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Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - shares	Sep. 30, 2015	Nov. 09, 2015
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	PIRS
Entity Registrant Name	PIERIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001583648
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		39,759,530

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 32,254,879	$ 18,474,211
Trade accounts receivable	17,358
Other current assets	1,285,041	1,207,072
Prepaid expenses	589,928	109,332
Income tax receivable	3,534	14,810
Total current assets	34,150,740	19,805,425
Property and equipment, net	1,928,192	2,052,221
Deferred tax asset	24,464	26,522
Other non-current assets	97,111
Total assets	36,200,507	21,884,168
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	1,117,557	1,260,015
Accrued expenses	1,033,926	743,866
Deferred tax liability	24,464	26,522
Other current liabilities	65,714	242,755
Bank loan, including accrued interest		1,270,605
Total current liabilities	2,241,661	3,543,763
Accrued expenses, non-current	308,071	333,988
Total liabilities	2,549,732	3,877,751
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.001 par value per share, 300,000,000 shares authorized and 39,759,530 and 29,279,522 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014	39,760	29,280
Additional paid-in capital	111,725,327	84,627,283
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,150,279)	(843,097)
Accumulated deficit	(76,964,033)	(65,807,048)
Total stockholders' equity	33,650,775	18,006,417
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 36,200,507	$ 21,884,168

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	300,000,000	300,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	39,759,530	29,279,522
Common stock, outstanding	39,759,530	29,279,522

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 414,610	$ 18,724	$ 792,474	$ 2,089,831
Operating expenses
Research and development	2,051,688	926,596	5,301,911	3,268,262
General and administrative	2,242,804	933,221	6,606,209	4,103,805
Total operating expenses	4,294,492	1,859,817	11,908,120	7,372,067
Loss from operations	(3,879,882)	(1,841,093)	(11,115,646)	(5,282,236)
Interest expense, net		(181,205)	(4,223)	(404,288)
Other (expense) income, net	(1,929)	148	3,325	2,812
Loss before income taxes	(3,881,811)	(2,022,150)	(11,116,544)	(5,683,712)
Provision/(benefit) for income tax	40,441		40,441	(18)
Net loss	$ (3,922,252)	$ (2,022,150)	$ (11,156,985)	$ (5,683,694)
Net loss per share Basic and diluted	$ (0.10)	$ (0.17)	$ (0.34)	$ (0.48)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding Basic and diluted	38,890,546	11,828,974	32,584,354	11,828,974

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net loss	$ 3,922,252	$ 2,022,150	$ 11,156,985	$ 5,683,694
Other comprehensive income (loss) components:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	193,415	326,303	(307,182)	329,330
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	193,415	326,303	(307,182)	329,330
Comprehensive loss	$ 3,728,837	$ 1,695,847	$ 11,464,167	$ 5,354,364

- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

+ References + Details

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Operating activities:
Net loss	$ (11,156,985)	$ (5,683,694)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation	234,066	278,852
Non-cash interest expense		365,251
Stock-based compensation	823,164
Non-cash restricted shares	446,400
Non-cash consulting shares	75,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash		12,973
Trade accounts receivable	(17,328)	474,418
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(768,982)	(128,146)
Trade accounts payable	(49,427)	(3,324)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	190,549	(450,672)
Income taxes receivable	10,109	49,064
Net cash used in operating activities	(10,213,434)	(5,085,278)
Investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(269,265)	(14,311)
Net cash used in investing activities	(269,265)	(14,311)
Financing activities:
Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs	25,763,960
Proceeds from convertible stockholder loan		1,309,093
Repayment of debt	(1,157,940)	(189,420)
Proceeds from preferred share subscription		1,355,480
Net cash provided by financing activities	24,606,020	2,475,153
Effect of exchange rate change on cash and cash equivalents	(342,653)	(128,763)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	13,780,668	(2,753,199)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	18,474,211	3,689,382
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	32,254,879	936,183
Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
Cash paid for interest	4,181	$ 40,664
Cash paid for tax	$ 40,441

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

1.	Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies consistently applied in the preparation of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

Basis of Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Pieris Pharmaceuticals Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively “Pieris” or the “Company) were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidation. Certain information and footnotes normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been omitted pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete annual consolidated financial statements. It is recommended that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes that appear in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 30, 2015 (the “2014 Annual Report”).

In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited condensed consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2014, and all adjustments, including normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been included. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2015 or any future period.

Reclassifications

For comparability purposes, certain prior period amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation within the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the reported amounts of revenues and expenses in the financial statements and disclosures in the accompanying notes. Significant estimates are used for, but are not limited to, revenue recognition, deferred tax assets, liabilities and valuation allowances, fair value of stock options and various accruals. Management evaluates its estimates on an ongoing basis. Actual results and outcomes could differ materially from management’s estimates, judgments and assumptions.

Segment Reporting

Pieris operates as a single segment dedicated to the discovery and development of biotechnological applications and the Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) makes decisions based on the Company as a whole. The Company has determined that it’s CODM is its CEO. Accordingly, Pieris operates and makes decisions as one reporting unit.

Milestone Payments and Royalties

At the inception of each agreement that includes milestone payments, Pieris evaluates whether each milestone is substantive and at risk to both parties on the basis of the contingent nature of the milestone. This evaluation includes an assessment of whether (a) the consideration is commensurate with either (1) the entity’s performance to achieve the milestone, or (2) the enhancement of the value of the delivered item(s) as a result of a specific outcome resulting from the entity’s performance to achieve the milestone, (b) the consideration relates solely to past performance and (c) the consideration is reasonable relative to all of the deliverables and payment terms within the arrangement. Pieris evaluates factors such as the scientific, regulatory, commercial and other risks that must be overcome to achieve the respective milestone, the level of effort and investment required to achieve the respective milestone and whether the milestone consideration is reasonable relative to all deliverables and payment terms in the arrangement in making this assessment.

Pieris aggregates milestones into three categories (i) research milestones, (ii) development milestones and (iii) commercial milestones. Research milestones are typically achieved upon reaching certain criteria as defined in each agreement related to developing an Anticalin protein against the specified target. Development milestones are typically reached when a compound reaches a defined phase of clinical research or passes such phase, or upon gaining regulatory approvals. Commercial milestones are typically achieved when an approved pharmaceutical product reaches the status for commercial sale or certain defined levels of net sales by the licensee, such as when a product first achieves global sales or annual sales of a specified amount.

For revenues from research and development milestone payments, if the milestones are deemed substantive and the milestone payments are nonrefundable, such amounts are recognized entirely upon successful accomplishment of the milestones. Milestones that are not considered substantive are accounted for as license payments and recognized on a straight-line basis over the period of performance. To date, Pieris has determined all milestones are substantive. Revenues from commercial milestone payments are accounted for as royalties and are recorded as revenue upon achievement of the milestone, assuming all other revenue recognition criteria are met. Royalty payments are recognized in revenues based on the timing of royalty payments earned in accordance with the agreements; which typically is the period when the relevant sales occur, assuming all other revenue recognition criteria are met.

Net Loss per Common Share

Basic net loss per share was determined by dividing net loss by the weighted average common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share was determined by dividing net loss by diluted weighted average shares outstanding. Diluted weighted average shares reflect the dilutive effect, if any, of common stock options based on the treasury stock method.

For all financial statement periods presented the number of basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding was the same because any increase in the number of shares of common stock equivalents for any period presented would be antidilutive based on the net loss for the period.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, approximately 1.2 million and 0.9 million potential weighted average shares subject to stock options respectively, as calculated using the treasury stock method, were excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted average common shares outstanding as their effect would have been antidilutive.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Changes to accumulated other comprehensive income during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were as follows (in thousands):


	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Balance—December 31, 2014	$	(843	)	$	(843	)
Current period other comprehensive loss		(307	)		(307	)

Balance—September 30, 2015	$	(1,150	)	$	(1,150	)

Fair Value Measurement

ASC Topic 820 Fair Value Measurement defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Pieris applies the following fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three levels and bases the categorization within the hierarchy upon the lowest level of input that is available and significant to the fair value measurement. The standard describes the following fair value hierarchy based on three levels of input, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2 utilizes quoted market prices in markets that are not active, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency.

Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

Cash equivalents recorded by Pieris consist of highly liquid money market funds and are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. These funds are classified as Level 1 because they are valued using quoted prices for the periods ended September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014. The carrying amounts of $78,459 and $4,800,573 as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, equal the fair value of the cash equivalents.

The Company’s debt instruments are classified as Level 2. The fair value of these instruments was determined using the discounted cash flow method based on contractual cash flows and the current rate at which debt with similar terms could be issued. The fair values for these debt instruments approximated carrying values as of December 31, 2014. There are no remaining debt instruments as of September 30, 2015.

All of other current assets and current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets approximate their respective carrying amounts.

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and operating losses and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted statutory tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the jurisdictions and years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

Based on the level of historical operating results and projections for the taxable income for the future, the Company has determined that it is more likely than not that its net deferred tax assets will not be realized. Accordingly, the Company has recorded a full valuation allowance to reduce its net deferred tax assets.

We recognize, measure, present and disclose in our financial statements any uncertain tax positions that we have taken, or expect to take on a tax return. We operate in multiple jurisdictions, both within and outside the United States, and may be subject to audits from various tax authorities. Management’s judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets and liabilities, liabilities for uncertain tax positions, and any valuation allowance recorded against our net deferred tax assets. We will monitor the realizability of our deferred tax assets and adjust the valuation allowance accordingly.

Our policy is to classify interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” (ASU 2014-09) which provides guidance for revenue recognition. The standard’s core principle is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2018, and at that time the Company may adopt the new standard under the full retrospective approach or the modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact the adoption of this standard will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.

In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-01, “Income Statement – Extraordinary and Unusual items” (ASU 2015-01). The amendments in ASU 2015-01 eliminate from U.S. GAAP the concept of extraordinary items. Subtopic 225-20, Income Statement - Extraordinary and Unusual Items, required that an entity separately classify, present, and disclose extraordinary events and transactions. Presently, an event or transaction is presumed to be an ordinary and usual activity of the reporting entity unless evidence clearly supports its classification as an extraordinary item. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company does not believe this ASU will have an impact on its financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis” (ASU 2015-02). The amendments in ASU 2015-02 are intended to improve targeted areas of consolidation guidance for legal entities such as limited partnerships, limited liability corporations, and securitization structures (collateralized debt obligations, collateralized loan obligations, and mortgage-backed security transactions). This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December, 15, 2017. The Company does not believe this ASU will have an impact on its financial statements.

In June 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-10, “Technical Corrections and Improvements” (ASU 2015-10). The amendments in ASU 2015-10 represent changes to clarify the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (the “Codification”), correct unintended application of guidance, or make minor improvements to the Codification that are not expected to have a significant effect on current accounting practice or create a significant administrative cost to most entities. In addition, some of the amendments are intended to make the Codification easier to understand and easier to apply by eliminating inconsistencies, providing needed clarifications, and improving the presentation of guidance in the Codification. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company does not believe this ASU will have an impact on its financial statements.

Pieris has considered other recent accounting pronouncements and concluded that they are either not applicable to the business, or that the effect is not expected to be material to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as a result of future adoption.

Revenues	9 Months Ended
Revenues	Sep. 30, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Revenues	2. Revenues Pieris has not generated revenues from product sales. Pieris has generated revenues pursuant to (i) license and collaboration agreements, which include upfront payments for licenses or options to obtain licenses, payments for research and development services and milestone payments, and (ii) government grants. Collaborations and Other Agreements Allergan, Inc. In August 2009, pursuant to an agreement with Allergan, Inc. (“Allergan”), the Company granted Allergan a worldwide exclusive license to develop and commercialize certain drug candidates for the treatment and prevention of ocular diseases. Allergan is responsible for the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of any products resulting from the license. No revenue has been recorded in the 2014 and 2015 periods presented. The Company is entitled to receive up to an aggregate of $13 million in milestone payments upon the achievement of certain commercial milestones or patents granted to the Company by the United States Patent and Trademark Office that cover a product licensed to Allergan. Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. In May 2011, Pieris granted an exclusive, worldwide license for the research, development and commercialization of drug candidates identified by the Company for targets selected by Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. (“Daiichi Sankyo”) pursuant to an agreement with Daiichi Sankyo. Under this agreement the Company will use its proprietary Anticalin® scaffold technology to identify drug candidates against certain selected targets, with further development and commercialization performed by Daiichi Sankyo. Daiichi Sankyo has agreed to pay various upfront payments for certain research programs, payments for services provided by Pieris in conjunction with the research programs and certain milestone payments as development milestones are achieved. During the three months ended September 30, 2015, Pieris recorded revenue of $0.4 million associated with achieving certain milestones within a research program. There were no revenues recorded in the three months ended September 30, 2014. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, Pieris recorded revenue of $0.4 million and $1.1 million, respectively. The revenues recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were associated with achieving certain milestones within a research program. The revenues recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were associated with recognizing the final component of the upfront payment. Pieris provided various services in connection with the ongoing research programs as well as achieved a development milestones during the nine month period ended September 30, 2014. The Company is entitled to receive potential milestone payments of $91.1 million, plus royalties on the commercial sales of any commercial products. The total milestones are categorized as follows: research milestones - $2.6 million; development milestones - $37.4 million; commercial milestones - $50.2 million; additional diagnostic milestones of $0.9 million. Sanofi-Aventis and Sanofi-Pasteur In September 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with Sanofi-Aventis and Sanofi Pasteur (“Sanofi”), under which the Company agreed to apply its proprietary Anticalin® technology to identify drug candidates against certain targets selected by Sanofi, with further development and commercialization performed by Sanofi. The agreement included the initial identification of two targets by Sanofi, with options to select up to four additional targets. For any targets selected by Sanofi, the Company granted an exclusive, worldwide license for the research, development and commercialization of drug candidates identified by the Company. In addition to the two initial targets selected by Sanofi, Sanofi exercised one of the four options and received a license. The remaining three options expired unexercised. Sanofi has agreed to pay various upfront payments for certain research programs, payments for services provided by Pieris in conjunction with the research programs and certain milestone payments as development milestones are achieved. There were no revenues for this agreement recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015 there were no revenues recorded for this agreement. Pieris recorded $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 under this agreement and were associated with recognizing the final component of the upfront payment as well as Pieris providing various services in connection with the ongoing research programs including achieving a development milestone during the period. The Company is entitled to receive milestone payments up to $51.6 million, plus royalties on the sales of any commercial products. The total milestones are categorized as follows: research milestones - $1.9 million; development milestones - $29.6 million; commercial milestones - $20.1 million.

Related-Party Transactions	9 Months Ended
Related-Party Transactions	Sep. 30, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related-Party Transactions	3. Related-Party Transactions Research and License Agreement with Technische Universität München (“TUM”) On July 4, 2003, the Company entered into a research and licensing agreement with TUM (the “TUM License Agreement”), which was subsequently renewed and, on July 26, 2007, superseded and replaced. The agreement established a joint research effort led by Prof. Arne Skerra, Chair of Biological Chemistry of TUM, to optimize Anticalin technologies for use in therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic applications and as research reagents, and to gain fundamental insights in lipocalin scaffolds. Prof. Dr. Skerra was a member of the supervisory board of Pieris GmbH, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, when the parties entered into the TUM License Agreement and during the period covered by the consolidated financial statements in this report. The Company provided certain funding for TUM research efforts performed under the agreement and this part of the agreement expired in February 2013 with no further obligation by Pieris. As a result of research efforts to date under the TUM License Agreement, the Company holds a worldwide exclusive license under its license agreement with TUM to multiple patents and patent applications, including an exclusive license to an issued U.S. patent, which patent will expire in 2027 (subject to a possible term adjustment period). The Company also holds an exclusive license to an issued U.S. patent No. 8,420,051, which patent is expected to expire in 2029. The Company bears the costs of filing, prosecution and maintenance of patents assigned or licensed to the Company under the agreement. As consideration for the assigned patents and licenses above, the Company is required to pay certain development milestones to TUM. The Company also is obliged to pay low-single-digit royalties, including annual minimum royalties, on sales of such products incorporating patented technologies. If the Company grants licenses or sublicenses to those patents to third parties, the Company will be obliged to pay a percentage of the resulting revenue to TUM. The Company’s payment obligations are reduced by the Company’s proportionate contribution to a joint invention. Payment obligations terminate on expiration or annulment of the last patent covered by the agreement. The Company can terminate the licenses to any or all licensed patents upon specified advance notice to TUM. TUM may terminate the license provisions of the agreement only for cause. Termination of the agreement does not terminate the rights in patents assigned to the Company. The Company has incurred expenses related to TUM in connection with the transfer of licenses and protective rights of $13,898 and $16,563 for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 the Company incurred expenses in an amount of $41,791 and $50,839, respectively. The Company has accrued $302,490 and $327,937 as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, related to the amounts due under the research and license agreement (see Note 10 Commitments and Contingencies). Consulting Contract between Prof. Dr. Arne Skerra and the Company In 2001, the Company entered into a Consulting Agreement with Prof. Dr. Arne Skerra, pursuant to which Prof. Dr. Arne Skerra provides advice regarding the use of new proteins, in particular Anticalin® proteins and antibodies, for the purpose of research and development. The Consulting Agreement has an unlimited term but can be terminated by the Company upon three months’ notice with effect from the end of a month and by Prof. Dr. Arne Skerra upon one year’s notice with effect from the end of a year. Under the Consulting Agreement, the Company incurred and paid to Prof. Dr. Skerra consulting fees of $16,717 and $26,955 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 the Company incurred and paid Prof. Dr. Skerra consulting fees of $5,559 and $6,625, respectively.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for related party transactions. Examples of related party transactions include transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiary; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) and entity and its principal owners; and (d) affiliates.

+ References + Details

Debt	9 Months Ended
Debt	Sep. 30, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	4. Debt As of April 3, 2014, the Company and tbg Technologie-Beteiligungs-Gesellschaft mbH (“TBG”), the subsidiary of KfW Bank, Frankfurt (“KfW”), signed a repayment agreement concerning the Company’s repayment of its liabilities to TBG outstanding at December 31, 2013 in a total amount of €1.2 million ($1.34 million). The principal amount bore interest at a rate of 10.53%. Under the repayment agreement, the Company has agreed to a payment schedule pursuant to which it will make semi-annual payments until 2016. On December 11, 2014, the Company and TBG entered into an accelerated repayment agreement in respect of the claims of TBG against the Company. Pursuant to terms of the accelerated repayment agreement, conditioned upon closing of the Acquisition, the Company was obligated to pay €1,050,000 ($1.17 million), the outstanding amount under the repayment agreement, in two tranches as follows: €600,000 ($669,720) plus accrued interest on January 31, 2015 and €450,000 ($502,290) on March 31, 2015. The outstanding principal amount for the first and the second tranches net of capital gain tax withheld, was repaid in full in the first quarter ending March 31, 2015 and such next payment was €931,312 ($1,039,530). The capital gain tax withheld in the amount of €118,688 ($132,480) was paid on April 9, 2015 and no further amounts are payable in respect of TBG loan.

Accrued Expenses

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

Accrued Expenses

5. Accrued Expenses

The Company has recorded the following accrued expenses as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively:


	September 30,		December 31,
	2015		2014
Accrued expenses:
Accrued payroll and benefits	$	480,626	$	332,892
Accrued audit and tax		156,553		403,450
Accrued professional fees, and other		396,747		7,524

Total accrued expenses		1,033,926		743,866

Accrued expenses, non-current:
Reserve for litigation TUM		302,490		327,937
Accrued restoration cost		5,581		6,051

Total accrued expenses, non-current		308,071		333,988

Total accrued expenses	$	1,341,997	$	1,077,854

Public Offering	9 Months Ended
Public Offering	Sep. 30, 2015
Equity [Abstract]
Public Offering	6. Public Offering On July 6, 2015 the Company closed a public offering of an aggregate of 9,090,909 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $2.75 per share. All shares of common stock were offered by the Company. On July 24, 2015 the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option to purchase 1,211,827 additional shares of the Company’s common stock at the public offering price of $2.75, the sale of which closed on July 28, 2015. Gross proceeds raised by the Company in the offering, including the exercise of the over-allotment option, were $28.3 million and net of equity issuance costs are $25.8 million. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to fund research and development, including preclinical and clinical research and development of its drug candidates, working capital and general corporate purposes.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for shareholders' equity comprised of portions attributable to the parent entity and noncontrolling interest, including other comprehensive income. Includes, but is not limited to, balances of common stock, preferred stock, additional paid-in capital, other capital and retained earnings, accumulated balance for each classification of other comprehensive income and amount of comprehensive income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(d),(e))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21484-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 4.E)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27010918&loc=d3e74512-122707

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21488-112644

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29-31)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 4.C)
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6521494

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 4
-Section E

Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 4
-Section C

+ Details

Stock-Based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation

7. Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2015 was $0.3 million. Stock-based compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $0.8 million. There was no stock-based compensation expense recorded for the 2014 periods as the stock option plan did not become effective until December 17, 2014.

Total stock-based compensation expense was recorded to operating expenses based upon the functional responsibilities of the individuals holding the respective options as follows:


	Three months ended		Nine months ended
	September 30, 2015		September 30, 2015
Research and development	$	88,176	$	217,766
General and administrative		249,613		605,398

Total stock-based compensation	$	337,790	$	823,164

There were no options exercised during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.

Pieris granted 663,262 stock options to employees, consultants, and directors under the 2014 Employee, Director and Consultant Equity Incentive Plan, (the “Plan”) during the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Of these stock options granted, an option for 450,000 shares was granted to a newly-hired executive officer subject to certain restrictions on exercise that require Company’s shareholders to approve an increase in the number of shares authorized under the Plan; if such shareholder approval is not obtained by September 30, 2016, the option will be cancelled and of no further force and affect. This option, therefore, does not have an impact on the remaining shares available for future grants currently authorized under the Plan.

The Company granted an option to purchase 500,000 shares outside of the Plan to a newly-hired executive officer that was an inducement, material to the executive officer entering into employment with the Company. The compensation expense associated with this inducement option was $32,133 and is included in research and development expense for both the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015. The Company did not grant any stock options during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the estimated grant date fair values for stock-based awards. The weighted-average grant date fair values of the options both in and out of plan granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $1.94 using the following assumptions:


	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Dividend yield		—		—		—		—
Expected volatility		72.65% - 73.43%		—		72.65% - 75.07%		—
Risk-free interest rate		1.69% - 1.89%		—		1.49% - 1.89%		—
Expected term		5.0 - 6.1 years		—		5.0 - 6.1 years		—
Forfeiture rate		8.8%		—		8.8%

Option-pricing models require the input of various subjective assumptions, including the option’s expected life and the price volatility of the underlying stock. Pieris’s estimated expected stock price volatility is based on the average volatilities of other guideline companies in the same industry. Pieris’s expected term of options granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was derived using the SEC’s simplified method. The risk-free rate for the expected term of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.

As of September 30, 2015, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding stock options was $3.8 million, which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted-average period of 3.1 years.

Consulting Shares	9 Months Ended
Consulting Shares	Sep. 30, 2015
Text Block [Abstract]
Consulting Shares	8. Consulting Shares Del Mar Consulting Group & Alex Partners On March 6, 2015, the Company entered into an independent consulting agreement (the “Consulting Agreement”) with the Del Mar Consulting Group, Inc. and Alex Partners, LLC (the “Consultants”), pursuant to which the Company issued 150,000 restricted shares of its common stock (par value $0.01 per share) to the Consultants (the “Consulting Shares”). The Company agreed to retain the Consultants to provide investor relations consulting to the Company for a period commencing on March 6, 2015 (the “Commencement Date”) and ending thirteen months after the Commencement Date (such period, the “Term”). The shares issued in connection with the Consulting Agreement were deemed to be exempt from registration in reliance upon Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act as a transaction by an issuer not involving any public offering. The terms of the Consulting Agreement state that Pieris has the right to terminate this agreement at any time during the Term of the Consulting Agreement, upon providing Consultants ten days’ written notice of the Company’s intention to terminate or immediately upon notice in the event of a breach of this agreement by either consultant. If the Company had elected to terminate this agreement for any reason within one hundred eighty days (180) following the effective date each Consultant would have been required to promptly surrender to the Company forty percent (40%) of the number of Consulting Shares issued to it. The Company uses the Black-Scholes model and estimated the fair value of the 90,000 non-cancellable Consulting Shares to be $284,400 based on the closing price per share of $3.16 as quoted on the OTCQB tier of the OTC Markets Group Inc., or the OTCQB, on the grant date, March 6, 2015. The remaining 60,000 shares were then marked to market based on the Black-Scholes model at each reporting period with the expense being recorded in the condensed consolidated statement of operations as general and administrative expenses. On September 2, 2015, the remainder of the Consulting Shares vested and the remaining expense was recorded based on the fair value of the shares on that date. The total expense recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2015 for the remaining shares was $55,667. The total expense recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 for the remaining shares was $162,000. Aquilo Partners On September 4, 2015 the Company entered into a Letter Agreement (the “Letter Agreement”) with Aquilo Partners, L.P. (“Aquilo Partners”). Aquilo Partners has been engaged by the Company as an advisor. Upon execution of the Letter Agreement, the Company has recorded a retainer fee of $125,000. In addition to the cash retainer fee, the Company issued 27,272 shares of the Company’s common stock equal in value to $75,000 based on the closing price of $2.75 per share of the Company’s common stock on September 4, 2015, the date of the Letter Agreement. The compensation for Aquilo Partners has been recorded in the condensed consolidated statements of operations as general and administrative expenses.

Warrants	9 Months Ended
Warrants	Sep. 30, 2015
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]
Warrants	9. Warrants In connection with the Private Placement in December 2014, the Company issued certain warrants to holders to acquire up to 542,360 shares of its common stock at an exercise price of two dollars per share ($2.00) to the Placement Agents and their designees during December 2014. The warrants are exercisable at any time at the option of the holder until the five year anniversary of its date of issuance. The number of shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of each warrant is adjustable in the event of certain stock dividends, stock splits, combinations of shares and similar transactions. Upon exercise, the aggregate exercise price of the warrants issued are payable by the holders in cash. The Company estimated the fair value of the warrants as of the grant date to be $664,064 and recognized the full amount in general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies	Sep. 30, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	10. Commitments and Contingencies Arbitration On March 20, 2014, the Company instituted arbitration proceedings, or the TUM Arbitration, against Technische Universität München, or Munich Technical University and hereafter TUM, to address issues regarding the calculation of payments due from the Company to TUM under the TUM License Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the TUM License Agreement, the arbitration is proceeding in Munich, Germany and governed by German law, in accordance with the arbitration rules of the Deutsche Institution für Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit. On July 4, 2003, or the Effective Date, the Company and TUM entered into the TUM License Agreement, as superseded and replaced on July 26, 2007, under which TUM has exclusively licensed, or in some cases assigned, to the Company certain intellectual property and know-how that has become part of the Anticalin® proprietary technologies. In return, the Company agreed to pay to TUM certain undisclosed annual license fees, milestones and royalties for its own proprietary drug development and sales, as well as an undisclosed variable fee as a function of out-licensing revenues, or the Out-License Fee, where such Out-License Fees are creditable against annual license payments to TUM. As required by the TUM License Agreement, the Company provided to TUM its calculation of the Out-License Fee owed by the Company to TUM for the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on December 31, 2012, the Dispute Period, in the amount of $0.3 million excluding value-added tax. TUM has asserted that, under the TUM License Agreement, the Out-License Fee due to TUM for the Dispute Period amounts to $3.4 million excluding value-added tax in the aggregate and has threatened to terminate the TUM License Agreement if the Out-License Fee is not paid. The Company believes that if TUM sought to terminate the license agreement for cause as a result of this dispute, it would potentially face wrongful termination claims for substantial damages if the arbitral tribunal in the TUM Arbitration sides with the Company in its final decision regarding the proper amount of the Out-License Fee, but the Company can provide no assurance regarding the timing, nature or consequences of such decision. The Company instituted the TUM Arbitration to request the arbitration tribunal to hold that the Company’s calculation of the payments owed to TUM is accurate and shall govern all current and future payments due in respect of the Out-License Fee under the TUM License Agreement. The Company has reserved a liability on its balance sheet in respect of such payment in the amount of €271,000 ($302,273). An adverse ruling in the TUM Arbitration could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. In April 2014, TUM argued to the arbitrators that it is not the proper party to be sued under the action for a declaratory arbitration decision brought by the Company in relation to the Research and Licensing Agreement, and that instead, it is the Free State of Bavaria that is the proper respondent to the action. The Company has responded that TUM has capacity to be sued in relation to any disputes arising from and regarding contractual provisions of the Research and Licensing Agreement and is thus also the proper respondent in the action. In accordance with the arbitration rules of the Deutsche Institution für Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit, each party to the arbitration proceeding has appointed one arbitrator and the party-named arbitrators collectively selected the third arbitrator as the chairman of the arbitration panel. On December 1, 2014, TUM filed its statement of defense, maintaining its earlier calculation of the Out-License Fee. On December 23, 2014, TUM filed a counterclaim in the amount of €2,529,400 ($3,060,827) to suspend the statute of limitations on its claims. On January 12, 2015, the Company filed a response to TUM’s defense. The arbitration panel held its first hearing in Munich, Germany on January 20, 2015, however the arbitration panel did not come to a conclusion on whether TUM is the proper respondent in the action or on the merits of the case. The panel had previously indicated that it will first decide the issue of whether TUM is the proper respondent in this action. The panel resolved that the value in dispute for both parties’ claims and counterclaims would be fixed at €3,500,000 ($4,235,350), as the calculation of the outstanding Out-Licensing Fee also impacts future payments. On March 3, 2015, the Company submitted a response to TUM’s statement of defense and counterclaim. On March 31, 2015, TUM submitted a rebuttal brief. The panel requested that both the Company and TUM indicate to the panel by April 27, 2015 whether proceedings should be stayed as a result of settlement negotiations. On April 27, 2015, the Company submitted a reply brief requesting proceedings to continue without disruption and moving for leave to comment on TUM’s submission. Following an approved extension by the panel for TUM’s submission, TUM submitted its proposal on May 4, 2015, requesting that the panel conduct a mediation hearing and assist the parties in negotiating a settlement. On May 8, 2015, the arbitration tribunal set June 1, 2015 as the deadline for final briefs and offered to schedule another oral hearing in mid-June for the purpose of supporting further settlement negotiations if both parties are in favor of holding a hearing. The Company submitted its brief on June 1, 2015. On June 8, 2015, the arbitration tribunal issued a procedural order indicating they will proceed with the arbitration without another oral hearing. TUM did not file its brief by the June 1 deadline set by the panel, and instead filed another submission on June 23, 2015. In its procedural order issued on the same day, the tribunal panel reserved the right to reject TUM’s new submission based on the content of its brief. The tribunal’s subsequent procedural order of June 25, 2015 provided that the tribunal will close the proceedings on July 10, 2015. The order clarified that any further pleadings or submissions will not be admissible after this date. The Company submitted its final brief on July 10, 2015 to address TUM’s arguments raised in its latest submission and to provide the tribunal with an overview of its costs incurred in this arbitration proceeding. On the same day, TUM submitted its summary of its costs incurred in this arbitration proceeding and subsequently, on July 23, 2015, filed an additional brief to correct some of its earlier submissions on costs and comment on the Company’s cost overview of July 10, 2015. The Company replied to the TUM brief on August 7, 2015. By letter to the parties on September 7, 2015, the arbitral tribunal noted that there had been no further submissions by the parties and that the tribunal would now draft and render the award. Since there is no deadline for the tribunal to render the award it is not possible to determine at this time when to expect a final decision. Sublease Agreement On August 27, 2015 the Company entered into an Agreement of Sublease (the “Sublease Agreement”) with Berenberg Capital Markets LLC (the “Sublandlord”). Under the Sublease Agreement, the Sublandlord will sublease to the Company approximately 3,950 square feet in Boston, MA. The term of the Sublease Agreement shall commence on the date the Sublandlord completes certain renovations and delivers space that is ready to be occupied (the “Commencement Date”) and shall expire at midnight on February 27, 2022 or such earlier date on which the term may terminate pursuant to the provisions of the Sublease Agreement. The Company has agreed to pay the Sublandlord an annual rental at a rate equal to $46.50 per square foot, increasing by $1.00 per square foot on each anniversary of the Commencement Date. As of September 30, 2015 the Commencement Date has not been reached. Therefore the Company has not recognized any rent expenses under the Sublease Agreement for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Consolidation

Basis of Consolidation

Reclassifications

Reclassifications

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting

Milestone Payments and Royalties

Milestone Payments and Royalties

Net Loss per Common Share

Net Loss per Common Share

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Changes to accumulated other comprehensive income during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were as follows (in thousands):


	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Balance—December 31, 2014	$	(843	)	$	(843	)
Current period other comprehensive loss		(307	)		(307	)

Balance—September 30, 2015	$	(1,150	)	$	(1,150	)

Fair Value Measurement

Fair Value Measurement

Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2 utilizes quoted market prices in markets that are not active, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency.

Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

All of other current assets and current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets approximate their respective carrying amounts.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Our policy is to classify interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of Changes to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Changes to accumulated other comprehensive income during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were as follows (in thousands):


	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Balance—December 31, 2014	$	(843	)	$	(843	)
Current period other comprehensive loss		(307	)		(307	)

Balance—September 30, 2015	$	(1,150	)	$	(1,150	)

Accrued Expenses (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

Schedule of Accrued Expenses

The Company has recorded the following accrued expenses as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively:


	September 30,		December 31,
	2015		2014
Accrued expenses:
Accrued payroll and benefits	$	480,626	$	332,892
Accrued audit and tax		156,553		403,450
Accrued professional fees, and other		396,747		7,524

Total accrued expenses		1,033,926		743,866

Accrued expenses, non-current:
Reserve for litigation TUM		302,490		327,937
Accrued restoration cost		5,581		6,051

Total accrued expenses, non-current		308,071		333,988

Total accrued expenses	$	1,341,997	$	1,077,854

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Schedule of Total Stock-Based Compensation Expense Related to Share-Based Awards under the Pieris Plan

Total stock-based compensation expense was recorded to operating expenses based upon the functional responsibilities of the individuals holding the respective options as follows:


	Three months ended		Nine months ended
	September 30, 2015		September 30, 2015
Research and development	$	88,176	$	217,766
General and administrative		249,613		605,398

Total stock-based compensation	$	337,790	$	823,164

Schedule of Weighted-Average Assumptions Used for Calculating Value of Options Granted


	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Dividend yield		—		—		—		—
Expected volatility		72.65% - 73.43%		—		72.65% - 75.07%		—
Risk-free interest rate		1.69% - 1.89%		—		1.49% - 1.89%		—
Expected term		5.0 - 6.1 years		—		5.0 - 6.1 years		—
Forfeiture rate		8.8%		—		8.8%

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) shares in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) Segment shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of Operating segment \| Segment		1
Milestones arrangement, categories description		Pieris aggregates milestones into three categories (i) research milestones, (ii) development milestones and (iii) commercial milestones.
Stock Compensation Plan [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share amount \| shares	1.2	0.9
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value \| $	$ 78,459	$ 78,459	$ 4,800,573

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Changes to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$ (843,097)
Ending Balance	(1,150,279)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	(843,000)
Current period other comprehensive loss	(307,000)
Ending Balance	(1,150,000)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	(843,000)
Current period other comprehensive loss	(307,000)
Ending Balance	$ (1,150,000)

- Definition

Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge.

+ References + Details

Revenues - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Revenues - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Revenues from product sales			$ 0
Allergan Inc [Member] \| Collaborative Arrangement [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Collaboration agreement, license revenue			0	$ 0
Allergan Inc [Member] \| Collaborative Arrangement [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Collaboration agreement, milestone payments	$ 13,000,000		13,000,000
Daiichi Sankyo Inc [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Collaboration agreement, milestone payments	400,000	$ 0	400,000	1,100,000
Daiichi Sankyo Inc [Member] \| Collaborative Arrangement [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Collaboration agreement, milestone payments	91,100,000		91,100,000
Daiichi Sankyo Inc [Member] \| Collaborative Arrangement [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Research Milestones [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Collaboration agreement, milestone payments	2,600,000		2,600,000
Daiichi Sankyo Inc [Member] \| Collaborative Arrangement [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Development Milestones [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Collaboration agreement, milestone payments	37,400,000		37,400,000
Daiichi Sankyo Inc [Member] \| Collaborative Arrangement [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Commercial Milestones [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Collaboration agreement, milestone payments	50,200,000		50,200,000
Daiichi Sankyo Inc [Member] \| Collaborative Arrangement [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Additional Diagnostic Milestones [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Collaboration agreement, milestone payments	900,000		900,000
Sanofi [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Collaboration agreement, milestone payments	51,600,000		51,600,000
Sanofi [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Research Milestones [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Collaboration agreement, milestone payments	1,900,000		1,900,000
Sanofi [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Development Milestones [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Collaboration agreement, milestone payments	29,600,000		29,600,000
Sanofi [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Commercial Milestones [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Collaboration agreement, milestone payments	20,100,000		20,100,000
Sanofi [Member] \| Collaborative Arrangement [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Collaboration agreement, revenue recognized	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 700,000

Related Party Transaction - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Patent No. 8,420,051 [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expected patent expiration year			2029
Consulting Agreement [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Consulting agreement fees paid to Prof. Dr. Skerra	$ 5,559	$ 6,625	$ 16,717	$ 26,955
TUM [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Patent expiration year			2027
Transfer of licenses and protective rights	13,898	$ 16,563
Total expenses			$ 41,791	$ 50,839
TUM [Member] \| License Agreement [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Contingent accrual liability for research and licensing agreement	$ 302,490		$ 302,490		$ 327,937

Debt - Additional Information (Detail) - Tbg [Member]				9 Months Ended
Debt - Additional Information (Detail) - Tbg [Member]	Apr. 09, 2015 EUR (€)	Apr. 09, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 11, 2014 EUR (€) Tranches	Sep. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015 EUR (€)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2015 EUR (€)	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 11, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 03, 2014 EUR (€)	Apr. 03, 2014 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of repayment to TBG outstanding			€ 1,050,000						$ 1,170,000	€ 1,200,000	$ 1,340,000
Principal amount, interest rate										10.53%	10.53%
Repayment agreement description				Under the repayment agreement, the Company has agreed to a payment schedule pursuant to which it will make semi-annual payments until 2016.
Capital gain tax withheld	€ 118,688	$ 132,480
Number of tranches			2
Repayment amount of debt					€ 931,312	$ 1,039,530
Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of repayment to TBG outstanding							€ 600,000	$ 669,720
Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Two [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of repayment to TBG outstanding					€ 450,000	$ 502,290

Accrued Expenses - Schedule of Accrued Expenses (Detail) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Accrued expenses:
Accrued payroll and benefits	$ 480,626	$ 332,892
Accrued audit and tax	156,553	403,450
Accrued professional fees, and other	396,747	7,524
Total accrued expenses	1,033,926	743,866
Accrued expenses, non-current:
Reserve for litigation TUM	302,490	327,937
Accrued restoration cost	5,581	6,051
Total accrued expenses, non-current	308,071	333,988
Total accrued expenses	$ 1,341,997	$ 1,077,854

Public Offering - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 24, 2015	Jul. 06, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Initial Public Offering And Issuance Of Senior Unsecured Notes [Line Items]
Number of shares, Options exercised			0	0	0	0
Gross proceeds from issuance initial public offering		$ 28.3
Net proceeds from issuance initial public offering		$ 25.8
IPO [Member]
Initial Public Offering And Issuance Of Senior Unsecured Notes [Line Items]
Stock issued		9,090,909
Sales of common stock, price per share	$ 2.75	$ 2.75
Number of shares, Options exercised	1,211,827

Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Stock Based Compensation [Line Items]
Stock based compensation expense	$ 337,790		$ 823,164		$ 0
Number of shares, Options exercised	0	0	0	0
Weighted average grant date fair value			$ 1.94
Unrecognized share-based compensation expense	$ 3,800,000		$ 3,800,000
Recognized weighted average service period			3 years 1 month 6 days
Research and Development [Member]
Stock Based Compensation [Line Items]
Stock based compensation expense	88,176		$ 217,766
General and Administrative [Member]
Stock Based Compensation [Line Items]
Stock based compensation expense	249,613		$ 605,398
Pieris Plan [Member]
Stock Based Compensation [Line Items]
Number of shares, Options granted		0		0
Pieris Plan [Member] \| Employees Consultants And Directors [Member]
Stock Based Compensation [Line Items]
Number of shares, Options granted			663,262
Pieris Plan [Member] \| Newly Hired Executive [Member] \| Research and Development [Member]
Stock Based Compensation [Line Items]
Stock based compensation expense	$ 32,133		$ 32,133
Number of shares, Options granted			500,000
Pieris Plan [Member] \| Newly Hired Executive [Member] \| General and Administrative [Member]
Stock Based Compensation [Line Items]
Number of shares, Options granted			450,000

Stock-Based Compensation - Schedule of Total Stock-Based Compensation Expense Related to Share-Based Awards Under the Pieris Plan (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Total stock-option expense	$ 337,790	$ 823,164	$ 0
Research and Development [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Total stock-option expense	88,176	217,766
General and Administrative [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Total stock-option expense	$ 249,613	$ 605,398

Stock-Based Compensation - Schedule of Weighted-Average Assumptions Used for Calculating Value of Options Granted (Detail)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price, and Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Expected volatility	72.65%		72.65%
Expected volatility	73.43%		75.07%
Risk-free interest rate	1.69%		1.49%
Risk-free interest rate	1.89%		1.89%
Forfeiture rate	8.80%		8.80%
Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price, and Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Expected term	5 years		5 years
Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price, and Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Expected term		6 years 1 month 6 days		6 years 1 month 6 days

Consulting Shares - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 04, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 06, 2015
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued		39,759,530		39,759,530	29,279,522
Common stock par value of issued shares		$ 0.001		$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Stock based compensation expense		$ 337,790		$ 823,164	$ 0
Common stock, value		39,760		39,760	$ 29,280
Del Mar Consulting Group And Alex Partners [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Stock based compensation expense		$ 55,667		$ 162,000
Aquilo Partners [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued	27,272
Common stock par value of issued shares	$ 2.75
Letter of agreement retainer fee	$ 125,000
Common stock, value	$ 75,000
Consulting Agreement [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued						150,000
Common stock par value of issued shares						$ 0.01
Agreement termination notice period				180 days
Termination agreement percentage of shares returned				40.00%
Estimated fair value of non-cancellable shares, Shares			90,000
Estimated fair value of non-cancellable shares, Value			$ 284,400
Estimated fair value cancellable shares, Shares			60,000
Consulting Agreement [Member] \| Non Cancellable Shares [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Share price			$ 3.16

Warrants - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Warrants - Additional Information (Detail)	Dec. 31, 2014 $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Equity [Abstract]
Number of common stock purchased \| shares	542,360	542,360
Exercise price of warrants \| $ / shares	$ 2.00	$ 2.00
Warrant exercisable period	5 years
Warrant expense recognized \| $		$ 664,064

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail)				3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Aug. 27, 2015 ft² $ / ft²	Dec. 23, 2014 EUR (€)	Dec. 23, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 EUR (€)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Counterclaim amount filed		€ 2,529,400	$ 3,060,827
Claims and counterclaims amount					€ 3,500,000	$ 4,235,350
Area of lease property \| ft²	3,950
Annual rent per square foot \| $ / ft²	46.50
Annual rent increase per square foot \| $ / ft²	1.00
Rent expenses recognized				$ 0		$ 0
Description of lease agreement					The Company has agreed to pay the Sublandlord an annual rental at a rate equal to $46.50 per square foot, increasing by $1.00 per square foot on each anniversary of the Commencement Date.	The Company has agreed to pay the Sublandlord an annual rental at a rate equal to $46.50 per square foot, increasing by $1.00 per square foot on each anniversary of the Commencement Date.
Lease expiration date					Feb. 27, 2022	Feb. 27, 2022
Lease commencement date					Aug. 27, 2015	Aug. 27, 2015
Out License Fee [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Out-License Fee amount							$ 300,000
TUM [Member] \| Out License Fee [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Out-License Fee amount							3,400,000
Reserved liability					€ 271,000		$ 302,273