Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document Information [Table] Class of Stock [Axis] Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Shareholders' equity: Stockholders Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Stockholders' Equity Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value Measurements Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and contingencies Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Basis Of Accounting Policy Policy [Text Block] Basis of presentation Use Of Estimates Use of estimates Cash and Cash Equivalents Policy [Text Block] Cash and cash equivalents Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block] Financial instruments Derivative Instruments [Abstract] Schedule of Other Share-based Compensation, Activity [Table Text Block] Schedule of Other Share-based Compensation, Activity Schedule Of Stockholders Equity Note Warrants Or Rights [Text Block] Warrants Outstanding to Purchase Common Stock Schedule Of Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Table [Text Block] Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Disclosure Going Concern Additional Information [Abstract] Disclosure - Going Concern - Additional Information [Abstract] Going Concern [Table] Going Concern [Table] Legal Entity [Axis] Entity [Domain] Defined Benefit Plan, Asset Categories [Axis] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations, Total Net cash used in operating activities Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated deficit Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Assets [Abstract] Assets Assets Current [Abstract] Current assets: Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents - Beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents - End of year Prepaid Expense, Current, Total Prepaid expenses Other Assets Current Other current assets Assets, Total Total assets Liabilities and Stockholders Equity [Abstract] Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Liabilities Current [Abstract] Current liabilities: Accounts Payable Current Accounts payable Accrued Liabilities Current Accrued liabilities Derivative Liability (Note 3) Derivative instruments (Note 5) Liabilities, Current, Total Total current liabilities Liabilities, Total Total liabilities Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies (Note 9) Common Stock Value Common stock, no par value; unlimited shares authorized; 13,643 shares issued and outstanding (2015-10,940) Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock Additional paid-in capital Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total Accumulated other comprehensive income Stockholders Equity Total shareholders’ equity Balance Balance Liabilities and Stockholders Equity Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity Disclosure Significant Accounting Policies Additional Information [Abstract] Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information [Abstract] Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Table] Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Table] Money Market Funds At Carrying Value Money market investments Class of Stock [Domain] Derivative Instrument [Axis] Derivative Contract [Domain] Derivative Instrument Option Activity [Member] Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding and Exercisable Number Number of Options Outstanding and Exercisable at Beginning Number of Options Outstanding and Exercisable at Ending Number Outstanding and Exercisable The number of shares into which fully or partially vested stock options outstanding as of the balance sheet date can be currently converted under the option plan. Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Exercises In Period Number of Options Exercised Number of Options Exercised Exercise of stock options (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures in Period Number of Options Forfeited or expired Disclosure Derivative Instruments Additional Information [Abstract] Disclosure - Derivative Instruments - Additional Information [Abstract] Derivative [Table] Class Of Warrant Or Right [Axis] Class Of Warrant Or Right [Domain] Options To Contractors [Member] Options to Contractors [Member] Options to Contractors [Member] Options to Contractors Equity Interest Issued Or Issuable By Type [Axis] Equity Interest Issued Or Issuable Type [Domain] Currency Type [Axis] Currency Type [Axis] Currency Type [Domain] Currency Type [Domain] Options Held [Member] Equity Components [Axis] Class Of Warrant Or Right Outstanding Common shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants Common shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants Common shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights Exercise price in CAD/USD Dollars Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Each Warrant or Right Derivative Liability Disclosure Warrants Outstanding To Purchase Common Stock [Abstract] Disclosure - Warrants Outstanding to Purchase Common Stock [Abstract] Class Of Warrant Or Right [Table] Warrant One [Member] Warrants expired April 30, 2015 [Member] Investor warrants expiring April 30, 2015 [Member] Inverstor warrants one Warrant 1 Warrant Two [Member] Warrants expiring March 29, 2016 [Member] Investor warrants expiring March 29, 2016 [Member] Investor warrants two Warrant 2 Class Of Warrant Or Right [Line Items] Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items] Investment Warrants Expiration Date Expiration Date Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Axis] Sale Of Stock, Name Of Transaction [Domain] Private Placement [Member] Private Placement [Member] Private Placement [Member] Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues Issuance of stock Rights offering (in shares) Equity Issuance Per Share Amounts Issuance of stock, price per share Amount per share or per unit assigned to the consideration received of equity securities issued for development stage entities. Proceeds From Issuance Of Private Placement Proceeds from issuance of unit Disclosure Stockholders Equity Additional Information [Abstract] Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information [Abstract] Stockholders Equity Note [Table] Stockholders Equity Note [Table] Range [Axis] Range [Domain] Title of Individual [Axis] Title Of Individual With Relationship To Entity [Domain] Equity Financing [Axis] Disclosure Assets Liabilities Measured At Fair Value On Recurring Basis [Abstract] Disclosure - Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis [Abstract] Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis [Table] Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Table] Fair Value By Fair Value Hierarchy Level [Axis] Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Hierarchy [Domain] Fair Value Inputs Level 1 [Member] Quoted Price in Active Markets for Identical Instruments Level 1 [Member] Fair Value Inputs Level 2 [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs Level 2 [Member] Fair Value Inputs Level 3 [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs Level 3 [Member] Fair Value By Measurement Frequency [Axis] Fair Value Measurement Frequency [Domain] Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis [Line Items] Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items] Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items] Cash and Cash Equivalents Fair Value Disclosure Cash and cash equivalents Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability Derivative liabilities Common Stock No Par Value Common stock, no par value Common Stock Shares Issued Common stock, shares issued Common Stock Shares Outstanding Common stock, shares outstanding Disclosure Fair Value Measurements Additional Information [Abstract] Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information [Abstract] Assumptions Used To Determine Fair Value Options [Table] Assumptions used to Determine Fair Value Options [Table] Award Type [Axis] Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Award Type and Plan Name [Domain] Employee Stock Option [Member] Stock Option [Member] Warrant [Member] Warrant [Member] Minimum [Member] Minimum [Member] Maximum [Member] Maximum [Member] Assumptions Used To Determine Fair Value Options [Line Items] Assumptions used to Determine Fair Value Options [Line Items] Assumptions used to Determine Fair Value Options [Line Items] Cash Cash Research and Development Arrangement, Contract To Perform For Others, Type [Axis] Research and Development Arrangement, Contract To Perform For Others, Type [Domain] Chief Executive Officer [Member] Rostislav Raykov Sublicensed Technology [Axis] Sublicensed Technology [Domain] Period [Axis] Severance Costs Payable In Case Of Termination Other Than For Cause Amount of expenses payable for special or contractual termination benefits provided to current employees in the event of termination other than for cause. Income Statement [Abstract] Revenues Revenue Operating Expenses [Abstract] Operating expenses: Research and Development Expense Research and development General and Administrative Expense General and administrative Nonoperating Income Expense [Abstract] Other income/(expense): Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Unrealized gain/(loss) on derivatives Gain/(loss) on Derivatives Unrealized gain on derivatives (Note 5) Unrealized gain on derivatives Unrealized (loss)/gain on derivatives Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets Sale of Eniluracil (Note 8) Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other loss Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent, Total Net loss Net (loss) Net loss Net loss Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Operating activities: Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: Issuance Of Stock and Warrants For Services Or Claims Stock-based compensation - consultants Contractor options expense recognized Share Based Compensation Stock-based compensation - employees Employee options expense recognized Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Investing activity: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations, Total Net cash used in investing activity Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Financing activities: Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Issuance of shares, net of issuance costs Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised Issuance of shares, options exercise Proceeds from Warrant Exercises Issuance of shares, warrants exercise Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash and Cash Equivalents Effect of exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease (Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents Statement Of Stockholders Equity [Abstract] Equity Component [Domain] Common Stock [Member] Common Stock Additional Paid-In Capital [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Statement Scenario [Axis] Scenario Unspecified [Domain] Consulting Fee [Member] Consultants [Member] Consulting Fee [Member] Employee [Member] Employees [Member] Employee [Member] Shares Outstanding Balance (in shares) Balance (in shares) Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Requisite Service Period Recognition Stock options issued Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Warrant Issued Warrants issued to consultants Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised Exercise of stock options Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Warrants Exercised Exercise of warrants Value stock issued during the period as a result of the exercise of warrants. Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Warrants Exercised Exercise of warrants (in shares) Number of shares issued during the period as a result of the exercise of warrants. Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues Rights offering Going Concern [Abstract] Going Concern Disclosure [Text Block] Nature of Business and Going Concern Going Concern Disclosure. Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Significant Accounting Policies Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Derivative Liabilities Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block] Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Summary of Tax Credit Carryforwards [Table Text Block] Summary of Tax Credit Carryforwards Schedule Of Effective Tax Rate [Line Items] Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic Domestic (loss)/gain Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Foreign Foreign loss Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest Loss before income taxes Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent Expected statutory rate (recovery) Expected Provision For Recovery Of Income Tax Expected provision for (recovery of) income tax The amount of tax impact due to expected provision for recovery of income tax. Permanent Difference Permanent differences The amount of tax impact due to permanent difference unreversable in future. Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Change in Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance, Amount Change in valuation allowance Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Repatriation of Foreign Earnings, Amount Effect of foreign exchange rate differences Common Stock And Warrants [Policy Text Block] Common stock and warrants Disclosure of accounting policy for the common stock and warrant. Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block] Revenue recognition Income Tax Authority [Axis] Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block] Research and development costs and investment tax credits Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block] Income taxes Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block] Foreign currency translation Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] Earnings/(Loss) per share New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] New Accounting Pronouncements Adopted Income Taxes Future Recovery Disclosure [Line Items] Income Tax Authority [Domain] SRED expenditures [Member] SR & ED expenditures [Member] Income tax loss carryforwards [Member] Non-refundable investment tax credits [Member] Share issue costs [Member] Accrued expenses [Member] Fixed and intangible assets [Member]