2.2.0.25truefalse06022 - Disclosure - Acquisitions (Details Textuals)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Biovex Group Inc Member
3/4/2011
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_04Mar2011_Biovex_Group_Inc_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000318154instant2011-03-04T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseBioVex Group Inc [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiamgn_BiovexGroupIncMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2true0amgn_AcquisitionsTextualsAbstractamgnfalsenadurationAcquisitions.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringAcquisitions.falsefalse3false0amgn_BusinessAcquisitionPaymentToSettleUnvestedEmployeeOptionsamgnfalsedebitinstantBusiness acquisition, payment to settle unvested employee options.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse70000007falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryBusiness acquisition, payment to settle unvested employee options.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsRangeOfOutcomesValueHighus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse575000000575falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryFor contingent consideration arrangements recognized in connection with a business combination, this element represents an estimate of the high-end of the potential range (undiscounted) of the consideration which may be paid.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 68
-Subparagraph g
-Clause 3
falsefalse5false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationAtFairValueus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse190000000190falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryFair value, as of the acquisition date, of potential payments under the contingent consideration arrangement including cash and shares.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 68
-Subparagraph g(1)
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 51
-Subparagraph f
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 29, 30, 41, 42, 64
Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 65
-Subparagraph a, b
falsefalse6false0amgn_DiscountRateOfEstimatedNetCashFlowsamgnfalsenainstantDiscount rate used to estimate fair value of acquired in process research and development.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.110.11falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureDiscount rate used to estimate fair value of acquired in process research and development.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse7false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillAmountus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse170000000170falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of goodwill arising from a business combination, which is the excess of the cost of the acquired entity over the amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 52
-Subparagraph c
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 53
-Subparagraph d
falsefalse16Acquisitions (Details Textuals) (BioVex Group Inc [Member], USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue