Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2014
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]        
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted net income (loss) per share (in shares) 8,739us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount 22,926us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount 19,443us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount  
Numerator [Abstract]        
Net loss before taxes, Basic $ (38,301,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments $ (124,072,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments $ (71,139,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments  
Adjustment for revaluation of contingent warrant liabilities (39,512,000)xoma_AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesForRevaluationOfContingentWarrantLiabilities      
Net loss before taxes, Diluted (77,813,000)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted      
Denominator Abstract]        
Weighted average shares outstanding used for basic net loss per share (in shares) 107,435us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic 86,938us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic 64,629us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic  
Effect of dilutive warrants (in shares) 7,898us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants      
Weighted average shares outstanding for dilutive net loss per share (in shares) 115,333us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding 86,938us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding 64,629us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding  
Contract Revenue [Abstract]        
Decrease in previously invoiced balances from NIAID 1,800,000xoma_DecreaseInPreviouslyInvoicedBalancesFromNIAID      
Research and Development Expense [Abstract]        
Adjustment to the Company's accrued estimates for clinical trial activities from inception of the trials 200,000xoma_ChangesInAccountingEstimateRelatedToAdjustmentAccrual      
Restatement Adjustment [Member]        
Correction of an Immaterial Error [Abstract]        
Immaterial Error Correction       we concluded that correcting the error had no material impact on any of the Company's previously issued interim financial statements, would be immaterial to the fourth quarter results for 2014 and had no effect on the trend of financial results.
Decrease to operating expenses       (1,600,000)xoma_QuantifyingMisstatementInCurrentYearFinancialStatementsAmountOperatingExpenses
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_RestatementAdjustmentMember
Decrease to net loss       $ (1,600,000)xoma_QuantifyingMisstatementInCurrentYearFinancialStatementsAmountNetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_RestatementAdjustmentMember
Decrease to basic loss per share (in dollar per shares)       $ (0.01)xoma_QuantifyingMisstatementInCurrentYearFinancialStatementsEarningsPerShareBasic
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_RestatementAdjustmentMember
Decrease to diluted loss per share (in dollar per shares)       $ (0.02)xoma_QuantifyingMisstatementInCurrentYearFinancialStatementsEarningsPerShareDiluted
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_RestatementAdjustmentMember
Options for Common Stock [Member]        
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]        
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted net income (loss) per share (in shares) 6,666us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount
/ us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
7,087us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount
/ us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
5,603us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount
/ us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
 
Warrants for Common Stock [Member]        
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]        
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted net income (loss) per share (in shares) 2,073us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount
/ us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_WarrantMember
15,839us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount
/ us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_WarrantMember
13,840us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount
/ us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_WarrantMember
 
Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]        
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]        
Useful lives 3 years      
Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]        
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]        
Useful lives 7 years      
Leasehold Improvements, Buildings and Building Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]        
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]        
Useful lives 1 year      
Leasehold Improvements, Buildings and Building Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]        
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]        
Useful lives 15 years