| 
           STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Details) (USD $) 
         | 
        3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 128 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 
           Jun. 30, 2013 
         | 
        
           Jun. 30, 2012 
         | 
        
           Jun. 30, 2013 
         | 
        
           Jun. 30, 2012 
         | 
        
           Jun. 30, 2013 
         | 
      |
| Total stock-based compensation | $ 377,893 | $ 406,122 | $ 803,791 | $ 823,475 | $ 5,161,961 | 
| 
           Employee and Director Stock Option [Member] 
         | 
        |||||
| Total stock-based compensation | 371,017 | 327,423 | 788,894 | 654,435 | 4,755,947 | 
| 
           Employee and Director Stock Option [Member] | Research and Development Expense [Member] 
         | 
        |||||
| Total stock-based compensation | 106,774 | 78,145 | 212,612 | 156,189 | 1,020,873 | 
| 
           Employee and Director Stock Option [Member] | General and Administrative Expense [Member] 
         | 
        |||||
| Total stock-based compensation | 264,243 | 249,278 | 576,282 | 498,246 | 3,735,074 | 
| 
           Non Employee Consultant Stock Option [Member] 
         | 
        |||||
| Total stock-based compensation | 6,876 | 78,699 | 14,897 | 169,040 | 406,014 | 
| 
           Non Employee Consultant Stock Option [Member] | Research and Development Expense [Member] 
         | 
        |||||
| Total stock-based compensation | 3,311 | 34,355 | 4,322 | 81,369 | 120,358 | 
| 
           Non Employee Consultant Stock Option [Member] | General and Administrative Expense [Member] 
         | 
        |||||
| Total stock-based compensation | $ 3,565 | $ 44,344 | $ 10,575 | $ 87,671 | $ 285,656 |