Results for the year - Share- based payment (Details)
 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 14 Months Ended
Aug. 02, 2017
EUR (€)
Aug. 02, 2017
USD ($)
May 06, 2016
Nov. 30, 2017
DKK (kr)
kr / shares
Nov. 30, 2017
EUR (€)
EquityInstruments
Nov. 30, 2017
USD ($)
EquityInstruments
$ / shares
Jun. 30, 2017
USD ($)
EquityInstruments
$ / shares
shares
Mar. 31, 2017
USD ($)
EquityInstruments
$ / shares
Oct. 31, 2016
USD ($)
EquityInstruments
Jun. 30, 2016
USD ($)
EquityInstruments
shares
May 31, 2016
USD ($)
EquityInstruments
Jan. 31, 2016
EquityInstruments
Nov. 30, 2015
EquityInstruments
Dec. 31, 2017
DKK (kr)
EquityInstruments
individual
shares
Dec. 31, 2017
EUR (€)
EquityInstruments
individual
shares
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
EquityInstruments
individual
shares
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
EquityInstruments
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
item
EquityInstruments
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 31, 2014
EquityInstruments
Jun. 30, 2017
USD ($)
EquityInstruments
individual
$ / shares
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
EquityInstruments
$ / shares
shares
Nov. 30, 2017
USD ($)
Apr. 30, 2015
EquityInstruments
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Number of ordinary shares per each ADS prior to the share split | shares                           1 1 1              
Number of ordinary shares at the time of share split per each ADS | shares                             10           10    
Number of ordinary shares per each ADS after Capital Reduction | shares                           2 2 2              
Number of options granted                                 664,000            
Number of options granted (after share split)                                 6,600,000            
Expiration period                                 6 years            
Aggregate fair value of options granted | $                                 $ 8,200,000            
Annulment of ordinary shares outstanding post share split (as a percent) 80.00% 80.00%     80.00% 80.00%                                  
Cash payment to award holders as a result of annulment of shares         € 36,200,000 $ 43,400,000                                  
Reduction in number of outstanding awards as a result of annulment of shares         28,800,000 28,800,000                                  
Expense recognized when Award is negatively affected by Amendment | $           $ 0                                  
Shareholder distribution (Capital Reduction) € 917,700,000 $ 1,100,000,000       32,200,000                   $ 1,093,927,000              
Exercise price | kr       kr 0.01                                      
Number of warrants granted (after share split) | shares                                   2,200,000          
Warrants yield proceeds to the company | $               $ 49,000     $ 112,000             $ 153,000          
Fair value of an ordinary share of the Company on the date of exercise | $               27.95     18.60             33.79          
Fair value of ordinary shares of the company on the date of exercise (after share split) | $               $ 2.80     $ 1.86             $ 3.38          
Warrants exercised               40,000     130,000             216,000          
Warrants exercised (after share split)               401,000     1,300,000                        
Consulting agreement term     4 years                                        
Options with exercise price of $28.26                                   250,000          
Expense recognized during the period | $           $ 11,700,000                   $ 7,082,000 $ 14,288,000 $ 13,541,000          
Number of extension awards for which expiration dates extended                                   167,000          
Number of extension awards for which expiration dates extended (after share split)                                   1,700,000          
Consultants serving on board of directors | individual                                       1      
Deferred shares                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Aggregate fair value of options granted | $                                   $ 1,400,000          
Granting of deferred shares                                   55,000          
Number of deferred shares granted (after share split)                                   550,000          
Number of equity awards forfeited                           2,842,000 2,842,000 2,842,000              
Exercise price                           kr 0.01   $ 0.0016              
Holders of deferred shares need to remit upon issuance | (per share)       kr 0.01   $ 0.0016                                  
June 2017 Deferred Shares                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Percentage of shares reduced in subscription of deferred shares             80.00%                                
Number of deferred shares reduced (after share split) | shares             720,000                                
Expiration period             5 years                                
Aggregate fair value of options granted | $             $ 1,800,000                                
Granting of deferred shares             90,000                                
Number of deferred shares granted (after share split)             900,000                                
Number of deferred shares vest in the event of favourable conclusion of the Interference Proceedings             50,000                         50,000      
Number of deferred shares vest in the event of Interference Proceedings (after share split)             500,000                         500,000      
Due to the deferred share holders of the company as a result of Capital Reduction                             € 1,700,000           $ 2,100,000    
June 2017 Options                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Number of options granted             825,000                                
Number of options granted (after share split)             8,300,000                                
Exercise price of outstanding share options | $             $ 20.35                         $ 20.35      
Exercise price of outstanding share options (after share split) | $ / shares             $ 2.04                         $ 2.04      
Vesting term             36 months                                
Percentage of shares reduced in subscription of share options             80.00%                                
Number of share options reduced (after share split) | shares             6,600,000                                
Expiration period             6 years                                
Aggregate fair value of options granted | $             $ 8,900,000                                
Due to option holders as a result of Capital Reduction                             1,900,000           $ 2,200,000    
Amount paid to option holders as a result of the Capital Reduction                             € 361,000 430,000              
Vesting term of deferred shares             36 months                                
Expiring Awards                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Expiring Awards                       (89,000) 1,316,000         1,405,000          
Expiring awards (after share split)                         13,200,000       891,000 14,100,000          
Expiring awards to be exercised                                             334,000
Expiring awards to be exercised (after share split)                                             3,300,000
Replacement Awards                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Granting of share options or warrants to replace expiring awards                                   1,365,000          
Granting of share options or warrants to replace expiring awards (after share split)                                   13,600,000          
Replacement awards which can be exercised prior to specified date                                   85,000          
Replacement awards which can be exercised prior to specified date (after share split)                                   847,000          
Additional Awards                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Number of options granted                                   362,000          
Number of options granted (after share split)                                   3,600,000          
Vesting term                                   3 years          
Vesting term of deferred shares                                   3 years          
Replacement and Additional Awards                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Aggregate fair value of options granted | $                                   $ 6,800,000          
Certain employees, board members and consultants                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Ordinary shares available for grant under the Equity Plan | shares                             10,100,000           10,100,000    
Shares available for future grant under the Equity Plan | shares                             3,100,000           3,100,000    
Number of options granted                                   706,000          
Number of options granted (after share split)                                   7,000,000          
Expiration period                                   6 years          
Certain employees, board members and consultants | Warrants                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Shares available for future grant under the Equity Plan | shares                             2,100,000           2,100,000    
Certain employees, board members and consultants | Deferred shares                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Shares available for future grant under the Equity Plan | shares                             17,000,000           17,000,000    
Board of Directors                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Number of options granted                                 178,000            
Number of options granted (after share split)                                 1,800,000            
Board of Directors | June 2017 Options                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Number of options granted             75,000                                
Number of options granted (after share split)             750,000                                
Employees | Deferred shares                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Granting of deferred shares                                   5,000          
Number of deferred shares granted (after share split)                                   50,000          
Consultants | Deferred shares                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Vesting term                                   4 years          
Granting of deferred shares                                   25,000          
Number of deferred shares granted (after share split)                                   250,000          
Vesting term of deferred shares                                   4 years          
Number of consultants | item                                   2          
Consultants | June 2016 Warrants                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Number of warrants granted                   89,000                          
Number of warrants granted (after share split) | shares                   891,000                          
Exercise price of warrants | $                   $ 0.56                          
Exercise price of warrants (after share split) | $                   $ 0.06                          
Non employee consultants                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Number of options granted                                   500,000          
Number of options granted (after share split)                                   5,000,000          
Vesting term                                   5 years          
Aggregate fair value of options granted | $                                   $ 10,200,000          
Vesting term of deferred shares                                   5 years          
Expense recognized during the period | $                               615,000 $ 892,000 $ 2,000,000          
Non employee consultants | Consultant Options, Exercise Price One                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Number of options granted                                   250,000          
Number of options granted (after share split)                                   2,500,000          
Exercise price of outstanding share options | $                                   $ 28.26          
Exercise price of outstanding share options (after share split) | $ / shares                                   $ 2.83     $ 2.83    
Number of consultant options vested                             2,000,000           2,000,000    
Vesting of option with a exercise price of $2.83                             1,000,000           1,000,000    
Weighted average fair value per consultant option applied for recognition of an expense (after share split) | $                               $ 0.63 0.60 $ 1.19          
Number of consultant options outstanding                                     0        
Non employee consultants | Consultant Options, Exercise Price Two                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Number of options granted                                   250,000          
Number of options granted (after share split)                                   2,500,000          
Exercise price of outstanding share options | $                                   $ 141.30          
Exercise price of outstanding share options (after share split) | $ / shares                                   $ 14.13          
Chief Executive Officer | June 2017 Deferred Shares                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Granting of deferred shares             45,000                                
Number of deferred shares granted (after share split)             450,000                                
Number of deferred shares vest in the event of favourable conclusion of the Interference Proceedings             25,000                         25,000      
Number of deferred shares vest in the event of Interference Proceedings (after share split)             250,000                         250,000      
Chief Executive Officer | Share Options                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Number of options granted               60,000                              
Number of options granted (after share split)               600,000                              
Exercise price of outstanding share options | $               $ 27.49                              
Exercise price of outstanding share options (after share split) | $ / shares               $ 2.75                              
Vesting term               48 months                              
Expiration period               6 years                              
Aggregate fair value of options granted | $               $ 913,000                              
Vesting term of deferred shares               48 months                              
Chief Executive Officer | June 2017 Options                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Number of options granted             300,000                                
Number of options granted (after share split)             3,000,000                                
Former Employees                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Number of board members who terminated their roles | individual                           2 2 2              
Number of options or warrants forfeited                           564,000 564,000 564,000              
Number of options or warrants forfeited (after share split)                           5,600,000 5,600,000 5,600,000              
Number of options or warrants allowing to hold after modification                           1,100,000 1,100,000 1,100,000              
Number of options or warrants allowing to hold after modification (after share split)                           11,100,000 11,100,000 11,100,000              
Expense recognized during the period | $                               $ 2,700,000              
Amount of reversal of share-based compensation expense | $                                 7,600,000            
Former Employees | Deferred shares                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Number of equity awards forfeited                           284,000 284,000 284,000              
Number of equity awards forfeited (after share split)                           2,800,000 2,800,000 2,800,000              
Chief Financial Officer | Deferred shares                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Vesting term                                     4 years        
Vesting term of deferred shares                                     4 years        
Director                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Consulting agreement term                 4 years                            
Director | Deferred shares                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Vesting term                 4 years                            
Aggregate fair value of options granted | $                 $ 275,000                            
Granting of deferred shares                 12,500                            
Number of deferred shares granted (after share split)                 125,000                            
Vesting term of deferred shares                 4 years                            
Minimum                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Exercise price of outstanding share options | $                                 $ 12.75            
Vesting term                           3 years 3 years 3 years 3 years            
Expiration period                           6 years 6 years 6 years              
Exercise price | $                                 $ 0.06 $ 0.06     $ 0.0016 $ 0.0016  
Option exercise price (after share split) | $                                 $ 1.28            
Vesting term of deferred shares                           3 years 3 years 3 years 3 years            
Minimum | Certain employees, board members and consultants                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Vesting term                                   3 years          
Vesting term of deferred shares                                   3 years          
Minimum | Non employee consultants                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Exercise price of outstanding share options (after share split) | $ / shares                                   $ 2.09          
Exercise price | $                                   $ 20.90          
Option exercise price (after share split) | $                                   2.09          
Maximum                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Exercise price of outstanding share options | $                                 $ 21.95            
Vesting term                           5 years 5 years 5 years 4 years            
Expiration period                           10 years 10 years 10 years              
Exercise price | $                                 $ 2.20 $ 3.69     $ 6.92 $ 14.13  
Option exercise price (after share split) | $                                 $ 2.20            
Vesting term of deferred shares                           5 years 5 years 5 years 4 years            
Maximum | Certain employees, board members and consultants                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Vesting term                                   4 years          
Vesting term of deferred shares                                   4 years          
Maximum | Non employee consultants                                              
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]                                              
Exercise price | $                                   $ 36.85          
Option exercise price (after share split) | $                                   $ 3.69