070		8.10		26.79		19.92		536		26.85		19.97
		1,910,823		6.05		9.84		7.32		1,292,012		7.77		5.78

At December 31, 2016, there were 1,292,012 options exercisable with a weighted average remaining contractual life as at December 31, 2016 of 4.86 years.

A summary of the Company’s non-vested stock option activity and related information for the year ended December 31, 2016 is as follows:

	Number of Options			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
				CAD $		USD $
Non-vested, January 1, 2016		686,896			10.60		8.54
Granted		323,794			6.54		4.94
Vested		(382,491	)		11.15		8.42
Forfeited and cancelled		(9,388	)		10.25		7.73
Non-vested, December 31, 2016		618,811			9.58		7.13

The aggregate fair value of options vested during the year ended December 31, 2016 was $3,220 (2015 - $999, 2014 - $722).

The fair value of stock options at the date of grant is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model which requires multiple subjective inputs. The risk-free interest rate of the options is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the date of grant for a term similar to the expected term of the option. Prior to the IPO, the Company’s shares did not have a readily available market; therefore, the Company lacks company-specific historical and implied volatility information. Consequently, the expected volatility of stock options was estimated based on a historical volatility analysis of peers that were similar to the Company with respect to industry, stage of life cycle, size, and financial leverage. The expected term of the Company’s stock options has been determined utilizing the “simplified” method. Under this method, the expected term represents the average of the vesting period and the contractual term. The dividend yield is based on the fact that the Company has never paid cash dividends and has no present intention to pay cash dividends. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur.

The weighted-average option pricing assumptions are as follows:

	Years ended December 31
	2016			2015			2014
Average risk-free interest rate		1.58	%		1.75	%		1.94	%
Expected volatility		75	%		75	%		73	%
Average expected term (in years)		6.22			6.23			6.13
Expected dividend yield		0.00	%		0.00	%		0.00	%
Weighted average fair value of options granted	$	4.94		$	9.83		$	6.10

Stock-based compensation expense is classified in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) as follows:

	Years ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
Research and development	$	874	$	624	$	194
General and administrative		1,287		3,105		566
	$	2,161	$	3,729	$	760

As of December 31, 2016, the unrecognized stock-based compensation cost related to the non-vested stock options was $3,975, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.36 years.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for shareholders' equity comprised of portions attributable to the parent entity and noncontrolling interest, including other comprehensive income. Includes, but is not limited to, balances of common stock, preferred stock, additional paid-in capital, other capital and retained earnings, accumulated balance for each classification of other comprehensive income and amount of comprehensive income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 4.E)
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
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-Section 50
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21484-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29))
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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
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-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(e))
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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(31))
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Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 4.C)
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Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(30))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21506-112644

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405834&loc=d3e23285-112656

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
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-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21475-112644

Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Preferred Stock
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6521494

Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 16: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21564-112644

+ Details

Concentrations of Market Risk

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Risks And Uncertainties [Abstract]

Concentration of market risk

8.	Concentrations of market risk:

(a)

Foreign currency risk:

At December 31, 2016, the Company had U.S. dollar denominated cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities of $35,859 (December 31, 2015 - $17,836) and Canadian denominated cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities of CAD$37,980 (December 31, 2015 - CAD$56,491).

The Company faces foreign currency exchange rate risk in part, as a result of entering into transactions denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars, particularly those denominated in Canadian dollars. The Company also holds non-U.S. dollar denominated cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, accounts receivable and accounts payable, which are denominated in Canadian dollars.

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates can create significant foreign exchange gains or losses to the Company. The Company’s current foreign currency risk is with the Canadian dollar, as a majority of non-U.S. dollar denominated expenses are denominated in Canadian dollars and the majority of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities are held in Canadian dollars. To limit the Company’s exposure to volatility in currency markets, management estimates anticipated expenses that will be denominated in Canadian and U.S. dollars and then purchases a corresponding amount of Canadian or U.S. dollars at the current spot rate. Once these estimated expense amounts are acquired, the Company does not hedge its exposure and thus assumes the risk of future gains or losses on the amounts of Canadian dollars held.

(b)

Interest Rate Risk:

At December 31, 2016, the Company had cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities of $64,146. The Company’s interest rate risk is primarily attributable to its cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities. The Company believes that it does not have any material exposure to changes in the fair value of these assets as a result of changes in interest rates due to the short term nature of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities. The Company does not enter into investments for trading or speculative purposes and has not used any derivative financial instruments to manage interest rate exposure. A 10% change in interest rates during any of the periods presented would not have had a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company had no outstanding debt as of December 31, 2016.

Collaboration Agreements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Collaboration agreements

9.	Collaboration agreements:

The Company has entered into a number of collaboration agreements with multiple deliverables under which it may have received non-refundable upfront payments. The Company generally recognizes revenue from non-refundable upfront payments ratably over the term of its estimated period of performance of research under its collaboration agreements in the event that such arrangements represent a single unit of accounting.

The collaborations may also include contractual milestone payments, which relate to the achievement of pre-specified research, development, regulatory and commercialization events. The milestone events coincide with the progression of product candidates from research and development, to regulatory approval and through to commercialization. The process of successfully discovering a new product candidate, having it selected by the collaborator for development and having it approved and ultimately sold for a profit is highly uncertain. As such, the milestone payments that the Company may earn from its collaborators involve a significant degree of risk to achieve.

Research and development milestones in the Company’s collaboration agreements may include the following types of events:

•

completion of preclinical research and development work leading to selection of product candidates;

•

initiation of Phase 1, Phase 2 or Phase 3 clinical trials; and

•

achievement of certain other scientific or development events.

Regulatory milestone payments may include the following types of events:

•

filing of regulatory applications for marketing approval in the U.S., Europe or Japan, including investigational new drug (“IND”) applications and new drug applications (“NDA”); and

•

marketing approval in a major market, such as the U.S., Europe or Japan.

Commercialization milestone payments may include payments triggered by annual product sales that achieve pre-specified thresholds.

(a)

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (“Teva”) collaborative development and license agreement:

In December 2012, the Company entered into a collaborative development and license agreement with Teva, through its subsidiary, Ivax International GmbH, pursuant to which the Company granted Teva an exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize certain products, including TV-45070 (formerly XEN402).

Under the terms of the agreement, Teva paid the Company an upfront fee of $41,000. The Company is collaborating with Teva to further develop TV-45070, and Teva is funding all development costs with respect to the licensed products. Teva is providing funding to the Company for certain of the Company’s full-time equivalents (“FTEs”) performing the research collaboration plan. The Company identified several deliverables under the agreement with Teva, including exclusive licenses to compounds and non-exclusive licenses to companion diagnostic products, a commitment to participate in a joint steering committee and research and development services to be performed by the Company on behalf of Teva. The Company concluded that the licenses did not have stand-alone value to Teva without the Company’s technical expertise and joint steering committee participation during the initial three-year period.

Therefore, the Company has determined that the various deliverables under this agreement should be considered as one single unit of accounting. As such the Company determined that the $41,000 upfront payment should be recognized as revenue ratably over the expected period of performance, being the three-year period ended December 31, 2015.

In addition, the Company is eligible to receive potential milestone payments totaling up to $335,000, comprised of a $20,000 clinical milestone payment, up to $285,000 in regulatory milestone payments, and a $30,000 sales-based milestone payment. If TV-45070 is approved, the Company is also eligible to receive royalties in the low teens to low twenties on net sales of licensed products for the timeframe that such products are covered by the licensed patents and in certain other instances. The Company believes that potential milestone payments for development and regulatory milestones under this agreement are substantive and at risk at the inception of this agreement, and, as such, expects that these future milestone payments will be recognized as revenue in the period that each milestone is achieved. The Company believes that the potential sales-based milestone payments under this agreement are not substantive as the Company does not expect to contribute effort to their achievement and expects such sales-based milestones will generally be achieved after the period of substantial involvement under the collaboration. Therefore, the Company expects that future sales-based contingent consideration milestone payments will be recognized as revenue when such milestones are achieved, assuming all other revenue recognition criteria are met. To date, no such milestone payments have been recognized.

Pursuant to the terms of the Company’s agreement with the Memorial University of Newfoundland, the Company must pay to the Memorial University of Newfoundland certain milestone payments, a single-digit percentage of net sales for pain products the Company sells directly and a single-digit percentage of royalties received for sales of pain products by the Company’s third party licensees, such as under the Teva and Genentech agreements.

(b)

Genentech collaborative research and license agreement:

In December 2011, the Company entered into a collaborative research and license agreement with Genentech and its affiliate, F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd. (“Roche”) to discover and develop small and large molecules that selectively inhibit the Nav1.7 sodium channel and companion diagnostics for the potential treatment of pain. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company granted Genentech a worldwide exclusive license to develop and commercialize compounds directed to Nav1.7 and products incorporating such compounds for all uses. The Company also granted Genentech a worldwide non-exclusive license to diagnostic products for the purpose of developing or commercializing such compounds.

Under the terms of the agreement, Genentech paid the Company an upfront fee of $10,000. Genentech provided funding to the Company for certain of the Company’s FTEs performing the research collaboration plan. The Company identified several deliverables under the agreement with Genentech, including exclusive licenses to compounds and non-exclusive licenses to diagnostic products, a commitment to participate in a joint steering committee and research and development services to be performed by the Company on behalf of Genentech. The Company concluded that the licenses did not have stand-alone value to Genentech without the Company’s technical expertise and joint steering committee participation during the initial three year period. Therefore, the Company has determined that the various deliverables should be considered as a single unit of accounting. As such the Company determined that the $10,000 upfront payment should be recognized as revenue ratably over the expected period of performance, being the three-year period ended December 22, 2014.

The Company is eligible to receive pre-commercial and commercial milestone payments with respect to the licensed products totaling up to an additional $613,000, comprised of up to $45,500 in preclinical and clinical milestone payments, up to $387,500 in regulatory milestone payments, and up to $180,000 in sales-based milestone payments for multiple products and indications. In addition, the Company is eligible to receive royalties based on net sales of the licensed products, which range from a mid single-digit percentage to ten percent for small-molecule inhibitors for the timeframe that such products are covered by the licensed patents and a low single-digit percentage thereafter until the date that is ten years after first commercial sale on a country-by-country basis, plus a low single-digit percentage for large-molecule inhibitors of Nav1.7 for a period of ten years from first commercial sale on a country-by-country basis. The Company believes that the potential milestone payments for preclinical, clinical and regulatory milestones under this agreement are substantive and at risk at inception of this agreement, and, as such, expects that these future milestone payments will be recognized as revenue in the period that each milestone is achieved. In the year ended December 31, 2016, no milestone payments have been recognized (2015 - $nil; 2014 - $8,000).

The Company believes that the potential sales-based milestone payments under this agreement are not substantive as the Company does not expect to contribute effort to their achievement and expects such sales-based milestones will generally be achieved after the period of substantial involvement under the collaboration. Therefore, the Company expects that future sales-based contingent consideration milestone payments will be recognized as revenue when such milestones are achieved, assuming all other revenue recognition criteria are met. To date, no such milestone payments have been recognized.

In March 2014, the Company entered into a new agreement with Genentech for pain genetics, using the Company’s Extreme Genetics discovery platform to focus on identifying genetic targets associated with rare phenotypes where individuals have an inability to perceive pain or where individuals have non-precipitated spontaneous severe pain. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, any intellectual property arising out of the collaboration will be jointly owned by the Company and Genentech. The Company also granted Genentech a time-limited, exclusive right of first negotiation on a target-by-target basis to form joint drug discovery collaborations. Under the terms of this agreement, Genentech paid an upfront payment of $1,500. The Company is eligible to receive additional milestone payments totaling up to $1,750. At the option of the Company, a Genentech affiliate invested $4,455 in a private placement concurrent with the IPO, as described in note 7a.

The Company identified several deliverables under this agreement with Genentech, including non-exclusive licenses to certain intellectual property controlled by the Company, a commitment to participate in a joint steering committee and collaborative research services to be performed by the Company. The Company concluded that the licenses did not have stand-alone value to Genentech without the Company’s technical expertise and joint steering committee participation during the initial two year period. Therefore, the Company has determined that the various deliverables should be considered as a single unit of accounting. As such the Company determined that the $1,500 upfront payment should be recognized as revenue ratably over the expected period of performance, being the two-year period ended March 18, 2016.

The Company believes that the potential milestone payments under this agreement are substantive and at risk at inception of this agreement, and, as such, expects that these future milestone payments will be recognized as revenue in the period that each milestone is achieved. In the year ended December 31, 2016, no milestone payments have been recognized (2015 - $250).

(c)

uniQure Biopharma B.V. (“uniQure”) sublicense and research agreement:

Effective August 2000, the Company entered into a sublicense and research agreement with uniQure (formerly Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics), pursuant to which the Company granted to uniQure an exclusive, worldwide sublicense under certain intellectual property controlled by the Company to develop and commercialize technology and compounds related to a certain variant of lipoprotein lipase (“LPL”). Under its sublicense and research agreement with uniQure, the Company collaborated with uniQure and the University of British Columbia (“UBC”) on preclinical activities, and thereafter uniQure developed an LPL gene therapy product, Glybera, which contains the LPL variant. Glybera was approved in the European Union (“EU”) in October 2012 to treat lipoprotein lipase deficiency (“LPLD”) in patients with severe or multiple pancreatitis attacks, despite dietary fat restrictions. uniQure conducted the clinical trials and is responsible for the commercialization of Glybera.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Company is eligible to receive certain additional milestone payments of less than CAD$1,000 for Glybera and for each subsequent product, if any, developed pursuant to the agreement with uniQure. The Company, in turn, has certain payment obligations to its licensor, UBC, based on amounts received from uniQure or otherwise based on the exploitation of the licensed intellectual property. The Company believes that all potential milestone payments under this agreement are substantive and at risk at the inception of this agreement, and, as such, expects that future milestone payments will be recognized as revenue in the period that each milestone is achieved. No milestone payments have been recognized in the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

The Company is also eligible to receive mid single-digit royalties on net sales of the licensed products, for sales made by uniQure and its affiliates. The royalty rates for sales made by uniQure and its affiliates are reduced to a low single-digit when the licensed patents expire.

In July 2013, uniQure announced that it entered into a partnership with Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. (“Chiesi”) for the commercialization of Glybera in the EU and more than a dozen other countries. With respect to uniQure’s sublicense to Chiesi, the Company is eligible to receive a percentage in the low twenties of all non-royalty compensation relating to the licensed technology or products that uniQure receives from Chiesi, a percentage in the low twenties of any royalties that uniQure receives from Chiesi based on sales of technology or products covered by the licensed patents, plus a mid single-digit percentage of certain further royalties that uniQure receives from Chiesi based on sales of the Company’s licensed technology or products after the expiration of all licensed patents covering the product. Royalties the Company is eligible to receive pursuant to its agreement with uniQure, including royalties related to sales made by Chiesi, are subject to customary royalty stacking deductions in the event that uniQure, or any of its sublicensees, have to license other technologies in order to commercialize Glybera.

Pursuant to the terms of the Company’s agreement with UBC, the Company must pay to UBC a single-digit percentage of amounts the Company receives from sales of Glybera.

The following table is a summary of the revenue recognized from the Company’s collaborations for each of the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
uniQure:
Milestone payment	$	—	$	—	$	14
Teva:
Recognition of upfront payment		—		10,897		12,255
Research funding		116		112		333
Genentech:
Recognition of upfront payments		157		725		3,603
Research funding		1,494		3,589		4,248
Milestone payments		—		250		7,913
Total collaboration revenue	$	1,767	$	15,573	$	28,366

Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

10.	Commitments and contingencies:

(a)

Lease commitments:

The Company entered into an amended lease agreement for research laboratories and office space in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada for a 120-month term from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2022, which included an element of free rent and tenant inducement that is amortized over the term of the lease.

Lease expense for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $936 (2015 - $917, 2014 - $915). Future minimum annual lease payments under existing operating lease commitments are as follows:

Year ending December 31:
2017		1,123
2018		1,145
2019		1,146
2020		1,148
2021		1,086
2022		260
Total	$	5,908

(b)

Priority access agreement with Medpace:

In August 2015, the Company entered into a priority access agreement with Medpace for the provision of certain clinical development services. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company has committed to using Medpace non-exclusively for clinical development services over the five year term of the agreement. In consideration for priority access to Medpace resources and preferred service rates, the Company has committed to $7,000 of services over the term of the agreement, $3,000 of which was paid in the year ended December 31, 2015. Of the amounts paid by the Company in 2015 in connection with the priority access agreement, $2,200 has been recorded as expenses to date for services rendered, $392 has been recorded as current prepaid expenses (2015 - $1,010) and $408 as long-term prepaid expenses (2015 - $1,094) for the provision of future services as at December 31, 2016.

(c)

Guarantees and indemnifications:

The Company has entered into license and research agreements with third parties that include indemnification provisions that are customary in the industry. These indemnification provisions generally require the Company to compensate the other party for certain damages and costs incurred as a result of third party claims or damages arising from these transactions.

The maximum amount of potential future indemnification is unlimited; however, the Company currently holds commercial and product liability insurance. This insurance limits the Company’s exposure and may enable it to recover a portion of any future amounts paid. Historically, the Company has not made any indemnification payments under such agreements and the Company believes that the fair value of these indemnification obligations is minimal. Accordingly, the Company has not recognized any liabilities relating to these obligations for any period presented.

Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

11.	Income taxes:

Income tax (recovery) expense varies from the amounts that would be computed by applying the expected Canadian and provincial statutory income tax rate of 26% (2015 - 26%, 2014 - 26%) to loss before income taxes as shown in the following table:

	2016			2015			2014
Computed taxes (recoveries) at Canadian federal and provincial tax rates	$	(5,980	)	$	(4,095	)	$	3,385
Change in valuation allowance		6,897			2,482			(2,364	)
Investment tax credits earned		(1,500	)		(1,220	)		(1,283	)
Tax attributes expired/utilized		617			2,851			2,011
Non-deductible expenditures		569			977			(1,053	)
Financing fees in equity		(531	)		—			(1,945	)
Other		(72	)		(995	)		1,249
Income tax (recovery) expense	$	—		$	—		$	—

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities result from the temporary differences between the amount of assets and liabilities recognized for financial statement and income tax purposes. The significant components of the Company’s net deferred income tax assets are as follows:

	2016			2015
Deferred income tax assets
Scientific research and experimental development pool	$	22,823		$	21,088
Investment tax credits		22,483			21,303
Non-capital losses		7,800			4,234
Depreciable assets		4,163			3,749
Deferred financing fees		1,020			959
Other		126			185
Less - valuation allowance		(58,415	)		(51,518	)
Net deferred income tax assets	$	—		$	—

The realization of deferred income tax assets is dependent upon the generation of sufficient taxable income during future periods in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse. The valuation allowance is reviewed on a quarterly basis and if the assessment of the “more likely than not” criteria changes, the valuation allowance is adjusted accordingly. A full valuation allowance continues to be applied against deferred income tax assets as the Company has assessed that the realization of such assets does not meet the “more likely than not” criteria.

At December 31, 2016, the Company has unclaimed tax deductions for scientific research and experimental development expenditures of $87,781 (2015 - $81,107) with no expiry.

At December 31, 2016, the Company has $20,160 (2015 - $18,875) of investment tax credits available to offset federal taxes payable and $7,624 (2015 - $7,385) of provincial tax credits available to offset provincial taxes payable in the future.

At December 31, 2016, the Company has non-capital losses, net of uncertain tax positions, carried forward for tax purposes, which are available to reduce taxable income of future years of approximately $29,999 (2015 - $16,285).

The investment tax credits and loss carry forwards expire over various years to 2036.

As of December 31, 2016, the total amount of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits of uncertain tax positions were $6,350 (2015 - $6,350). If recognized in future periods, the unrecognized tax benefits would affect our effective tax rate. The Company recognizes potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the income tax provision. Interest and penalties have not been accrued at December 31, 2016 as none would be owing on the unrecognized tax benefits due to the availability of non-capital losses to shelter any potential taxable income arising thereon.

The Company does not currently expect any significant increases or decreases to these unrecognized tax benefits within 12 months of the reporting date.

The Company files income tax returns in Canada and the United States, the jurisdictions in which the Company believes that it is subject to tax. In jurisdictions in which the Company does not believe it is subject to tax and therefore does not file income tax returns, the Company can provide no certainty that tax authorities in those jurisdictions will not subject one or more tax years (since the inception of the Company) to examination. Further, while the statute of limitations in each jurisdiction where an income tax return has been filed generally limits the examination period, as a result of loss carry-forwards, the limitation period for examination generally does not expire until several years after the loss carry-forwards are utilized. Other than routine audits by tax authorities for tax credits and tax refunds that the Company claims, the Company is not aware of any other material income tax examination currently in progress by any taxing jurisdiction. Tax years ranging from 2003 to 2015 remain subject to Canadian income tax examinations.

Related Parties

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Related Parties

12.	Related Parties:

Dr. August J. Troendle, an officer and director of Medpace, which provides clinical development services to the Company, was a beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s common shares during 2016. The Company incurred $3,097 of clinical development service fees under its priority access agreement and a master services agreement with Medpace for the year ended December 31, 2016 (2015 - $922, 2014 - nil). Additionally, the Company has recorded $1,010 of prepaid expenses as of December 31, 2016 (December 31, 2015 - $2,314) for future clinical development services under such agreements with Medpace.

Selected Quarterly Consolidated Financial Data (Unaudited)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Selected Quarterly Consolidated Financial Data (Unaudited)

13.	Selected quarterly consolidated financial data (unaudited):

The following table presents certain unaudited quarterly consolidated financial information for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands of U.S. dollars except per share amounts). This information reflects all normal recurring adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results of the interim periods.

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2016			June 30, 2016			September 30, 2016			December 31, 2016
Revenue	$	601		$	413		$	413		$	376
Loss from operations		(5,658	)		(6,366	)		(7,331	)		(5,462	)
Net loss		(3,263	)		(6,016	)		(7,714	)		(6,004	)
Basic and diluted net loss per common share	$	(0.23	)	$	(0.42	)	$	(0.51	)	$	(0.34	)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2015			June 30, 2015			September 30, 2015			December 31, 2015
Revenue	$	4,010		$	4,046		$	4,294		$	3,227
Income (loss) from operations		(6,137	)		199			(820	)		(2,603	)
Net income (loss)		(9,156	)		1,168			(3,827	)		(3,937	)
Basic net income (loss) per common share	$	(0.64	)	$	0.08		$	(0.27	)	$	(0.27	)
Diluted net loss per common share	$	(0.64	)	$	(0.07	)	$	(0.27	)	$	(0.27	)

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Use of estimates

(a)

Use of estimates:

Cash and cash equivalents

(b)

Cash and cash equivalents:

Marketable Securities

(c)

Marketable securities:

Intellectual Property

(d)

Intellectual Property

The costs incurred in establishing and maintaining patents for intellectual property developed internally are expensed in the period incurred.

Property, plant and equipment

(e)

Property, plant and equipment:

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and/or accumulated impairment losses, if any. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed in the period incurred.

Property, plant and equipment are amortized over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method based on the following rates:

Asset		Rate
Research equipment		5 years
Office furniture and equipment		5 years
Computer equipment		3 years
Leasehold improvements		Over the lesser of lease term or estimated useful life

Impairment of long-lived assets

(f)

Impairment of long-lived assets:

Concentration of credit risk and of significant customers

(g)

Concentration of credit risk and of significant customers:

Collaborators whose collaboration research and development revenue accounted for 10% or more of total revenues were as follows:

	Year ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
Genentech	$	1,651	$	4,563	$	15,764
Teva		116		11,010		12,588

Financial instruments and fair value

(h)

Financial instruments and fair value:

We measure certain financial instruments and other items at fair value.

•

Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments.

•

Revenue recognition

(i)

Revenue recognition:

The Company generates revenue primarily through collaboration agreements.

Research and development costs

(j)

Research and development costs:

Research and development costs are expensed in the period incurred.

Stock-based compensation

(k)

Stock-based compensation:

The Company grants stock options to employees, directors and officers pursuant to a stock option plan described in note 7c.

(l)

Liability classified stock options:

Net income (loss) per common share

(m)

Net income (loss) per common share:

Foreign currency translation

(n)

Foreign currency translation:

For all relevant periods, foreign currency revenue and expense transactions were recorded using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions.

Income taxes

(o)

Income taxes:

Deferred tenant inducements

(p)

Deferred tenant inducements:

Segment and geographic information

(q)

Segment and geographic information:

Comparative figures

(r)

Comparative figures:

Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the consolidated financial statement presentation adopted for the current year.

Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Property Plant and Equipment Estimated Useful Lives

Property, plant and equipment are amortized over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method based on the following rates:

Asset		Rate
Research equipment		5 years
Office furniture and equipment		5 years
Computer equipment		3 years
Leasehold improvements		Over the lesser of lease term or estimated useful life

Collaboration Research And Development Revenue [Member]

Revenue Recognized From Collaborations

Collaborators whose collaboration research and development revenue accounted for 10% or more of total revenues were as follows

	Year ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
Genentech	$	1,651	$	4,563	$	15,764
Teva		116		11,010		12,588

Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]

Summary of Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:

	December 31,
	2016			2015
Research equipment	$	6,789		$	6,925
Office furniture and equipment		1,045			1,040
Computer equipment		2,283			2,236
Leasehold improvements		6,370			6,370
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		(15,083	)		(14,582	)
Net book value	$	1,404		$	1,989

Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Payables And Accruals [Abstract]

Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

Accounts payable and accrued expenses consisted of the following:

	December 31,
	2016		2015
Trade payables	$	1,463	$	1,088
Employee compensation, benefits, and related accruals		872		762
Consulting and contracted research		1,029		506
Professional fees		93		214
Other		59		55
Total	$	3,516	$	2,625

Share Capital (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]

Schedule of Stock-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity

Summary of stock option activity is as follows:

	Number of			Weighted Average Exercise Price				Aggregate
	Options			CAD $		U.S. $		Intrinsic Value
Outstanding, January 1, 2014		1,333,099			3.98		3.88		8,300
Granted		205,170			10.84		9.35
Exercised		(2,417	)		6.07		5.23		23
Forfeited, cancelled or expired		(51,634	)		5.96		5.14
Outstanding, December 31, 2014		1,484,218			4.88		4.20		15,551
Granted		529,288			18.73		14.67
Exercised		(270,254	)		4.66		3.65		2,426
Forfeited, cancelled or expired		(21,780	)		11.21		8.78
Outstanding, December 31, 2015		1,721,472			9.62		6.95		1,880
Granted		323,794			9.79		7.39
Exercised⁽¹⁾		(121,292	)		3.67		2.77		568
Forfeited, cancelled or expired		(13,151	)		14.98		11.31
Outstanding, December 31, 2016		1,910,823			9.84		7.32		4,464
Exercisable, December 31, 2016		1,292,012			7.77		5.78		4,351

(1)	During the year ended December 31, 2016, 47,413 (2015 - 70,438) stock options were exercised for the same number of common shares in exchange for cash. In the same period, the Company issued 47,841 (2015 - 133,565) common shares for the cashless exercise of 73,879 (2015 - 199,816) stock options.

Summary of Stock Option Outstanding and Exercisable

The following table summarizes the stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2016:

	Options Outstanding								Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices	Number of Options Outstanding		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life		Weighted Average Exercise Price				Number of Options Exercisable		Weighted Average Exercise Price
			(years)		CAD $		U.S. $				CAD $		U.S. $
$1.93 - $2.31		228,570		4.90		2.67		1.99		227,222		2.67		1.99
$2.32 - $4.86		615,475		2.98		3.74		2.78		615,475		3.74		2.78
$4.87 - $7.72		467,592		8.90		9.98		7.42		118,964		10.06		7.48
$7.73 - $7.91		1,200		9.79		10.62		7.90		—		—		—
$7.92 - $17.70		263,116		7.16		12.24		9.10		162,924		11.84		8.81
$17.71 - $18.23		333,800		7.61		23.88		17.76		166,891		23.88		17.76
$18.24 - $21.82		1,070		8.10		26.79		19.92		536		26.85		19.97
		1,910,823		6.05		9.84		7.32		1,292,012		7.77		5.78

Schedule of Nonvested Stock Option Activity

A summary of the Company’s non-vested stock option activity and related information for the year ended December 31, 2016 is as follows:

	Number of Options			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
				CAD $		USD $
Non-vested, January 1, 2016		686,896			10.60		8.54
Granted		323,794			6.54		4.94
Vested		(382,491	)		11.15		8.42
Forfeited and cancelled		(9,388	)		10.25		7.73
Non-vested, December 31, 2016		618,811			9.58		7.13

Schedule of Stock-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions

The weighted-average option pricing assumptions are as follows:

	Years ended December 31
	2016			2015			2014
Average risk-free interest rate		1.58	%		1.75	%		1.94	%
Expected volatility		75	%		75	%		73	%
Average expected term (in years)		6.22			6.23			6.13
Expected dividend yield		0.00	%		0.00	%		0.00	%
Weighted average fair value of options granted	$	4.94		$	9.83		$	6.10

Stock Based Compensation Expenses

Stock-based compensation expense is classified in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) as follows:

	Years ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
Research and development	$	874	$	624	$	194
General and administrative		1,287		3,105		566
	$	2,161	$	3,729	$	760

Collaboration Agreements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Schedule of Revenues from Collaborations

The following table is a summary of the revenue recognized from the Company’s collaborations for each of the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
uniQure:
Milestone payment	$	—	$	—	$	14
Teva:
Recognition of upfront payment		—		10,897		12,255
Research funding		116		112		333
Genentech:
Recognition of upfront payments		157		725		3,603
Research funding		1,494		3,589		4,248
Milestone payments		—		250		7,913
Total collaboration revenue	$	1,767	$	15,573	$	28,366

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Future Minimum Annual Lease Payments for Operating Leases

Future minimum annual lease payments under existing operating lease commitments are as follows:

Year ending December 31:
2017		1,123
2018		1,145
2019		1,146
2020		1,148
2021		1,086
2022		260
Total	$	5,908

Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Income Tax (Recovery) Expense

	2016			2015			2014
Computed taxes (recoveries) at Canadian federal and provincial tax rates	$	(5,980	)	$	(4,095	)	$	3,385
Change in valuation allowance		6,897			2,482			(2,364	)
Investment tax credits earned		(1,500	)		(1,220	)		(1,283	)
Tax attributes expired/utilized		617			2,851			2,011
Non-deductible expenditures		569			977			(1,053	)
Financing fees in equity		(531	)		—			(1,945	)
Other		(72	)		(995	)		1,249
Income tax (recovery) expense	$	—		$	—		$	—

Schedule of Net Deferred Income Tax Assets

The significant components of the Company’s net deferred income tax assets are as follows:

	2016			2015
Deferred income tax assets
Scientific research and experimental development pool	$	22,823		$	21,088
Investment tax credits		22,483			21,303
Non-capital losses		7,800			4,234
Depreciable assets		4,163			3,749
Deferred financing fees		1,020			959
Other		126			185
Less - valuation allowance		(58,415	)		(51,518	)
Net deferred income tax assets	$	—		$	—

Selected Quarterly Consolidated Financial Data (Unaudited) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Selected Quarterly Consolidated Financial Data

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2016			June 30, 2016			September 30, 2016			December 31, 2016
Revenue	$	601		$	413		$	413		$	376
Loss from operations		(5,658	)		(6,366	)		(7,331	)		(5,462	)
Net loss		(3,263	)		(6,016	)		(7,714	)		(6,004	)
Basic and diluted net loss per common share	$	(0.23	)	$	(0.42	)	$	(0.51	)	$	(0.34	)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2015			June 30, 2015			September 30, 2015			December 31, 2015
Revenue	$	4,010		$	4,046		$	4,294		$	3,227
Income (loss) from operations		(6,137	)		199			(820	)		(2,603	)
Net income (loss)		(9,156	)		1,168			(3,827	)		(3,937	)
Basic net income (loss) per common share	$	(0.64	)	$	0.08		$	(0.27	)	$	(0.27	)
Diluted net loss per common share	$	(0.64	)	$	(0.07	)	$	(0.27	)	$	(0.27	)

Significant Accounting Policies - Property Plant and Equipment Estimated Useful Lives (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Research Equipment [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	5 years
Office Furniture and Equipment [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	5 years
Computer Equipment [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	3 years
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	Over the lesser of lease term or estimated useful life

Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets	$ 0	$ 0
Stock option shares outstanding not included in the calculation of net income per common share			154,057
Account Payable and Accrued Expenses [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Liability classified stock options	$ 261	$ 0
Minimum [Member] \| Revenue from Rights Concentration Risk [Member] \| Collaboration Research And Development Revenue [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Collaborative Research And Development Revenue	10.00%

Significant Accounting Policies - Revenue Recognized from Collaborations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaboration revenue	$ 1,767	$ 15,573	$ 28,366
Genentech [Member] \| Collaborative Arrangement [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaboration revenue	1,651	4,563	15,764
Teva [Member] \| Collaborative Arrangement [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaboration revenue	$ 116	$ 11,010	$ 12,588

Property, Plant and Equipment - Summary of Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	$ (15,083)	$ (14,582)
Net book value	1,404	1,989
Research Equipment [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	6,789	6,925
Office Furniture and Equipment [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	1,045	1,040
Computer Equipment [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	2,283	2,236
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	$ 6,370	$ 6,370

Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses - Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Payables And Accruals [Abstract]
Trade payables	$ 1,463	$ 1,088
Employee compensation, benefits, and related accruals	872	762
Consulting and contracted research	1,029	506
Professional fees	93	214
Other	59	55
Total	$ 3,516	$ 2,625

Share Capital (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 13, 2016	Nov. 10, 2014	Jun. 25, 2014	Jan. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Proceeds from net of underwriting discounts and commissions Before offering expenses					$ 23,832		$ 42,644
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding		0
Number of Options Exercisable					1,292,012
Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years					4 years 10 months 10 days
Aggregate fair value of options vested					$ 3,220	$ 999	$ 722
Unrecognized stock-based compensation cost					$ 3,975
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expected to be recognized over a period					2 years 4 months 10 days
Amended And Restated Stock Option Plan [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options exercise term					10 years
Options vesting period					4 years
Two Thousand Fourteen Plan [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Options, Granted					65,132
Two Thousand Fourteen Plan [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock reserved for issuance				500,000
Two Thousand Fourteen Plan [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options exercise term			10 years
Options vesting period			4 years
Converted from Convertible Preferred Shares [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock issued upon conversion of preferred stock		7,725,924
Converted from Subscription Rights [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock issued upon conversion of subscription rights		10,201
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Convertible Preferred Stock, Shares Issued upon Conversion					converted into common shares on a 1:1 basis
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Convertible Preferred Stock, Shares Issued upon Conversion					converted into common shares on a 1:1 basis
Series E Preferred Stock [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Convertible Preferred Stock, Shares Issued upon Conversion					converted into common shares on a 1:1.2 basis
IPO [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Issuance of common shares, net of issuance costs (in Shares)		4,600,000
Common share price (in Dollars per share)		$ 9.00
Proceeds from net of underwriting discounts and commissions Before offering expenses		$ 38,500
Concurrent Private Placement [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Proceeds from net of underwriting discounts and commissions Before offering expenses		$ 4,100
Underwritten Public Offering [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Issuance of common shares, net of issuance costs (in Shares)	3,450,000
Common share price (in Dollars per share)	$ 7.50
Proceeds from net of underwriting discounts and commissions Before offering expenses	$ 24,300
Common Stock [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Issuance of common shares, net of issuance costs (in Shares)					3,450,000		5,095,000
Common stock issued upon conversion of preferred stock							7,725,924
Common stock issued upon conversion of subscription rights		10,201
Common Stock [Member] \| Private Placement [Member] \| Genentech Affiliate [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Issuance of common shares, net of issuance costs (in Shares)		495,000
Common share price (in Dollars per share)		$ 9.00

Share Capital - Stock Option Activity (Details)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

USD ($)

$ / shares

Dec. 31, 2016

USD ($)

$ / shares

CAD / shares

Dec. 31, 2015

USD ($)

$ / shares

Dec. 31, 2015

CAD / shares

Dec. 31, 2014

USD ($)

$ / shares

Dec. 31, 2014

CAD / shares

Dec. 31, 2016

CAD / shares

Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]

Number of Options Outstanding, Beginning balance

1,721,472

1,484,218

1,333,099

Number of Options, Granted

323,794

529,288

205,170

Number of Options, Exercised

(121,292)

^[1]

(270,254)

(2,417)

Number of Options, Forfeited, cancelled or expired

(13,151)

(21,780)

(51,634)

Number of Options Outstanding, Ending balance

1,910,823

1,721,472

1,484,218

Number of Options Exercisable

1,292,012

Weighted Average Exercise Price Outstanding, Beginning balance | (per share)

$ 6.95

CAD 9.62

$ 4.20

CAD 4.88

$ 3.88

CAD 3.98

Weighted Average Exercise Price, Granted | (per share)

7.39

9.79

14.67

18.73

9.35

10.84

Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercised | (per share)

2.77

^[1]

3.67

^[1]

3.65

4.66

5.23

6.07

Weighted Average Exercise Price, Forfeited, cancelled and expired | (per share)

11.31

14.98

8.78

11.21

5.14

5.96

Weighted Average Exercise Price Outstanding, Ending balance | (per share)

7.32

CAD 9.84

$ 6.95

CAD 9.62

$ 4.20

CAD 4.88

Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercisable Ending balance | (per share)

$ 5.78

CAD 5.78

CAD 7.77

Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Outstanding, Beginning balance | $

$ 1,880

$ 15,551

$ 8,300

Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Exercised | $

568

^[1]

2,426

Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Outstanding, Ending balance | $

4,464

$ 1,880

$ 15,551

Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Exercisable, Ending balance | $

$ 4,351

CAD 4,351

[1]	During the year ended December 31, 2016, 47,413 (2015 - 70,438) stock options were exercised for the same number of common shares in exchange for cash. In the same period, the Company issued 47,841 (2015 - 133,565) common shares for the cashless exercise of 73,879 (2015 - 199,816) stock options.

Share Capital - Stock Option Activity (Parenthetical) (Details) - shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]
Stock Options exercised for Number of Common Shares for cash	47,413	70,438
Common stock issued for cashless exercise	47,841	133,565
Cashless exercise of stock options	73,879	199,816

Share Capital - Summary of Stock Option Outstanding and Exercisable (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2016 CAD / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2015 $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2015 CAD / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 CAD / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2013 $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2013 CAD / shares shares
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Options Outstanding	1,910,823	1,910,823	1,721,472	1,721,472	1,484,218	1,484,218	1,333,099	1,333,099
Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years	6 years 18 days
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price \| (per share)	$ 7.32	CAD 9.84	$ 6.95	CAD 9.62	$ 4.20	CAD 4.88	$ 3.88	CAD 3.98
Number of Options Exercisable	1,292,012	1,292,012
Options exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price \| (per share)	$ 5.78	CAD 7.77
Range of Exercise Prices - $1.93 - $2.31 [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Exercise price range, lower range limit \| $ / shares	1.93
Exercise price range, upper range limit \| $ / shares	$ 2.31
Number of Options Outstanding	228,570	228,570
Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years	4 years 10 months 24 days
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price \| (per share)	$ 1.99	CAD 2.67
Number of Options Exercisable	227,222	227,222
Options exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price \| (per share)	$ 1.99	CAD 2.67
Range of Exercise Prices - $2.32 - $4.86 [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Exercise price range, lower range limit \| $ / shares	2.32
Exercise price range, upper range limit \| $ / shares	$ 4.86
Number of Options Outstanding	615,475	615,475
Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years	2 years 11 months 23 days
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price \| (per share)	$ 2.78	CAD 3.74
Number of Options Exercisable	615,475	615,475
Options exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price \| (per share)	$ 2.78	CAD 3.74
Range of Exercise Prices - $4.87 - $7.72 [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Exercise price range, lower range limit \| $ / shares	4.87
Exercise price range, upper range limit \| $ / shares	$ 7.72
Number of Options Outstanding	467,592	467,592
Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years	8 years 10 months 24 days
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price \| (per share)	$ 7.42	CAD 9.98
Number of Options Exercisable	118,964	118,964
Options exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price \| (per share)	$ 7.48	CAD 10.06
Range of Exercise Prices - $7.73 - $7.91 [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Exercise price range, lower range limit \| $ / shares	7.73
Exercise price range, upper range limit \| $ / shares	$ 7.91
Number of Options Outstanding	1,200	1,200
Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years	9 years 9 months 15 days
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price \| (per share)	$ 7.90	CAD 10.62
Range of Exercise Prices - $7.92 - $17.70 [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Exercise price range, lower range limit \| $ / shares	7.92
Exercise price range, upper range limit \| $ / shares	$ 17.70
Number of Options Outstanding	263,116	263,116
Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years	7 years 1 month 28 days
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price \| (per share)	$ 9.10	CAD 12.24
Number of Options Exercisable	162,924	162,924
Options exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price \| (per share)	$ 8.81	CAD 11.84
Range of Exercise Prices - $17.71 - $18.23 [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Exercise price range, lower range limit \| $ / shares	17.71
Exercise price range, upper range limit \| $ / shares	$ 18.23
Number of Options Outstanding	333,800	333,800
Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years	7 years 7 months 10 days
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price \| (per share)	$ 17.76	CAD 23.88
Number of Options Exercisable	166,891	166,891
Options exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price \| (per share)	$ 17.76	CAD 23.88
Range of Exercise Prices - $18.24 - $21.82 [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Exercise price range, lower range limit \| $ / shares	18.24
Exercise price range, upper range limit \| $ / shares	$ 21.82
Number of Options Outstanding	1,070	1,070
Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years	8 years 1 month 6 days
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price \| (per share)	$ 19.92	CAD 26.79
Number of Options Exercisable	536	536
Options exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price \| (per share)	$ 19.97	CAD 26.85

Share Capital - Summary of Non-Vested Stock Option Activity (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2016 CAD / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2015 $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2015 CAD / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 $ / shares shares
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Nonvested Number Of Shares Roll Forward
Number of Options, Non-vested, Beginning balance	686,896	686,896
Number of Options, Granted	323,794	323,794	529,288	529,288	205,170
Number of Options, Vested	(382,491)	(382,491)
Number of Options, Forfeited and cancelled	(9,388)	(9,388)
Number of Options, Non-vested, Ending balance	618,811	618,811	686,896	686,896
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Non-vested, Beginning balance \| (per share)	$ 8.54	CAD 10.60
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Granted \| (per share)	4.94	6.54	$ 9.83		$ 6.10
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Vested \| (per share)	8.42	11.15
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Forfeited and cancelled \| (per share)	7.73	10.25
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Non-vested, Ending balance \| (per share)	$ 7.13	CAD 9.58	$ 8.54	CAD 10.60

Share Capital - Fair Value Assumptions for Stock Options (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2016 CAD / shares	Dec. 31, 2015 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2014 $ / shares
Fair Value Assumptions For Stock Options [Abstract]
Average risk-free interest rate	1.58%	1.58%	1.75%	1.94%
Expected volatility	75.00%	75.00%	75.00%	73.00%
Average expected term (in years)	6 years 2 months 19 days	6 years 2 months 19 days	6 years 2 months 23 days	6 years 1 month 17 days
Expected dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Weighted average fair value of options granted \| (per share)	$ 4.94	CAD 6.54	$ 9.83	$ 6.10

Share Capital - Stock Based Compensation Expenses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation	$ 2,161	$ 3,729	$ 760
Research and development [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation	874	624	194
General and administrative [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation	$ 1,287	$ 3,105	$ 566

Concentrations of Market Risk (Details) CAD in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Concentrations of Market Risk (Details) CAD in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 CAD	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 CAD
Interest Rate Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities	$ 64,146,000
Interest rate risk, description	The Company does not enter into investments for trading or speculative purposes and has not used any derivative financial instruments to manage interest rate exposure. A 10% change in interest rates during any of the periods presented would not have had a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Outstanding debt	$ 0
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities	$ 35,859,000	CAD 37,980	$ 17,836,000	CAD 56,491

- Definition

Cash includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the customer may deposit additional funds at any time and effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid Investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months. Short-term investments, exclusive of cash equivalents, generally consist of marketable securities intended to be sold within one year (or the normal operating cycle if longer) and may include trading securities, available-for-sale securities, or held-to-maturity securities (if maturing within one year), as applicable.

+ References + Details

Collaboration Agreements (Details)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Collaboration Agreements (Details)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 CAD	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 CAD	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 CAD	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Upfront payment performance description		The Company determined that the $1,500 upfront payment should be recognized as revenue ratably over the expected period of performance, being the two-year period ended March 18, 2016.	The Company determined that the $1,500 upfront payment should be recognized as revenue ratably over the expected period of performance, being the two-year period ended March 18, 2016.
Sales Based Milestone [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Proceeds from milestone payments		$ 0
Teva [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Potential Milestone Payments Receivable								$ 335,000,000
Proceeds from milestone payments		0
Teva [Member] \| Clinical Milestone [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Potential Milestone Payments Receivable								20,000,000
Teva [Member] \| Regulatory Milestone [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Potential Milestone Payments Receivable								285,000,000
Teva [Member] \| Sales Based Milestone [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Potential Milestone Payments Receivable								30,000,000
Teva [Member] \| TV-45070 [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Proceeds from upfront fee								$ 41,000,000
Genentech [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Proceeds from upfront fee	$ 1,500,000
Potential Milestone Payments Receivable	1,750,000								$ 613,000,000
Proceeds from milestone payments		0		$ 250,000
Genentech [Member] \| Regulatory Milestone [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Potential Milestone Payments Receivable									387,500,000
Genentech [Member] \| Sales Based Milestone [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Potential Milestone Payments Receivable									180,000,000
Genentech [Member] \| Preclinical And Clinical Milestone [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Potential Milestone Payments Receivable									45,500,000
Genentech [Member] \| Preclinical Clinical and Regulatory Milestones [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Proceeds from milestone payments		$ 0		$ 0		$ 8,000,000
Genentech [Member] \| GDC-0276 [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Proceeds from upfront fee									$ 10,000,000
Genentech Affiliate [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance of Private Placement	$ 4,455,000
uniQure [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Proceeds from milestone payments \| CAD			CAD 0		CAD 0		CAD 0
uniQure [Member] \| Glybera [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Potential Milestone Payments Receivable \| CAD			CAD 1,000,000

Collaboration Agreements - Revenue Recognized from Collaborations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaboration revenue	$ 1,767	$ 15,573	$ 28,366
uniQure [Member] \| Milestone Payments [Member] \| Collaborative Arrangement [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaboration revenue			14
Teva [Member] \| Collaborative Arrangement [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaboration revenue	116	11,010	12,588
Teva [Member] \| Recognition of Upfront Payments [Member] \| Collaborative Arrangement [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaboration revenue		10,897	12,255
Teva [Member] \| Research Funding [Member] \| Collaborative Arrangement [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaboration revenue	116	112	333
Genentech [Member] \| Collaborative Arrangement [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaboration revenue	1,651	4,563	15,764
Genentech [Member] \| Milestone Payments [Member] \| Collaborative Arrangement [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaboration revenue		250	7,913
Genentech [Member] \| Recognition of Upfront Payments [Member] \| Collaborative Arrangement [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaboration revenue	157	725	3,603
Genentech [Member] \| Research Funding [Member] \| Collaborative Arrangement [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaboration revenue	$ 1,494	$ 3,589	$ 4,248

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2015
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Lease Agreement Description	for a 120-month term from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2022,
Lease Expiration Date	Mar. 31, 2022
Amended Operating Leases Term	120 months
Operating Leases, Rent Expense	$ 936	$ 917	$ 915
Prepaid expenses, long term	$ 408	1,094
Medpace Clinical Development Service Agreement [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Service agreement, term	5 years
Committed service obligation				$ 7,000
Contractual obligation paid		3,000
Expenses for services rendered	$ 2,200
Current prepaid expenses	392	1,010
Prepaid expenses, long term	$ 408	$ 1,094

Commitments and Contingencies - Future Minimum Annual Lease Payments for Operating Leases (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
2017	$ 1,123
2018	1,145
2019	1,146
2020	1,148
2021	1,086
2022	260
Total	$ 5,908

Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Income tax (recovery) expense	26.00%	26.00%	26.00%
Unclaimed Tax Deductions Related To Scientific Research And Experimental Development Expenditures	$ 87,781	$ 81,107
Non-capital losses carried forward for tax purposes	$ 29,999	16,285
Tax Credit Carry forward, Expiration Date	Dec. 31, 2036
Unrecognized tax benefits of uncertain tax positions	$ 6,350	6,350
Canada Revenue Agency [Member] \| Latest Tax Year [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax year open for income tax examination	2003
Canada Revenue Agency [Member] \| Earliest Tax Year [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax year open for income tax examination	2015
Investment Tax credit [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit available to offset federal taxes payable	$ 20,160	18,875
Provincial Tax Credit [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit available to offset federal taxes payable	$ 7,624	$ 7,385

Income Taxes - Income Tax (Recovery) Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Computed taxes (recoveries) at Canadian federal and provincial tax rates	$ (5,980)	$ (4,095)	$ 3,385
Change in valuation allowance	6,897	2,482	(2,364)
Investment tax credits earned	(1,500)	(1,220)	(1,283)
Tax attributes expired/utilized	617	2,851	2,011
Non-deductible expenditures	569	977	(1,053)
Financing fees in equity	(531)		(1,945)
Other	$ (72)	$ (995)	$ 1,249

Income Taxes - Net Deferred Income Tax Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Deferred income tax assets
Scientific research and experimental development pool	$ 22,823	$ 21,088
Investment tax credits	22,483	21,303
Non-capital losses	7,800	4,234
Depreciable assets	4,163	3,749
Deferred financing fees	1,020	959
Other	126	185
Less - valuation allowance	$ (58,415)	$ (51,518)

Related Parties (Details) - Medpace Clinical Development Service Agreement [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Clinical development service fees to related parties	$ 3,097	$ 922	$ 0
Prepaid Expenses	$ 1,010	$ 2,314
Dr. August J. Troendle, Officer and Director [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership	5.00%

Selected Quarterly Consolidated Financial Data (Unaudited) - Quarterly Consolidated Financial Information for Interim Periods (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 376	$ 413	$ 413	$ 601	$ 3,227	$ 4,294	$ 4,046	$ 4,010	$ 1,803	$ 15,577	$ 28,370
Income (loss) from operations	(5,462)	(7,331)	(6,366)	(5,658)	(2,603)	(820)	199	(6,137)	(24,817)	(9,361)	11,106
Net income (loss)	$ (6,004)	$ (7,714)	$ (6,016)	$ (3,263)	$ (3,937)	$ (3,827)	$ 1,168	$ (9,156)	$ (22,997)	$ (15,752)	$ 13,018
Basic and diluted net loss per common share	$ (0.34)	$ (0.51)	$ (0.42)	$ (0.23)
Basic net income (loss) per common share					$ (0.27)	$ (0.27)	$ 0.08	$ (0.64)	$ (1.48)	$ (1.10)	$ 4.11
Diluted net income (loss) per common share					$ (0.27)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.64)	$ (1.48)	$ (1.10)	$ 3.28

Basis of presentation (Details)	12 Months Ended
Basis of presentation (Details)	Dec. 31, 2016
Xenon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. [Member]
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Date of incorporation	Dec. 02, 2016