Note 6 - Share Capital (Details)
 0 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Sep. 23, 2014
USD ($)
Sep. 17, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
CAD
Sep. 18, 2014
Jun. 06, 2014
Jun. 05, 2014
Jun. 30, 2013
Feb. 28, 2011
Dec. 31, 2014
Class UA preferred Stock [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Class UA preferred Stock [Member]
Dec. 31, 2014
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 22, 2014
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
USD ($)
Feb. 11, 2015
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
Subsequent Event [Member]
Exchange Agreement With Certain Affiliates of Biotechnology Value Fund [Member]
Feb. 11, 2015
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
Subsequent Event [Member]
USD ($)
Feb. 11, 2015
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
Subsequent Event [Member]
USD ($)
Feb. 11, 2015
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
Subsequent Event [Member]
Exchange Agreement With Certain Affiliates of Biotechnology Value Fund [Member]
Dec. 31, 2014
Common Class A [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Common Class A [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 23, 2014
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
September 2010 Warrants [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
September 2010 Warrants [Member]
USD ($)
May 26, 2014
May 2009 Warrants [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
May 2009 Warrants [Member]
USD ($)
Feb. 11, 2015
Common Stock [Member]
Subsequent Event [Member]
Exchange Agreement With Certain Affiliates of Biotechnology Value Fund [Member]
Feb. 11, 2015
Common Stock [Member]
Subsequent Event [Member]
USD ($)
Feb. 11, 2015
Common Stock [Member]
Subsequent Event [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 23, 2014
Common Stock [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Common Stock [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Common Stock [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Common Stock [Member]
Sep. 23, 2014
Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
USD ($)
Feb. 18, 2015
Underwriter Options [Member]
Subsequent Event [Member]
USD ($)
Feb. 11, 2015
Underwriter Options [Member]
Subsequent Event [Member]
Feb. 18, 2015
Underwriter Options [Member]
Subsequent Event [Member]
USD ($)
Feb. 18, 2015
Subsequent Event [Member]
USD ($)
Feb. 03, 2012
At The Market Equity Offering Program [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 23, 2014
Additional Shares to Purchase New Shares [Member]
Sep. 23, 2014
September 2014 Offerings [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 04, 2013
Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P. and Other Affiliates of BVF Partners L.P. [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 04, 2013
Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P. and Other Affiliates of BVF Partners L.P. [Member]
USD ($)
Note 6 - Share Capital (Details) [Line Items]                                                                                        
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized     10,000,000 10,000,000               12,500 12,500 10,000,000 10,000 10,000,000                                                        
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued     10,000 0               12,500 12,500 10,000 10,000 10,000     1,333       10,000                                          
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding     10,000 0               12,500 12,500 0   0                                                        
Class UA Preferred Stock Liquidation Preference Percentage     20.00%                                                                                  
Class UA Preferred Stock Liquidation Preference (in Dollars)           100                                                                            
Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share (in Dollars per share)     $ 0.0001 $ 0.0001                   $ 0.0001   $ 0.0001                                                        
Convertible Preferred Stock to Be Converted                             1,000       1,000                                                  
Maximum Ownership Percentage Of Common Shares Outstanding Post Conversion                             4.99%       4.99%                                                  
Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference Per Share (in Dollars per share)                             $ 0.0001                                                          
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues 10,000,000 8,364,379                             4,000     4,000                 13,500,000     11,517,478 13,346,901 13,512,500             1,500,000      
Share Price (in Dollars per share)     $ 1.90                                         $ 1.90 $ 1.76   $ 1.76     $ 1.50               $ 1.50            
Proceeds From Issuance of Common Stock Gross (in Dollars) 20,000,000 16,600,000                                                     20,000,000                           10,000,000  
Convertible Preferred Stock, Price Per Share (in Dollars per share)                                     $ 1,500       $ 2,000                                          
Proceeds From Issuance of Convertible Preferred Stock Gross (in Dollars)                                   2,000,000         20,000,000                                          
Option Expiration Period                                   30 days                                     30 days              
Additional Shares Granted, Gross                                                                         2,025,000              
Additional Shares Granted, Net                                                                       1,199,660                
Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity (in Dollars)   16,100,000                                                                   1,700,000     22,400,000     40,200,000 9,900,000  
Proceeds From Issuance or Sale of Equity Gross (in Dollars)                                                                             24,000,000     43,000,000    
Payments of Stock Issuance Costs (in Dollars)   500,000                                                                         1,600,000     2,800,000    
Common Stock Exchanged for Shares of Convertible Preferred Stock                                                       4,000,000                                
Common Stock, Shares Authorized     200,000,000 100,000,000       200,000,000 100,000,000                                                                      
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share (in Dollars per share)     $ 0.0001 $ 0.0001                                                                                
Common Stock, Value, Issued (in Dollars)     353,856,000 353,854,000                                 9,160 7,067                                            
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights       5,000,000           5,000,000 48,701                         3,182,147                                        
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Warrants Expired in Period     (2,691,242)                                             2,691,242                                    
Number Of Underwriting Agreements             2                                                                          
Sale of Stock, Price Per Share (in Dollars per share) $ 2.00                                                                                      
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock (in Dollars)     21,668,000 26,069,000 50,466,000                                                   21,600,000                          
Proceeds from Issuance of Convertible Preferred Stock (in Dollars)     18,693,000                                                               18,600,000                  
Direct Offering, Units Issued                                                                                       5,000,000
Direct Offering, Shares Per Unit Issued                                                                                       1
Direct Offering Warrants Per Unit Issued                                                                                       1
Sale Price of Common Stock and Warrants Per Unit (in Dollars per share)                                                                                       $ 2.00
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in Dollars per share)                                               $ 4.24 $ 4.24   $ 3.74                                 $ 5.00
Aggregate Gross Sales Proceeds Under Sales Agreement (in Dollars)                                                                               $ 50,000,000        
Sales Agreement Compensation Percentage                                                                               3.00%