Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) |
12 Months Ended | |||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2016 | ||||||||||
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | ||||||||||
| Stockholders' Equity, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Reverse Stock Split On April 2, 2015, the Company effected a 1 -for-7.5 reverse stock split of its issued common stock. All applicable share data, per share amounts and related information in the financial statements and notes thereto have been adjusted retroactively to give effect to the 1 -for-7.5 reverse stock split.Initial Public Offering In April 2015, the Company completed an initial public offering (“IPO”) of its common stock. In connection with the initial closing of the IPO, the Company sold an aggregate of 5,090,909 shares of common stock at a price to the public of $11.00 per share. In May 2015, the underwriters in the IPO exercised their option to purchase additional shares pursuant to which the Company sold an additional 763,636 shares of common stock at a price equal to the public price of $11.00 per share. In the aggregate, net proceeds from the IPO, including net proceeds from the underwriters’ exercise of their option to purchase additional shares, were $59.9 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of $4.5 million. In addition, offering expenses totaled $2.8 million. Upon completion of the IPO, all outstanding shares of the Company’s redeemable convertible preferred stock were converted or reclassified into 5,980,564 shares of common stock and all outstanding warrants to acquire shares of the Company’s redeemable convertible preferred stock became warrants to acquire the Company’s common stock. In connection with the IPO, the Company amended and restated its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to change the authorized capital stock to 250,000,000 shares, designated as common stock, and 10,000,000 shares, designated as preferred stock, each with a par value of $0.0001 Entry into ATM Agreement On October 3, 2016, the Company entered into a Common Stock Sales Agreement (the “ATM Agreement”) with Cowen and Company (“Cowen”) under which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, in its sole discretion, shares of common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000 through Cowen as the Company's sales agent. The registration statement on Form S-3 included a prospectus covering the offering up to $20,000,000 of shares of common stock in accordance with the ATM Agreement.The Company ’s registration statement on Form S- 3 contemplated under the ATM Agreement was declared effective by the SEC on October 17, 2016. Cowen may sell common stock under the ATM Agreement by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act, including without limitation sales made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on The NASDAQ Global Market or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, in block transactions, or as otherwise directed by the Company. Cowen will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the common stock from time to time, based upon instructions from the Company (including any price, time or size limits or other customary parameters or conditions the Company may impose). The Company will pay Cowen a commission of up to three percent (3.0%) of the gross sales proceeds of any common stock sold through Cowen under the ATM Agreement, and also has provided Cowen with customary indemnification rights.The Company is not obligated to make any sales of common stock under the ATM Agreement. The offering of shares of common stock pursuant to the ATM Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale of all common stock subject to the ATM Agreement, or (ii) termination of the ATM Agreement in accordance with its terms. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had deferred offering costs recorded within other long-term assets in the amount of $0.2 million. |
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| Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block] | KemPharm, Inc. (the “ Company”) is a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of proprietary prodrugs. Through the use of its Ligand Activated Therapy (“LAT”) platform technology, the Company is able to initiate and pursue the development of improved versions of widely prescribed, approved drugs. The Company was formed on October 30, 2006, and incorporated in Iowa, and reorganized in Delaware on May 30, 2014. The Company has experienced recurring losses from operations and negative operating cash flows due to its ongoing research and development of its potential product candidates. The Company also has an accumulated deficit at December 31, 2016. Various internal and external factors will affect whether and when the candidates become approved drugs and how significant their market share will be. The length of time and cost of developing and commercializing these candidates and/or failure of them at any stage of the drug approval process will materially affect the Company’s financial condition and future operations. |
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| Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Reclas sifications During the first quarter of 2016 , the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015 -03, Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic (“ASU 835 -30) 2015 -03”), which requires the debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with the presentation of debt discounts. The adoption of ASU 2015 -03 reduced the Company’s assets and liabilities by the amount of the debt issuance costs, which was $1.1 million at December 31, 2015. This reclassification had no effect on reported net loss or cash flows. |
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| Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, includ ing those related to the useful lives of property and equipment, and assumptions used for purposes of determining stock-based compensation, income taxes, and the fair value of the derivative and warrant liability, among others. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities. |
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| Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Concentration of Credit Risk Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash on deposit with multiple financial institutions, the balances of which frequently exceed insured limits. |
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| Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers any highly liquid investm ents with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. |
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| Marketable Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Marketable Securities and Long-term Investments The Company maintains investment securities that are classified as trading securities. These securities are carried at fair value with unreali zed gains and losses included in other income (expense) on the statements of operations. The securities primarily consist of certificates of deposit, U.S. Treasury securities and U.S. government-sponsored agency securities. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, the Company held marketable securities and long-term investments with an aggregate fair value of $50.4 million and $10.1 million that contained aggregate unrealized losses of $50,000 and $6,000, respectively. These marketable securities and long-term investments have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than 12 months and the Company expects these investments to fully recovery prior to their maturity. |
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| Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Property and Equipment The Company records property and equipment at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Costs of renewals and improvements that extend the useful lives of the assets are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is determined on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which generally range from three to fifteen years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the useful life of the asset or the term of the related lease. Upon retirement or disposition of assets, the costs and related accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the accounts with the resulting gains or losses, if any, reflected in results of operations. |
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| Debt, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Debt Issuance Costs Debt issuance costs incurred in connection with financing arrangements are amortiz ed over the life of the respective financing arrangement using the effective interest method. |
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| Collaborative Arrangement, Accounting Policy [Policy Text Block] | Supply Arrangements The Company enters into supply arrangements for the supply of components of its product candidates. These arrangements also may include a share of future revenue if related product candidates reach commercialization. Costs under these supply arrangements, if any, are expensed as incurred (Note H). |
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| Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Long-lived assets to be held and used are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets may not be recoverable. When such events occur, the Company compares the carrying amounts of the assets to their undiscounted expected future cash flows. If the undiscounted cash flows are insufficient to recover the carrying values, an impairment loss is recorded for the difference between the carrying values and fair values of the asset. No December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014. |
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| Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Fair Value of Financial Instruments The accounting standard for fair value measurements provides a framework for measuring fair value and requires disclosures regarding fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, based on the Company’s principal or, in absence of a principal, most advantageous market for the specific asset or liability. The Company uses a three -tier fair value hierarchy to classify and disclose all assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as well as assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis, in periods subsequent to their initial measurement. The hierarchy requires the Company to use observable inputs when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs, when determining fair value. The three tiers are defined as follows:
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| Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Research and Development Major components of research and development costs include cash compensation, stock-based compensation, depreciation and amortization expense on research and development property and equipment, costs of preclinical studies, clin ical trials and related clinical manufacturing, costs of drug development, costs of materials and supplies, facilities cost, overhead costs, regulatory and compliance costs, and fees paid to consultants and other entities that conduct certain research and development activities on the Company’s behalf. Costs incurred in research and development are expensed as incurred. The Company records nonrefundable advance payments it makes for future research and development activities as prepaid expenses. Prepaid expenses are recognized as expense in the statements of operations as the Company receives the related goods or services. |
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| Intangible Assets, Finite-Lived, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Patent Costs Patent costs, including related legal costs, are expensed as incurred and recorded within general and administrative expenses on the statements of operations. |
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| Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Income Taxes The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities, as well as for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the tax rates that are expected to apply to taxable income for the years in which those tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount the Company believes is more likely than not to be realized. Uncertain tax positions are recognized only when the Company believes it is more likely than not tha t the tax position will be upheld on examination by the taxing authorities based on the merits of the position. The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized income tax uncertainties in income tax expense. The Company did not have any accrued interest or penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2016 and 2015. The Company files income tax returns in the United States for federal and various state jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state and local income tax examinations for years prior to 2012, although carryforward attributes that were generated prior to 2012 may still be adjusted upon examination by the Internal Revenue Service if used in a future period. No income tax returns are currently under examination by taxing authorities. |
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| Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block] | Stock-Based Compensation The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all stock-based payment awards made to employees, officers an d directors based on the estimated fair values of the awards as of the grant date. The Company records the value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest as expense over the requisite service period. The Company also accounts for equity instruments issued to non-employees using a fair value approach under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") subtopic 505 -50. The Company values equity instruments and stock options granted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The value of non-employee stock-based compensation is subject to periodic adjustments as the underlying equity instruments vest and is recognized as an expense over the term of the related financing or the period over which services are received. |
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| Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Basic and Diluted Net Loss per Share of Common Stock The Company uses the two -class method to compute net loss per common share because the Company has issued securities, other than common stock, that contractually entitle the holders to participate in dividends and earnings of the Company. The two -class method requires earnings for the period to be allocated between common stock and participating securities based upon their respective rights to receive distributed and undistributed earnings. Holders of each series of the Company’s redeemable convertible preferred stock are entitled to participate in distributions, when and if declared by the board of directors, that are made to common stockholders and, as a result, are considered participating securities. |
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| Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Segment and Geographic Information Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise (business activity from which it earns revenue and incurs expenses) for which discrete financial information is ava ilable and regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker (CODM) is its Chief Executive Officer. The Company views its operations and manages its business as a single operating and reporting segment. All assets of the Company were held in the United States as of December 31, 2016 and 2015. |
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| New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Application of New or Revised Accounting Standards —Adopted From time to time, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) or other standard-setting bodies issue accounting standards that are adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date . On April 5, 2012, President Obama signed the Jump-Start Our Business Startups Act (the “JOBS Act”) into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, reduce certain reporting requirements for an emerging growth company. As an emerging growth company, the Company may elect to adopt new or revised accounting standards when they become effective for non-public companies, which typically is later than public companies must adopt the standards. The Company has elected not to take advantage of the extended transition period afforded by the JOBS Act and, as a result, will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies.In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014 -12, Compensation–Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments when the Terms of an Award Provide that a Performance Target Could Be Achieved After the Requisite Service Period (“ASU 2014 -12”). The amendments require that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. ASU 2014 -12 is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Entities may apply ASU 2014 -12 either (a) prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date or (b) retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. The Company prospectively adopted ASU 2014 -12 effective January 1, 2016. The adoption of ASU 2014 -12 did not have a material impact on the financial statements as the Company does not have any performance-based awards whereby performance could be achieved after the requisite service period.In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014 -15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (“ASU 2014 -15”), which amends ASC Subtopic 205 -40 to provide guidance about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related disclosures. Specifically, the amendments (1) provide a definition of the term “substantial doubt,” (2) require an evaluation every reporting period, (3) provide principles for considering the mitigating effect of management’s plans, (4) require certain disclosures when substantial doubt is alleviated as a result of consideration of management’s plans, (5) require an express statement and other disclosures when substantial doubt is not alleviated and (6) require an assessment for a period of one year after the date that financial statements are issued. ASU 2014 -15 is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. 2014 -15 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements as the Company determined there was no substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern as of December 31, 2016. In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015 -01, Income Statement - Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic , which eliminates from GAAP the concept of extraordinary items, stating that the concept causes uncertainty because 225 -20); Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items (“ASU 2015 -01”) (1) it is unclear when an item should be considered both unusual and infrequent and (2) users do not find the classification and presentation necessary to identify those events and transactions. ASU 2015 -01 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company adopted ASU 2015 -01 effective January 1, 2016. The adoption of ASU 2015 -01 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements as the Company had no extraordinary and/or unusual items recorded in prior periods.In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015 -03, which requires the debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with the presentation of debt discounts. This guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of ASU 2015 -03 reduced the Company’s assets and liabilities by the amount of the debt issuance costs, which was $1.1 million at December 31, 2015. This reclassification had no effect on reported net loss or cash flows. |
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| New Accounting Pronouncements, Not Yet Adopted, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Application of New or Revised Accounting Standards —Not Yet Adopted In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance codified in ASC Topic 606, Revenue Recognition—Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASC 606"), which amends the guidance in former ASC 605, Revenue Recognition , and becomes effective beginning January 1, 2018. The Company does not currently expect this standard to have a material effect on its financial statements upon adoption since the Company is not generating revenue at this time.In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015 -17, Income Taxes: Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (Topic (“ASU 740) 2015 -17”), which requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. This update applies to all entities that present a classified statement of financial position. This guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not currently expect this standard to have a material effect on its financial statements and disclosures upon adoption since the Company currently maintains a full valuation allowance.In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 -01, Financial Instruments Overall – Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities (Topic (“ASU 825 -10) 2016 -01”), which provides several updates related to Topic 825 -10. This update applies to all entities that hold financial assets or owe financial liabilities. This guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2016 -01 on its financial statements and disclosures.In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 -02, Leases (Topic (“ASU 842) 2016 -02”), which requires lessees to recognize assets and liabilities for operating leases with lease terms greater than twelve months in the balance sheet. The update also requires improved disclosures to help users of financial statements better understand the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. ASU 2016 -02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2016 -02 on its financial statements and disclosures.In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 -06, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic (“ASU 815), Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments2016 -06”), which clarifies the requirements for assessing whether contingent call and put options that can accelerate the payment of principal on debt instruments are clearly and closely related to their debt hosts. ASU 2016 -06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not currently expect this standard to have a material effect on its financial statements and disclosures upon adoption.In Ma rch 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 -09, Compensation–Stock Compensation (Topic (“ASU 718), Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting2016 -09”), which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016 -09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not currently expect this standard to have a material effect on its financial statements and disclosures upon adoption.In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 -15, Statement of Cash Flows – Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (Topic (“ASU 230) 2016 -15”), which addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. This update applies to all entities that are required to present a statement of cash flows under Topic 230. This guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2016 -15 on its financial statements and disclosures.In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 -18, Statements of Cash Flows (Topic 320) – Restricted Cash (“ASU 2016 -15”), which addresses the treatment of restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. This update applies to all entities that have restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents and are required to present a statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. 2016 -15 on its financial statements and disclosures. |