Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Type Award Type [Axis] Summary of significant accounting policies [Abstract] ASC 606 [Member] Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member] Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current Accounts receivable Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Royalty provisions Accrued Royalties, Current Income taxes payable Accrued Income Taxes, Noncurrent Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member] Accumulated other comprehensive loss Weighted average amortization period Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncements [Axis] Amortization Amortization of Intangible Assets Antidilutive Securities [Axis] Antidilutive shares excluded from calculation (in shares) Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items] Antidilutive Securities, Name [Domain] Assets [Abstract] Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract] ASSETS Assets [Abstract] Total assets Assets, Fair Value Disclosure Total assets Assets Total current assets Assets, Current Current assets: Buildings, Building Improvements and Leasehold Improvements [Member] Acquired intangible asset Abandonment of long-lived assets Total purchase price Fair value of contingent purchase consideration Capitalized transaction costs Business Acquisition [Line Items] Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain] Business Acquisition [Axis] Acquisitions [Abstract] Acquisitions Total fair value of tangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net Summary of total purchase price [Abstract] Acquisitions [Abstract] Business Combination, Description [Abstract] Inventory Property, plant and equipment Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Property, Plant, and Equipment Transaction costs related to acquisition Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs Fair value of tangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed [Abstract] Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 [Member] Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Investment in money market funds (1) Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents Purchase commitments Litigation [Abstract] Commitments and contingencies $0.001 Par Value Common Stock [Member] Common Stock [Member] Common stock, shares authorized (in shares) Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Common stock, shares issued (in shares) Balance (in shares) Balance (in shares) Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Common stock, $0.001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized, 51,231,814 shares issued and 50,014,528 shares outstanding at June 30, 2018; 50,619,808 shares issued and 49,405,365 shares outstanding at December 31, 2017 Comprehensive income Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Software [Member] Basis of presentation and consolidation Construction-In-Progress [Member] Recognition of revenue included in beginning of year contract liability Deferred revenue, net of current portion Contract with Customer, Liability [Abstract] Contract with Customer, Asset and Liability [Abstract] Contract liability Contract liability Deferred revenue, current portion Rollforward of Contract Liabilities Cost of product sales and contract manufacturing Cost of Goods and Services Sold Adoption of new accounting standard (ASC 606), net of tax Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items] Disaggregation of Revenue [Table] Disaggregation of revenue [Abstract] Disaggregation of Revenue Debt Instrument [Axis] Face amount of debt instrument Interest rate percentage Interest rate, stated percentage Maturity date Debt Instrument, Name [Domain] Deferred costs Income taxes Deferred tax assets, net Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Noncurrent Deferred tax assets Deferred tax assets, current portion, net Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Current Deferred tax liability-current portion, net Deferred tax liability, net Depreciation and amortization Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member] Net loss per share from discontinued operations-basic (in dollars per share) Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share Net loss per share from discontinued operations-diluted (in dollars per share) Antidilutive shares excluded from computation of earnings per share [Abstract] Earnings per share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Net income per share - basic (in dollars per share) Net income per share-basic (in dollars per share) Net income per share - diluted (in dollars per share) Net income per share-diluted (in dollars per share) Earnings per share [Abstract] Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash Federal corporate tax rate Effective annual tax rate Accrued compensation Employee-related Liabilities, Current Stock Options [Member] Convertible debt [Member] Discrete tax benefit associated with equity activity Equity Component [Domain] Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Table] Fair value measurements [Abstract] Fair Value by Measurement Frequency [Axis] Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Axis] Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] Transfers in/(out) of Level 3 Fair Value, Measurement Frequency [Domain] Settlements Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Settlements Balance, beginning of period Balance, end of period Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability Value Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Domain] Fair value measurements Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward] Reconciliation of Liabilities Measured at Fair Value Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Purchases, sales and issuances Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Purchases, (Sales), Issuances, (Settlements) Expense included in earnings Amortization period of intangible asset Furniture and Equipment [Member] Furniture and Fixtures [Member] Goodwill Goodwill Intangible assets [Abstract] Impairment of long-lived assets Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of Impairment of intangible assets (including IPR&D) Income taxes [Abstract] Income before provision for income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) [Abstract] Net income per share from continuing operations-basic (in dollars per share) Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share Net loss from discontinued operations Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net income from continuing operations-diluted (in dollars per share) Provision for income taxes Income taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income tax receivable, net Income tax receivable, long-term Income Taxes Receivable, Noncurrent Net Income Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Deferred revenue Increase (Decrease) in Contract with Customer, Liability Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts payable Accrued expenses and other liabilities Income taxes Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Receivable Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Accrued compensation Prepaid expenses and other assets Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Dilutive securities-equity awards (in shares) Dilutive securities-convertible debt (in shares) Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Axis] Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Domain] Intangible assets Intangible assets, net Interest expense Interest Expense Interest expense, net of tax Inventories Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Inventories [Abstract] Finished goods Inventories Total inventories Inventory, Net Raw materials and supplies Work-in-process Interest income Land and Improvements [Member] Litigation LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Total liabilities Liabilities Total liabilities Financial and Nonfinancial Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities and Equity Liabilities [Abstract] Current liabilities: Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current Long-term indebtedness Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities Measurement Input Type [Domain] Measurement Input Type [Axis] Discount Rate [Member] Cash flows from financing activities: Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Numerator [Abstract] Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic [Abstract] Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Cash flows from investing activities: Cash flows from operating activities: Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net income Net income Net income Retained earnings New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets Recently issued accounting standards Non-U.S. Government [Member] Total other expense, net Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other income (expense): Fair value of the notes Notes payable Number of operating segments Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiary [Member] Income from operations Operating Income (Loss) Operating expenses: Foreign currency translation, net of tax Other Other Noncash Income (Expense) Other assets Other liabilities Other expense, net Taxes paid on behalf of employees for equity activity Payments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation Purchase of treasury stock Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Amount of cash paid to Sanofi Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross Acquisitions Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Purchases of property, plant and equipment and other Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Plan Name [Axis] Plan Name [Domain] Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares) Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares) Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding at both June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Prepaid expenses and other current assets Restricted cash Proceeds from (Repayments of) Restricted Cash, Financing Activities Proceeds from convertible debenture, net of bank fees Proceeds from Convertible Debt Proceeds from long-term debt obligations Proceeds from sale of assets Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options Product Sales [Member] Product [Member] Net income Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Axis] Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] Property, plant and equipment [Abstract] Property, plant and equipment Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Property, plant and equipment, gross Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross Property, Plant and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block] Property, plant and equipment [Abstract] Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract] Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Domain] Property, plant and equipment, net Total Property, plant and equipment, net Total purchase commitment to Norwood Laboratories Inc. Payments of notes payable to Aptevo Repayments of Notes Payable Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others, Type [Domain] Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others, Type [Axis] Research and development Restricted cash Restricted Stock Units [Member] Retained earnings Retained Earnings [Member] Contract revenue Total revenues Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Table] Revenue Recognition [Abstract] Revenue [Abstract] Performance obligations expected to be satisfied Transaction price Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items] Percentage of remaining performance obligation expected to be satisfied Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Percentage Revenue Recognition Revenue from Contract with Customer [Text Block] Revenue, remaining performance obligation, expected timing of satisfaction, period Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Table] Duration period of a single performance obligation Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis] Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items] Performance Obligations [Abstract] Revenues: Subsegments [Domain] Subsegments [Axis] Inventories Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block] Basic and Diluted Net Income per Share Allocation of Purchase Price Based Upon Estimated Fair Values of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table] Total Purchase Price Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table Text Block] Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table] Property, Plant and Equipment [Table] Schedule of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table] Selling, general and administrative Selling, General and Administrative Expense Increase in number of shares issuable under the plan (in shares) Extended plan term date Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] Stock-based compensation expense Stock options grant price (in dollars per share) Restricted stock units granted (in shares) Restricted stock units grant price (in dollars per share) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Stock options granted (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Net of Forfeitures Total number of shares issuable under the plan (in shares) Award Type [Domain] Summary of significant accounting policies Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Statement [Line Items] Statement [Table] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) [Abstract] Equity Components [Axis] Equity Components [Axis] Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Stock Options [Member] Stock Compensation Plan [Member] Shares issued to extinguish convertible notes Stock issued or granted during period [Abstract] Shares issued to extinguish convertible notes (in shares) Employee equity plans activity (in shares) Treasury stock Stock Repurchased During Period, Value Treasury stock (in shares) Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares Employee equity plans activity Separation of Aptevo Balance Balance Total stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Equity Stockholders' equity: Equity [Abstract] Income taxes payable Treasury Stock [Member] Treasury stock, at cost, 1,217,286 and 1,214,443 common shares at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively Treasury Stock, Value Treasury stock ( in shares) Type of Adoption [Domain] Weighted-average number of shares - basic (in shares) Weighted-average number of shares-basic (in shares) Weighted-average number of shares - diluted (in shares) Weighted-average number of shares-diluted (in shares) Denominator [Abstract] Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding Reconciliation [Abstract] Products and Services [Domain] Product and Service [Domain] Products and Services [Axis] Product and Service [Axis] Geographical [Domain] Geographical [Axis] U.S. Government [Member] Increase in noncontrolling interest balance because of non-cash development expenses from joint venture. Noncontrolling Interest, Noncash development expenses from joint venture Non-cash development expenses from joint venture Purchase commitments [Abstract] Fair value measurement of contingent value rights and contingent purchase considerations granted under purchase agreements. Change In Fair Value Of Contingent Consideration Change in fair value of contingent obligations The provision charged to earnings in the period related to chargebacks obligations. Provision for chargebacks, charged to earnings Provision for chargebacks The cash outflow for contingent value rights. Contingent value right payment Contingent consideration payments Amount of cash outflow associated with the distribution of Aptevo common stock. Distribution of Aptevo Distribution to Aptevo Represents the number of equal annual installments that shares vest, beginning on the day prior to the anniversary of the grant date. Number of installments Number of installments A share-based compensation plan adopted by the Company in 2006. Emergent BioSolutions Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] 2006 Plan [Member] Carrying amount of purchased research and development assets acquired in a business combination that have an indefinite life until completion or abandonment of the associated research and development efforts. In process research and development Current portion of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for chargebacks. Provision for chargebacks Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current portion of liabilities incurred and payable to former shareholders and stock option holders for certain developmental, regulatory or commercial milestones. Contingent Consideration Current Portion Contingent consideration, current portion Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the noncurrent portion of liabilities incurred and payable to former shareholders and stock option holders for certain developmental, regulatory or commercial milestones. Contingent Consideration Net Of Current Portion Contingent consideration, net of current portion Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for royalties. Used to reflect the non current portion of the liabilities. Accrued Royalties, Non Current Royalty provisions, net of current portion Refers to the term of contract with BARDA. Term of contract Refers to the number of additional option periods. Number of additional option periods Amount of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable recorded during the current reporting period. Contract with Customer, Liability, Additions Deferral of revenue Refers to the Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing contract. CIADM [Member] Revenue earned during the period arising from manufacturing sale under the terms of a contract. Contract Manufacturing [Member] Contract Manufacturing [Member] Contract Manufacturing [Member] Amount of revenue earned from products sold or services provided under the terms of a contract, including, but not limited to, government contracts and grants. Contracts and Grants [Member] Contracts and Grants [Member] Refers to the remaining term of contract. Term of contract remaining Business acquisition in December 2014 and December 2015 Evolva Holding SA 035 & Unither [Member] Evolva Holding SA 035 & Broad Spectrum Antiviral Platform [Member] Refers to the products RSDL and HepaGam. RSDL and HepaGam [Member] Fair value measurement of contingent value rights granted to former shareholders and stock option holders of Bracco Diagnostics Inc. for net sales of RSDL. Change In Fair Value Of Contingent Obligations Change in fair value of contingent obligations This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents a type of right given to shareholders of an acquired company (or a company facing major restructuring) that ensures they receive additional benefit if a specified event occurs. Contingent Value Rights, Fair Value Disclosure Contingent consideration RSDL, a product of HPPD. RSDL [Member] Research and development expense related to EV-035 and Unither contingent consideration. EV-035 & Unither Research and Development [Member] EV-035 & Broad Spectrum Antiviral Platform Research and Development [Member] Selling, General and Administrative expense related to EV-035 & Unither contingent consideration. EV-035&Unither Selling, General and Administrative Member [Member] EV-035&Broad Spectrum Antiviral Platform Selling, General and Administrative Member [Member] Refers to the contingent value rights based on the novation of the contract with an agency. Contingent value rights based on the novation of the contract Debt instrument dated January 2014 due 2021. Convertible Senior Notes Due 2021 [Member] Document and Entity Information [Abstract] The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes and other adjustments. Adjusted net loss Net income, adjusted The after-tax amount of amortization of issuance costs recognized in the period associated with any convertible debt. Amortization of issuance cost on convertible debt net of tax Amortization of debt issuance costs, net of tax The portion of profit or loss for the period, adjusted from continuing operations. Net income, adjusted from continuing operations Net income, adjusted from continuing operations Asset acquisition in October of 2017. RaxibacumabMember [Member] Raxibacumab [Member] Business acquisition in July 2017. Sanofi [Member] Business acquisition in July 2017. GSK [Member] Term of contract under acquisition. Term of contract under acquisition Refers to the value of contract. Value of contract Amount for deliveries of product to the Strategic National Stockpile ("SNS"). Amount for deliveries of product Amount for deliveries of product to the SNS Refers to upfront payments by the entity. Upfront Payments Upfront cash payment The cash outflow associated with manufacturing related milestones. Amount of payment for manufacturing related milestones The cash outflow associated with regulatory related milestones. Amount of payment for regulatory related milestones Interest rate used to find the present value of an amount to be paid or received in the future as an input to measure present value. For example, but not limited to, weighted average cost of capital (WACC), cost of capital, cost of equity and cost of debt. Present Value, Discount Rate Present value discount rate Business acquisition in October of 2017. ACAM2000 [Member]