Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Sponsored Research and License Agreements (Details)

Sponsored Research and License Agreements (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended				3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Aug. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Feb. 28, 2015
Collaborative Arrangement
Collaborations
Maximum amount of contingent payments receivable	$ 531,900,000				$ 531,900,000			$ 531,900,000
Specified Development Events \| Collaborative Arrangement
Collaborations
Maximum amount of contingent payments receivable	148,800,000				148,800,000			148,800,000
Specified Regulatory Events \| Collaborative Arrangement
Collaborations
Maximum amount of contingent payments receivable	345,600,000				345,600,000			345,600,000
Specified Product Launch Events \| Collaborative Arrangement
Collaborations
Maximum amount of contingent payments receivable	37,500,000				37,500,000			37,500,000
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Collaborations
Noncreditable and nonrefundable upfront payment by BMS				$ 30,000,000
Deferred revenue related to upfront payment	3,800,000				3,800,000			3,800,000		$ 30,000,000
Revenue recognized					4,800,000		$ 4,800,000	9,700,000	$ 6,900,000
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company \| Research Activities
Collaborations
Revenue recognized					95,000		$ 350,000	290,000	$ 456,000
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company \| Minimum
Collaborations
Contingent payments								$ 309,000,000
Aclaris
Collaborations
Upfront fee received		$ 8,000,000
Contingent payments			$ 80,000,000
Revenue recognized						$ 8,000,000
Ber Gen Bio A S [Member]
Collaborations
Upfront fee received	1,700,000
Revenue recognized					$ 3,700,000
Payment received from exercise of option rights	$ 2,000,000