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 Financial Instrument [Axis] Options [Member] GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember 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] Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Axis] Laboratory Equipment [Member] Tenant Improvements [Member] Computers and Network Equipment [Member] Office Furniture And Equipment [Member] Nonrecurring Adjustment [Axis] Pre-modification Post-Modification Plan Name [Axis] 2016 Plan Award Type [Axis] Employee Stock Option 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's Reporting Status Current? Entity Filer Category Entity Emerging Growth Company Entity Small Business 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 shares authorized at December 31, 2018 and March 31, 2018; 31,204,380 and 23,068,280 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018 and March 31, 2018, respectively Additional paid-in capital  Treasury stock, at cost, 135,665 shares of common stock held at December 31, 2018 and March 31, 2018 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] 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 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 Amortization of deferred rent Fair value of common stock granted for services Fair value of common stock issued for product license and option Fair value of warrants granted for services Reimbursement by landlord of tenant improvement costs Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Prepaid expenses and other current assets Accounts payable and accrued expenses, including accrued interest Deferred rent Net cash used in operating activities Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of equipment Construction of tenant improvements Net cash used in investing activities Cash flows from financing activities: Net proceeds from issuance of common stock and warrants, including Units Proceeds from exercise of warrants Repayment of capital lease obligations Repayment of notes payable Net cash provided by financing activities  Net (decrease) 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 Settlement of accounts payable by issuance of common stock Notes to Financial Statements Description of Business Basis of Presentation Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] Property and Equipment 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 Fair Value per share Comprehensive Loss Loss per Common Share Fair Value Measurements Recent Accounting Pronouncements Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Tables Summary of stock-based compensation expense Fair value assumptions Schedule of potentially dilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share Prepaid Expenses And Other Current Assets Tables Prepaid Expenses Property and Equipment Accrued Expenses Tables Accrued Expenses Convertible Promissory Notes And Other Notes Payable Tables Notes Payable Capital Stock Tables 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 Estimated term in years Volatility Dividend rate Shares Fair Value per share Antidilutive securities Prepaid Expenses And Other Current Assets Details AV-101 materials and services Professional services Insurance Public offering expenses All other Total Property and equipment, gross Accumulated depreciation and amortization Accrued Expenses Details Accrued AV-101 development and related expenses Accrued professional services All other Total Product and Service [Axis] Related Party [Axis] Title of Individual [Axis] Principal Balance Accrued Interest Total Class of Warrant or Right [Axis] Expiration date range Warrants outstanding Incurred expenses on research and subsequent other projects Information about property i.e. tenant improvements. Assets, Current Assets Liabilities, Current Capital Lease Obligations, Noncurrent Liabilities, Noncurrent Liabilities Treasury Stock, Value Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Liabilities and Equity 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 Dividends Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Charges Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Payments for Capital Improvements 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) Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block] Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block] Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Other Accrued Liabilities, Current Convertible Debt