StatementClassOfStock [Axis] Series A Preferred Stock [Member] Series B Preferred Stock [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member] Long-term Debt, Type [Axis] Notes Payable 1 [Member] RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedParty [Axis] CRL [Member] NatureOfExpense [Axis] ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseMember StatementEquityComponents [Axis] Options [Member] GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember Award Type [Axis] Antidilutive Securities [Axis] 2016 (formerly 2008) and 1999 Stock Incentive Plans [Member] Warrant [Member] ClassOfWarrantOrRight [Axis] Warrant 1 [Member] Warrant 2 [Member] Warrant 3 [Member] Warrant 4 [Member] Warrant 5 [Member] Warrant 6 [Member] Warrant 7 [Member] Warrant 8 [Member] Warrant 9 [Member] Warrant 10 [Member] Warrant 11 [Member] Warrant 12 [Member] Equity Components [Axis] Common Stock [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Treasury Stock [Member] Accumulated Deficit [Member] Range [Axis] Pre-Modification Post-Modification Pre-Reset Post-Reset Document And Entity Information Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Is Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer? Is Entity a Voluntary Filer? Is Entity's Reporting Status Current? Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Class of Stock [Axis] ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents Prepaid expenses and other current assets Total current assets Property and equipment, net Security deposits and other assets Total assets LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable Accrued expenses Current notes payable Capital lease obligations Total current liabilities Non-current liabilities: Accrued dividends on Series B Preferred Stock Deferred rent liability Capital lease obligations Total non-current liabilities Total liabilities Commitments and contingencies Stockholders’ equity: Preferred stock Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 and 30,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, respectively; 22,723,504 and 8,974,386 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, respectively Additional paid-in capital Treasury stock, at cost, 135,665 shares of common stock held at December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017 Accumulated deficit Total stockholders' equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Stockholders deficit: Preferred Stock, par value Preferred Stock, Authorized Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding Common Stock, Par Value Par Share Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Treasury Stock, Shares Income Statement [Abstract] Revenues: Sublicense revenue Total revenues Operating expenses: Research and development General and administrative Total operating expenses Loss from operations Other expenses, net: Interest expense, net Loss on extinguishment of accounts payable Loss before income taxes Income taxes Net loss and comprehensive loss Accrued dividends on Series B Preferred stock Deemed dividend from trigger of down round provision feature Deemed dividend on Series B Preferred Units Net loss attributable to common stockholders Basic and diluted net loss attributable to common stockholders per common share Weighted average shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss attributable to common stockholders per common share Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Depreciation and amortization Stock-based compensation Expense related to modification of warrants, including exchange of warrants for common stock Amortization of deferred rent Fair value of common stock granted for services Fair value of Series B Preferred stock granted for services Fair value of warrants granted for services Loss on extinguishment of accounts payable Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Sublicense fee receivable Prepaid expenses and other current assets Accounts payable and accrued expenses, including accrued interest Net cash used in operating activities Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of equipment Net cash used in investing activities Cash flows from financing activities: Net proceeds from issuance of common stock and warrants, including Units Net proceeds from issuance of Series B Preferred Units Repayment of capital lease obligations Repayment of notes payable Net cash provided by financing activities Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Supplemental disclosure of noncash activites: Insurance premiums settled by issuing note payable Accrued dividends on Series B Preferred Accrued dividends on Series B Preferred settled upon conversion by issuance of common stock Deemed dividend from trigger of down round provision feature Balances at beginning Balances at beginning (in shares) Proceeds from sale of common stock and warrants for cash in September 2017 Public Offering, net of underwriting discount and expenses Proceeds from sale of common stock and warrants for cash in September 2017 Public Offering, net of underwriting discount and expenses (in shares) Proceeds from sale of common stock and warrants for cash in December 2017 Public Offering, net of underwriting discount and expenses Proceeds from sale of common stock and warrants for cash in December 2017 Public Offering, net of underwriting discount and expenses (in shares) Proceeds from sale of common stock and warrants for cash in private placement offerings Proceeds from sale of common stock and warrants for cash in private placement offerings (in shares) Accrued dividends on Series B Preferred stock Stock-based compensation expense Fair value of common stock granted for services Fair value of common stock granted for services (in shares) Fair value of common stock granted in settlement of accounts payable Fair value of common stock granted in settlement of accounts payable (in shares) Increase in fair value attributable to warrant modifications Proceeds from exercise of warrants Proceeds from exercise of warrants (in shares) Balances at end Balances at end (in shares) Notes to Financial Statements Description of Business Basis of Presentation Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets Accrued Expenses Notes Payable Capital Stock Related Party Transactions Subsequent Events Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Policies Use of Estimates Research and Development Expenses Stock-Based Compensation Comprehensive Loss Income (Loss) per Common Share Fair Value Measurements Recent Accounting Pronouncements Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Tables Summary of stock-based compensation expense Warrant assumptions Schedule of potentially dilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share Prepaid Expenses And Other Current Assets Tables Prepaid Expenses Accrued Expenses Tables Accrued Expenses Convertible Promissory Notes And Other Notes Payable Tables Notes Payable Capital Stock Tables Common Stock and Warrants Issued Assumptions Additional Warrant Modifications Warrants Outstanding Basis Of Presentation And Going Concern Details Narrative Accumulated Deficit during its development stage Cash proceeds from issuance of common stock Cash proceeds from grant awards and other events Nature of Expense [Axis] Stock option expense Market price per share at grant date Exercise price per share Risk-free interest rate Expected term (years) Volatility Dividend rate Shares Fair Value per share Antidilutive securities Prepaid Expenses And Other Current Assets Details Insurance AV-101 materials and services Professional services Public offering expenses All other Total Accrued Expenses Details Accrued AV-101 development and related expenses Accrued professional services Accrued compensation All other Total Products and Services [Axis] Related Party [Axis] Title of Individual [Axis] Principal Balance Accrued Interest Total less: current portion Net non-current portion Market Price Exercise price per share Remaining contractual term in years Number of warrant shares Weighted average fair value per share Class of Warrant or Right [Axis] Exercise price per share Expiration date range Warrants outstanding Incurred expenses on research and subsequent other projects Custom Element Fair value price of a single share of a number of saleable stocks of a company. Custom Element Assets, Current Assets Liabilities, Current Capital Lease Obligations, Noncurrent Liabilities, Noncurrent Liabilities Treasury Stock, Value Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Liabilities and Equity Revenues Operating Expenses Operating Income (Loss) Interest Expense Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Preferred Stock Dividends and Other Adjustments Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividends Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Payments to Acquire Machinery and Equipment Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations Repayments of Notes Payable Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Shares, Outstanding Stock Issued During Period, Value, Issued for Services Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block] Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block] Other Accrued Liabilities, Current Convertible Debt Convertible Debt, Current Fair Value Assumptions, Exercise Price Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Exercise Price