Document And Entity Information
Note To Financial Statement Details Textual
statementsignificantaccountingpoliciespolicies
statementnote2investmentsandfairvaluemeasurementtables
statementnote3inventoriestables
statementnote5collaborationagreementtables
statementnote7liabilityrelatedtosaleoffutureroyaltiestables
statementnote9stockbasedcompensationtables
statementnote10netlosspershareofcommonstocktables
statementnote2investmentsandfairvaluemeasurementsummaryofcashcashequivalentsandinvestmentsdetails
us-gaap_DeferredRevenue
Deferred Revenue
statementnote2investmentsandfairvaluemeasurementfairvalueoffinancialassetsandliabilitiesbylevelwithinfairvaluehierarchydetails
statementnote2investmentsandfairvaluemeasurementassumptionsusedinblackscholesoptionpricingmodeltoestimatefairvalueofpipewarrantsdetails
statementnote2investmentsandfairvaluemeasurementsummaryofchangesinfairvalueofleveliiifinancialliabilitiesdetails
statementnote3inventoriesinventorycomponentsdetails
us-gaap_Revenues
Total revenue
statementnote5collaborationagreementasummaryofrevenuerecognizedundertheamendedagreementsdetails
statementnote7liabilityrelatedtosaleoffutureroyaltiesactivityofliabilityrelatedtosaleoffutureroyaltiesdetails
statementnote9stockbasedcompensationstockbasedcompensationexpensedetails
statementnote10netlosspershareofcommonstockcomputationofbasicanddilutednetlosspershareofcommondetails
statementnote10netlosspershareofcommonstockoutstandingsharesofcommonstockequivalentsexcludedfromcomputationofdilutednetlosspersharedetails
Fair Value
Notes To Financial Statements
Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract]
acrx_AwardContractRenewalTerm
Award Contract Renewal Term
Term of the award contract renewal, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format.
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Long-term Line of Credit
Fair Value Hierarchy [Domain]
Fair Value, Hierarchy [Axis]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Long-term Debt [Text Block]
Equity Component [Domain]
Equity Components [Axis]
acrx_DebtInstrumentFinalPaymentPercentageOfAggregatePrincipalAmount
Debt Instrument, Final Payment, Percentage of Aggregate Principal Amount
The final payment, expressed as a percentage of aggregate principal amount, under a debt agreement.
acrx_DebtInstrumentMinimumTriggerAmountToExtendPeriodOfInterestOnlyPayments
Debt Instrument, Minimum Trigger Amount to Extend Period of Interest Only Payments
Represents the minimum amount of net proceeds to extend the period of interest only payments.
Cash [Member]
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Domain]
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRevenue
Deferred revenue
us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax
Comprehensive loss
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Axis]
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities
Accrued liabilities
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)
us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity
acrx_DebtInstrumentVariableRateThreshold
Debt Instrument, Variable Rate Threshold
Represents the percentage of variable rate threshold used to determine the interest rate under the debt agreement. If the reference rate is above this percentage threshold, the interest rate equals to the minimum stated rate plus the difference between the reference rate and the threshold. If the reference rate is below this percentage threshold, the interest rate equals to the minimum stated rate.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Asset Class [Axis]
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Asset Class [Domain]
Shares used in computing net loss per share of common stock, diluted – see Note 10 (in shares)
Diluted (in shares)
Shares of common stock equivalents excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share of common stock (in shares)
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable
Accounts payable
us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
Gross Unrealized Losses
Market Price (in dollars per share)
Gross Unrealized Gains
us-gaap_GovernmentContractReceivable
Government Contract Receivable
Amortized Cost
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Net loss per share of common stock, diluted (in dollars per share)
Restricted cash
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents—Beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents—End of period
us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Repayments of Long-term Debt
us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentWarrantsOrOptionsIssued1
Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Warrants or Options Issued
Contract and Other Revenue [Member]
Represents information about Contract and Other Revenue.
Royalty revenue
Shares used in computing net loss per share of common stock, basic (in shares)
Long-term Contracts or Programs Disclosure [Text Block]
Contract and other
Contracts Revenue
Net loss per share of common stock, basic (in dollars per share)
Scenario, Unspecified [Domain]
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
General and Administrative Expense [Member]
acrx_LongTermDebtMaturitiesBalloonPayments
Long-term Debt Maturities Balloon Payments
Represents the long term debt maturities for balloon payments.
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredLiabilities
Deferred rent
Scenario [Axis]
Expected volatility
Cost of Sales [Member]
Income Statement Location [Domain]
Income Statement Location [Axis]
Research and Development Expense [Member]
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Other (expense) income:
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Total liabilities measured at fair value
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Fair Value by Liability Class [Domain]
Liability Class [Axis]
Stock-based compensation expense
Government [Member]
Products and Services [Domain]
Liability related to the sale of future royalties, net of current portion
Liability related to sale of future royalties — net of current portion
The amount of liability related to sale of future royalties less current portion.
Legal Entity Type of Counterparty [Domain]
Products and Services [Axis]
Contingent put option liability
Fair Value Of Contingent Put Option, Liability
Represents the fair value of contingent put option liability.
Liability related to the sale of future royalties, current portion
acrx_SaleOfFutureRoyaltiesLiabilitiesCurrent
Less: current portion
The current portion of liability related to sale of future royalties.
Legal Entity of Counterparty, Type [Axis]
Revenue:
Collaboration agreement revenue
Revenue recognized from collaboration agreements.
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable
Accounts receivable
Non-cash interest expense recognized
Non-cash interest expense on liability related to future sale of royalties
Non-cash interest expense on liability related to royalty monetization
The amount of non-cash interest expense recognized.
Europe [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Geographical [Domain]
acrx_RevaluationOfConvertiblePreferredStockWarrantLiabilityAndWriteoffOfCallOptionLiability
Revaluation of put option and PIPE warrant liabilities
Revaluation of convertible preferred stock warrant liability and write off of call option liability.
Geographical [Axis]
Net loss before income taxes
acrx_NetProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStockAndExerciseOfWarrants
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock through equity plans and exercise of warrants
Net Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock And Exercise Of Warrants
Proceeds from sale of future royalties
Net proceeds from sale of future royalties.
acrx_RoyaltyArrangmentMaximumPayments
Royalty Arrangment Maximum Payments
The capped amount of payments of company required to make to PDL.
us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit
acrx_ProceedsFromSaleOfRoyaltyAndMilestoneRights
Proceeds From Sale Of Royalty And Milestone Rights
The amount of proceeds from the sale of royalty and milestone rights.
us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Provision for income taxes
Accumulated deficit
acrx_EffectiveAnnualInterestRate
Effective Annual Interest Rate
Effective annual rate for a liability related to sale of future royalties.
us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsAvailableforsaleSecurities
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Available-for-sale Securities
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
acrx_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLossAccumulatedInInvestments
Available For Sale Securities, Gross, Unrealized Gain (Loss) Accumulated In Investments
Net amount of the difference between the fair value and cost of investments in available for sale securities.
Investments And Fair Value Measurement Disclosure [Text Block]
The disclosure of investments and fair value measurement.
us-gaap_PolicyTextBlockAbstract
Accounting Policies
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories
Inventories
us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue
Balance, fair value
Balance, fair value
U.S. Government Agency Securities [Member]
Represents the U.S. Government Agency Securities.
Change in fair value of contingent put option associated with Amended Loan Agreement
Deferred rent, net of current portion
Major Types of Debt and Equity Securities [Domain]
Statement [Table]
Major Types of Debt and Equity Securities [Axis]
U.S. Government Agency Obligations [Member]
Represents the U.S. Government Agency Obligations.
PIPE Warrants [Member]
Represents PIPE Warrants.
Contingent Put Option Liability [Member]
Represents the contingent put option liability.
Deferred revenue, net of current portion
Deferred Revenue, Noncurrent
AUSTRALIA
us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGainLossNet
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gain (Loss)
Fair Value Of Warrants [Table Text Block]
Tabular disclosure of the fair value of warrants.
Income Statement [Abstract]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block]
Hercules 2011 Loan and Security Agreement [Member]
Represents the 2011 Hercules loan and security agreement.
Change in fair value of PIPE warrants
Represents the change in fair value of private placement warrants.
Long-term debt, net of current portion
us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Class of Stock [Axis]
Award Type [Axis]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]
acrx_DebtInstrumentPercentageUsedToCalculateVariableRate
Debt Instrument, Percentage Used To Calculate Variable Rate
The percentage that is used to determine the debt instruments variable rate.
Equity Award [Domain]
us-gaap_OtherIncome
Other Income
acrx_IncreaseDecreaseInMilestonePaymentsRelatedToNetSalesTarget
Increase (Decrease) In Milestone Payments Related To Net Sales Target
The increase (decrease) in milestone payments related to net sales target.
Based upon Net Sales Target Achievements [Member]
An amount, or portion of an amount, that is, will be, or may be based upon "net sales target achievements."
acrx_PotentialMilestonePaymentsRelatedToNetSalesTarget
Potential Milestone Payments Related To Net Sales Target
Represents the potential milestone payments related to net sales target.
acrx_PaymentsInExchangeForServicesUnderCollaborationAgreement
Payments In Exchange For Services Under Collaboration Agreement
The amount of payments to exchange development services.
acrx_AmountOfBindingProductForecastRevenue
Amount Of Binding Product Forecast Revenue
The binding product forecast received under collaboration agreement.
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice
Investment Warrants, Exercise Price
Expected dividend yield
us-gaap_DisclosureTextBlockAbstract
Notes to Financial Statements
Exercise Price (in dollars per share)
acrx_MilestonePaymentsReceived
Milestone Payments Received
Represents a milestone payment, or milestone payments, that were received by the Company during the period.
us-gaap_FairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
Risk-free interest rate
acrx_RevenueRecognitionMilestoneMethodAgreedAdditionalAmount
Revenue Recognition Milestone Method Agreed, Additional Amount
Represents the agreed additional amount of revenue recognition for the milestone method.
Zalviso [Member]
Represents the product, Zalviso
Expected life (in years) (Year)
us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent
Total current liabilities
Based upon Successful Regulatory and Product Development Efforts [Member]
An amount, or portion of an amount, that is, will be, or may be based upon "successful regulatory and product development efforts."
acrx_RevenueRecognitionMilestoneMethodAgreedAdditionalAmountBasedOnEffortsAndTargets
Revenue Recognition Milestone Method Agreed, Additional Amount, Based On Efforts And Targets
The amount of additional milestone payments the Company is eligible to receive based upon successful regulatory and product development efforts and net sales target achievements.
acrx_ManufacturingAgreementPercentageThereafter
Manufacturing Agreement, Percentage, Thereafter
Represents the manufacturing agreement percentage after the first five years.
Raw materials
acrx_ManufacturingAgreementPercentageForFiveYears
Manufacturing Agreement, Percentage For Five Years
Represents the percentage for five years for the manufacturing agreement.
us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense
Total other expense
Finished goods
Work-in-process
acrx_CollaborationAgreementConsiderationAmount
Collaboration Agreement Consideration, Amount
Amount of aggregate consideration under collaboration agreement.
us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
Total operating costs and expenses
Research and Development and Committee Participation Services [Member]
Information about research and development and committee participation services.
us-gaap_OtherExpenses
Other Expenses
Previously Delivered License [Member]
Information about previously delivered license.
General and administrative
acrx_DiscountOnManufacturingServices
Discount On Manufacturing Services
Consideration allocated to significant and incremental discount on manufacturing services.
acrx_CommitteeParticipationSercicesRecognized
Committee Participation Sercices Recognized
Consideration allocated to committee participation services.
Interest income and other income (expense), net
us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense
Other
acrx_ManufacturingServicesRevenuesRelatedToBindingForecast
Manufacturing Services Revenues Related To Binding Forecast
Information about the revenue related to manufacturing services for the binding forecast of Products.
us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Loss from operations
Deferred revenue, current portion
Deferred Revenue, Current
Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]
Inventory Disclosure [Text Block]
Amendment Flag
Long-term debt, current portion
us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Common stock, $0.001 par value—100,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016; 45,371,351 and 45,333,790 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016
us-gaap_FairValueAdjustmentOfWarrants
Adjustments for change in fair value of warrant liability
us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfMarketableSecurities
Proceeds from maturities of investments
Common stock, authorized (in shares)
Common stock, issued (in shares)
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring [Table Text Block]
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Stock-based compensation
Current Fiscal Year End Date
Document Fiscal Period Focus
us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium
Amortization of Debt Discount (Premium)
Document Fiscal Year Focus
Document Period End Date
Revenue Recognition Amended Agreements [Table Text Block]
Tabular disclosure of the recognition of revenue under the amended agreements.
us-gaap_RevenueRecognitionMilestoneMethodRevenueRecognized
Revenue Recognition, Milestone Method, Revenue Recognized
Revenue Recognized
The amount of revenue recognized as a result of the revenue allocation under collaboration agreement.
Warrants Disclosure [Text Block]
The disclosure of warrants.
Document Type
Liability Related To Sale Of Future Royalties Disclosure [Text Block]
The entire disclosure for liability related to sale of future royalties.
Hercules Loan and Security Agreement [Member]
Represents information pertaining to the Hercules loan and security agreement.
us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
Depreciation and amortization
acrx_NumberOfTranchesForLoanAndSecurityAgreement
Number of Tranches for Loan and Security Agreement
Represents the number of tranches for loan and security agreement.
First Tranche [Member]
Represents the first tranche.
Accounts payable
Document Information [Line Items]
Collaborative Arrangement [Member]
Document Information [Table]
Second Tranche [Member]
Represents the second tranche.
us-gaap_AssetsCurrent
Total current assets
Accrued liabilities
Long-term Debt, Type [Axis]
Type of Arrangement and Non-arrangement Transactions [Axis]
Entity Filer Category
acrx_WarrantExercisableTerm
Warrant Exercisable Term
The warrants term.
Entity Current Reporting Status
Counterparty Name [Domain]
Entity Voluntary Filers
Long-term Debt, Type [Domain]
Hercules Warrants [Member]
Represents the Hercules Warrants.
Arrangements and Non-arrangement Transactions [Domain]
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments [Table Text Block]
Counterparty Name [Axis]
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer
Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement [Member]
Represents the amended and restated loan and security agreement.
Third Tranche [Member]
Represents the third tranche.
acrx_CommonStockWarrantsExercised
Common Stock Warrants Exercised
Represents common stock warrants exercised.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) [Member]
Information about the employee stock purchase plan.
acrx_PrepaymentChargeOfTermLoanPercentage
Prepayment Charge Of Term Loan Percentage
Represents the prepayment charge of the term loan as a percentage.
Dilutive effect of warrants (in shares)
acrx_AdditionalDefaultInterestRate
Additional Default Interest Rate
The addition percentage of interest in the event of default.
Entity Central Index Key
Entity Registrant Name
Entity [Domain]
Total assets measured at fair value
Legal Entity [Axis]
Class of Warrant or Right [Domain]
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number
us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding
Class of Warrant or Right, Outstanding
Class of Warrant or Right [Axis]
us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights
Warrant liability
acrx_PercentageOfRoyaltiesAndRightsUnderAgreement
Percentage Of Royalties And Rights Under Agreement
Percentage of royalties or milestone rights to be received under the agreement.
Other Liabilities [Table Text Block]
Current Liabilities:
First Four Commercial Milestones [Member]
Represents the detail of parts of royalties and rights received.
PDL [Member]
Information of related party.
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)
AcelRX [Member]
The name or description of the company.
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant
acrx_CommercialMilestonesValueMaximumAmountAvailable
Commercial Milestones Value Maximum Amount Available
The maximum value of commercial milestone payments available to the company.
Additional paid-in capital
us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted
Diluted
Remaining Commercial and All Development Milestone[Member]
Detail of percentage the remaining commercial milestones and all remaining development milestones.
Royalties [Member]
The name or description of the arrangement.
us-gaap_Assets
Total Assets
MAA Aproval [Member]
The type or description of the arrangement.
acrx_CommercialMilestonesValue
Commercial Milestones Value
The value of commercial milestone payments.
Liability related to sale of future royalties as of March 31, 2017
Balance, liability related to sale of future royalties
Total liability related to sale of future royalties current and non-current.
Inventories
Total
Stockholders’ Deficit:
Trading Symbol
us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Purchase of property and equipment
Series Warrants [Member]
Represents the reporting entity's series warrants.
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
Basic
Net loss
Net loss
acrx_FairValueOfWarrantOnDateOfIssuance
Fair Value Of Warrant On Date Of Issuance
Represents the fair market value of the warrant on the date that was issued.
us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Total stockholders’ deficit
Plan Name [Axis]
Plan Name [Domain]
Other assets
Commitments and Contingencies
us-gaap_Liabilities
Total liabilities
acrx_WarrantsVestingConditionDescription
Warrants Vesting Condition Description
Represents the condition for vesting warrants.
acrx_EstimatedFairValueOfWarrant
Estimated Fair Value of Warrant
Represents the estimated fair market value of warrants.
acrx_FairValueOfWarrantUponExecutionOfSecuritiesPurchaseAgreement
Fair Value of Warrant Upon Execution of Securities Purchase Agreement
Represents the fair value of warrants upon the execution of the securities purchase agreement.
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Cost of goods sold
2011 Equity Incentive Plan [Member]
The name or description of the plan.
2012 Private Placement [Member]
Information pertaining to the 2012 private placement offering.
Warrant [Member]
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Antidilutive Securities, Name [Domain]
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Convertible Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Table Text Block]
Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block]
Antidilutive Securities [Axis]
Accounts receivable, net
Statement [Line Items]
Research and development
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]
us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTransfersFromHeldToMaturityToAvailableForSaleSecuritiesNetOfTax
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Transfers from Held-to-maturity to Available-for-Sale Securities, Net of Tax
Non-cash royalty revenue related to Royalty Monetization (See Note 8)
Non-cash royalty revenue
The amount of non-cash royalty revenue recognized in connection to royalty monetization.
us-gaap_InterestExpense
Interest Expense
Interest expense
Operating costs and expenses:
Unrealized (losses) gains on available-for-sale securities
Collaborative Arrangement Disclosure [Text Block]
Investments [Domain]
Investment Type [Axis]
Current Assets:
Property and equipment, net
Non-cash interest expense related to debt financing
Debt Instrument [Axis]
Debt Instrument, Name [Domain]
us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage
us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
us-gaap_TableTextBlock
Notes Tables
us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure
us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Debt Instrument, Face Amount
Grunenthal [Member]
The name or description of the counterparty.
us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations
Net cash provided by financing activities
us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
Earnings Per Share [Text Block]
us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations
Net cash used in operating activities