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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
Entity registrant name	METABOLIX, INC.
Entity central index key	0001121702
Current fiscal year end date	--12-31
Entity filer category	Smaller Reporting Company
Document type	10-Q
Document period end date	Sep. 30, 2015
Document fiscal year focus	2015
Document fiscal period focus	Q3
Amendment flag	false
Entity common stock, shares outstanding		27,331,435
Entity current reporting status	Yes

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 17,894	$ 20,046
Accounts receivable	276	45
Due from related parties	147	112
Unbilled receivables	288	420
Inventory	375	586
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,443	756
Total current assets	20,423	21,965
Restricted cash	619	619
Property and equipment, net	908	456
Other assets	170	95
Total assets	22,120	23,135
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	448	333
Accrued expenses	3,590	3,709
Deferred revenue	154	147
Total current liabilities	4,192	4,189
Other long-term liabilities	150	150
Total liabilities	4,342	4,339
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock ($0.01 par value per share); 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding	0	0
Common stock ($0.01 par value per share); 250,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014; 26,981,214 and 22,530,322 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	270	225
Additional paid-in capital	337,416	320,707
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(72)	(64)
Accumulated deficit	(319,836)	(302,072)
Total stockholders’ equity	17,778	18,796
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 22,120	$ 23,135

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Preferred stock, par value per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock shares authorized	250,000,000	250,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	26,981,214	22,530,322
Common stock, shares outstanding	26,981,214	22,530,322

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Revenue:
Product revenue	$ 209	$ 115	$ 394	$ 428
Grant revenue	327	390	1,249	1,301
License fee and royalty revenue	173	127	455	215
Total revenue	709	632	2,098	1,944
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product revenue	347	786	521	1,372
Research and development	4,088	4,088	12,332	13,280
Selling, general, and administrative	2,156	2,472	7,086	8,269
Total costs and expenses	6,591	7,346	19,939	22,921
Loss from continuing operations	(5,882)	(6,714)	(17,841)	(20,977)
Other income (expense):
Interest income, net	1	4	3	6
Other income (expense), net	33	2	74	10
Total other income (expense), net	34	6	77	16
Net loss from continuing operations	(5,848)	(6,708)	(17,764)	(20,961)
Discontinued operations:
Loss from discontinued operations	0	(294)	0	(1,430)
Loss from write down of assets held for sale	0	(891)	0	(891)
Net loss	0	(1,185)	0	(2,321)
Net loss	$ (5,848)	$ (7,893)	$ (17,764)	$ (23,282)
Basic and diluted net loss per share:
Net loss from continuing operations	$ (0.22)	$ (0.71)	$ (0.73)	$ (2.99)
Net loss from discontinued operations	0.00	(0.13)	0.00	(0.33)
Net loss per share	$ (0.22)	$ (0.84)	$ (0.73)	$ (3.32)
Number of shares used in per share calculations:
Basic and diluted (in shares)	26,979,598	9,381,316	24,234,043	7,017,749

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	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:	$ (5,848)	$ (7,893)	$ (17,764)	$ (23,282)
Other comprehensive loss
Change in unrealized loss on investments	0	0	0	(1)
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment	(3)	(109)	(7)	(140)
Total other comprehensive loss	(3)	(109)	(7)	(141)
Comprehensive loss	$ (5,851)	$ (8,002)	$ (17,771)	$ (23,423)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss	$ (17,764,000)	$ (23,282,000)
Loss from discontinued operation	0	(2,321,000)
Loss from continuing operations	(17,764,000)	(20,961,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation	167,000	430,000
Charge for 401(k) company common stock match	291,000	332,000
Stock-based compensation	1,483,000	1,912,000
Inventory impairment	202,000	886,000
Gain on sale of property and equipment	(33,000)	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivables	(231,000)	769,000
Due from related party	(35,000)	(49,000)
Unbilled receivables	132,000	34,000
Inventory	9,000	191,000
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(687,000)	254,000
Accounts payable	48,000	(211,000)
Accrued expenses	18,000	(1,355,000)
Deferred rent and other long-term liabilities	0	(50,000)
Deferred revenue	7,000	(364,000)
Net cash used by continuing operations for operating activities	(16,393,000)	(18,182,000)
Net cash used by discontinued operations for operating activities	0	(460,000)
Net cash used in operating activities	(16,393,000)	(18,642,000)
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property and equipment	(498,000)	(153,000)
Proceeds from sale of equipment	40,000	0
Purchase of short-term investments	0	(1,508,000)
Proceeds from the sale and maturity of short-term investments	0	13,019,000
Net cash (used by) provided by investing activities	(458,000)	11,358,000
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from options exercised	0	300,000
Proceeds from private placement offerings, net of issuance costs	14,703,000	24,913,000
Net cash provided by financing activities	14,703,000	25,213,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(4,000)	(141,000)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(2,152,000)	17,788,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	20,046,000	7,698,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	17,894,000	25,486,000
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash information:
Purchase of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	128,000	0
Offering costs included in accrued expenses	75,000	0
Restricted stock units issued to settle incentive compensation obligation	$ 305,000	$ 0

BASIS OF PRESENTATION	9 Months Ended
BASIS OF PRESENTATION	Sep. 30, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
BASIS OF PRESENTATION	BASIS OF PRESENTATION The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared by Metabolix, Inc. (the “Company”) in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements have been condensed or omitted. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. The consolidated financial statements, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations for the interim periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for any future period or the entire fiscal year. These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, which are contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 25, 2015. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. During 2014, the Company completed the sale of substantially all of the assets of its German subsidiary, Metabolix GmbH. The consolidated condensed financial statements for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2014, have been presented to reflect the operations of Metabolix GmbH as a discontinued operation. See Note 13 for additional information. On May 26, 2015, the Company effected a 1-for-6 reverse stock split of its common stock. Unless otherwise indicated, all share amounts, per share data, share prices, exercise prices, and conversion rates set forth in these notes and the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have, where applicable, been adjusted retroactively to reflect this reverse stock split. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a basis which assumes that the Company will continue as a going concern and which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. However, with the exception of 2012, when the Company recognized $38,885 of deferred revenue from a terminated joint venture, it has recorded losses since its inception, including for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2015. As of September 30, 2015, the Company held unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $17,894 and it now has $20,000 of availability under the equity financing arrangement with Aspire Capital Fund, LLC ("Aspire") described below. The Company’s present capital resources may not be sufficient to fund its planned operations for a twelve month period and, therefore, raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. The Company was successful during its fiscal quarters ending June 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, in raising $14,703 and $24,913, net of offering costs, respectively, through private equity offerings. On October 7, 2015, the Company entered into a $20,000 common stock purchase agreement with Aspire. Under terms of the agreement, Aspire has committed to purchase up to $20,000 of Metabolix’s common stock over a 30 month period beginning on November 9, 2015, the date on which the conditions to the commencement of common stock purchases under the agreement were satisfied. Common stock may be sold from time to time at the Company’s option under pricing formulas based on prevailing market prices around the time of each sale. The Company expects to use the Aspire facility to complement, rather than replace, other financing that may be required during the next twelve months to continue its operations and support its capital needs. The timing, structure and vehicles for obtaining future financing are under consideration, but there can be no assurance that such financing efforts will be successful. The Company intends to use the proceeds of its recent and any future financings for general corporate purposes and working capital requirements, including the continued development of its specialty biopolymers business as the foundation for its longer range commercial scale plans and the future growth of its business. The Company continues to face significant challenges and uncertainties and, as a result, its available capital resources may be consumed more rapidly than currently expected due to (a) lower than expected sales of its biopolymer products as a result of slow market adoption; (b) increases in capital costs or operating expenses related to the Company's establishment, start-up, and operation of commercial scale biopolymer manufacturing either on its own or with third parties; (c) changes the Company may make to the business that affect ongoing operating expenses; (d) changes the Company may make to its business strategy; (e) changes in the Company's research and development spending plans; and (f) other items affecting the Company's forecasted level of expenditures and use of cash resources. If the Company issues equity or debt securities to raise additional funds, (i) the Company may incur fees associated with such issuance, (ii) its existing stockholders may experience dilution from the issuance of new equity securities, (iii) the Company may incur ongoing interest expense and be required to grant a security interest in Company assets in connection with any debt issuance, and (iv) the new equity or debt securities may have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of the Company’s existing stockholders. In addition, utilization of the Company’s net operating loss and research and development credit carryforwards may be subject to significant annual limitations under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 due to ownership changes resulting from equity financing transactions. If the Company raises additional funds through collaboration, licensing or other similar arrangements, it may be necessary to relinquish valuable rights to its potential products or proprietary technologies, or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to the Company. Failure to receive additional funding during the next twelve months may force the Company to delay, scale back or otherwise modify its business and manufacturing plans, sales and marketing efforts, research and development activities and other operations, and/or seek strategic alternatives. The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of these uncertainties.

ACCOUNTING POLICIES	9 Months Ended
ACCOUNTING POLICIES	Sep. 30, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
ACCOUNTING POLICIES	ACCOUNTING POLICIES There have been no material changes in accounting policies since the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, as described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year then ended. Principles of Consolidation The Company's consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions were eliminated, including transactions with its German subsidiary, Metabolix GmbH, and its Canadian subsidiary, Metabolix Oilseeds, Inc. On October 20, 2014, the Company completed the sale of substantially all of the assets of Metabolix GmbH to AKRO-PLASTIC GmbH, a German manufacturer of engineering plastics compounds. The condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014, have been presented to reflect the operations of Metabolix GmbH as a discontinued operation. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Foreign Currency Translation Foreign denominated assets and liabilities of the Company's wholly-owned foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rates in effect on the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Any resulting translation gains or losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the consolidated balance sheet. When the Company dissolves, sells or substantially sells all of the assets of a consolidated foreign subsidiary, the cumulative translation gain or loss of that subsidiary is released from comprehensive income (loss) and included within its consolidated statement of operations during the fiscal period when the dissolution or sale occurs. Concentration of Credit Risk Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents. The Company has historically invested its cash equivalents in highly rated money market funds, corporate debt, federal agency notes and U.S. treasury notes. Investments, when purchased, are acquired in accordance with the Company’s investment policy which establishes a concentration limit per issuer. At September 30, 2015, the Company’s cash equivalents are invested solely in money market funds. The Company provides credit to customers in the normal course of business. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and limits the amount of credit extended when deemed necessary. At September 30, 2015, the Company’s accounts and unbilled receivables include $486 or 68% from U.S. and Canadian government grants. At September 30, 2015, the Company’s Renewable Enhanced Feedstocks for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts ("REFABB") grant from the Department of Energy represented 77% of total government grant receivables. At December 31, 2014, the Company’s accounts and unbilled receivables include $429 or 74% from government grants. At December 31, 2014, the Company’s REFABB grant from the Department of Energy represented 63% of total government grant receivables.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS	9 Months Ended
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS	Sep. 30, 2015
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS	RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2014-8, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity, which changes the criteria for determining which disposals can be presented as discontinued operations and modifies the related disclosure requirements. Under the new guidance, a disposal of a component of an entity or a group of components of an entity is required to be reported in discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results and is disposed of or classified as held for sale. The standard also introduces several new disclosures. The guidance applies prospectively to new disposals and new classifications of disposal groups as held for sale after the effective date. ASU 2014-8 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected early adoption of ASU 2014-8 and applied the new guidance in connection with the discontinuation of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Metabolix GmbH, in 2014. See Note 13, Discontinued Operation. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes all existing revenue recognition requirements, including most industry-specific guidance. The new standard requires a company to recognize revenue when it transfers goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that the company expects to receive for those goods or services. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, which delayed the effective date of the new standard from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2018. The FASB also agreed to allow entities to choose to adopt the standard as of the original effective date. We are currently evaluating the method of adoption and the potential impact that Topic 606 may have on our financial position and results of operations. In August 2014, the FASB issued an amendment that requires management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern by incorporating and expanding upon certain principles that are currently in U.S. auditing standards. The amendments in this update provide guidance about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern for one year after the date that the financial statements are issued and to provide related footnote disclosures. In doing so, the amendments should reduce diversity in the timing and content of footnote disclosures. The amendments in this update apply to all entities and are effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. Early application is permitted. The Company is currently reviewing the potential impact of adopting the new guidance. In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, which requires entities to measure most inventory “at the lower of cost and net realizable value,” thereby simplifying the current guidance under which an entity must measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. ASU 2015-11 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently reviewing the potential impact of adopting the new guidance.

- Definition

The entire disclosure of changes in accounting principles, including adoption of new accounting pronouncements, that describes the new methods, amount and effects on financial statement line items.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Change in Accounting Principle
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507316

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Direct Effects of a Change in Accounting Principle
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510796

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 250
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28359718&loc=d3e22583-107794

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Indirect Effects of a Change in Accounting Principle
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6515603

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 250
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28359718&loc=d3e22580-107794

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 270
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.10-01.(b)(6))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27015980&loc=d3e46468-122699

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Accounting Change
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6503790

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 250
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28359718&loc=d3e22499-107794

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Retrospective Application
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6523989

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 270
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6372559&loc=d3e765-108305

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 270
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-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6372559&loc=d3e725-108305

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 01
-Paragraph b
-Subparagraph 6
-Article 10

+ Details

BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE

Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted shares outstanding is calculated by adding to the weighted shares outstanding any potential (unissued) shares of common stock from outstanding stock options and warrants based on the treasury stock method, as well as weighted shares outstanding of any potential (unissued) shares of common stock from restricted stock units. In periods when a net loss is reported, all common stock equivalents are excluded from the calculation because they would have an anti-dilutive effect, meaning the loss per share would be reduced. Therefore, in periods when a loss is reported, there is no difference in basic and dilutive loss per share. Common stock equivalents include stock options, restricted stock awards and warrants.

The Company follows the two-class method when computing net loss per share, when it has issued shares that meet the definition of participating securities. The two-class method determines net loss per share for each class of common and participating securities according to dividends declared or accumulated and participating rights in undistributed earnings. The two-class method requires income available to common stockholders for the period to be allocated between common and participating securities based on their respective rights to receive dividends, as if all income for the period has been distributed or losses to be allocated if they are contractually required to fund losses. There were no amounts allocated to participating securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, as the Company had no outstanding shares that met the definition of participating securities. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company had outstanding 50,000 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock that met the definition of participating securities. No amounts were allocated to these preferred shares as the Company was in a loss position. See Note 14.

On May 26, 2015, the Company effected a 1-for-6 reverse stock split of its common stock. The calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share, as presented in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, have been determined based on retroactive adjustment of weighted average shares outstanding for all periods presented.

The number of shares of potentially dilutive common stock presented on a weighted average basis, related to options, convertible preferred stock, restricted stock units and warrants (prior to consideration of the treasury stock method) that were excluded from the calculation of dilutive shares since the inclusion of such shares would be anti-dilutive for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, are shown below:



	Three Months Ended September 30,		Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015	2014	2015	2014
Options	928,090	1,169,058	956,181	1,217,890
Convertible Series B Preferred Stock	—	8,333,333	—	8,333,333
Restricted stock units	1,198,743	100,000	830,530	99,634
Warrants	3,933,000	—	1,541,505	—
Total	6,059,833	9,602,391	3,328,216	9,650,857

On August 22, 2014, the Company completed a private placement of $25,000 of Company securities. The securities issued included 50,000 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock automatically converted to 166.67 shares of Common Stock on October 30, 2014, upon the Company’s filing of a charter amendment to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock to 250,000,000. The potentially dilutive common stock equivalent of the Preferred Shares at September 30, 2014, on a post-conversion basis, was 8,333,333 shares. See Note 14, Capital Stock.

INVENTORY

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

INVENTORY

The components of biopolymer inventories of the Company’s continuing operations are as follows:



	September 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Raw materials	$	38	$	2
Work in Process	6		—
Finished goods	331		584
Total inventory	$	375	$	586

On a quarterly basis, the Company uses consistent methodologies to evaluate inventory for net realizable value, reducing the value of inventory for excess and obsolete inventory based upon certain assumptions made about future customer demand, quality and possible alternative uses. The Company recorded an inventory impairment charge of $202 to cost of product revenue during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, for inventory that it determined was unlikely to be sold. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded inventory impairment charges of $657 and $886, respectively.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The Company has certain financial assets recorded at fair value which have been classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy as described in the accounting standards for fair value measurements. Fair value is the price that would be received from the sale of an asset or the price paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between independent market participants at the measurement date. Fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize observable data such as quoted prices in active markets. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs utilize data points other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly. Fair values determined by Level 3 inputs utilize unobservable data points in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions. The fair value hierarchy level is determined by the lowest level of significant input. At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company did not own any Level 2 or Level 3 financial assets and there were no transfers between classification levels.

The tables below present information about the Company’s assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized to determine such fair value.



	Fair value measurements at reporting date using
	Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets		Significant other observable inputs		Significant unobservable inputs		Balance as of
Description	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		September 30, 2015
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	15,511	$	—	$	—	$	15,511
Total	$	15,511	$	—	$	—	$	15,511



	Fair value measurements at reporting date using
	Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets		Significant other observable inputs		Significant unobservable inputs		Balance as of
Description	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		December 31, 2014
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	19,011	$	—	$	—	$	19,011
Total	$	19,011	$	—	$	—	$	19,011

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details

ACCRUED EXPENSES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accrued expenses consisted of the following at:



	September 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Employee compensation and benefits	$	2,026	$	2,621
Professional services	724		564
Pilot manufacturing	303		77
Other	537		447
Total accrued expenses	$	3,590	$	3,709

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

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

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

At September 30, 2015, there was approximately $4,190 of pre-tax stock-based compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, related to unvested awards not yet recognized.

Employee and Director Stock Options

The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense related to employee stock option awards of $588 and $1,483 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense related to employee stock option awards was $533 and $1,912 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. The compensation expense related to unvested stock options is expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted average period of 2.18 years.

A summary of option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 is as follows:



	Number of Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	1,110,721		$	28.22
Granted	31,208		3.72
Exercised	—		—
Forfeited	(1,677	)	7.88
Expired	(232,936	)	31.41
Outstanding at September 30, 2015	907,316		$	26.59

Options exercisable at September 30, 2015	594,188		$	36.29

Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2015			$	2.68

Restricted Stock Units

On January 2, 2014, the Company awarded 100,000 restricted stock units ("RSUs") to its Chief Executive Officer. These RSUs contain both market and performance conditions which are based on the achievement of certain stock price and revenue targets, respectively. The RSUs vest in various percentages over three years (subject to certain accelerated and continued vesting events) once the agreed-upon stock price and/or revenue based targets are achieved. To the extent that the market or performance conditions are not met by January 2, 2016, the RSUs will be forfeited. The Company estimated the fair value and derived service period of the awards using a Monte Carlo valuation model. The Company is recognizing compensation expense for this award over its requisite service period, which is equal to the cumulative time expected to achieve one of the triggering conditions followed by a three-year post-triggering event vesting period.

The Company's 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the "2014 Plan") authorizes the granting of incentive and nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, restricted stock awards, unrestricted stock awards, performance share awards and dividend equivalent rights to the Company's officers, directors and consultants. During 2015, the Company initiated use of RSUs as a broad-based form of compensation incentive for its officers, directors and employees.

On April 1, 2015, the Company awarded 203,967 RSUs under the 2014 Plan to members of senior management pursuant to elections previously made by the senior managers to convert a portion of their 2014 performance bonuses from cash to equity. These RSUs vest one year from the date of grant, subject to service conditions. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company also awarded a total of 906,806 additional long-term incentive RSUs to senior managers and employees. These RSUs vest in four equal annual installments beginning one year after the date of grant, subject to service conditions. On September 10, 2015, the Company awarded 81,250 RSUs to its non-employee directors. These RSUs will vest on May 28, 2016.

The Company records stock compensation expense for RSUs on a straight line basis over their vesting period based on each RSU's award date market value. The Company will pay required minimum income tax withholding associated with RSUs for its employees as they vest and will withhold from the common stock issuable on vesting of the RSUs a number of shares with an aggregate fair market value equal to the minimum tax withholding amount unless the employee makes other arrangements for payment of the tax withholding.

A summary of RSU activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 is as follows:



	Number of RSUs			Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	100,000
Awarded	1,192,023
Released	—
Forfeited	(1,000		)
Outstanding at September 30, 2015	1,291,023			1.54

Vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 2015	1,122,027			1.42

Weighted average remaining recognition period	2.60
Weighted average grant date fair value of RSUs granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2015	$	3.61

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	Sep. 30, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Litigation From time to time, the Company may be subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business. The Company is not currently aware of any such proceedings or claims that it believes will have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or the results of operations. Contractual Commitments In connection with the Company’s plan to increase pilot production of its PHA biopolymers, during May 2015 the Company entered into a two-year agreement with a U.S. supplier of toll fermentation services and another two-year agreement with the owner/operator of the Company’s U.S. pilot resin recovery facility. Under these manufacturing agreements, which became effective July 1, 2015, the Company estimates that it will be obligated to pay quarterly fixed service fees of approximately $1,100 after the commencement of full scale production and continuing through at least December 31, 2016. The Company anticipates commencement of full scale production will occur in early 2016. The Company made a $1,000 prepayment against future fixed service fees in May 2015 that remains available for offset against these service fees at September 30, 2015. In addition to these fixed charges, the Company is obligated to pay certain variable production costs as incurred.

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

The geographic distribution of the Company’s revenues and long-lived assets from continuing operations are summarized in the tables below:



	U.S.		Canada		Eliminations			Total
Three Months Ended September 30, 2015:
Net revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	709	$	—	$	—		$	709
Inter-geographic revenues	—		192		(192		)	—
Net revenues	$	709	$	192	$	(192	)	$	709

Three Months Ended September 30, 2014:
Net revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	600	$	32	$	—		$	632
Inter-geographic revenues	—		185		(185		)	—
Net revenues	$	600	$	217	$	(185	)	$	632

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015:
Net revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	2,097	$	1	$	—		$	2,098
Inter-geographic revenues	—		594		(594		)	—
Net revenues	$	2,097	$	595	$	(594	)	$	2,098

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014:
Net revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	1,830	$	114	$	—		$	1,944
Inter-geographic revenues	—		545		(545		)	—
Net revenues	$	1,830	$	659	$	(545	)	$	1,944

Foreign revenue is based on the country in which the Company’s subsidiary that earned the revenue is domiciled. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, revenue earned from the Company’s REFABB grant with the U.S. Department of Energy totaled $312 and $990, respectively, and represented 44% and 47% of total revenue. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, revenue earned from the Company's REFABB grant totaled $290 and $898, respectively, and represented 46% of total revenue for both periods. During the nine months ended September, 30, 2015, no biopolymer customer represented 10% or more of the Company’s total revenues. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, one biopolymer customer represented 10% of the Company's total revenues.

The geographic distribution of the Company’s long-lived assets is summarized as follows:



	U.S.		Canada		Eliminations		Total
September 30, 2015	$	903	$	5	$	—	$	908
December 31, 2014	$	441	$	15	$	—	$	456

- Definition

The entire disclosure for reporting segments including data and tables. Reportable segments include those that meet any of the following quantitative thresholds a) it's reported revenue, including sales to external customers and intersegment sales or transfers is 10 percent or more of the combined revenue, internal and external, of all operating segments b) the absolute amount of its reported profit or loss is 10 percent or more of the greater, in absolute amount of 1) the combined reported profit of all operating segments that did not report a loss or 2) the combined reported loss of all operating segments that did report a loss c) its assets are 10 percent or more of the combined assets of all operating segments.

+ References

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+ Details

INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
INCOME TAXES	Sep. 30, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	INCOME TAXES Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are recognized based on temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities using future enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance is recorded against deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company did not recognize any tax expense or benefit due to its continued net operating loss position. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the realization of favorable tax attributes in future tax returns, the Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against its otherwise recognizable net deferred tax assets. The Company follows the accounting guidance related to income taxes including guidance which addresses accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. This guidance prescribes a threshold for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. It also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosures and transitions. The Company had no amounts recorded for any unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2015 or December 31, 2014.

RELATED PARTIES	9 Months Ended
RELATED PARTIES	Sep. 30, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
RELATED PARTIES	RELATED PARTIES The Company engaged in various transactions with Tepha, Inc., a related party, and recorded $172 and $407 of license and royalty revenue during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded license and royalty revenue from Tepha of $127 and $194, respectively. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had $147 and $112, respectively, of outstanding receivables due from Tepha for royalties.

- 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

DISCONTINUED OPERATION

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

DISCONTINUED OPERATION

The Company decided in September 2014 to discontinue its operations in Germany and sold substantially all of the assets of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Metabolix GmbH. The Company does not have significant ongoing involvement in the operations formerly conducted by Metabolix GmbH. The consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2014, have been presented to reflect the operations of Metabolix GmbH as a discontinued operation. The following represent the major items comprising loss from discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.



	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2014			2014
Total revenue	$	434		$	1,361
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product revenue	413			405
Research and development	15			242
Selling, general and administrative	300			2,144
Loss from write-down of assets held for sale	891			891
Total costs and expenses	1,619			3,682
Net loss	$	(1,185	)	$	(2,321	)

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the facts and circumstances leading to the completed or expected disposal, manner and timing of disposal, the gain (loss) recognized in the income statement and the income statement caption that includes that gain (loss), amounts of revenues and pretax profit or loss reported in discontinued operations, the segment in which the disposal group was reported, and the classification (whether sold or classified as held for sale) and carrying value of the assets and liabilities comprising the disposal group. Includes all disposal groups, including those classified as components of the entity (discontinued operations).

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+ Details

CAPITAL STOCK	9 Months Ended
CAPITAL STOCK	Sep. 30, 2014
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
CAPITAL STOCK	CAPITAL STOCK Common and Preferred Stock Issuances On October 7, 2015, the Company entered into a common stock purchase agreement with Aspire. Under terms of the agreement, Aspire committed to purchase up to an aggregate of $20,000 of the Company's common stock over a 30 month period beginning on November 9, 2015, the date on which the conditions to the commencement of common stock purchases under the agreement were satisfied. Common stock may be sold from time to time at the Company’s option under pricing formulas based on prevailing market prices around the time of each sale. The purchase agreement contains limitations on the number of shares that we may sell to Aspire. Additionally, we and Aspire may not effect any sales of shares of our common stock under the purchase agreement during the continuance of an event of default or on any trading day that the closing sale price of our common stock is less than $0.50 per share. The Company issued 300,000 shares of its common stock to Aspire as a commitment fee concurrently with the execution of the purchase agreement. On June 19, 2015, the Company completed a private placement of its securities. Proceeds received from the transaction were $14,703, net of issuance costs of $297. Investors participating in the transaction purchased a total of 4,370,000 shares of common stock at a price of $3.32 per share and warrants with a purchase price of $0.125 per warrant to purchase up to an aggregate of 3,933,000 additional shares of common stock. The warrants have a four-year term and are immediately exercisable at a price of $3.98 per share. The Company reviewed the accounting guidance for warrants and has determined that the warrants should be recorded as equity within additional paid-in capital. On May 26, 2015, the Company effected a 1-for-6 reverse split of its common stock, as determined by the Company's board of directors under authorization approved at a special meeting of stockholders held on October 30, 2014. The reverse stock split reduced the number of shares of the Company's common stock currently outstanding at the time the reverse split was made effective from approximately 135.5 million shares to approximately 22.6 million shares. Proportional adjustments were made to the Company's outstanding stock options and restricted stock units and to the number of shares issued and issuable under the Company's equity compensation plans. The number of authorized shares of the Company's common stock remained at 250.0 million shares. On August 22, 2014, the Company completed a private placement of its securities. Proceeds received from the transaction were $24,913, net of issuance costs of $87. Investors participating in the transaction purchased a total of 50,000,000 units of the Company’s securities at a price of $0.50 per unit. Each unit consisted of 0.1667 share of the Company’s common stock and one thousandth of a share of the Company’s Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, for a total of 8,333,333 shares of common stock and 50,000 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. Each share of the preferred stock issued in the transaction was non-voting, was not redeemable, had no liquidation preference and the only conversion rights were that each share was automatically convertible into 166.67 shares of common stock upon the effectiveness of the filing by the Company of a charter amendment to increase the number of shares of authorized common stock to not less than 150,000,000. On October 30, 2014, following stockholder approval of a charter amendment to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock to 250,000,000 and the effectiveness of such charter amendment, each share of preferred stock issued in the private placement automatically converted into 166.67 shares of common stock, for a total of 8,333,333 additional shares of common stock.

- 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.

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Reference 16: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 4
-Section E

Reference 17: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Article 4

Reference 18: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 4
-Section C

Reference 19: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3

+ Details

RESTRUCTURING

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

RESTRUCTURING

In October 2014, the Company initiated a restructuring of its U.S. organization to reflect its more narrow strategic focus on PHA performance biopolymers and to modify staffing to the level the Company believed necessary to support successful implementation of its current business strategy. The scope of the restructuring also reflected the Company’s decision, consistent with its business strategy, to suspend work in its chemicals program. The Company has recognized a total of $659 in restructuring charges related to post-employment benefits. At September 30, 2015, $79 of the restructuring charges remain to be paid during 2015.



	Original Charges and Amounts Accrued		Adjustments to Charges		Amounts Paid through September 30, 2015			Amounts Accrued at September 30, 2015
Employee severance, benefits and related costs	$	624	$	35	$	(580	)	$	79
	$	624	$	35	$	(580	)	$	79

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	9 Months Ended
ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	Sep. 30, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles of consolidation	Principles of Consolidation The Company's consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions were eliminated, including transactions with its German subsidiary, Metabolix GmbH, and its Canadian subsidiary, Metabolix Oilseeds, Inc. On October 20, 2014, the Company completed the sale of substantially all of the assets of Metabolix GmbH to AKRO-PLASTIC GmbH, a German manufacturer of engineering plastics compounds. The condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014, have been presented to reflect the operations of Metabolix GmbH as a discontinued operation.
Use of estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Foreign currency translation	Foreign Currency Translation Foreign denominated assets and liabilities of the Company's wholly-owned foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rates in effect on the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Any resulting translation gains or losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the consolidated balance sheet. When the Company dissolves, sells or substantially sells all of the assets of a consolidated foreign subsidiary, the cumulative translation gain or loss of that subsidiary is released from comprehensive income (loss) and included within its consolidated statement of operations during the fiscal period when the dissolution or sale occurs.
Concentration of credit risk	Concentration of Credit Risk Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents. The Company has historically invested its cash equivalents in highly rated money market funds, corporate debt, federal agency notes and U.S. treasury notes. Investments, when purchased, are acquired in accordance with the Company’s investment policy which establishes a concentration limit per issuer. At September 30, 2015, the Company’s cash equivalents are invested solely in money market funds. The Company provides credit to customers in the normal course of business. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and limits the amount of credit extended when deemed necessary.
Recent accounting pronouncements	RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2014-8, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity, which changes the criteria for determining which disposals can be presented as discontinued operations and modifies the related disclosure requirements. Under the new guidance, a disposal of a component of an entity or a group of components of an entity is required to be reported in discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results and is disposed of or classified as held for sale. The standard also introduces several new disclosures. The guidance applies prospectively to new disposals and new classifications of disposal groups as held for sale after the effective date. ASU 2014-8 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected early adoption of ASU 2014-8 and applied the new guidance in connection with the discontinuation of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Metabolix GmbH, in 2014. See Note 13, Discontinued Operation. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes all existing revenue recognition requirements, including most industry-specific guidance. The new standard requires a company to recognize revenue when it transfers goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that the company expects to receive for those goods or services. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, which delayed the effective date of the new standard from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2018. The FASB also agreed to allow entities to choose to adopt the standard as of the original effective date. We are currently evaluating the method of adoption and the potential impact that Topic 606 may have on our financial position and results of operations. In August 2014, the FASB issued an amendment that requires management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern by incorporating and expanding upon certain principles that are currently in U.S. auditing standards. The amendments in this update provide guidance about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern for one year after the date that the financial statements are issued and to provide related footnote disclosures. In doing so, the amendments should reduce diversity in the timing and content of footnote disclosures. The amendments in this update apply to all entities and are effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. Early application is permitted. The Company is currently reviewing the potential impact of adopting the new guidance. In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, which requires entities to measure most inventory “at the lower of cost and net realizable value,” thereby simplifying the current guidance under which an entity must measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. ASU 2015-11 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently reviewing the potential impact of adopting the new guidance.

BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of number of shares of potentially dilutive common stock related to options and warrants that were excluded from the calculation of dilutive shares



	Three Months Ended September 30,		Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015	2014	2015	2014
Options	928,090	1,169,058	956,181	1,217,890
Convertible Series B Preferred Stock	—	8,333,333	—	8,333,333
Restricted stock units	1,198,743	100,000	830,530	99,634
Warrants	3,933,000	—	1,541,505	—
Total	6,059,833	9,602,391	3,328,216	9,650,857

INVENTORY (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of the components of the Company's biopolymer inventories

The components of biopolymer inventories of the Company’s continuing operations are as follows:



	September 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Raw materials	$	38	$	2
Work in Process	6		—
Finished goods	331		584
Total inventory	$	375	$	586

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of information about assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis



	Fair value measurements at reporting date using
	Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets		Significant other observable inputs		Significant unobservable inputs		Balance as of
Description	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		September 30, 2015
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	15,511	$	—	$	—	$	15,511
Total	$	15,511	$	—	$	—	$	15,511



	Fair value measurements at reporting date using
	Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets		Significant other observable inputs		Significant unobservable inputs		Balance as of
Description	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		December 31, 2014
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	19,011	$	—	$	—	$	19,011
Total	$	19,011	$	—	$	—	$	19,011

ACCRUED EXPENSES (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

Schedule of accrued expenses

Accrued expenses consisted of the following at:



	September 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Employee compensation and benefits	$	2,026	$	2,621
Professional services	724		564
Pilot manufacturing	303		77
Other	537		447
Total accrued expenses	$	3,590	$	3,709

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

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

Summary of option activity

A summary of option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 is as follows:



	Number of Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	1,110,721		$	28.22
Granted	31,208		3.72
Exercised	—		—
Forfeited	(1,677	)	7.88
Expired	(232,936	)	31.41
Outstanding at September 30, 2015	907,316		$	26.59

Options exercisable at September 30, 2015	594,188		$	36.29

Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2015			$	2.68

Schedule of restricted stock units activity

A summary of RSU activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 is as follows:



	Number of RSUs			Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	100,000
Awarded	1,192,023
Released	—
Forfeited	(1,000		)
Outstanding at September 30, 2015	1,291,023			1.54

Vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 2015	1,122,027			1.42

Weighted average remaining recognition period	2.60
Weighted average grant date fair value of RSUs granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2015	$	3.61

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of the geographic distribution of revenues and long-lived assets from continuing operations

The geographic distribution of the Company’s revenues and long-lived assets from continuing operations are summarized in the tables below:



	U.S.		Canada		Eliminations			Total
Three Months Ended September 30, 2015:
Net revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	709	$	—	$	—		$	709
Inter-geographic revenues	—		192		(192		)	—
Net revenues	$	709	$	192	$	(192	)	$	709

Three Months Ended September 30, 2014:
Net revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	600	$	32	$	—		$	632
Inter-geographic revenues	—		185		(185		)	—
Net revenues	$	600	$	217	$	(185	)	$	632

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015:
Net revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	2,097	$	1	$	—		$	2,098
Inter-geographic revenues	—		594		(594		)	—
Net revenues	$	2,097	$	595	$	(594	)	$	2,098

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014:
Net revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	1,830	$	114	$	—		$	1,944
Inter-geographic revenues	—		545		(545		)	—
Net revenues	$	1,830	$	659	$	(545	)	$	1,944

Schedule of the geographic distribution of long-lived assets

The geographic distribution of the Company’s long-lived assets is summarized as follows:



	U.S.		Canada		Eliminations		Total
September 30, 2015	$	903	$	5	$	—	$	908
December 31, 2014	$	441	$	15	$	—	$	456

DISCONTINUED OPERATION (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Schedule of discontinued operations income statement

The following represent the major items comprising loss from discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.



	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2014			2014
Total revenue	$	434		$	1,361
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product revenue	413			405
Research and development	15			242
Selling, general and administrative	300			2,144
Loss from write-down of assets held for sale	891			891
Total costs and expenses	1,619			3,682
Net loss	$	(1,185	)	$	(2,321	)

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of disposal groups, which may include the gain (loss) recognized in the income statement and the income statement caption that includes that gain (loss), amounts of revenues and pretax profit or loss reported in discontinued operations, the classification and carrying value of the assets and liabilities comprising the disposal group, and the segment in which the disposal group was reported. Also may include the amount of adjustments to amounts previously reported in discontinued operations such as resolution of contingencies arising from the disposal transaction or the operations of the component prior to disposal.

+ References + Details

RESTRUCTURING (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Schedule of accrued restructuring charges



	Original Charges and Amounts Accrued		Adjustments to Charges		Amounts Paid through September 30, 2015			Amounts Accrued at September 30, 2015
Employee severance, benefits and related costs	$	624	$	35	$	(580	)	$	79
	$	624	$	35	$	(580	)	$	79

BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Details) - USD ($)				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Details) - USD ($)	Oct. 07, 2015	Jun. 19, 2015	Aug. 22, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Deferred revenue recognized from the terminated Telles joint venture								$ 38,885,000
Unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and investments				$ 17,894,000		$ 17,894,000
Period over which company's present capital resources are not sufficient to fund its planned operations						12 months
Proceeds from private placement offerings, net of issuance costs		$ 14,703,000	$ 24,913,000	$ 14,703	$ 24,913,000	$ 14,703,000	$ 24,913,000
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Private Placement [Member] \| Aspire [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Term of contractual service agreement	30 months
Other Commitment	$ 20,000,000

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) - Accounts receivable - Credit concentration risk - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
US, Canadian, and German government grants
Concentration of credit risk
Accounts receivable	$ 486
Receivables/Sales (as a percent)	68.00%
Government grants
Concentration of credit risk
Accounts receivable		$ 429
Receivables/Sales (as a percent)		74.00%
Development of renewable enhanced feedstocks for advanced biofuels and bioproducts department of energy grant
Concentration of credit risk
Receivables/Sales (as a percent)	77.00%	63.00%

BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE (Details) $ in Thousands				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 26, 2015 shares	Oct. 30, 2014 shares	Aug. 22, 2014 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2015 shares	Sep. 30, 2014 shares	Sep. 30, 2015 shares	Sep. 30, 2014 shares	Dec. 31, 2014 shares
Antidilutive securities
Preferred stock, shares outstanding				0		0		0
Proceeds From Issuance Of Private Placement Gross \| $			$ 25,000
Antidilutive common stock excluded from the calculation of dilutive shares				6,059,833	9,602,391	3,328,216	9,650,857
Preferred shares issued			50,000	0		0		0
Common stock conversion ratio for each preferred stock	0.1667
Common stock shares authorized	250,000,000			250,000,000		250,000,000		250,000,000
Options
Antidilutive securities
Antidilutive common stock excluded from the calculation of dilutive shares				928,090	1,169,058	956,181	1,217,890
Convertible Series B Preferred Stock
Antidilutive securities
Antidilutive common stock excluded from the calculation of dilutive shares				0	8,333,333	0	8,333,333
Restricted stock units
Antidilutive securities
Antidilutive common stock excluded from the calculation of dilutive shares				1,198,743	100,000	830,530	99,634
Warrants
Antidilutive securities
Antidilutive common stock excluded from the calculation of dilutive shares				3,933,000	0	1,541,505	0
Common stock
Antidilutive securities
Common stock shares authorized		250,000,000	150,000,000
Convertible Preferred Stock, Shares Issued upon Conversion		8,333,333
Convertible Series B Preferred Stock
Antidilutive securities
Preferred stock, shares outstanding					50,000		50,000
Common stock conversion ratio for each preferred stock		166.67	166.67

INVENTORY (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
INVENTORY (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Raw materials	$ 38		$ 38		$ 2
Inventory, Work in Process, Gross	6		6		0
Finished goods	331		331		584
Total inventory	375		375		$ 586
Charges to cost of product revenue for inventory unlikely to be sold	$ 202	$ 657	$ 202	$ 886

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details) - Fair Value, measurements, recurring - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair value measurements
Total	$ 15,511	$ 19,011
Money market funds
Fair value measurements
Cash equivalents	15,511	19,011
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets
Fair value measurements
Total	15,511	19,011
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets \| Money market funds
Fair value measurements
Cash equivalents	$ 15,511	$ 19,011

ACCRUED EXPENSES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Employee compensation and benefits	$ 2,026	$ 2,621
Professional services	724	564
Pilot manufacturing	303	77
Other	537	447
Total accrued expenses	$ 3,590	$ 3,709

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Employee stock option
Stock-based compensation
Stock-based compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, related to unvested awards not yet recognized	$ 4,190		$ 4,190
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 588	$ 533	$ 1,483	$ 1,912
Weighted average remaining recognition period			2 years 2 months 5 days
Options
Stock Options, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in shares)			1,110,721
Granted (in shares)			31,208
Exercised (in shares)			0
Forfeited (in shares)			(1,677)
Expired (in shares)			(232,936)
Outstanding at the end of the period (in shares)	907,316		907,316
Options exercisable at the end of the period (in shares)	594,188		594,188
Stock Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share)			$ 28.22
Granted (in dollars per share)			3.72
Exercised (in dollars per share)			0.00
Forfeited (in dollars per share)			7.88
Expired (in dollars per share)			31.41
Outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per share)	$ 26.59		26.59
Options exercisable at the end of the period (in dollars per share)	$ 36.29		36.29
Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted (in dollars per share)			$ 2.68

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION - RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT ACTIVITY TABLE (Details) - Restricted stock units				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 10, 2015 shares	Apr. 01, 2015 shares	Jan. 02, 2014 shares	Sep. 30, 2015 item $ / shares shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Outstanding at December 31, 2014 (in shares)				100,000
Awarded (in shares)				1,192,023
Released (in shares)				0
Forfeited (in shares)				(1,000)
Outstanding at June 30, 2015 (in shares)				1,291,023
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)				1 year 6 months 15 days
Ending vested and expected to vest (in shares)				1,122,027
Ending vested and expected to vest - Weighted average remaining contractual life				1 year 5 months 2 days
Weighted average remaining recognition period				2 years 7 months 7 days
Weighted average grant date fair value of RSUs granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 \| $ / shares				$ 3.61
Chief Executive Officer [Member]
Stock-based compensation
Vesting period			3 years
Number of triggering conditions \| item				1
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Awarded (in shares)			100,000
Executive Employees [Member]
Stock-based compensation
Vesting period				4 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Awarded (in shares)		203,967		906,806
Non-Executive Employees [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Awarded (in shares)	81,250

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - New Contractual Commitment - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended
	May 31, 2015	Jul. 01, 2015
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Quarterly fixed service fee		$ 1,100
Prepayment against future fixed service fees	$ 1,000
U.S. Supplier of Toll Fermentation Services
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Term of contractual service agreement	2 years
Owner/Operator of U.S. Pilot Resin Recovery Facility
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Term of contractual service agreement	2 years

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION - Schedule of distribution of revenues and long-lived assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Geographic Information
Revenue	$ 709	$ 632	$ 2,098	$ 1,944
U.S.
Geographic Information
Revenue	709	600	2,097	1,830
Canada
Geographic Information
Revenue	192	217	595	659
Operating segments
Geographic Information
Revenue	709	632	2,098
Operating segments \| U.S.
Geographic Information
Revenue	709	600	2,097	1,830
Operating segments \| Canada
Geographic Information
Revenue	0	32	1	114
Operating segments \| Intersegment eliminations
Geographic Information
Revenue		0	0
Inter-geographic revenues \| Canada
Geographic Information
Revenue	192	185
Inter-geographic revenues \| Intersegment eliminations
Geographic Information
Revenue	(192)	(185)	(594)	(545)
Intersegment eliminations
Geographic Information
Revenue	$ (192)	$ (185)	(594)	(545)
Intersegment eliminations \| U.S.
Geographic Information
Revenue			0
Intersegment eliminations \| Canada
Geographic Information
Revenue			$ 594	$ 545

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION - Schedule of geographic distribution (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Geographic Information
Long-lived assets	$ 908	$ 456
U.S.
Geographic Information
Long-lived assets	903	441
Canada
Geographic Information
Long-lived assets	$ 5	$ 15

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) customer	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) customer
Concentration risk
Revenue earned from the REFABB grant	$ 327	$ 390	$ 1,249	$ 1,301
US Department of energy \| Sales
Concentration risk
Revenue earned from the REFABB grant	$ 312	$ 290	$ 990	$ 898
Concentration risk (as a percent)	44.00%	46.00%	47.00%
Customer one \| Sales
Concentration risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)			10.00%
Number of customers \| customer			0	1

INCOME TAXES (Details) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Unrecognized tax benefits	$ 0	$ 0

RELATED PARTIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
RELATED PARTIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Related party transactions
Due from related parties	$ 147		$ 147		$ 112
Tepha Inc \| License revenue \| Affiliated entity
Related party transactions
Revenue from related parties	172	$ 127	407	$ 194
Due from related parties	$ 147		$ 147		$ 112

DISCONTINUED OPERATION (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
DISCONTINUED OPERATION (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loss from write down of assets held for sale	$ 0	$ 891	$ 0	$ 891
Net loss	$ 0	(1,185)	$ 0	(2,321)
Metabolix GmbH
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total revenue		434		1,361
Cost of product revenue		413		405
Research and development		15		242
Selling, general and administrative		300		2,144
Loss from write down of assets held for sale		891		891
Total costs and expenses		1,619		3,682
Net loss		$ (1,185)		$ (2,321)

CAPITAL STOCK (Details)						3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
CAPITAL STOCK (Details)	Oct. 07, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Jun. 19, 2015 USD ($) shares $ / shares $ / warrant	May 26, 2015 shares	Oct. 30, 2014 shares	Aug. 22, 2014 USD ($) shares $ / warrant	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	May 25, 2015 shares
Common Stock Issuances
Common stock, shares outstanding			22,600,000			26,981,214	22,530,322	26,981,214		135,500,000
Proceeds from private placement offerings, net of issuance costs \| $		$ 14,703,000			$ 24,913,000	$ 14,703	$ 24,913,000	$ 14,703,000	$ 24,913,000
Common stock shares authorized			250,000,000			250,000,000	250,000,000	250,000,000
Issuance costs from private placement \| $		$ 297,000			$ 87,000
Number of units purchased					50,000,000
Unit price (in dollars per share) \| $ / warrant		0.125			0.50
Class of Warrant or Right Expiration Term		4 years
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights \| $ / shares		$ 3.98
Common stock, shares issued					8,333,333	26,981,214	22,530,322	26,981,214
Preferred shares issued					50,000	0	0	0
Common stock conversion ratio for each preferred stock			0.1667
Convertible Series B Preferred Stock
Common Stock Issuances
Number of series B convertible preferred stock shares in each unit for purchase					0.001
Common stock conversion ratio for each preferred stock				166.67	166.67
Common stock
Common Stock Issuances
Common stock shares authorized				250,000,000	150,000,000
Number of units purchased		4,370,000
Share Price \| $ / shares		$ 3.32
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights		3,933,000
Number of common stock shares included in each unit for purchase					0.1667
Convertible Preferred Stock, Shares Issued upon Conversion				8,333,333
Subsequent Event [Member]
Stock Purchase Agreement, Default, Stock Price Trigger \| $ / shares	$ 0.50
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues	300,000
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Aspire [Member] \| Private Placement [Member]
Other Commitment \| $	$ 20,000,000
Term of contractual service agreement	30 months

RESTRUCTURING (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
RESTRUCTURING (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Original Charges and Amounts Accrued	$ 624
Adjustments to Charges	35
Amounts Paid through September 30, 2015	(580)
Amounts Accrued at September 30, 2015	79
Employee severance, benefits and related costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	659
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Original Charges and Amounts Accrued	624
Adjustments to Charges	35
Amounts Paid through September 30, 2015	(580)
Amounts Accrued at September 30, 2015	$ 79