Molecular Templates, Inc. Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Research and Development Agreements - Additional Information (Detail)

Research and Development Agreements - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		107 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2019	Jul. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Nov. 30, 2019	Jun. 23, 2017
Research And Development Collaboration Agreements [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued					49,984,333	45,589,157
Common stock, par value					$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Revenue from grant					$ 18,845	$ 22,270
Grant
Research And Development Collaboration Agreements [Line Items]
Revenue from grant					3,210	2,771
Takeda Pharmaceuticals Inc
Research And Development Collaboration Agreements [Line Items]
Purchase price per share								$ 6.8423
CPRIT Agreement \| Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas
Research And Development Collaboration Agreements [Line Items]
Product development grant awarded			$ 15,200
CPRIT Agreement \| Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas \| ETB MT-3724
Research And Development Collaboration Agreements [Line Items]
Aggregate proceeds received from award granted							$ 10,600
Revenue from grant					20,000
Grants Receivable					0
Grant Agreements \| Grants Revenue Receivable
Research And Development Collaboration Agreements [Line Items]
Reimbursement amounts submitted in excess of amounts received are recorded as receivables					0	7,100
Takeda Development Agreement
Research And Development Collaboration Agreements [Line Items]
Total transaction price					29,800
Upfront payment					30,000
Development milestone payment that is achievable				$ 10,000
Expected co-share payments payable					10,200
Deferred revenue					1,300	6,100
Takeda Development Agreement \| Clinical Development and Regulatory Milestones
Research And Development Collaboration Agreements [Line Items]
Milestone payments receivable if option is exercised		$ 307,500
Takeda Development Agreement \| Sales Milestone
Research And Development Collaboration Agreements [Line Items]
Milestone payments receivable if option is exercised		$ 325,000
Takeda Multi Target Agreement \| Takeda Pharmaceuticals Inc
Research And Development Collaboration Agreements [Line Items]
Milestone payments receivable if option is exercised					397,000
Deferred revenue					2,600	3,100
Cumulative payments received					5,000
Aggregate milestone payments upon exercise of option to license ETBS					30,000
Takeda Multi Target Agreement \| Takeda Pharmaceuticals Inc \| Maximum
Research And Development Collaboration Agreements [Line Items]
Contractual contingency fees					10,000
Commercial milestone payment					150,000
Vertex Collaboration Agreement
Research And Development Collaboration Agreements [Line Items]
Milestone payments receivable if option is exercised	$ 180,000
Upfront payment	38,000
Deferred revenue					$ 18,400	$ 27,500
Upfront payment, cash	23,000
Upfront payment, equity method investments	$ 15,000						$ 15,000
Common stock, shares issued	1,666,666						1,666,666
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001						$ 0.001
Vertex Collaboration Agreement \| Common Stock
Research And Development Collaboration Agreements [Line Items]
Purchase price per share	$ 9.00						$ 9.00
Fair value of allocated consideration	$ 4,500
Vertex Collaboration Agreement \| ETBs
Research And Development Collaboration Agreements [Line Items]
Aggregate milestone payments upon exercise of option to license ETBS	22,000						$ 22,000
Vertex Collaboration Agreement \| Sales Milestone
Research And Development Collaboration Agreements [Line Items]
Milestone payments receivable if option is exercised	$ 70,000