Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid financial instruments that are readily convertible to cash and have maturities of 90 days or less from the date of purchase. As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, cash equivalents consisted of overnight sweep accounts invested in money market funds. Short-term Investments The Company has designated its marketable securities as of each balance sheet date as available-for-sale securities and accounts for them at their respective fair values. Marketable securities are classified as short-term or long-term investments based on the nature of these securities and the availability of these securities to meet current operating requirements. Marketable securities that are readily available for use in current operations are classified as short-term available-for-sale securities and are reported as a component of current assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company reviews all available-for-sale securities at each period end to determine if they remain available-for-sale based on the Company’s then current intent and ability to sell the security if it is required to do so. As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company’s short-term investments include shares of common stock in NAVB and FluoroPharma Medical, Inc. (“FPMI”). Restricted Market Securities Under the terms of the Amended and Restated License Agreement with the President and Fellows of Harvard college (“Harvard”) entered into on July 31, 2012, the Company had an obligation to transfer 15,000 shares of the NAVB stock received from the Navidea sublicense agreement to Harvard. The market value of the shares on December 31, 2012 was $42,450 and the Company completed the transfer of the 15,000 shares in January 2013. Fair Value Measurements The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, prepaid expenses, trade payables, accrued expenses, and notes payable approximate their fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. Short-term investments consist of available-for-sale-securities as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and are carried at fair value. A contingent royalty liability of $16 million is recorded at fair value as discussed in Note 11. Revenue Recognition Our revenues have been generated primarily through sublicense and option agreements related to our Altropane product. The terms of these agreements generally contain multiple elements, or deliverables, which have included (i) licenses or options to obtain licenses to our technology; (ii) technology transfer obligations related to the licenses and (iii) research, development, regulatory and commercialization activities to be performed on our behalf. Payments to the Company under these arrangements typically include one or more of the following: non-refundable, up-front license fees; option exercise fees; milestone payments; and royalties on future product sales. The Company evaluates multiple element revenue arrangements under FASB ASC 605-25, Multiple-Element Arrangements (as amended by ASU No. 2009-13). In addition to the form of the arrangement, the substance of the arrangement is also considered in determining whether separate agreements entered into, at or near the same time, that include elements that are interrelated or interdependent should be treated as one multiple-element arrangement. If the Company concludes that separate agreements represent one arrangement, then all the elements in the separate agreements are combined into one multiple-element arrangement for accounting purposes. Revenues from non-refundable license fees are recognized upon receipt of the payment if the license has stand-alone value, we do not have ongoing involvement or obligations and we have determined the best estimate of the selling price for any undelivered items. When non-refundable license fees do not meet all of these criteria, the license revenues are recognized over the expected period of performance. We periodically review our expected period of substantial involvement under the agreements that provide for non-refundable up-front payments and license fees. When applicable, we will adjust the amortization periods when appropriate to reflect changes in assumptions relating to the duration of our expected involvement. We could accelerate revenue recognition for non-refundable upfront payments or license fees in the event of an early termination of the agreements. Alternatively, we could decelerate such revenue recognition if our period of involvement is extended. While changes to such estimates have no impact on our reported cash flows, our reported revenue is significantly influenced by our estimates of the period over which our obligations are expected to be performed and, therefore, over which revenue will be recognized. Revenues associated with substantive, at-risk milestones pursuant to our licensing agreements are recognized upon achievement of the milestones. We consider a milestone to be substantive at the inception of the arrangement if it is commensurate with either our performance to achieve the milestone or the enhancement of the value of the delivered item as a result of a specific outcome resulting from our performance to achieve the milestone, it relates solely to past performance and it is reasonable relative to all of the deliverables and payment terms within the arrangement. Non-refundable contingent future amounts receivable in connection with future events specified in our licensing agreements that are not considered milestones will be recognized as revenue when payments are earned by our counterparties through completion of any underlying performance obligations, the amounts are fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Comprehensive Income (Loss) On January 1, 2012, the Company adopted the new presentation requirements under ASU 2011-05, “Presentation of Comprehensive Income”. ASU 2011-05 requires companies to present the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either as one continuous statement or as two consecutive statements. As ASU 2011-05 impacts presentation only, it had no effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2013.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid financial instruments that are readily convertible to cash and have maturities of 90 days or less from the date of purchase. As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, cash equivalents consisted of overnight sweep accounts invested in money market funds.

Short-term Investments

The Company has designated its marketable securities as of each balance sheet date as available-for-sale securities and accounts for them at their respective fair values. Marketable securities are classified as short-term or long-term investments based on the nature of these securities and the availability of these securities to meet current operating requirements. Marketable securities that are readily available for use in current operations are classified as short-term available-for-sale securities and are reported as a component of current assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company reviews all available-for-sale securities at each period end to determine if they remain available-for-sale based on the Company’s then current intent and ability to sell the security if it is required to do so. As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company’s short-term investments include shares of common stock in NAVB and FluoroPharma Medical, Inc. (“FPMI”).

Restricted Market Securities

Under the terms of the Amended and Restated License Agreement with the President and Fellows of Harvard college (“Harvard”) entered into on July 31, 2012, the Company had an obligation to transfer 15,000 shares of the NAVB stock received from the Navidea sublicense agreement to Harvard. The market value of the shares on December 31, 2012 was $42,450 and the Company completed the transfer of the 15,000 shares in January 2013.

Fair Value Measurements

The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, prepaid expenses, trade payables, accrued expenses, and notes payable approximate their fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. Short-term investments consist of available-for-sale-securities as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and are carried at fair value. A contingent royalty liability of $16 million is recorded at fair value as discussed in Note 11.

Revenue Recognition

Our revenues have been generated primarily through sublicense and option agreements related to our Altropane product. The terms of these agreements generally contain multiple elements, or deliverables, which have included (i) licenses or options to obtain licenses to our technology; (ii) technology transfer obligations related to the licenses and (iii) research, development, regulatory and commercialization activities to be performed on our behalf. Payments to the Company under these arrangements typically include one or more of the following: non-refundable, up-front license fees; option exercise fees; milestone payments; and royalties on future product sales.

The Company evaluates multiple element revenue arrangements under FASB ASC 605-25, Multiple-Element Arrangements (as amended by ASU No. 2009-13). In addition to the form of the arrangement, the substance of the arrangement is also considered in determining whether separate agreements entered into, at or near the same time, that include elements that are interrelated or interdependent should be treated as one multiple-element arrangement. If the Company concludes that separate agreements represent one arrangement, then all the elements in the separate agreements are combined into one multiple-element arrangement for accounting purposes.

Revenues from non-refundable license fees are recognized upon receipt of the payment if the license has stand-alone value, we do not have ongoing involvement or obligations and we have determined the best estimate of the selling price for any undelivered items. When non-refundable license fees do not meet all of these criteria, the license revenues are recognized over the expected period of performance.

We periodically review our expected period of substantial involvement under the agreements that provide for non-refundable up-front payments and license fees. When applicable, we will adjust the amortization periods when appropriate to reflect changes in assumptions relating to the duration of our expected involvement. We could accelerate revenue recognition for non-refundable upfront payments or license fees in the event of an early termination of the agreements. Alternatively, we could decelerate such revenue recognition if our period of involvement is extended. While changes to such estimates have no impact on our reported cash flows, our reported revenue is significantly influenced by our estimates of the period over which our obligations are expected to be performed and, therefore, over which revenue will be recognized.

Revenues associated with substantive, at-risk milestones pursuant to our licensing agreements are recognized upon achievement of the milestones. We consider a milestone to be substantive at the inception of the arrangement if it is commensurate with either our performance to achieve the milestone or the enhancement of the value of the delivered item as a result of a specific outcome resulting from our performance to achieve the milestone, it relates solely to past performance and it is reasonable relative to all of the deliverables and payment terms within the arrangement. Non-refundable contingent future amounts receivable in connection with future events specified in our licensing agreements that are not considered milestones will be recognized as revenue when payments are earned by our counterparties through completion of any underlying performance obligations, the amounts are fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

On January 1, 2012, the Company adopted the new presentation requirements under ASU 2011-05, “Presentation of Comprehensive Income”. ASU 2011-05 requires companies to present the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either as one continuous statement or as two consecutive statements. As ASU 2011-05 impacts presentation only, it had no effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2013.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity.

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ALSERES PHARMACEUTICALS INC /DE 10-Q