General form of registration statement for all companies including face-amount certificate companies

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Sep. 30, 2013
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]        
Notification period     8 months  
Rent expense     $ 289,991us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet $ 280,862us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet
Number of sub lease agreements     6us-gaap_NumberOfPropertiesSubjectToGroundLeases  
Contingent accrual liability for research and licensing agreement 342,219us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue   373,059us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue  
Contingent liability, amount in dispute 2,775,148us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue   3,025,237us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue  
GERMANY        
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]        
Net operating loss carryforwards     646,814us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_DE 		646,814us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_DE
License Agreement        
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]        
Contingent accrual liability for research and licensing agreement 342,219us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentArrangementContractToPerformForOthersByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LicenseAgreementTermsMember 		366,799us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentArrangementContractToPerformForOthersByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LicenseAgreementTermsMember 		373,059us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentArrangementContractToPerformForOthersByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LicenseAgreementTermsMember 		358,121us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentArrangementContractToPerformForOthersByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LicenseAgreementTermsMember
TUM        
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]        
Annual license payment 50,839us-gaap_LicenseCosts
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= pirs_TumMember 		49,405us-gaap_LicenseCosts
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= pirs_TumMember 		66,390us-gaap_LicenseCosts
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= pirs_TumMember 		19,290us-gaap_LicenseCosts
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= pirs_TumMember
TUM | License Agreement        
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]        
Annual license payment     68,830us-gaap_LicenseCosts
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= pirs_TumMember
/ us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentArrangementContractToPerformForOthersByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LicenseAgreementTermsMember 		 
IBA GmbH        
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]        
Annual license payment     $ 41,298us-gaap_LicenseCosts
/ us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis
= pirs_IbaGmbhMember 		 
Agreement expiration date     Dec. 31, 2024