Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

SPONSORED RESEARCH AND LICENSE AGREEMENTS (Details)

v2.4.1.9
SPONSORED RESEARCH AND LICENSE AGREEMENTS (Details) (USD $)
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2002
Apr. 30, 2013
Jan. 31, 2012
Oct. 31, 2014
Jul. 31, 2012
Jun. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Collaborative Arrangement [Member]                
Collaborations                
Maximum amount of contingent payments receivable             $ 144,000,000rigl_CollaborativeArrangementMaximumAmountOfContingentPaymentReceivable
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementMember
 
Collaborative Arrangement [Member] | Specified Development Events [Member]                
Collaborations                
Maximum amount of contingent payments receivable             52,900,000rigl_CollaborativeArrangementMaximumAmountOfContingentPaymentReceivable
/ rigl_AchievementOfMilestoneAxis
= rigl_SpecifiedDevelopmentEventsMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementMember
 
Collaborative Arrangement [Member] | Specified Regulatory Events [Member]                
Collaborations                
Maximum amount of contingent payments receivable             53,600,000rigl_CollaborativeArrangementMaximumAmountOfContingentPaymentReceivable
/ rigl_AchievementOfMilestoneAxis
= rigl_SpecifiedRegulatoryEventsMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementMember
 
Collaborative Arrangement [Member] | Specified Product Launch Events [Member]                
Collaborations                
Maximum amount of contingent payments receivable             37,500,000rigl_CollaborativeArrangementMaximumAmountOfContingentPaymentReceivable
/ rigl_AchievementOfMilestoneAxis
= rigl_SpecifiedProductLaunchEventsMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementMember
 
Daiichi Sankyo [Member]                
Collaborations                
Cumulative amount of payments earned under collaborative arrangement             7,900,000rigl_CollaborativeArrangementCumulativePaymentsEarnedThroughoutArrangement
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= rigl_DaiichiSankyoMember
 
Period of collaboration in research phase 3 years              
Daiichi Sankyo [Member] | Milestone Achievement Group One [Member]                
Collaborations                
Collaborative payment received   1,400,000rigl_CollaborativeArrangementPaymentsReceived
/ rigl_AchievementOfMilestoneAxis
= rigl_MilestoneAchievementGroupOneMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= rigl_DaiichiSankyoMember
750,000rigl_CollaborativeArrangementPaymentsReceived
/ rigl_AchievementOfMilestoneAxis
= rigl_MilestoneAchievementGroupOneMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= rigl_DaiichiSankyoMember
         
Astra Zeneca A B Worldwide License Agreement J A K Inhibitor [Member]                
Collaborations                
Upfront fee received         1,000,000rigl_CollaborativeArrangementUpfrontFeeReceived
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= rigl_AstraZenecaABWorldwideLicenseAgreementJAKInhibitorMember
     
Revenue recognized           1,000,000rigl_CollaborativeArrangementRevenueRecognized
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= rigl_AstraZenecaABWorldwideLicenseAgreementJAKInhibitorMember
   
Collaborative payment received       2,500,000rigl_CollaborativeArrangementPaymentsReceived
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= rigl_AstraZenecaABWorldwideLicenseAgreementJAKInhibitorMember
       
Astra Zeneca A B Worldwide License Agreement J A K Inhibitor [Member] | Specified Development Events [Member]                
Collaborations                
Collaborative payment received             5,800,000rigl_CollaborativeArrangementPaymentsReceived
/ rigl_AchievementOfMilestoneAxis
= rigl_SpecifiedDevelopmentEventsMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= rigl_AstraZenecaABWorldwideLicenseAgreementJAKInhibitorMember
5,800,000rigl_CollaborativeArrangementPaymentsReceived
/ rigl_AchievementOfMilestoneAxis
= rigl_SpecifiedDevelopmentEventsMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= rigl_AstraZenecaABWorldwideLicenseAgreementJAKInhibitorMember
Ber Gen Bio A S Worldwide License Agreement [Member]                
Collaborations                
Upfront fee received         500,000rigl_CollaborativeArrangementUpfrontFeeReceived
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= rigl_BerGenBioASWorldwideLicenseAgreementMember
     
Revenue recognized           $ 500,000rigl_CollaborativeArrangementRevenueRecognized
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= rigl_BerGenBioASWorldwideLicenseAgreementMember