Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Agreements (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Agreements (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 36 Months Ended 108 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Nov. 30, 2009
May 31, 2013
Aug. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jan. 31, 2002
Apr. 30, 2008
Jul. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2011
Jul. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2004
Dec. 31, 2014
Agreements [Line Items]                            
Research and development $ 16,779,589us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense $ 23,710,183us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense $ 16,890,482us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense                      
Common Stock, shares issued 150,200,259us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued 135,919,423us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued                       150,200,259us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
Reliable Supply Agreement [Member]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
Purchases under manufacture and supply agreement 300,000navb_PurchasesUnderCommitment
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_ReliableSupplyAgreementMember
666,000navb_PurchasesUnderCommitment
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_ReliableSupplyAgreementMember
939,000navb_PurchasesUnderCommitment
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_ReliableSupplyAgreementMember
                     
Purchase orders issued 0navb_PurchaseOrdersIssued
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_ReliableSupplyAgreementMember
                        0navb_PurchaseOrdersIssued
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_ReliableSupplyAgreementMember
Initial term       10 years                    
Resolution term       60 days                    
Nordion Supply Agreement [Member]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
Purchases under manufacture and supply agreement 505,000navb_PurchasesUnderCommitment
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_NordionSupplyAgreementMember
771,000navb_PurchasesUnderCommitment
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_NordionSupplyAgreementMember
                       
Purchase orders issued 317,000navb_PurchaseOrdersIssued
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_NordionSupplyAgreementMember
                        317,000navb_PurchaseOrdersIssued
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_NordionSupplyAgreementMember
Initial term         3 years                  
Resolution term         30 days                  
Notice period         180 days                  
PETNET Supply Agreement [Member]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
Purchases under manufacture and supply agreement 2,200,000navb_PurchasesUnderCommitment
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_PETNETSupplyAgreementMember
1,400,000navb_PurchasesUnderCommitment
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_PETNETSupplyAgreementMember
                       
Purchase orders issued 132,000navb_PurchaseOrdersIssued
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_PETNETSupplyAgreementMember
                        132,000navb_PurchaseOrdersIssued
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_PETNETSupplyAgreementMember
Initial term           3 years                
Resolution term           30 days                
Notice period           60 days                
Automatic renewal date           1 year                
OsoBio Supply Agreement [Member]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
Purchases under manufacture and supply agreement 96,000navb_PurchasesUnderCommitment
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_OsoBioSupplyAgreementMember
1,200,000navb_PurchasesUnderCommitment
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_OsoBioSupplyAgreementMember
                       
Purchase orders issued 463,000navb_PurchaseOrdersIssued
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_OsoBioSupplyAgreementMember
                        463,000navb_PurchaseOrdersIssued
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_OsoBioSupplyAgreementMember
Resolution term             60 days              
Notice period             12 months              
Automatic renewal date             2 years              
Lymphoseek License Agreement [Member]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
License fee               25,000us-gaap_LicenseCosts
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_LymphoseekLicenseAgreementMember
           
License maintenance fee               25,000navb_LicenseMaintenanceFee
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_LymphoseekLicenseAgreementMember
           
Minimum annual royalty               25,000navb_MinimumAnnualRoyalty
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_LymphoseekLicenseAgreementMember
           
Research and development 353,000us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_LymphoseekLicenseAgreementMember
273,000us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_LymphoseekLicenseAgreementMember
33,000us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_LymphoseekLicenseAgreementMember
                     
Lymphoseek Expanded License Agreement [Member]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
License fee                 25,000us-gaap_LicenseCosts
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_LymphoseekExpandedLicenseAgreementMember
         
License maintenance fee                 25,000navb_LicenseMaintenanceFee
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_LymphoseekExpandedLicenseAgreementMember
         
Minimum annual royalty                 25,000navb_MinimumAnnualRoyalty
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_LymphoseekExpandedLicenseAgreementMember
         
Research and development 25,000us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_LymphoseekExpandedLicenseAgreementMember
29,000us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_LymphoseekExpandedLicenseAgreementMember
31,000us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_LymphoseekExpandedLicenseAgreementMember
                     
Tilmanocept License Agreement [Member] [Domain]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
License fee                   25,000us-gaap_LicenseCosts
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_TilmanoceptLicenseAgreementMemberDomain
       
License maintenance fee                   25,000navb_LicenseMaintenanceFee
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_TilmanoceptLicenseAgreementMemberDomain
       
Minimum annual royalty                   25,000navb_MinimumAnnualRoyalty
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_TilmanoceptLicenseAgreementMemberDomain
       
Research and development 25,000us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_TilmanoceptLicenseAgreementMemberDomain
                         
Astra Zeneca Agreement [Member]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
Research and development 81,000us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_AstraZenecaAgreementMember
5,000us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_AstraZenecaAgreementMember
14,000us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_AstraZenecaAgreementMember
                     
Astra Zeneca Agreement [Member] | Milestone Payments Based On Achievement Of Certain Clinical Development And Regulatory Filing Milestones [Member]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
License fee                     5,000,000.0us-gaap_LicenseCosts
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_AstraZenecaAgreementMember
/ navb_AgreementsConditionsAxis
= navb_MilestonePaymentsBasedOnAchievementOfCertainClinicalDevelopmentAndRegulatoryFilingMilestonesMember
     
Contingent milestone payment                     6,500,000.0navb_MilestonePaymentsMaximumCash
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_AstraZenecaAgreementMember
/ navb_AgreementsConditionsAxis
= navb_MilestonePaymentsBasedOnAchievementOfCertainClinicalDevelopmentAndRegulatoryFilingMilestonesMember
     
Astra Zeneca Agreement [Member] | Milestone Payments Based On Receipt Of Certain Regulatory Approvals And Initiation Of Commercial Sales Of Licensed Product [Member]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
Contingent milestone payment                     11,000,000.0navb_MilestonePaymentsMaximumCash
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_AstraZenecaAgreementMember
/ navb_AgreementsConditionsAxis
= navb_MilestonePaymentsBasedOnReceiptOfCertainRegulatoryApprovalsAndInitiationOfCommercialSalesOfLicensedProductMember
     
Alseres Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
Research and development 42,000us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_AlseresPharmaceuticalsIncMember
366,000us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_AlseresPharmaceuticalsIncMember
1,800,000us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_AlseresPharmaceuticalsIncMember
                     
Contingent milestone payment                       2,900,000.0navb_MilestonePaymentsMaximumCash
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_AlseresPharmaceuticalsIncMember
   
Sublicense execution payment, cash paid                       175,000navb_SublicenseExecutionPaymentCashPaid
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_AlseresPharmaceuticalsIncMember
   
Common Stock, shares issued                       300,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_AlseresPharmaceuticalsIncMember
   
Alseres Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Alseres Milestone Payments Based On Product Registration Or Commercial Sales [Member]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
Contingent milestone payment                       2,500,000.0navb_MilestonePaymentsMaximumCash
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_AlseresPharmaceuticalsIncMember
/ navb_AgreementsConditionsAxis
= navb_AlseresMilestonePaymentsBasedOnProductRegistrationOrCommercialSalesMember
   
Common Stock, shares issued                       950,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_AlseresPharmaceuticalsIncMember
/ navb_AgreementsConditionsAxis
= navb_AlseresMilestonePaymentsBasedOnProductRegistrationOrCommercialSalesMember
   
Alseres Pharmaceuticals Inc [Member] | Milestone Payments Maximum [Member]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
Common Stock, shares issued                       1,150,000.00us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_AlseresPharmaceuticalsIncMember
/ navb_AgreementsConditionsAxis
= navb_MilestonePaymentsMaximumMember
   
Cardiosonix [Member]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
Grants received from Office of the Chief Scientist                         775,000navb_GrantsReceivedFromOfficeOfChiefScientist
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_CardiosonixMember
 
Royalty expense                           84,000us-gaap_RoyaltyExpense
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_CardiosonixMember
Accrued royalties 0us-gaap_AccruedRoyaltiesCurrentAndNoncurrent
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_CardiosonixMember
                        0us-gaap_AccruedRoyaltiesCurrentAndNoncurrent
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_CardiosonixMember
Cardiosonix [Member] | Minimum [Member]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
Royalty on net sales of licensed products , percentage 3.00%navb_RoyaltyPercentageFromRevenuesOfLicensedProducts
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_CardiosonixMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
                         
Cardiosonix [Member] | Maximum [Member]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
Royalty on net sales of licensed products , percentage 5.00%navb_RoyaltyPercentageFromRevenuesOfLicensedProducts
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_CardiosonixMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
                         
Royalty percentage on grant revenues 300.00%navb_RoyaltyOnGrantRevenue
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_CardiosonixMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
                         
Employment Agreement [Member]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
Maximum contingent liability $ 2,900,000us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMaximum
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_EmploymentAgreementMember
                        $ 2,900,000us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMaximum
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_EmploymentAgreementMember
Employment Agreement [Member] | Minimum [Member]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
Ratio of entitled salary 1.2navb_RatioOfEntitledSalary
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_EmploymentAgreementMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
                        1.2navb_RatioOfEntitledSalary
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_EmploymentAgreementMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
Employment Agreement [Member] | Maximum [Member]                            
Agreements [Line Items]                            
Ratio of entitled salary 2.0navb_RatioOfEntitledSalary
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_EmploymentAgreementMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
                        2.0navb_RatioOfEntitledSalary
/ navb_AgreementsByTypeAxis
= navb_EmploymentAgreementMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember