2.2.0.25truefalse40901 - Disclosure - Intangible Assets (Narrative) (Details)truefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Duration_1_1_2010_To_12_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit14Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Duration_1_1_2009_To_12_31_2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit14Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Duration_1_1_2008_To_12_31_2008http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit14Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_GoodwillBySegmentAxis} : CGI Pharmaceuticals [Member]
{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : IPR&D [Member]
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_2010634http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCGI Pharmaceuticals [Member]us-gaap_GoodwillBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldigild_CgiPharmaceuticalsMemberus-gaap_GoodwillBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseIPR&D [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldigild_IprAndDMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_GoodwillBySegmentAxis} : CV Therapeutics [Member]
{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : IPR&D [Member]
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_2010635http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCV Therapeutics [Member]us-gaap_GoodwillBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldigild_CvTherapeuticsMemberus-gaap_GoodwillBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseIPR&D [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldigild_IprAndDMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_GoodwillBySegmentAxis} : CV Therapeutics [Member]
{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : IPR&D [Member]
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_2009522http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCV Therapeutics [Member]us-gaap_GoodwillBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldigild_CvTherapeuticsMemberus-gaap_GoodwillBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseIPR&D [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldigild_IprAndDMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$7falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : IPR&D Related to CVT [Member]
10/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$Duration_10_1_2010_To_12_31_20103http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095duration2010-10-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseIPR&D Related to CVT [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldigild_IprAndDRelatedToCvtMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse5990000059900000falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse4340000043400000falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse28000002800000falsetruefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate amount of amortization expense recognized for intangible asset during the period. A recognized intangible asset shall be amortized over its estimated useful life to the reporting entity unless that life is determined to be indefinite. If an intangible asset has a finite useful life, but the precise length of that life is not known, that intangible asset shall be amortized over the best estimate of its useful life.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph a(2)
falsefalse3false0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLifeus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse1010falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerThe calculated weighted-average useful life of all finite-lived intangible assets.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwillus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse2953000029530000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse138900000138900000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse2660000026600000falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse29000002900000falsefalsefalsetruefalse6truefalsefalse138900000138900000falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetarySum of the carrying amounts (original costs for current and prior period additions adjusted for impairment, if any) as of the balance sheet date of intangible assets, excluding goodwill, having a projected indefinite period of benefit.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse5false0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelivedus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse136000000136000000falsetruefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of a finite-lived intangible asset to fair value.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 46
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse74Intangible Assets (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue
