| Component: (Network and Table) | |
|---|---|
| Network | 144 - Disclosure - Barter Transaction - Additional Information (Detail) (http://www.oncogenex.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureBarterTransactionAdditionalInformation) | 
| Table | (Implied) | 
| Reporting Entity [Axis] | 0000949858 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) | 
| Health Care Organizations [Abstract] | Period [Axis] | 
|---|---|
| 2012-01-01 - 2012-12-31 | |
| Health Care Organizations [Abstract] | |
| Nonmonetary transactions resulting in pre-tax gain | 200,000   | 
| Laboratory capital assets exchanged for barter credit |